western Catskills YURT

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. The houses are 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 front porch has to be seen to be appreciated. If glamping is your thing, come and spend a night or two under the stars while sleeping indoors.

while the setting is delightfully off the beaten path, it’s also a short drive to the cafés, breweries, and eateries in the charming hamlet of Livingston Manor. World class hiking, rail trails, camping, and fishing is even closer. (Camping gear, hiking poles/microspikes, and mountain bikes provided.)

perhaps most importantly, our place 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 house 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. The cabin is spotless too. However, both are rustic cabins not hotels. Because they have a composting toilet, because they’re 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. Both the cabin and yurt sleep two couples each. 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 cabin and 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.

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