One of the most common questions we get asked is, “where did the idea for yurts come from?” We must admit, before our friend Lauren bought a yurt to live in, neither of us had heard of a yurt let alone seen one in person! Lauren is an incredibly creative person and anyone who knows her knows she is often on the cutting edge of creativity and exploration. Lauren’s yurt was very rustic and since she knows how to stretch a dollar, she didn’t mind “roughing” it in order to have her own home, debt free, in a place where the housing market is very expensive.
Yurts were originally used by nomadic tribes because they can be assembled and disassembled quickly while following your food source. Our first yurt visit was the day Lauren’s yurt was erected. To paint a picture of her dwelling, it had beautiful birch saplings for the lattice and rafters, the classic yurt dome on top complete with a cutout for a stove pipe and a handcrafted platform to rest on. Because it did not have running water, electricity, an indoor bathroom, or insulation, Lauren carried in water, utilized lanterns and solar power, built an outhouse, and used a wood stove for heat during the winter months. It was rustic in terms of amenities but what it lacked in modern conveniences it made up for in character.
Days after Lauren’s yurt went up and she had begun moving in, Aaron and Karen went for a second visit. Lauren had beautified the space and we were stunned by the energetic feel of the rustic, circular space. From that day forward we had yurts on the brain! We started to pontificate about blending the classic yurt structure but with a few more modern amenities. We wondered if tourists traveling to MDI would be interested in renting our version of the nomadic dwelling. Our vision had started to take shape.
We took our idea to the internet and began browsing yurt manufacturers. The 2 largest US companies are Colorado Yurt Company and Pacific Yurt Company. We moved through all the information on their websites, browsed their social media pages and in the end felt most drawn to Colorado Yurt Company. Based in Colorado, we trusted their knowledge and understanding for the potential of high wind and heavy snow loads; two similarities Colorado and Maine experience. With our vision taking shape we naively wondered if we were the first people to think of glamming up a rustic yurt, only to learn that not only were people already doing it, it was starting to become a travel trend! In fact, there was already a word for it: GLAMPING (Glamour- Camping)! This was marketing at its finest as they perfectly described what we wanted to offer.
We now had the idea and the yurt manufacturing company figured out. Next, we began to investigate if our vision was even feasible. Many yurt rentals we found online or in the state of Maine were very rustic like Lauren’s; carry in water for washing dishes, outhouses, solar showers. These stripped-down versions seemed novel for a night or 2 but we knew that to appeal to a wider demographic, we’d need more in terms of amenities. From here we began a list of what we look for in a vacation rental. The big ones for us were a full kitchen, a bathroom with running water and flushing toilet and finally a heat source we wouldn’t have to stoke in the middle of the night. Even Wifi was a priority for us!
We started to assemble a creative team of contractors who would make our dream a reality. Many of them didn’t quite understand our vision but they knew we were extremely motivated and our money was green! At the end of our build they had become yurt converts. Some even wondered if they could put a rental yurt on a dock in the bay or up at their camp as a bunk house. Our finished product turned out amazing! Karen will often describe our yurts as circular condos because of how much luxury they offer; a queen-sized bed, provided towels and bedding and a fully stocked kitchen and bath.
The yurts also draw on the nostalgia of camping. The thin canvas walls allow you to hear the surrounding nature. You wake with the sun and fall asleep to the stars thanks to the circular dome at the apex of the building. All this while lying in a cushy queen size bed in a climate-controlled space. Long gone are the nights of sleeping on the ground or going outside to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And the rain, oh the rain on the yurt canvas is its own kind of magic, similar to that of a tin roof, is best experienced in person. Our former camping clientele use to see the rain and wonder if their belongings would be floating in the morning, now the rain lulls them to sleep in the comforts of the yurt. It’s all the good parts of camping without the potential downsides.
Our yurts also have a wonderful way of tricking you into thinking you have more space because of the open floor plans. We only have 2 walls in the whole structure and they enclose the bathroom for privacy. The remainder of the building is open and the ceiling vaulted which makes the space feel larger than its reality of only 452 square feet. This space is perfectly equipped for a couple up to a family of four, looking for a fun alternative option to traditional lodging.
With the glamping trend hitting the mainstream, travelers are now looking to make their lodging choice more than just a place to lay their heads at night; they want an experience, to try something new! We feel lucky to have created our little yurt village just as the glamping trend became so popular. At Acadia Yurts, we are thrilled to offer you a truly unique way to stay while exploring the beauty of Acadia National Park.