More than three thousand years ago, nomads in Central Asia moved from place to place with their homes on their backs. The structures — wood frames covered with felted wool or animal fur — were light, yet they could withstand the winds of the barren steppe.
Yurts, in fact, are still part of Mongolian culture today, and their usefulness has been noticed — they’ve inspired a unique lodging trend that’s gaining more and more fans. Borrowing from those traditional Mongolian designs, modern yurts use a lattice-and-roof-wheel frame covered with a durable, weather-resistant vinyl shell. The roof wheel is often capped with a Plexiglass dome. They’re typically built on platforms or decks with permanent flooring — meant to stay put rather than for nomadic life.
Yurts can offer surprising comfort and amenities, as seen in this photo from Hocking Hills Yurts and Cabins.
Add some other modern conveniences, and it makes for glamping at its finest. Turn the page to check out a few options for yurt stays right here in Ohio.
Hocking Hills Yurts & Cabins
When Pat and Crystal Murtha stayed in a yurt in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia, they found the perfect addition for their 12 acres in Hocking Hills, where they are members of Lancaster-based South Central Power Company and already had a cabin rental available for travelers. “The idea was for something different,” Pat Murtha says. “Yurts give you that outdoor feel, but you have everything you need.” They now have two yurts on the property, Arbor Ridge and Urban Retreat, tucked in their woods outside Laurelville.
Internal walls in the round latticework space create two bedrooms and a bathroom. The bedrooms, living room, dining area, and fully stocked kitchen are open to the Plexiglass dome for a view of the sky. A large flat-screen TV, electric fireplace, air conditioning, heat, and Wi-Fi make this woodland getaway a modern haven in every season. Each has a six-person, private hot tub, an outdoor grill, and a fire ring.
www.hockinghillsyurtsandcabins.com
The Wilds
For an Out of Africa experience in an upscale setting, The Wilds has just the thing with its yurt stays. Built to reclaim formerly strip-mined land, The Wilds is a conservation center where endangered species roam the rolling hills and grasslands near Cumberland.
From the deck of a luxury yurt, guests can watch a variety of inhabitants — from rhinoceros and zebras to Sichuan takin and Persian onager — then turn in and enjoy the yurt’s plush bedding and well-appointed bathroom. Sightings, of course, vary depending on the day, and guests should bring binoculars to heighten the views.
At night, the absence of light pollution makes for a stargazing feast with animal sounds as the accompaniment. Concierge services, an animal safari, breakfast, and dinner are included with a stay.
Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls
Since 1987, the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls has been a champion for Hocking Hills beauty and a respite from urban busyness. The inn’s three yurts combine camping with the inn’s upscale offerings.
Each yurt is a luxury experience built for two. Cozy up in front of the gas-log stove while savoring the inn’s specialty cookies and a mug of hot tea. A king bed, tiled shower bathroom, microwave, and small refrigerator add to the glamping factor. Each yurt also has a private deck with a view of the woods. At night, stargaze through the yurt’s dome.
Kindred Spirit, the Inn and Spa’s restaurant and bar in the original 1840s cabin, offers signature dishes, craft cocktails, and a seasonal menu. The Rise and Dine menu offers a mix of breakfast and lunch items — breakfast is included with an overnight stay.
Ohio State Parks
With miles of multi-use trails and lakes, Ohio State Parks are both a bounty of nature and an outdoor playground — and three state parks have seasonal yurts that combine rustic living with a camping vibe. Vinyl canvas creates the feeling of sleeping in a tent without the hassle — listening to rain is pleasant without having to fret about water seeping inside.
In Courtland County, Mosquito Lake State Park boasts one of Ohio’s largest lakes (7,850 acres), and has two yurts with prime views of the scenic shoreline. The two yurts at Harrison Lake State Park in northwest Ohio are near that park’s 95-acre lake, playground, and shower house.
Both parks’ yurts have a similar setup: two bunk beds (twin on the top, double on the bottom), a small refrigerator, a microwave, a small table and chairs, and a fan.
The two furnished yurts at Kelleys Island State Park, in the basin of Lake Erie, are bigger, include a kitchen, and have large decks that are perfect hangout spots in the evening.
A fire ring and picnic table complete the campground spot of each park’s yurts, which are available seasonally, from the middle of April to October.
www.ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/unique-getaways (search “yurts”)
