Shelter Designs

Our yurt builder story starts in 1999, when owners Hays Daniel and Vince Godby first met. Both were involved with volunteer activism work in the Yellowstone area, and shelter was a critical element in the harsh winter climate. Thus was born the first yurt (the furt as it’s known here at Shelter Designs, the stuff of legends).

In 2000 a migration of friends and family made their way to the Northwest corner of Montana to pursue the good life – growing food, building homes, raising families, making a handmade life. Hays and Vince continued to build yurts among other things, and in 2005 decided to make a go of it and officially established Shelter Designs.

One happy customer led to another, and by 2013 the yurt company had grown to a point where the 3500 sq. ft. shop outside of Troy was just not big enough any more. So, the decision was made among the families to move everyone and everything to Missoula, Montana. Missoula is a large city (by Montana standards!) where the opportunities for growth, both business and personal, were tremendous. Missoula is excited to have Shelter Designs, and we are excited to be here.  However, Lincoln County will always be in our hearts, hence the star in the Northwest corner of the state on our logo.