Experiencing life "Unplugged"

What To Expect

EXPECT the final access road leading to StoneWind and roads on the property to be gravel. They are in excellent to good repair at all times and completely accessible by all types of automobiles. Still driving at StoneWind is not like driving in the city.

EXPECT the road up from Chester to be a winding two-lane hardtop that becomes gravel just before you turn onto Wilson Branch Drive (which brings you to our entrance gate). Wilson Branch is a one lane gravel road that crosses a low water bridge then climbs steeply to our facilities. Do not drive TOO fast - no more than 10-15 mph.

EXPECT to cross two cattle guards on Wilson Branch Dr. (Cattle guards are round metal pipes set in the road to prevent cattle from leaving the fields). One is immediately above the bridge, the other farther up the road around a bend to the right. The cattle guards are excellent landmarks confirming you are headed in the proper direction on the right road. StoneWind's entrance is marked by two large moss-covered standing stones on either side of the road. Once you pass the standing stones, you are on StoneWind land and on StoneWind Dr.

EXPECT to be on the lookout for deer and other mountain creatures. Deer generally travel in twos or threes and can leap across the road at anytime--day or night. We are, after all, on their turf!

EXPECT it to be very, very, dark at night. There are lights on the yurt decks, but not on the roads. We provide flashlights in the yurt cabins for your convenience and each yurt is marked with its own reflective address sign.

EXPECT to bring food supplies for your stay. If you forget, the Chester Mercantile, located next door to Chester's Hotel on the main street in Chester, is a fairly comprehensive convenience store with a selection of refrigerated and packaged foods. The Mercantile also runs a snack bar that has great barbecue brisket sandwiches on its menu. The Mercantile closes at 6:00 pm. Should you prefer a larger store, Basham's Grocery is 9 miles away on Scenic Hwy 71 in Mountainburg, and there is a Wal-Mart Super Center at Alma, AR approximately 21 miles south off I-540. (Take the I-40 exit to Alma, go south on Hwy 71 to the stop light at Hwy 64; right on Hwy 64 to the next stop light. WalMart is on the left.) . "Popping over" to stock a few items for the evening will take some time. If you arrive without basics to get through your first night, we do stock a few freeze dried trail foods and MRE's--military style "Meals Ready to Eat." Trust us on this one: planning ahead is a better option!

EXPECT Crawford County to be dry, so bring any liquor or wine you might want as the closest liquor store is 30 miles away at either Fayetteville or Ft. Smith.

EXPECT good ole fashioned country cookin' at the Chester Café located on Front Street, the main street through Chester (5 miles down the mountain). The Café is open for Lunch from 11:00am to 2:30pm Mon-Fri, Dinner from 4:00-8:00pm Friday evenings, Breakfast/Lunch from 9:00-3:00pm on Saturday, and Lunch from 12:00 to 2:00 on Sunday.

EXPECT to find popular franchise restaurants, including the Cracker Barrel Restaurant and the Red Rooster Restaurant, at Alma, 21 miles south on I-540.

EXPECT StoneWind to provide coffee, tea, and basic condiments (salt/pepper, sugar, Sweet'n Low) in all kitchens.

EXPECT a "green" environment. We recycle glass, plastic and aluminum, and we use energy efficient light bulbs. We also use only organic pesticides and weed control products, and worm bins to recycle garbage.

EXPECT "Reverse Osmosis" water (properties of distilled water, different process) at the kitchen sink in each yurt for your drinking and cooking convenience (and for good coffee). All water at StoneWind is state approved, but in keeping with our "green" policies, RO water provides a high standard of purification and flavor that makes bottled water--and the attendant problems with plastic disposal--unnecessary.

EXPECT to bring insect repellent and walking shoes or hiking boots with socks if you want to take full advantage or our walking trails and hiking areas.

EXPECT all major cell phone carriers to work on the mountain. Exceptions are Crickett and most of the disposable cell phone cards. The land-line in your Yurt Cabin provides unlimited long distance but is on a party line with the other yurts. In using the yurt phones, please be considerate of other guests. The phone line in the Yurt cabins is unsuitable for modem connections.

EXPECT to be "unplugged," which means there is no cable or satellite TV reception. We have radios with good reception and televisions with DVD/VCRs located in each yurt. You may bring your own movies to play video "catch up" and StoneWind maintains a DVD/Video lending library with a selection of Soul Food, Mind Food, and Comfort Food. You can also rent videos from the Chester Variety Store on Front St. in Chester. But if you are addicted to TV, you may find yourself suffering from temporary withdrawal. Once you go cold turkey, you may be surprised to discover how much time you've actually been spending watching the tube...how much it has dominated your mind--your life. As you return home, this lesson alone may lead you to pick up one of our signature bumper stickers: "Take back your life. Turn off the TV."

"Unplugged," yes. "Unconnected," No. If you have a laptop with WIFI, you can surf the net from your Yurt Cabin via our satellite wireless network. If you are not WIFI capable, we have wireless radios in some yurts that allow you to direct connect through an ethernet cable thus bypassing wireless protocols. We also allow guests to use an office computer to check e-mail if you have no laptop. We know you might miss it, but there is no dial-up access in the yurts.