What is a yurt?
According to Pacific Yurts, “The Pacific Yurt is a modern adaptation of the ancient shelter used by Central Asian nomads for centuries. The compact shape of the yurt and combination of lightweight members in tension and compression mean that the structure is highly efficient in maximizing strength while minimizing the use of materials.
The Pacific Yurt is a lightweight, low-cost, state-of-the-art version that retains the sense of wholeness of the ancient form while delivering the structural integrity, longevity and low maintenance demanded by modern users.
Though generally classified as a tent, the yurt is much stronger and weathertight. The Pacific Yurt is a circular structure that consists of a durable fabric cover, tension band and a wood frame that includes a lattice wall, radial rafters, central compression ring and a framed door.”
Does the door have a zipper?
No – the front door is a double French door that opens and locks like a normal door. This is not a tent, it’s a yurt!
Can bears get into the yurt?
A crazed bear who absolutely wanted to get in to the yurt could. Could a crazed bear get into a cabin? The yurt is as safe as a cabin. The yurt is located in bear country, but bears are afraid of people. Don’t encourage them by feeding them or making food accessible to them, and they will leave you and the yurt alone.
Are the yurt walls made of canvas?
No – the walls are made of a multi-layer vinyl with reflective insulation.
Does the yurt have indoor plumbing?
Yes! There is a toilet, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, dishwasher, shower, and clothes washing machine. The yurt has all the amenities of home – you will not be “roughing it”.
How did you find land?
We hired a realtor, Lee Wyatt, who is a local Madison resident and was extremely helpful in finding our 15 acres.
Are you guys hippies?
No, but our parents were.
Where did you get your yurt?
We bought our 30-foot diameter yurt from Pacific Yurts. They had exceptional customer service and the yurt is well-made and easy to set up. Our carpenter friends say it’s “solid” and “well-engineered” – they were very impressed! The insulation is very effective.
How long does it take to pack up the yurt and put it on your yak?
The yurt is a permanent structure. It’s not going anywhere!
What happens if a tree falls on your yurt?
In March 2015, exactly that happened! Check out the post for photos and damage assessment. The yurt held up astoundingly well, although I bet the noise when the tree hit was terrifying…
Do you have photos of the yurt?
Yes, we do, tons! The best ones are all posted on the AirBNB site!
How do you heat the yurt?
We have a wood-burning stove and a ceiling fan; together those two generate heat and circulate it all around the yurt. The bathroom and bedroom both have supplemental electric wall heaters but they are only needed if it’s really cold outside. During a recent weekend when the temperature hovered around nine degrees (Fahrenheit, or -12 Celsius), we had the stove and the heaters running and the yurt was a balmy 72 degrees. But to be fair, we don’t spend much time there in the winter – the hill is too unpredictable.
Is the yurt insulated? Or, what is the R value?
The yurt has reflective insulation; the same kind the space shuttle uses. While it doesn’t have an R-value, if there is a heat source inside, it warms up and stays warm like a thermos. It works great! On a cold winter day, it will heat up 20-30 degrees in less than an hour.
The Shenandoah Yurt 
I noticed on your air BnB photos that there is plank of wood that goes around your yurt (at the top of the rafters). I’ve never seen that before! My husband and I are currently shopping yurts and having a tricky time deciding which company to buy from. Does that wooden plank come on all Pacific yurts? Thanks!
Hi Chelsea Anne, I’m not sure which plank you mean – are you talking about the wood around the top center circle dome window, or around the top of the walls? I don’t know the details, but somehow the circular wood keeps the yurt upright – kind of like how a barrel maintains its shape. Because of this, I think all yurts have to have this support. We bought our yurt from Pacific Yurts in 2008, so I haven’t shopped around in a while, however, they were really great to deal with and our carpenter and other workmen have been impressed with the quality and sturdiness of the yurt. When the tree fell on it last year, Blue Ridge Yurts recommended a local expert to help out with the rafter replacement. I don’t think they were around yet when we were looking to buy, but they have been helpful in the past few years. Thanks for your interest!