Catskills YURT

$150 a night weekdays.

a largely off-the-grid, truly unique, 420-friendly YURT in beautiful Livingston Manor. A ‘tiny house’ with every conceivable amenity—full kitchen, hot shower, indoor toilet, woodstove, spacious living room, enormous sleeping loft, speakers for your music, excellent wi-fi—thoughtfully arranged to maximize space and ease of use. Our YURT is at the end of a shale road on a blueberry orchard. Guests are invited to pick all the fruit they like. The hillside’s high elevation provides an oasis of cooler temperatures during every summer heat wave. The panoramic view of the Catskills from the porch has to be seen to be appreciated.

while the setting is delightfully off the beaten path, it’s also a short drive to the cafés, breweries, and eateries in the charming village of Livingston Manor. World class hiking, swimming, camping, and fishing is even closer. (Camping and hiking gear provided.)

perhaps most importantly, our YURT offers more than a getaway. Guests learn how to tap a spring for their home’s water, the joys of heating with wood, how hygienic and easy-to-use a composting toilet is. A few days on the blueberry patch is both a rewarding glimpse of the sustainable life and an invaluable education in how comfortable a small home can be. If you’re considering procuring your own, spending time in one of ours will help you decide if such a home is right for you.

how to get here: depending on traffic, it’s about two hours from NYC. Take the Thruway to the very first exit, Exit 16 for Rt. 17 west. Follow Rt. 17 for an hour to Exit 98/Parksville.

what to expect: the YURT was literally just finished. Because it has a composting toilet, because it's heated with wood, because the property is accessed via a chip path not an asphalt one, invariably sawdust, wood flecks, and the occasional spider web make their way inside. The country will follow you indoors. Please visit expecting that. In the interest of keeping the place tidy we ask that guests remove their shoes before entering. You’ll have to walk about 75 yards from your car so… make sure those shoes are comfortable. The YURT sleeps two couples. House broken, well-mannered pets welcome. Expect a location that’s off the beaten path and, consequently, not super easy to find. But for ours, there are no houses in sight. Relevantly, our house is next door. (See photos.) We are quiet folks and you’ll likely hear little but the rustling trees and nearby spring.

what to bring: if you’re planning to pick blueberries or go hiking, bring clothes you don’t mind getting a bit dirty. A headlamp is recommended for enjoying the grounds at night and hiking up from your car at night. Speaking of cars, the shale road that leads to our YURT does not require a 4wd drive vehicle. However, you should drive cautiously if you arrive in a Prius or any other car that’s low to the ground. Whatever you’re driving, please do so slowly as the road is one way. Note: our Prius successfully navigates this bumpy country lane daily.

a standard release is required. Must be comfortable with a composting toilet and should know how to light a fire in a woodstove.