Aug 2, 2024 - Things to Do

Peek inside a fancy yurt at The Wilds

Alissa Widman Neese

A sunset behind hills — Each yurt at The Wilds has a private deck with an unbeatable view. Photos: Courtesy of Brandon Neese

Here's an idea for a weekend camping getaway that doesn't require giving up your plush bed and private bathroom.

Last year, I spent my birthday in a fancy yurt at The Wilds, a safari park and conservation center the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium operates about 90 minutes east of Columbus.

It's home to giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses and a rare deer and antelope species that are both extinct in the wild.

Zoom in: The booking initially seemed expensive, but I found it more than worth the price. It includes an open-air animal safari tour, a hearty breakfast and dinner, WiFi, parking and hotel-like amenities.

You can add horseback riding, zip line, hiking and fishing excursions.
The view across the rolling hills is breathtaking during the day and on a starry night. You can't put a price on serene silence.

If you go: May 1-Oct. 31. $475-535 nightly for two people.

The view inside a yurt, with a canvas ceiling and king-sized bed — The inside of a yurt at The Wilds' Nomad Ridge, near Cumberland, Ohio.

Yurts on the side of a hill surrounded by trees — Nomad Ridge yurts on the side of a hill. Some accommodations are ADA-accessible.

Two plates of food with wine glasses on a table overlooking green hills — A delicious dinner with a view is included at a restaurant that is exclusive for overnight guests.

A view from inside an open-air safari tour vehicle — A view from inside the open-air safari tour vehicle, with animals roaming pastures on both sides.

A Grevy's zebra in a pasture — A Grevy's zebra, an endangered species.

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Peek inside a fancy yurt at The Wilds

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