The Cape Romano Dome House in Florida is one of the most fascinating and talked-about structures in U.S. architectural history. Built in 1981 by oil tycoon and visionary Bob Lee, this futuristic dome home stood proudly off the coast of Marco Island, near Cape Romano, FL. Often referred to as the dome houses Florida, the structure became famous for its hurricane-proof design, eco-friendly innovations, and eerie beauty as it slowly sank beneath the Gulf waters.
Over the years, the Cape Romano Dome House gained nicknames such as “the hurricane dome house,” “the underwater dome home,” and even “the Florida dome house on stilts.” Many tourists and locals visited by kayak, boat, or paddleboard to witness the futuristic pods. Unfortunately, after repeated battering from storms like Hurricane Andrew (1992), Hurricane Irma (2017), and finally Hurricane Ian (2022), the once iconic home was swallowed by the sea.
Today, the remnants of the Cape Romano dome homes remain an underwater attraction, drawing divers and photographers, while also fueling real estate interest in dome homes for sale in Florida and inspiring new generations of dome home builders in Florida. This is the story of Bob Lee’s dream, the rise and fall of the Cape Romano domes, and their enduring legacy.
The dome houses in Cape Romano, Florida were originally constructed in 1981 by Bob Lee, an oil businessman and amateur inventor. The futuristic Florida dome home included innovative features such as solar panels, a water cistern, and geodesic domes. Lee’s vision was bold: to design a self-sustaining, hurricane-resistant dome home capable of surviving Florida’s strongest storms.
The dome houses in Cape Romano, Florida, were originally constructed in 1981 Bob Lee, an oil businessman and amateur inventor. The home featured innovative elements such as solar panels, a water cistern, and geodesic domes. Lee's goal was to create a self-sustaining, hurricane-resistant dwelling that was designed to withstand the forces of nature and time.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the iconic Cape Romano Dome Homes were eventually claimed by the Gulf of Mexico. After surviving decades of storms, the final blow came in September 2022, when Hurricane Ian submerged the dome house underwater. Today, the site is remembered as both a cautionary tale and a piece of Florida’s architectural folklore.
The Dome Homes in Florida in Cape Romano (Source: Wikipedia)
Features of the Dome House
This innovative dome house structure comprised six dome-shaped modules perched on stilts. In total, the abode had a spacious 2,400 square feet of living space, complete with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
What truly set the dome home in Florida apart for its time were its eco-friendly features. The house ran on solar power, harvested rainwater through a gutter and cistern system, and purified it for daily use — decades ahead of today’s sustainable housing trends.
The futuristic dome house on stilts was both striking and functional. Its curved shape made it more hurricane-proof than traditional homes, inspiring discussions about hurricane dome homes in Florida long before “resilient housing” became a popular concept.
What truly set it apart for its time, however, were its eco-friendly features. Powered by solar energy, the house harnessed rainwater via a sophisticated gutter system, purifying it for daily use.
The dome-shaped design not only lent an aesthetic charm but also provided robust hurricane protection.
The Cape Romano Dome House was situated approximately 300 feet offshore.
History of the Cape Romano Home
Tosto, who acquired the Cape Romano dome house, planned to use a crane to relocate the dome homes in Florida back onto land. Unfortunately, local building codes, environmental concerns, and costly logistics prevented this. As a result, the Florida dome homes remained at sea level, vulnerable to every incoming storm.
The original Dome House circa 1982 (Source: Kristian Maples)
In 2007, the Collier County Code Enforcement Board ordered the demolition of the structure due to safety concerns, but that never came to fruition. It later became an unlikely underwater attraction, teeming with marine life, according to reports in 2013.
For many years, the dome homes were a popular tourist attraction for paddleboarding, kayaking, and diving. Eventually, it became more than just a place for outdoor recreation, and started to draw a wider group of tourists who were interested in the structure for it's eccentric, quirky design and cultural relevance.
In 2018, the ownership of the Cape Romano Dome House was transferred to the state of Florida.
Dome Homes: The Final Straw
This was not the first time the Florida dome houses were tested. Hurricane Andrew (1992) blew out the windows and caused severe flooding. Hurricane Irma (2017) further damaged the home, leading to two domes collapsing into the water. By the time Hurricane Ian struck in 2022, the Cape Romano dome homes could no longer withstand nature’s power.
This was not the structure's first test, as the dome house faced a series of challenges over the years. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 inflicted damage by blowing out its windows and causing significant water damage. Then, in 2017, Hurricane Irma further weakened the structure, leading to the collapse of two of its domes into the water.
Hurricane Ian was not just a problem for Florida's beloved Dome Homes. The storm created over $50 billion in damage in the surrounding area.
Legacy & Modern Dome Homes
The Cape Romano Dome House may be gone, but it left behind a legacy that continues to inspire dome home builders in Florida. Across the state, new hurricane-resistant dome homes in Naples, Pensacola, Destin, and Cape San Blas echo Bob Lee’s original dream of sustainable coastal housing.
For those wondering if there are still dome homes for sale in Florida, the answer is yes. While the Cape Romano domes are lost to the sea, real estate listings in Naples and Marco Island occasionally feature dome homes Florida USA with modern upgrades — proof that Bob Lee’s vision lives on.
The Cape Romano Dome House's fate serves as a testament to both the ingenuity of its creator and the unpredictability of nature. It will forever hold a unique place in Florida's architectural history, a symbol of a bygone era now resting beneath the waves.
FAQs About the Cape Romano Dome House & Florida Dome Homes
The home was gradually eroded by storms and finally submerged underwater by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The Cape Romano Dome House was built in 1981 by Bob Lee, an oil businessman and inventor.
No. The house is completely submerged. However, it remains a popular diving and boating site off Marco Island.
Dome structures are naturally more wind-resistant than rectangular homes, but severe hurricanes like Andrew, Irma, and Ian proved even they have limits.
Yes. Modern dome homes Florida for sale can be found in Naples, Marco Island, and other coastal areas, though none are identical to the original Cape Romano domes.