What in the world is a yurt?

Are you too rugged for a cabin, but not sure you are up for staying in a tent? Or, maybe you want to give the RV a break and explore a new venue. The perfect form of lodging for you would be a yurt. Yurts are large, dome shaped, circular, tent-like structures, with canvas walls and wooden framing. They were first developed in Central Asia by nomadic hunter gathers. Due to their structure, they are portable, but now, most are built to be stationary.

Thousand Trails campgrounds and Encore RV Resorts have four locations offering yurts as a rental opportunity. Yosemite Lakes (Groveland, CA), Bend-Sunriver (Bend, OR), Mount Vernon (Bow, WA), and Encore’s Mt. Hood Village (Welches, OR), all provide a variety of yurts to choose from, lodging from four to six people. Joe Clark, our Mount Vernon manager stated, “Guests who have stayed in a yurt before enjoy the experience, and guests new to yurts are pleasantly surprised with how comfortable they really are.”

Depending on the properties, our yurts come equipped with bunk beds, futons, and/  or queen beds. Cots and sleeping pads are available for rental at the stores. Most of our offered yurts require that you bring your own linens and silverware, but check while making a reservation. These rooms contain chairs, the bedding structure(s) required for the number of guests, a heater, a kitchenette (no oven), and a private bathroom and shower (at all locations except Mt. Hood). Since installing the first yurt at Mt. Hood, they have added a new structure on their property every year, due to the high demand.

Dan Werner, Mt. Hood’s manager, said that people are drawn to the yurts. “They are unique. Most people have never seen a yurt, let alone stayed in one. It’s an experience,” he said.

Yurts do extremely well on our properties; with both Yosemite Lakes and Mt. Hood’s managers stating that they compete well, or possibly book more easily than their cabins. When asked what the usual feedback from guests is, Yosemite Lakes’ manager stated, “Guests enjoy the yurts so much that I have been asked where they can purchase their own for their backyards! Others are so pleased with the camping feel in the cozy privacy that they can’t wait to come back.”

Yurts are the perfect middle ground for any hesitant camper, especially ones traveling with a family. The canvas walls and sun roofs give the dwelling a tent feel, but you are guaranteed to keep warm and comfortable. Julie Put, the Bend-Sunriver manager, said, “Guests like yurts because they’re different. They add extra rustic-ness to the idea of cabin camping.”

Staying in a yurt is a unique experience that every camper should try. Next time you’re looking to stay at Yosemite Lakes, Bend-Sunriver, or Mt. Hood, try out a yurt. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

For booking information click below:

Yosemite Lakes

Bend-Sunriver

Mount Vernon

Mt. Hood Village