Have you visited our yurt at Chatfield Farms?

If you’ve wandered the wooded trails of Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms you may have noticed an innocuous rounded tent structure situated among the colorful flowers, the majestic Rocky Mountain foothills in the background. Maybe you’ve thought to yourself, “What the heck is that? A tent? A shed? An art installation?” It is, in fact, a yurt. “What’s a yurt?” you might ask, and the short answer is a rounded tent-like structure held up by a curved lattice wood frame and central beams. The longer answer, however, spans a history of nearly 3,000 years. 

Yurt, also known as gers, were first built by the nomadic people of the central Asian steppes. The word yurt comes from the Turkic word referring to the imprint in the grass the tent leaves behind. Used for centuries as a reliable and easy-to-move housing unit, they became widespread throughout Mongolian and other central Asian horse cultures. Originally constructed out of stretched animal hides and a collapsible lattice framework, yurts could be broken down and moved easily from place to place. Not only did this allow for hunter-gathers to follow animal herds, it also allowed for warlords like Genghis Khan to quickly conquer most of Asia and parts of Europe. 

Today they are still used most notably by the peoples of Mongolia, but they have also seen a surge in popularity across the United States. Now more commonly associated with hippies than warlords, they have become a popular housing alternative and offer a cozy and charming space. 

Although a little more high-tech than its ancestors, equipped with AC to cool it in the summer and heat to warm it in the winter, our yurt is much the same—a charming alternative space for events or social gatherings. With room for up to 50 guests it’s a truly unique space for your next meeting or retreat and a private place get ready for a wedding. Surrounded by acres of gardens and farmland it also offers great opportunity to get away from the busyness of the office and reset in the stillness and peace of nature. 

Inquire about reserving the yurt for your event.