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Ann-Tyler Konradi
The Yurtopian Hill Country Resort · Wimberley & Dripping Springs, TX
She didn't start with a blueprint.
Ann-Tyler Konradi didn’t start with a blueprint. She started with one yurt, a stack of podcasts, and a lot of questions on Facebook forums. That was 2018. Since then, she and her husband Brian have built The Yurtopian into one of the most recognized luxury glamping properties in Texas — two Hill Country locations, 10,000+ guest stays, and a reputation for the kind of privacy and quality that most properties only promise in their marketing photos.
She grew up coming to Wimberley as a child. Now she lives and operates there full-time — which means her knowledge of the Texas Hill Country isn’t researched. It’s lived.
“The Yurtopian exists so we can share the beauty of the Hill Country with other people, and watch them fall in love with it the way we have.”
Who is Ann-Tyler Konradi?
Ann-Tyler Konradi is the co-owner and host of The Yurtopian Hill Country Resort, a luxury Mongolian yurt glamping property with locations in Wimberley and Dripping Springs, Texas. She and her husband Brian founded the resort in 2018 and have since hosted 10,000+ guest stays across two properties, making it one of the most recognized glamping destinations in Texas. She is a 2025 speaker at the American Glamping Association conference and one of the only U.S. operators with a direct-source relationship to authentic Mongolian ger construction.
Co-founded The Yurtopian Hill Country Resort with husband Brian Konradi · Wimberley, TX
Wimberley location opens · 6 luxury authentic Mongolian yurts
Dripping Springs location opens · 10 yurts on 46 private acres · 40 min from Austin
Joined American Glamping Association · Wimberley Chamber Tourism Committee
10,000+ guest stays milestone · 4.9 Google rating across both properties
AGA Conference Speaker · Featured in Texas Monthly, Southern Living, Houston Chronicle
What she knows.
01 · TravelTexas Hill Country Travel
Ann-Tyler knows the Hill Country the way a local knows it — not from a listicle, but from a lifetime.
Wimberley
- Walkable town — shops, restaurants, bars, live music on the square
- Blue Hole · Jacob’s Well · Blanco River · Cypress Creek
- Her picks: The Let Go, Nada Mucho, Creekhouse Kitchen, Community Pizza, The Leaning Pear, Sip on the Square
- Shops: Ceremony, Shelter, Wallstreet Western, Nightbird, Gypsy Market
Dripping Springs
- Wineries + breweries between Austin and Fredericksburg
- Pedernales Falls State Park
- Her picks: Natkhat Flavors, Thyme and Dough, Nectarine, Summer Revival
The contrarian take: Late October through December is the most beautiful time to visit — dry, mild, and completely overlooked by travelers who default to spring. Both locations are Dark Sky certified.
02 · First-TimersFirst-Time Glamping Guidance
The guest Ann-Tyler knows best is the one most glamping content ignores: the compromise couple — one partner who loves camping, one who’s nervous about the outdoors.
Their fears going in
- A strange or shared toilet situation
- Having to walk through the woods in the dark
- Being uncomfortable or cold
- Feeling out of their element
What to pack
- A bird-ID app · a stargazing app
- A romantic question card game
- A “state of the union” notebook
- A book, a craft project, a deck of cards
Every single one of those fears resolves in the first hour.
03 · ConstructionAuthentic Mongolian Yurt Construction
Ann-Tyler sources The Yurtopian’s yurts from a family workshop in Mongolia through Groovy Yurts (Ontario, Canada) — one of the few direct-source relationships of its kind in North American luxury glamping.
- Lattice walls: hand-stripped Siberian pine, joined with camel hide — not nails
- Roof poles meet at a crown ring called the toono, supported by two pillars called bagana
- Each yurt: interior cotton liner → sheep’s wool insulation → Tyvek waterproofing → outer canvas
- Texas adaptations: nylon ropes, tongue-and-groove hardwood floors, mini-split AC/heaters
- Canvas replaced every 12–18 months; a well-maintained yurt lasts 15+ years
“When we install a yurt, we ask permission from the yurt before we cut into the lattice for the window. It’s still a piece of soulful artwork, and our guests are sleeping inside one.”
04 · OperationsLuxury Glamping Operations
Ann-Tyler is entirely self-taught. What she built is the result of 7+ years iterating on what actually works.
- Handwritten welcome note + complimentary Prosecco on every arrival
- Cleaning standards extend to outdoor decks, grills, and dishes — not just the interior
- 20% refund policy when something isn’t working
- Benchmark for every guest’s first hour: they need to walk in and say “wow.”
- Units 300+ feet apart, separated by woods — no road or highway visible from any unit
“The single biggest mistake glamping properties make is building their units too close together to save money. You cannot cost-cut your way to a real escape.”
Browse by topic.
600+ five-star stays.
★★★★★
“The best sleep of our lives. We didn’t want to leave.”
★★★★★
“We got engaged here. The privacy, the stars, the hot tub at midnight — we’ll never forget it.”
★★★★★
“This is not what I expected glamping to be. It’s so much more.”
Two locations. One standard.
Units sit 300+ feet apart, separated by woods — no road or highway visible from any unit. Every amenity is private. No shared bathrooms. No shared outdoor space.
Wimberley Location
- 6 luxury authentic Mongolian yurts
- 5 minutes from Wimberley town square
- Near Blue Hole, Jacob's Well, and the Blanco River
- Dark Sky certified — true stargazing
- Each unit: heated hot tub, private bathroom, kitchenette, climate control, fire pit, grill, TV, WiFi, hammock
Dripping Springs Location
- 10 luxury yurts on 46 private acres
- Pet-friendly
- Central lodge for weddings, retreats & events
- 23 miles west of Austin · Dark Sky certified
- Each unit: heated hot tub, private bathroom, kitchenette, climate control, fire pit, grill, TV, WiFi, hammock
Common questions.
What is glamping?
Glamping — short for “glamorous camping” — is where nature meets comfort. At The Yurtopian, that means climate-controlled yurts, private hot tubs, hardwood floors, full bathrooms, and not a single shared amenity. It’s the outdoors, without the sacrifice.
Are authentic Mongolian yurts different from modern yurts?
Yes — significantly. Most “yurts” in the U.S. are domestically built structures that borrow the circular shape. Authentic Mongolian gers use hand-stripped Siberian pine lattice joined with camel hide, sheep’s wool insulation, and a specific structural symbolism (the toono and bagana) that connects back centuries. The Yurtopian sources directly from a family workshop in Mongolia.
What's the difference between Wimberley and Dripping Springs?
Wimberley is a walkable small town with restaurants, shops, live music, and swimming holes steps away. Dripping Springs is more spread out — bigger infrastructure, wineries, breweries, and Pedernales Falls State Park nearby — with The Yurtopian’s 46-acre property offering deep seclusion. Both are great; it depends on how close to town you want to be.
When is the best time to visit?
Any time — but late October through December is Ann-Tyler’s personal favorite: dry, mild weather, stunning fall color, and far fewer crowds than spring.
Is glamping good for couples who don't both love camping?
It’s actually ideal for them. One partner gets the outdoors connection; the other gets the hot tub, the mattress, and the private bathroom. Every fear resolves in the first hour.