The workshop and showroom
Hess Pottery’s workshop and showroom (pictured above) is open to the public during business hours. During the summer months, the large screens on all sides permit free flow of clean Ozark air. (In the photo above, the screens occupy the large triangular areas below the peaks in the roof.)
Yurts (or Gurs) were originally circular domed tents, made of skins or felt stretched over a collapsible lattice framework, used by nomadic peoples of inner Asia. The word allegedly comes from the Russian dialect “yurta”, of Turkish origin. There are debates over the proper name, definition and origin of these structures. The Hess Pottery yurt is a permanent structure inspired by the yurt form.
Yurt under construction
In the spring of 1979, Bill Coperthwaite taught the workshop during which the shop was designed and the basic structure was built.
With the help of Tom’s parents and friends, and potential yurt builders from all over, the process took about three weeks. Rab Krusell, now of Hilltop Catering in Reeds Spring, fed the crew.
Tom and Lory did the finishing touches during the summer – when they weren’t creating. Since then others have taken yurts beyond the realm of owner-built structures and spun-off in many directions…
For more information on yurts, visit YurtPeople.com and YurtForum.com.
If you are interested in moving to the Branson area of Missouri and would like to purchase this unique property,
please see our > Yurt Property page < –.Sorry – you’re too late!