How Hillside Gardens Turned a 33' Growing Dome Greenhouse Into an Event Space

At Hillside Gardens in Colorado Springs, a 33' Growing Dome greenhouse does far more than grow plants. It shapes how guests move through the property, how they remember the venue, and how the business creates value from a single structure.

That kind of transformation fits the story of Hillside itself. The four-acre property, once used as dairy land in the early 1900s, later became a neighborhood nursery before evolving into the wedding and event venue it is today. Set among seasonal gardens with sweeping views of the Front Range and Pikes Peak, Hillside Gardens already invites guests to wander, gather, and discover something unexpected. The Growing Dome adds another layer to that experience.

During the day, the dome operates as a vibrant indoor plant market, filled with curated greenery and a warm, inviting atmosphere that encourages people to slow down and explore. By evening, the same space transforms into Cactus Jack’s, a greenhouse tequila bar that anchors weddings, private events, and the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series.

That dual purpose makes the dome more than a beautiful greenhouse. It functions as a retail space, event feature, bar add-on, guest magnet, and brand expression all in one.

A Greenhouse That Works From Morning to Night

Hillside Gardens uses the Growing Dome as part of its garden center, open daily from 9 AM to 2 PM during the growing season. Inside, guests browse indoor plants in a setting that feels more immersive than a traditional retail display. A dedicated gardening team keeps the indoor plant area healthy, vibrant, and ready for guests throughout the season. The dome creates a living environment where the plants become part of the experience, not just products on a shelf.

As the day shifts into evening, the dome takes on a second life. For weddings, private gatherings, and concerts, Hillside Gardens transforms the greenhouse into Cactus Jack’s, a tequila bar surrounded by greenery. The transition gives guests something they do not expect from a greenhouse and something they cannot easily find at another venue.

“We use the dome as our indoor plant selection for our garden center… and it transforms into a tequila bar for weddings, private events, and our Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series.”

Cactus Jack’s Turns Surprise Into Demand

Cactus Jack’s has become one of the most talked-about features at Hillside Gardens because it delivers a genuine moment of surprise. Hillside describes the space as “part plant jungle, part tequila lounge,” and that contrast captures exactly why guests remember it. They walk in expecting plants and discover a bar tucked inside a greenhouse.

“People absolutely love Cactus Jack’s. It’s one of the overall favorite spots at Hillside. They love that it’s a greenhouse/tequila bar.”

During events, that excitement turns into visible demand. “This always has the longest lines for drinks because the space is so cool and unique. I can’t think of any other bars in town that double as a greenhouse.”

In a competitive event market, memorable experiences help venues stand out. Cactus Jack’s greenhouse tequila bar gives Hillside Gardens a signature feature guests talk about, photograph, and remember.

A Destination Within the Destination

The Growing Dome also influences how people move through the property during events.

For the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series, the dome sits near the stage and helps create a natural social hub. The 2026 season runs every Wednesday from May 20 through October 7, with three bands each night, music from 6 to 8:30 PM, and gates opening at 5 PM. Hillside also offers multiple bars across the property, including Cactus Jack’s as the tequila bar, which places the Growing Dome directly inside the rhythm of the evening.

Guests move between the music, the bar, and the surrounding lawn throughout the night. Around 10 to 15 people gather inside the dome at a time, while others linger outside with drinks and settle into the nearby lawn area.

“That whole area keeps people around all night during concerts. It has a stage right near the dome so it creates a great spot for people.”

For weddings and private events, the dome adds a one-of-a-kind feature that couples can build into the guest experience. It does not need heavy decoration or a full transformation to feel special. The structure, the plants, and the greenhouse atmosphere already create a memorable setting.

“For wedding couples, it adds a one-of-a-kind element that no traditional venue can replicate.”

Because Hillside already includes garden paths, open lawns, locally created art, fountains, and multiple unique spaces, the dome does not have to carry the entire venue experience alone. Instead, it adds one more memorable stop within an already immersive property.

Built-In Revenue Without a Bigger Footprint

The guest experience may be the first thing people notice, but the business impact makes the dome especially valuable.

Hillside Gardens offers Cactus Jack’s as a welcome bar add-on for events, with a $500 minimum. That gives the business a clear revenue opportunity without requiring a separate building, a larger venue footprint, or a single-use structure.

Instead, the team maximizes a space they already use during the day. The dome supports plant retail during garden center hours, then converts into an event asset when guests arrive for weddings, concerts, and private gatherings.

The return has been clear. “Absolutely. It was 100% worth the investment.”

The dome also strengthens the perceived value of the venue. While the team branded Cactus Jack’s early on, they believe the identity helped the space become more popular and more central to the guest experience. Naming it, styling it, and integrating it into events turned the dome from a greenhouse into a destination.

Flexible, Memorable, and Manageable

A space only works as a business asset if the team can operate it easily and consistently. For Hillside Gardens, the transition from nursery to bar remains manageable. Two staff members handle setup, supported by practical infrastructure inside the dome, including a cooler that keeps supplies organized and close at hand.

The team also customized the space for events. They added a bar top and bar back inside the dome, then extended the experience outdoors with German beer tables on the lawn. These additions help the space function as both an interior bar and an outdoor gathering area.

The setup does require upkeep, especially to keep the greenhouse clean and guest-ready. But the operational lift stays reasonable because Hillside designed the space around repeatable use.

A Year-Round Asset With a Perfectly Named Sommelier

The Growing Dome continues to support the business beyond peak garden center and concert season.

During colder months, Hillside Gardens can use the dome for smaller wine club gatherings. Members pick up monthly wine selections, taste curated bottles, and connect with Bucky, their sommelier, in a warm, intimate setting.

We know what you are thinking…no, not that Bucky, but the name feels almost too perfect. Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller helped popularize the geodesic dome that inspired the Growing Dome’s iconic shape. And his main philosophy was to “do more with less”. It seems that Hillside Gardens took that to heart.

The dome does not sit idle after one season or serve only one business function. It gives Hillside Gardens a place to sell plants, host guests, serve drinks, support events, and create community across multiple parts of the year.

A Living Expression of the Hillside Gardens Brand

At its core, the Growing Dome reflects what Hillside Gardens aims to create. Guests may arrive for plants, music, a wedding, or a glass of wine, but the dome becomes part of how they remember the property. It brings together horticulture, hospitality, and creative design in a way that feels natural to the venue.

The Growing Dome is not just a greenhouse. It is a brand experience, a revenue generator, and a gathering place that helps people connect with the property in a deeper way.

Grow Beyond Traditional Greenhouse Use

Hillside Gardens shows how a greenhouse can become part of a larger guest experience when it is designed around the way people naturally gather, move, and connect.

Their 33' Growing Dome supports retail, events, hospitality, and community programming without asking the business to choose just one use. It works because it fits the property, reflects the brand, and gives guests a reason to linger.

And if you want to experience that energy for yourself, check out Hillside Gardens’ Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series. It’s the perfect chance to get your groove on and see how Cactus Jack’s brings the Growing Dome to life.

Every space has different needs. Some businesses need year-round growing space. Others need a memorable event feature, a protected gathering area, or a flexible structure that can serve more than one purpose. If you are exploring commercial greenhouse ideas and what a Growing Dome could make possible for your business, our team can help you think through the right size, layout, and customizations for your space.