An Incredible Piece Of Americana And An Amazing Location
The Old Faithful Lodge is the original lodge in the very first National Park in America, making it a popular destination for well over 100 years.
The Old Faithful Inn sits right in the middle of one of Earth’s most active geyser fields and very near its namesake, the Old Faithful geyser.
Named after the largest and most regular geyser in the basin the inn started construction in 1903. At the Old Faithful Inn epitomized the use of rustic architecture on a grand scale and has become a model for other major wilderness themed architecture, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Construction was done using local stone for the building’s foundation, and local lodgepole pine logs for its walls. Craftsmen framed the windows and stairways with gnarled wood selected for its beauty and character. It was designed by architect Robert Reamer, and the inn combines rugged materials and organic motifs in a way that expresses both frontier sensibilities and elegance.
The Old Faithful Inn opened in 1904, and was equipped with electric lighting, but Reamer designed the light fixtures to look like candlesticks. Both the electricity and the radiators were fueled by a unique steam generator taking advantage of the geo-thermal fields nearby. Dinner was accompanied by a string quartet (which is still a feature of the lodge), and dancing was customary on most nights. The east wing was added in 1919 and the west wing was added in 1927, both under Reamer’s supervision, bringing the inn’s total number of guest rooms to 340. Since that time annexes have been added to increase occupancy and provide for park staff.
Just being in the Upper Geyser Basin is the experience of a lifetime and spending time at the inn is just icing on the cake. The lodge is a magnificent structure with a lobby that stands four stories high with numerous seating areas, a huge fireplace and includes a main dining room, a snack bar and a bar that features light fare. The rustic architectural details are worth special attention and there is a front second story porch where you can sit and watch the geyser shows.
It seems almost a requirement to have at least one meal in this historic log dining room with its impressive stone fireplace, as much for the ambiance as the food. The best buys are a buffet breakfast, a nice lunch menu and a buffet option for dinner. The general store, just down the hill, has a good lunch counter but it closes in the afternoon and there is a cafeteria in the newest building off to the side of Old Faithful.
Room and food prices are not really excessive considering the location. There is, however, very little to brag about in the Spartan guest rooms inside the old inn that offer no air conditioning, no TV or WiFi, but luxurious accommodations are not what draws most people here.
There is one serious issue with The Old Faithful Inn – getting reservations. Officially reservations are made through the National Park Service, but there is very little chance of getting a room. Booking for each year has a start date but within hours the entire year is booked out. Most of the reservations are quickly taken up by tour companies and independent brokers. Land tours to Yellowstone with a stay at the inn are big business with a number of excursion buses there every day. Talking to a NPS representative we were given the names of a couple of booking companies where you’ll pay a “convenience” fee in making a booking.
The Intentional Travelers 