By Celeste Langford, Staff Writer – The Underline Observer
July 2, 2059 Edition
“Why suffer UV rays and paparazzi when you can sip champagne beneath the Rockies?”
While surface dwellers prepare for another scorcher aboveground, the privileged few are descending, literally, into one of this summer’s most exclusive destinations: Solstice District, the crown jewel of America’s underground luxury network.
Located nearly 900 feet below the former Colorado wilderness, Solstice is not your grandfather’s fallout shelter. Gone are the days of concrete walls and rations. Today’s subterranean retreats rival, and in many ways exceed, their surface counterparts.
Visitors arrive via private maglev capsule, whisked down from discreet access points in Aspen and Denver in under 15 minutes. Upon arrival, they’re greeted by golden-lit promenades, gravity-fed waterfall facades, and a concierge team trained in surface etiquette and subterranean protocol.
Tourism in the Deep
The tourist season officially kicked off this past solstice (hence the name), and early trends suggest a surge in what travel influencers are calling “depthcationing": the art of vacationing beneath the Earth’s crust.
High-speed rail connects Solstice to other notable undercities like Halcyon (known for its bioluminescent forest installations) and New Gramercy (famed for its opera dome, where sound carries differently through stone-lined acoustics).
Visitors can enjoy:
- Glow-Golf: A nine-hole experience in caverns lit by bioengineered moss.
- The Cavette Spa: Where geothermal steam treatments promise complete detox from surface stress.
- UnderMarket Row: A curated bazaar offering rare items; vintage vinyl, lab-grown diamonds, and for the truly bold, cuisine grown entirely underground (Chef Marisol’s glowroot risotto is a must).
“I come down here for clarity,” says tech magnate Ellis Varrin, spotted sipping mineral-infused champagne at the Ember Lounge. “Up there, it’s all noise. Down here? You remember how to breathe.”
Locals and Lifestyle
While Solstice caters to tourists, a quiet community of full-time residents — affectionately nicknamed “Deepfolk” — call this city home year-round. Many are second-generation subterraneans, raised entirely below the surface.
They guide tours, run boutiques, or work in biodomes and educational hubs. Some have never seen the sky in person. “I’ve read about it,” says Camryn, 17, born in Solstice’s Sector D. “But I like our version better. The stars down here don’t burn out.”
A World Apart — But Not Alone
Though technically part of the United States, Solstice and its sister cities operate under independent governance, with elected councils and a charter focused on sustainability, privacy, and cultural preservation. It’s this blend of secrecy and sophistication that continues to draw the world’s wealthiest — artists, CEOs, royals — into the depths each season.
With rising heatwaves, social unrest, and increasingly unpredictable weather topside, many are wondering if the future of luxury travel lies not across oceans... but beneath our feet.
One thing’s for certain: the underground isn’t just an escape anymore. It’s a destination.