Is Installing a Gazebo in My Backyard a Risky Move?

With strong enough winds, anything can become a projectile. There have been instances where roofs are ripped off buildings during storms, even when they were well-secured. A gazebo tends to have a lot of airflow, which might hold it down better, but there’s no solid guarantee it won’t blow away either.

Just a heads up—if you leave those posts in the ground, they might start rotting after a couple of years here due to moisture and pests.

Be cautious depending on your locale. I know you mentioned you're in the southwest, but things can get crazy with dust storms or monsoons. In Arizona, we've had monsoons strong enough to act like mini tornadoes. I once saw my tack room get tossed across the yard during one—definitely don’t want that happening to a gazebo!

It looks like a cool idea! Just keep in mind that if the top has a more complex flow design—like a larger hole in the center with a smaller top above—it could help minimize the wind's impact.

Adding several hundred pounds of concrete to anchor it down might help in moderate winds. However, if you’re in a severe wind situation, it might not make a difference at all.