DESTINATION
By Priscilla Willis | Photos courtesy of Mystic Ozark Adventures
Starry, Starry Night
Planetarium Treehouse | 22457 E. War Eagle Road | Springdale
If you haven’t already heard about the Planetarium Treehouse in Springdale, then prepare to be amazed by this heavenly gem on War Eagle Road at Beaver Lake. Make note of it in the vacation section of your brain for a future getaway.
The Planetarium Treehouse was one of the 100 winners of Airbnb’s OMG! Award in 2022. Airbnb created the $10 million OMG! Fund to build the craziest places on earth, and when you see this Planetarium Treehouse, you’ll know why Airbnb’s judges selected Mark and Natalie Jones’ idea from tens of thousands of submissions from around the world to receive $100,000 to build their one-of-a-kind design.
Mark and Natalie, the Planetarium Treehouse owners, are Bentonville residents who managed the construction of the project around their day jobs. The couple did much of the work themselves and employed multiple contractors, including Natural State Treehouse, who did the structural and carpentry work. You can follow Mystic Ozark Adventures on Instagram to see this incredible project from start to finish.
The idea for a Planetarium Treehouse was born of Mark and Natalie’s desire to provide an exceptional and interactive guest experience and a beautiful, peaceful place to stay near Beaver Lake. Guests enter the geodesic dome, where abundant natural light streams through the windows, and pale birch walls and floors brighten the pristine space. An at-home star projector transforms the ceiling into a planetarium — perfect for cloudy days or just for fun.
The main living area features modern furnishings, including a comfy sofa that converts to a queen bed, a cute dinette and a kitchenette with an electric cooktop, mini fridge, microwave and coffee nook, and a bathroom with all the essentials. A curved staircase leads up to a spacious loft with a queen bed beneath a giant hexagonal window for a heavenly night’s sleep.
But wait! The pièce de résistance is the adjoining round observatory with a clear polycarbonate dome for stargazing. The observatory is equipped with high-powered telescopes for guests to use and color-changing LED lighting around the dome’s rim and through the hallway for celestial drama. In addition, a TV room furnished with cozy chairs and a Roku streaming device is available for additional entertainment.
Guests at the Planetarium Treehouse enjoy a year-round lake view, along with a barbecue grill, picnic table and lounge chairs on the deck. The upper tower balcony is where guests can find the best views of the lake and sky. The treehouse offers privacy yet has easy access to nearby city amenities, and it’s only a two-minute drive or a 10-minute hike down the road to access the beach at Beaver Lake or launch kayaks.
Airbnb lists the Stargazing Planetarium Treehouse as a guest favorite, with a nightly rate at the time of print ranging from $280 to $375 per night with only scattered dates available in July and August. So, when the inner astronomer in you awakens or you’re seeking a unique escape with serene lake views and mesmerizing starry night skies in the Ozarks, look no further!
