we currently live in Southren Indiana and we think we are going to do this in 8 yrs when the last kid moves out so I have time but I want to get as much info as I can
8 years Wow, I thought I like to plan ahead!!! I actually have/ had my whole Yurt planned out. It would look like Mickey Mouses head. A 30 ft yurt for family/ kitchen/ main bathroom area. Then a central hall with two "ears" on either end for bedrooms. I have actually drawn the floor plan with furniture placement. This was before my 3rd child though. I may need to add another 12ft bedroom on there.
I think I would build a platform so I could run all main lines under the deck but still have them accessible.
We stayed in a yurt outside of Yosemite. It was such a comfortable place. I thin it was a 24 ft diameter and had a ton of space.
I know in Colorado the have a festival in the spring. Somewhere up north, but Colorado Yurts does demonstrations and has yurts lectures. Maybe you could attend one in the next 8 years.