Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn

Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of Wyoming is known as the mother park of the National Park System. Over four million people visit Yellowstone annually to see its hot springs, geysers, and abundant wildlife. The Old Faithful Geyser is probably its most famous feature. Most people don’t think about Yellowstone as the site of one of the largest, if not the largest, log building ever constructed – The Old Faithful Inn. The Inn is 76.5 feet tall or the equivalent of a seven-story building. It is mind boggling to imagine how it was even possible to construct a seven-story building from logs, considering that it was built in 1903-1904. It is also amazing how well this building, on such a grand scale, harmonizes with the natural surroundings. For me, it’s worth a trip to Yellowstone just to experience this rustic, architectural masterpiece.

I was awe-struck when I entered the building for the first time and looked up at the cavernous interior of the Great Hall. I am sure I stood there for a couple of minutes with my mouth open and my chin practically resting on the floor. An unbelievable sight! The truth is that almost everyone who enters the building for the first time has the same reaction that I did.

The focal point of the Great Hall is a massive, four-sided, fireplace, constructed from 500 tons of local rhyolite stone. A giant ironwork pendulum clock adorns the fireplace rockwork. Soaring above the ground floor are rustic balconies and stairways constructed from hand selected lodgepole pine logs. The gnarled wood railings and balcony supports lend an air of whimsy to the ambiance. The highest balcony is a small one called the Crow’s Nest,t where musicians sat to entertain guests in the early days. The Crow’s Nest is no longer open to the public nor is the Widow’s Walk on the top of the roof.

The Inn has hosted presidents, foreign dignitaries, and many famous people. Can you imagine the conversations that have taken place in front of crackling fires in the massive fireplace? It would be interesting to see a list of the famous people who have warmed their backsides there.

The Old Faithful Inn was designed by architect Robert Reamer and opened in 1904 when visitation to the park was 13,727. At that time, visitors to Yellowstone arrived by train and then boarded a stagecoach or horse-drawn carriage to Old Faithful. Originally, the Inn boasting electricity and steam heat, had 140 rooms. As access to the park became easier over the years and visitation increased, two wings were added bringing the total number of guest rooms to 327.

Rooms in the original section of the Inn, known as The Old House, are rustic and most have shared bathrooms as they did when it was first constructed. Rooms in the newer wings are modernized. The Inn amenities include a restaurant, lounge, deli, and gift shop. Guests should know there is no internet service at the Inn. The front veranda is a convenient place to view the predictable eruptions of Old Faithful Geyser. It is not inexpensive to stay at the Inn with rooms ranging from 200+ dollars to 600+ dollars per night, depending on the type of room and the season. Even if you don’t stay overnight, it’s well worth a visit and there are guided tours of the Inn.

In 1988, when forest fires ravaged much of Yellowstone National Park, The North Fork Fire threatened the Inn and the other structures at Old Faithful. The park superintendent instructed firefighters that the Inn must be saved at all costs. I worked with a ranger who was part of a heroic stand to save the Inn. He said it was a scary sight to see the inferno of flames coming over the ridgetop above the trees as the fire roared toward the Inn and other buildings at Old Faithful. They fought the choking smoke and fiery embers that bombarded the Inn’s cedar shingle roof and cedar siding. A combination of a roof sprinkler system installed the previous year and the volume of water sprayed on the buildings prevented any serious damage and the iconic Inn was saved.

The Inn is a national architectural and historic treasure. Its construction marked the beginning of the National Park Service Rustic style of architecture, also known as Parkitecture, seen throughout our national parks. It is as much of an attraction as any of the natural features that draw people to Yellowstone. If you ever visit the park, don’t miss the Old Faithful Inn. You won’t be sorry and be prepared to be awe-struck when you walk inside.