Idaho Parks and Rec dedicates new yurt where 2016 fire burned previous one
Idaho State Parks and Recreation last week held a ribbon cutting for a new addition to its popular Idaho City backcountry yurt system.
The Petersen Yurt replaces the former Whispering Pines Yurt, which burned in the 2016 Pioneer Fire in the Boise National Forest. It’s accessible from the Gold Fork Park and Ski parking area on Idaho 21 and is closest to the Hennessy Yurt, which was the most recent addition to the yurt system in 2018.
Yurts are circular structures with fabric walls and ceilings that are designed to be portable. They have been used in Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia for millennia.
Idaho Parks and Rec spokesperson Will Armbruster said in an email that the new yurt was named for DeEtta Petersen (now DeEtta Dubron), who worked at the agency for 12 years.
She constructed the yurt along with her husband and Parks Recreation employees, Armbruster said.
“She brought work ethic, passion, and created unforgettable experiences for thousands of yurt guests,” Armbruster added.
The addition of the Petersen Yurt makes seven total in the Idaho City system, which was established in 1996 with the construction of the Banner Ridge Yurt.
Armbruster said the Petersen Yurt has been available to book since Dec. 8 and has had a nearly 60% occupancy rate since opening.
The yurt system is open year-round and is accessible by hiking trail in the summer and by skiing or snowshoeing in winter. Armbruster said the system has a 90% occupancy rate in winter.
Yurt reservations can be made online at the Parks and Recreation website or by phone at 1-888-922-6743. Parks and Rec uses a dynamic pricing model for reservations, so prices fluctuate based on demand. Idaho residents will pay up to $115 per night, while non-residents will pay as much as $150 per night.
Each yurt has a futon and two bunk beds and can accommodate six visitors. The yurts also feature a variety of other amenities, including wood stoves, dining tables and pit toilets.
