Year of the Yurt

Posted on December 16, 2011 by ivy

We thought we’d be winding down as the weather got colder.

It used to be that we had a busy time and a not-so-busy time. While we expect winter to be a bit quieter, it never slacks off like it used to. And, that’s a good thing.

Here are some highlights from 2011 at the Colorado Yurt Company:

Our customers jumped on the “glamping” trend with tipis for comfortable camping. North Georgia Canopy Tours in Lula, GA had a great first season of tipi rentals and ordered more painted tipis to expand their camp. In Jackson, WY, Sands Wildwater Adventures put up a tipi camp on the Snake River for overnight raft trips.

North Georgia Interior

Inside a tipi at North Georgia Canopy Tours

We installed four new yurts at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, Colorado. They have been adding to their yurt village, and have plans for more. The yurts are a huge success for them.

yurts at YMCA of the Rockies

Yurt village at YMCA of the Rockies

Alpine Winter Stout yurts went to a camp in New Hampshire, a ski academy in Vermont and a ski club in New York-making homes for those programs. Also,  Talisker at Deer Valley in Utah has two new Winter Stouts on the mountain. This super strong yurt is being used in snowy places with great success.

major snow

Winter Stout yurt

We sent eight 22’ tipis to Do Lectures in Hopland, California. They’re an interesting organization that we’d like to stay involved with.

Earthworks tipis were in Israel, Panama and Abu Dhabi for events. The appeal of the perfect structure is spreading worldwide. Many customers have added tipis to their backyard, back forty or mountain ranch- and the lodge is loved by the entire family.

beauty of a tipi

We did custom, canvas-covered yurts for a holiday shop in New York City (featured in Vogue -not our usual crowd). They housed a display of eyeglasses for an interesting company, Warby Parker. Dan and Emma took a trip to the city to help pitch the yurts.

We made a big, fancy custom tent for a certain celebrity wedding in our “neighborhood”. It was a huge undertaking, with the entire crew helping out in some way- and it turned out great.

We’re ending the year with an order for five yurts that will end up on an island in the Mediterranean.

The crew of Discovery channel’s program “How It’s Made” came to town to film our company for upcoming shows in the spring. We enjoyed having Francois, Patrick, Yan and Justin spend a few days with us, and we can’t wait to see the show. We might even have a watch party!

We launched a new website. Wow, was that an undertaking! We hope our customers are finding it easier to learn about our company and our products. We always welcome feedback.

We went to a few conventions, including three American Camp Association shows,Christian Camping Association and YMCA leadership convention. We made our annual appearances at National Association of State Park Directors conference and Sustainable Living Fair in Ft. Collins.

We launched our charitable campaign with ACA’s Send a Child to Camp. Most of us have fond memories of going to summer camp, and we see camps using our structures in creative ways. Check it out, and please give if you can.

As always, our best highlights come from our customers. We love hearing how tipis, tents or yurts are finding a place in your lives. Do you have a story to share?

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Colorado Yurt Company sends kids to camp. Will you help?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by ivy

Nonsense songs, mosquito bites, swimming in a lake, ghost stories, hikes in the sun, being homesick, lifelong friendships, getting soaked by a rainstorm, silly nicknames, late night secret sharing, s’mores, riding horses, tug of war, wet socks, campfires, bunkbeds, listening to crickets at night, sleeping bags, not wanting to go home, pledging to keep in touch… making memories.

Ahhhh, summer camp… Remember summer camp, when you could just be a kid?  What other time in your life have you been known as “Lemur” or “Noodle Arms”? Is there another smell like campfire surrounded by sweaty kids doused in sunscreen?  Whether you rode horses or bikes, ate chili or hamburgers, wrote in a journal or painted a picture… camp was an experience that helped make you who you are now. Do you have great summer camp memories?We want to make it possible for underprivileged kids to swim in a lake and hear ghost stories in a tipi late at night. That’s why we’re partnering with American Camp Association’s Send a Child to Camp scholarship fund.

For many kids, summer camp is the first time away from home, and a rare opportunity to experience nature. At many camps, kids are sleeping in a yurt, tipi or tent from Colorado Yurt Company. We imagine kids listening through the walls of a platform tent to hear a coyote on a far ridge. Or waking up to the sun peeking through the dome of a yurt.

We are proud to be a part of so many camps across the country.  We’ll donate a portion of our sales to the scholarship fund. We invite our customers and friends to contribute also. Send your check to:

American Camp Association Send a Child to Camp  5000 State Rd 67 N  Martinsville, IN  46151 (Be sure to put in your check notes that you are donating at the recommendation of Colorado Yurt Company).

Or you can donate via the web (click here). You’ll get the tax deduction, and we both have the satisfaction of knowing that more kids will enjoy camp next summer.

Be sure to watch our emails, facebook page and other correspondence. We’ll update our fund’s progress and let you know how many kids are going to camp because of our partnership. And, thanks Noodle Arms!
Send a Child to Camp

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Really? A $75,000 yurt?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by dan

I don’t know why—(maybe it’s because I like to think of my Prius as a Ferrari)—but those marketing geniuses at Neiman Marcus always send me their big-deal Christmas catalogue. You know the one, it offers things like vintage speedboats and dinner dates with royalty . So yesterday, as I walked from my mailbox with a wad of utility bills under my arm, I flipped through the N-M catalogue and I saw where you can get a $75,000 yurt.

I already know where you can get a yurt for well under $75,000, decked-out just the way you’d like it and send a needy kid to camp.

I suggest our popular twenty-foot yurt. That’s about 60 square feet bigger than the one at Neiman’s. You can get our full snow and wind load package (we’ve got the best engineering in the business) and great options like French doors, full insulation, and an operable skylight, (and choose from 20+ colors for no extra charge). You’re at about $11,500. Add our insulated-panel modular deck and you’re up-and-running for well under $20k.

We favor going to your local craftsperson, interior designer or antique dealer for décor. Use your imagination and make it your own. We can even help with some suggested floor plans, if you wish.

Beautiful yurt interior

To get your own designer yurt, call us at The Colorado Yurt Company. 800-288-3190. If you’re calling between 8 and 5 mountain time, you’ll likely get an actual person answering the phone (unlike, ahem, a catalogue in Dallas).

another great interior

You just saved thousands of dollars! So, why not send a needy kid to summer camp through one of The Colorado Yurt Company’s favorite charities, American Camp Association’s “Send a Child to Camp”? For the fifty-thousand you just saved, you could send kids to camp with their own yurt! Or buy a yurt from us before Christmas and we’ll donate 5% of your purchase to the ACA and send a needy child to camp. 

yurts at summer camp

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Alaska Wilderness Yurt Adventure

Posted on September 6, 2011 by ivy

When Tonya and Stephen purchased land in the wilderness of Alaska, they knew it would be a challenge to build. Their land is bordered by the Chugach National Forest on one side and the Wrangle St. Ellias Wilderness Preserve on the other, 1 mile east of the Copper River. Since it’s very remote, with the closest road 25 miles away and 35 miles to the closest village, the only access is either by boat or aircraft.

Bringing the yurt to the site by helicopter.

Bringing the yurt to the site by helicopter.


They chartered a helicopter service and made twelve trips to bring in all of the materials for the deck and the yurt. The loads were placed high upon a bench, which offered a fantastic view of the lake in front and the surrounding mountains. With the help of three friends, they set out to build their yurt in the wilderness.

Building the deck for the yurt

Building the deck for the yurt


They cut a trail into the site and moved all the materials to allow for the set up of the Yurt. After clearing the area of all the alders and trees, they began setting the foundation blocks. At the end of the 1st day they had the foundation set and half the 2X6 floor installed. Not too bad for a 16 hour day! By the end of the 2nd day they had finished the floor, erected the lattice wall, compression ring, rafters- and the liner, insulation and cover for the roof (this was a 12 hour day). On day three, they installed the fabric wall and insulation and were finished by lunch time…32 hours from start to finish!

Alaska yurt

Completed yurt


They plan to use the yurt as all-season retreat, so they installed a solar system for power. It has a full bathroom (with shower), full kitchen (with refrigerator, freezer and stove) and a wood burning stove from Englander to heat the yurt. They installed a well to fill the 200 gallon cistern. The yurt is a fully functional home, but it’s just located in the wilderness of Alaska. They have leather sofa and chair, full sized bed and a cafe style dinette set. The yurt is over-looking the lake, which offers a chance to watch the Trumpeter Swans and their 2 cygnets, bears, beavers, eagles and a host of other wildlife.

Yurt interior

Beautiful interior


Stephen and Tonya had looked at several options for their wilderness home: wood frame, log and yurt. They investigated several yurt manufactures, and settled on the 27′ Colorado Yurt because the finished product was excellent and the options were what they looked for. Plus, they told us the customer service was excellent! They thought the instructions were very good to follow.

They are looking at setting up 2 additional yurts and offering them as a wilderness experience for those who wish to really get back to nature. They could also be used for winter time helicopter skiing groups.

Stephen and Tonya have now spent the summer in their yurt and love everything about it. They say, “Colorado Yurt, you produce an awesome yurt!!! Thank you!” and “PS. The fishing is great!!!”

Tonya's fish

Wow! Look at that fish!

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Postcard from a (yurt dwelling) friend

Posted on June 27, 2011 by brian

I recently received this e-post card from Samantha.  I blogged about Sam and her husband Duncan about a year ago when they were just settling into their yurt in the American Southeast.  Now they’re settled!  They live in a 30 ft yurt and a smaller yurt serves as a washroom and utility closet.

Dear Folks at CYC,

The last year of living in our yurts has been quite interesting and enjoyable. We added the deck this spring and it has made it a complete and very livable space—more welcoming for guests since there is more room to move around and spread out.

FrontDeck4

We also completed all the inside walls, and finished our main decoration projects, including the wood-burned headboard for the bed. We’re comfy; we added a couch and padded the loft.  We’re living and relaxing without constantly being in “project mode.”

The most surprising thing about being in a yurt is just how cozy it is; at the same time how open, light, and airy it feels. Our expectations were much exceeded.  It’s also amazing to watch just how much we can fit into it with creative use of space and choices of furniture.  Cooling it in the hot weather has been a challenge, mostly figuring out how to put in an A/C unit without a stable window (we got a free describe the imagestanding unit with a flexible outlet tube and set it between the lattice and screen window to vent, and we just rig the fabric and vinyl around it to make it mostly air-tight).  We’re working out a balance between use of this unit and effective use of doors and windows to catch the breeze. Heating has been relatively easy, as it stays cozy and warm in the winter. Also, it fascinates us how many small spaces the bugs and spiders manage to find. It’s a good thing we don’t mind sharing our living space! We also now have a Great Dane addition to our household, who is a year old now and quite large. So that brings our total to two humans, two dogs, and two cats in a two-yurt setup!

When friends and curious observers come by to visit, they are often pleasantly front gatesurprised how nice it feels inside, even if they were a little skeptical before arriving. It’s fun to share our place and encourage people to explore yurt living. In response to many requests, we finally made a video tour that we could post on youtube. Eventually we’ll add another yurt to expand our space, and we may try to enclose the space between the two current yurts when we make that addition so we won’t have the inconvenience of going into the elements on our way to the bathroom. Overall though, we have been VERY happy with our home and plan to enjoy it for MANY many years to come!

Samantha & Duncan
(& Maracuja, Ivie, Kudzu, and Meremia)

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Yurt Yoga for Kids with Special Needs!

Posted on June 6, 2011 by brian

We’re so excited about one of our new customers we wanted to let you know about her before her yurt’s even fully operational.  Krista Zember, owner of BE Yoga, in Washington DC is expanding her operation to Sterling, VA.

 

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The centerpiece of her new practice will be a yurt that will host classes for children with special needs.  She writes:

“I plan to teach children with special needs such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, ADHD, and any other mental or physical challenges, through the Yoga for the Special Child Method created by my teacher Sonia Sumar. I will also hold a few adult classes and some children’s classes during the day, for those who homeschool, like me!”

Krista’s plans build from there.  She wants to add family yoga and kirtan (call and response chanting) to the mix.

Krista began practicing yoga more seriously after the onset of fibromyalgia.  Yoga helped her cope with the pain.  A competitive gymnast and dancer from a very young age, Krista is no stranger to physical activity.  Yoga brought her centeredness and a deep connection with others.

Krista is primarily trained in the Kripalu and Integral traditions. Her practice focuses on alignment, energy, and meditation.  She also brings in elements of Hatha, Kundalini, Anusara, and Iyengar yoga.

 

yurt yoga

 

In addition to her work as a yoga teacher, Krista is a full time mom to her 6-year-old daughter Willow Prana and 2 and a half year old Nyima Prabhavati.

She’s looking forward to making the yurt fully operational. “…we will be getting some electrical outlets put in and a wood stove installed after the interior floor is oiled.”

 

krista yoga yurt

We’re looking forward to it too! We’ll keep you posted.

 

Daydream about your yurt! Practice with our Color Your Yurt Tool!

 

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Growing Up Yurt

Posted on May 27, 2011 by brian

I grew up playing hide-and-seek between piles of tipi canvas and completed yurt roofs.  Before that I bounced in a Johnny-Jump-Up next to my mom as she sewed. These are my earliest memories because I grew up at the Colorado Yurt Company.

Our first apartment was attached to the tipi shop. The Yurt Co. in Ridgway, Colorado was home base for adventures that would roam by the schoolhouse, past the fire station, loop through Doc’s Candy Store, and reconnoiter at Town Park.

800px Ridgway,colorado

Ridgway, CO from above (Photo Credit: SoCal L.A.)

When I was in middle school, I got to help out in the summertime. Usually, I’d cut parts for tipis. When my parents (Colorado Yurt Company owners, Dan and Emma Kigar) went out on a yurt or a tipi pitch, I went along. We would haul up to the high-country and spend the day raising a structure. Sometimes we’d go further afield. We pitched tipis and yurts together in New Mexican deserts, Oregon, Upstate New York, Southern California, and the Chicago Hilton to name a few places.

 

Sam on horse with tipi

Out on an early tipi pitch

These days I can pitch tipis by myself; though I still can’t raise one with near my parents’ skill and pace.  I picked up other good skills along the way: the desire to work hard and the ability to think methodically and visually.

 

Tipis, tipi, earthworks, colorado yurt
Oddly enough, these skills help me in my current life as a PhD candidate in Islamic Studies at Duke University. (To the question, “How did you end up there?” I usually answer, “Life’s twists and turns.”)

old sam
With Satchel the Dog (not pictured) just after arriving in N. Carolina

Now the shop is 30 miles north of Ridgway, in Montrose. (The amazing Colorado Boy Brewery occupies our old space.) And the operation is a little bigger. I’m far away, but the crew is still kind enough to let me back into the fold when I have some time to help out. I mostly work in new media marketing, though I’m always keen to go out on a pitch.

Link up with us on Facebook

Check out some of the awesome places where our tipis and tents live.

 

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Winter Stout Alpine Yurt at Monarch Mountain Ski Area

Posted on May 18, 2011 by brian

C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures 50278 56232837661 3091066 n resized 600When Monarch Mountain needed a home for their Junior Mountain program, they called us at the Colorado Yurt Company.

Monarch Mountain is an awesome family-oriented ski area that is about two hours from our shop in Montrose, CO. The mountain sits on the continental divide in the Sawatch range, and the elevation at the top of the mountain is 11,960 feet. C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures powder resized 600Monarch has great ski terrain and the most amazing view from the top of the Panorama lift. From there you can see the San Juan mountains sitting way off to the south, and the Gunnison valley stretching out between. On a clear day, it does seem that you can see forever. When you point the boards down hill, it’s a long and exhilarating trip to the base. There are many routes to the bottom, and all of them are prime Colorado skiing. The other great things about Monarch Mountain include: short lift lines, plentiful annual snowfall (350 inches or more), great prices and really friendly staff.

C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures Yurt 002 resized 600Junior Mountain is a unique part of the Monarch ski school- a program specifically designed for 7-12 year old skiers and boarders. They spend the entire day as a group, starting at the yurt, going out to the mountain, then coming back to the yurt for lunch and other activities. The kids and their families usually had the initial reaction of “What is a yurt?!” But, by the end of the day, the young skiers and boarders thought the yurt was one of the coolest parts of the Junior Mountain experience.  Advancecanvas01 d Artwork Logos winter stout logo resized 600They came to see it as their private hideaway- so much more unique and personal than a room in the base lodge. After the first full season of use, the management at Monarch is also very happy with the yurt. Eric Ramsey of Monarch Mountain said, “We are very pleased with the yurt we purchased from Colorado Yurt Company.  It’s been a perfect mix of form and function creating a unique environment that has enhanced our guest experience.”

The yurt at the base of Monarch for their ski school is an Alpine Winter Stout yurt. It’s a yurt that is designed for the extreme conditions found at Monarch- deep unbalanced snow loads. We introduced the Winter Stout several years ago specifically for customers such as ski areas that have high altitude and/or deep snowfall. The Winter Stout can withstand up to 170psf of unbalanced snow loads- which makes it the strongest yurt around. So, when the yurt is filled with kids, the snow piled on the roof is not a concern to the ski school staff at Monarch. They can relax and concentrate on who lost their socks or who will try their best Shaun White impression when they strap on the snowboard. And, that’s just the way we like it.

 

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Earth Day at Colorado Yurt Co

Posted on April 26, 2011 by brian

Colorado Yurt is a company that prides itself on being environmentally responsible. We have the solar panels on our roof, we recycle everything we can, use bio diesel in our trucks and try to be conscious of our impact on the environment in our day to day operations and decisions. So, when the City of Montrose started an adopt-a-street program, we thought it was a perfect fit for us.C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures 2011 04 22 001 100 0463 resized 600

Our adopted street is Rio Grande Avenue, which runs just east of our shop. It’s a busy road, traveled mostly by locals who use it to get across town a lot faster than on the main drag. It’s not very picturesque, certainly not a lovely tree-lined boulevard. It’s basically a road that runs parallel to the railroad tracks just west of downtown. The shoulders of the road are bare and unattractive with dirt and a few weeds. A large prairie dog colony on the west side is perhaps the most notable feature of our stretch of Rio Grande.

We celebrated a cloudy, cool Earth Day with a barbecue at lunch time, and then we worked on Rio Grande Avenue picking up the trash from Main to 9th street.

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Emma and Dan, the owners, cleaning up our street.

We think we made the street more attractive, and we’re proud of the sign that says the street was adopted by The Colorado Yurt Company.

Some of us also got in to the spirit of springtime and Earth Day by spiffing up our campus around the shop. C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures 2011 04 22 001 100 0458 resized 600 C Documents and Settings Ivy My Documents My Pictures 2011 04 22 001 100 0453 resized 600

Margaret, Ricardo and Anna cleaning up around the shop.

Our jobs included: getting the vegetable garden ready to plant, weeding and mulching flower beds, clearing an area for a platform tent to go on display, picking up trash and washing the yurts. We are also going to replace our tipi’s canvas this spring- so the entire place looks great and ready for spring and summer. After the work was done, we relaxed with a cold beverage from our friends at Ska Brewing in Durango.

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Clint, Steve, Jon and Duane enjoying a beverage.

If you are in the area, please stop by and see us. We worked hard to make our campus look nice, and we want to show off a bit. We’ll be happy to spend some time with you- showing you the yurts, tipi and tent. As you drive in, we hope you’ll notice the adopt-a-street sign out on Rio Grande with our name on it. As you cross the tracks and head over to the shop, be sure to wave at the prairie dogs.

 

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Our favorite coworker at Colorado Yurt Company

Posted on March 21, 2011 by brian

I’d like to introduce you to Arlo. He’s everyone’s favorite co-worker here at Colorado Yurt Company. He’s blonde, mellow, and friendly and does his job like a champ. His job, essentially, is to lie in the hallway sleeping. If you’ve ever been to our offices, you’ve probably met Arlo. He usually greets any visitors at the door. Arlo likes everyone, but he especially likes the people who keep dog biscuits for him. Because, of course, Arlo is a Golden Retriever. He comes to work almost every day with Becky, our purchasing manager.

Arlo

At first, when Arlo was just a pup and started coming to work with Becky, he wasn’t such an easy guy to work with. His first day on the job, he made a memorable first impression by going back to the shop and pooping on some yurt fabric. Perhaps he was just marking his territory. Because now he thinks he owns this place.

Arlo’s “spot” is between my office and the printer. So, every time I use the printer- I have to step over him. He usually doesn’t even look up unless I say something rude like, “Arlo, move your ass.” Then he cocks an ear and opens one eye. Otherwise, he just stands- er- lies his ground with the confidence of a creature that knows he owns that spot in the hallway.

Arlo- doing his job

Arlo’s favorite guy is Lonnie, our contract driver. If you’ve had a yurt delivered in the vicinity of our offices, you’ve probably met Lonnie. He’s retired, somewhat, and has the salty demeanor of a guy who is trying hard to disguise the fact that he’s really just an old softie. A couple of times a week, Lonnie stops by the office to see if we have any deliveries for him. We know he’s really stopping by to see his gal Lee, who works in the yurt fabric department and to see Arlo. Even before I hear Lonnie’s voice, I know he’s here. There’s the thump of Arlo’s tail as soon as the door opens. Then, Lonnie will say, “Hey, Hambone,” and the two old guys start their visit. Usually Lonnie says, “Let’s go visit the bushes, Arlo” and they go outside for awhile. They’ll circle back through the office a bit later, after stopping to get a biscuit from Lee. Then, Lonnie says goodbye to Arlo, and usually doesn’t have a word for any of the rest of us.

We found out last week that our favorite co-worker has bone cancer. Arlo still feels okay most days, and he’s usually still on the job blocking the hallway. But, we’ve all had to face the reality that his days are short. We don’t know when, but we know our office will be missing the best, most consistently pleasant part of our crew. We are all going to miss that big, hairy guy.

 

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