Old Faithful Inn Facts:
the Old Faithful area.
Post Office, Gas Station, General Store,
Medical Clinic.
Old Faithful Inn is an impressive log structure. Built in 1904 it just celebrated its
100th birthday. It is the most visited building in the area. The interior lobby towers five stories high
and boasts an interior made entirely of locally harvested logs and a fireplace made of locally
quarried stone. Everything in the Inn is big...including the volume of business each
summer! Old Faithful Inn employees stay busy as the summer season brings amazed
visitors from all over the world to stay in her historic rooms, eat in the dining room or deli, sip
beverages in the lounge and purchase items in the gift shop.
The Old Faithful Inn will have limited operating seasons in 2005 and 2006 due to an extensive renovation and restoration project. Full summer seasons are expected to resume in 2007.
Old Faithful Lodge was built in the mid 1920's. The large, log structure houses the front desk, cafeteria,
bakery and gift shop. A large lobby area with vast windows overlooks Old Faithful Geyser Basin.
Guests sleep in cabins adjacent to the lodge. Being the closest location to Old Faithful herself,
the Lodge is one of the first places visitors head for when the geyser finishes one of its
periodic eruptions.
This cycle of guests in and out of the lodge is warmly referred to as a "Geyser Rush" and
they are the routine each day at Old Faithful Lodge!
Old Faithful Snow Lodge Facts:
Old Faithful Snow Lodge...
Is the newest building on location. Completed in 1998, it is a showcase of woodcraft. The rough-hewn
beams used to build the interior are from the original mill where the Old Faithful Inn timber was
processed. Guests can choose a meal in the dining room or fast food from the grill, and
purchase a take-home memory in the gift shop. The Snow Lodge also houses a conference
room and comfortable reading/community areas along with a small, cozy lounge.
Employee Life at Old Faithful...
Dormitory-style employee housing is located throughout the Old Faithful area. Bitterroot, Columbine, Larkspur,
Laurel, Lupine and Obsidian dorms house two to three employees in each room and have bathroom facilities
that are either down the hall or between two rooms. Each dorm building has a community room, laundry facilities
and pay phone.
The number of RV sites at Old Faithful are very limited. Click Here for
more information about bringing your RV to Yellowstone.
What about off-time?
The nearby Firehole River is a blue-ribbon trout-fishing stream. It also offers one of only
two areas in the park where swimming is legal (and safe!). For more fishing and hiking near the water,
take a short drive to the trailhead of Shoshone Lake, located in the midst of a massive, old-growth forest.
Old Faithful is located in the southwestern portion of the park and is closest to the town of
West Yellowstone, Montana,the western gate of Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone is a
small, yet complete town with grocery, drug and clothing stores and an assortment of restaurants
and (dare we say it?....) fast-food joints. If you head south, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is
a two and one-half drive from Old Faithful.
"Geyser Gazers" are a phenomena unique to this area. These employees spend their off-time
watching and reporting activities in the basin, such as eruptions and changes to features, to
National Park Service staff. Anyone getting to know a Geyser Gazer has a good resource for
interesting information about the basins.
Old Faithful is a study in contrasts. At mid-day, the parking lots are full and the
boardwalks are crowded. Mornings and evenings are peaceful, with the buffalo
and elk outnumbering the occasional stroller.
Whether you enjoy a whirlwind of activity or quiet solitude, Old Faithful offers experiences
and moments that you will remember for years to come.
Old Faithful Lodge Facts:
What can you say...it's Old Faithful! Life here is a larger experience in every way that makes Yellowstone
different. A combined employee population of nearly 750 people gives Old Faithful a cultural and
national diversity that's hard to find elsewhere. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities abound for learning, playing and life-long
friendships.
Some resident buildings are a 15-minute walk from the Old Faithful work/guest areas and employee dining
rooms. Old Faithful area is a great place to bring your bicycle...just don't forget your helmet!
And...be sure to bring a flashlight, raingear, mosquito repellant and warm jacket!
Employee Dining Rooms (or EDR's) are located in the Inn and Snow Lodge. Old Faithful Inn employees
are asked to dine in the EDR located behind the Inn. Lodge and Snow Lodge employees dine at the Snow Lodge
EDR.
There is a lot to do in the Old Faithful area! Upper Geyser Basin, located right outside the Inn,
has some of the most amazing geo-thermal activity in the world.
Trails and roads take you from Old Faithful into a steamy, bubbly wonderland that could take an entire summer to explore.
Bison, elk, and their young, wander through the Old Faithful area, making wildlife watching
an easy pastime.
For daily recreational activities the
Co-op Recreation Department schedules van trips to local attractions and town, hiking trips,
white water rafting, big-screen movies, dances and live music.
The Employee Recreation Hall is located at the Old Faithful Lodge. This huge structure is home to
the Old Faithful recreation program office, internet access area, exercise equipment room, library and
full sports court. The rec hall stage is home to the annual park-wide talent show held each summer.
The Old Faithful Visitor's Center is a source of knowledge about the area. Daily guided ranger walks
and films are great ways to learn more about the park's ecosystem.