If You Get Stuck With The Original, Here's Why You're Actually The Lucky One.
Bryson City is awesome.
And I love it as much as my guests do. Just minutes from tons of great things to do in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains, the yurts at Sky Ridge in Bryson always fill up quickly. That's why it's always a bit of an awkward conversation to have when that guest that can't believe their luck at finding The Original available for their summer vacation plans isn't in Bryson City.
The conversation is usually the same. The reservation gets made, then they'll call and ask how far from the others The Original is. And when I say about four hours, I can almost feel the disappointment through the phone. Some cancel outright. Some say they'll need to discuss and call me back, a welcome pause before they cancel because it's just not what they were looking for in a vacation. I always help them cancel without any argument, because like I said, I know that Bryson City is awesome.
But here's the thing. A vacation in The Original in Mt. Pleasant is pretty awesome, too. And it's definitely not a consolation prize or a vacation not worth taking. In fact, I smile every time that guest that "got stuck" with a stay in Mt. Pleasant swoons with joy at their experience in the yurt that started it all.
So What's It Like At Sky Ridge In Mt. Pleasant?
Besides awesome, The Original Yurt in Mt. Pleasant is different that our yurts in Bryson. But not in terms of amenities. In fact, you'll probably find The Original to be much more glamorous than our other yurts. It was, after all, home to the coolest and most yurt-influential woman on earth for about thirteen years - my mom. She's somewhat of a celebrity these days since she gave a yurt interview on The Fit Farmer's YouTube channel a few months ago (181K views!). She's even had people come and ask for an autograph or two. I built Sky Ridge in Bryson in her image in about seven months. She's had thirteen years and counting to perfect The Original, and you're sure to notice all the extra little touches she's added - from the wood-fire pizza oven outside (there's a trick to it, and you can arrange a pizza party while you're here with our help) to the captain's ladder leading up to a sleeping loft your kids will absolutely love.
The Backdrop May Not Be Mountainous, But It's Still Breathtaking....
When you stay at The Original in Mt. Pleasant, you still get a sweeping view, it's just that the land is a little less hilly. The Original sits at the back end of about seventeen private wooded acres, just inside the tree line of a gorgeous rolling horse farm. There's a mile-long loop trail along the perimeter that's perfect for dog or kid walking or beginner mountain biking, and it even traverses a tiny creek across two handmade bridges. You can sit outside and enjoy the distant grazing horses and their guardian - our resident emu, Marvinella. She was raised as a "pet" and she's curious and just loves to pose for selfies with guests. The Solostove always sits with a "one-match" fire already configured and ready for each new guest. And there's a swing. Who doesn't love a good swing?
Yeah, But We Can't Raft.....
Not true. A stay at The Original in Mt. Pleasant offers tons of activities, even whitewater. About 40 minutes from the US National Whitewater Center, you'll find the drive is totally worth if for all the center offers. Whitewater, zip-lining, trail running and biking, stand-up paddle boarding, and rock climbing await you there, and you can do it all with craft beer and world-class food trucks within steps of whichever activity you choose.
Not your speed? How about a trip to Morrow Mountain State Park for an easy (or challenging) hike full of wildlife or a lake kayak excursion? Or what about a trip to Reed Gold Mine, site of the first gold find in the United States, to tour the underground mines on a hot summer day? Roller coasters your thing? Try Carowinds, home to the largest coasters on the east coast. How about the Nascar Hall of Fame? Or Tanger Outlets for shopping (Charlotte's got two of 'em). Foodie? Cabarrus County hosts Food Truck Friday each week through most of the summer, or you can make a reservation at 73&Main for a steak dinner you won't soon forget. Tired of reading yet? Because we could go on...in short, there's no shortage of things to do in Mt. Pleasant.
Original Sunsets Never Disappoint.....
Or you could also do what most of our guests that land at The Original Yurt in Mt. Pleasant do when they get here - maybe a little disappointed they're not in Bryson but still trying to make the best of it - they fall in love. They fall in love with the solace here, with the peace, with the disconnect from the world and reconnect to their loved ones. It doesn't take long for anyone who books a stay in The Original to realize this was the vacation they were truly hoping for after all.
To book your stay in The Original Yurt, just click here. We've still got plenty of summer dates available. But maybe not for much longer.
