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Medicine Bow, Wyoming When I stumbled across The Virginian Hotel on the internet, I quickly knew it had big potential for a memorable overnight!
I remember laughing out loud as I sat at my computer, hunting for hotel options between Fort Collins and Casper. I hollered to Don in the other room. "You need to check this out! This might be crazy, but I'm game to stay, if you are!" Markers and Signs So we planned it into our road trip. Medicine Bow wasn't exactly on our route, but it was on the Old Lincoln Highway. It was worth a detour.
When we arrived at the hotel last June, we parked beside two old highway markers. I climbed out of the car and spotted a sign, with a quote, bolted right onto the hotel's cement bricks. The words reminded me that I hadn't done my hotel homework! The Virginian Hotel was named for the first western novel, written in 1902. I wished I had read the book, since I only vaguely remember the old TV series and movies. Standing Sturdy Since 1911 The sturdy, but stark hotel looked pretty quiet, sitting beside the highway and across from railroad tracks. Fresh paint helped hide the age of the hotel, completed in 1911.  It was odd to picture this hotel, 106 years ago, capitalizing on a book's success. But the hotel did just that. It was named in honor of Owen Wister's novel, which was set in Medicine Bow. I would love to have seen the town, back in its rowdier days of cowboys and railroad workers. Checking In We headed for the door marked, "Eating House" and met Sharon, after she finished serving some lunch guests.
Sharon was pleasant and welcoming, but she was obviously juggling a few jobs. There was a moment of worry, when the key to the "Owen Wister Suite" was missing. Peeking Around I tried not to worry about what the missing key revealed. I have a feeling, most visitors come to eat, not to stay overnight.
I just amused myself looking at the old cash register and the fancy call board. I'm still trying to figure out how those buzzers and arrows worked. Fancy Dining While Sharon searched, I wandered through an opening, with velvet drapes and found the more formal dining room.  The set tables looked pretty inviting, even with the stuffed critters watching from above. Sadly this would not be an option for our dinner, since the room was reserved for special occasions. The Room Search The key was found and we headed up the staircase in search of the Owen Wister Suite, on the second floor. The oversized mural on the landing, took some attention away from the worn and musty carpet.
I paused to grin and greet the colorful ladies, gathered around the table with their cards. I'm not sure how many or what kind of ladies, actually stayed here, in 1911? So Many Rooms The 16 rooms on the second floor were all open for viewing. It was pretty clear that no other overnight guests were staying. However, we were prepared to "not be alone" since we knew some travelers in the diner had been invited to explore.  During our own exploring, we found a cute little sitting room. I imagine this was used mostly by the guests renting the smaller "sleeping rooms". The "water closet" was also available for the sleeping room guests, who only had sinks in their room. The "Owen Wister Suite" At the end of the hall we found the door to our room. I'd been told it was the prized room, often used for honeymooners. Mostly we chose it, so we wouldn't have to share a "water closet".
There was a sort of confusing cluster of doors and entrances, but basically we had 3 bedrooms, a parlor and a bathroom... and 3 entrances to the hall. We entered the parlor first and found the old button light switch, right beside the nifty call button. The Parlor I'm a bit amused to see how elegant the parlor appears in my photo.  My eyes are drawn to the glowing chandelier, the antiques and velvet... the colors of gold and burgundy... even the pipes were painted gold. The Senses But there was much more than meets the eye. There were many visuals to distract me, but my other senses went to work.  The odors of old carpets and fabrics mingled with cooking smells from the kitchen. The sound of a train rumbling by across the street, didn't drown out the sound of the saloon's juke box, below our room. The textures of dusty wood and lumpy pillows and metal radiators... well, it was a lot to take in. Voices in the Bathroom My bathroom photo also looks downright cozy, however I had my concerns. The golden tub was cute, but difficult to use.
There were numerous pipes that came up through the floor, along with the voices, laughter and music from the saloon below. We were glad it wasn't a Saturday night. Bedroom Options Don and I aren't used to having so many bed options with our whacky overnights. We took our decision making seriously.  We could have slept in the yellow room with its sewing machine, if we hadn't been nervous about the bed collapsing in the night. The brass head and footboards leaned towards each other, even without bodies weighting it down. However, the mattress was practically touching the floor, so we might have slept through the fall. "Does, it even have a box spring?" Don asked. Two More Rooms The room with the single bed was easy to cross off. The bed near the bathroom looked sturdier, but there seemed to be a huge lump under the 1980's era bedspread.
I bravely investigated and found an issue with some kind of mattress topper. Nope. I wasn't going to sleep on that. Settling In Don and I have a lot of tolerance for the oddities of aging hotels. We choose places that amuse or intrigue us, over hotels that pamper us. Usually we just laugh and take photos. However, sometimes our photos reveal our inner discomfort.
After checking for clean sheets and deciding we were up for the "Virginian Experience", we attempted to settle in. I posed with a hat I found on the dresser and Don read a pamphlet. However, my expression looks anxious and Don looks a bit tense. We are usually so easily entertained, but there seemed to be so much time and so little to do. Exploring  I peeked out the window and spotted the old train station (now museum) across the highway. It was about 100 degrees, but we decided to explore.
After peeking in windows of the closed museum, we wandered around the back of the building and found the old bank, a laundromat and a very creepy old jailhouse. I had a good time comparing the image today, to vintage a photo. Dressing the Part Our wandering only ate up a little time. We headed back to the hotel and asked Sharon about ice. She graciously gave us an entire bag from the kitchen. (another hint that this was not a typical hotel) We headed upstairs and got dressed for dinner.
Now, that's something you certainly don't need to do at The Virginian. But Don and I sometimes amuse ourselves with costume changes and a cold beverage. We put on some western gear, in prep. Saloon Before dinner we stopped in the saloon, expecting to meet the voices we'd been getting to know through our floor.  However, most of the afterwork locals had already moved on and only one beer drinker was left. "You staying in the Owen Wister room?" He asked, sounding more gracious, than nosy. He said he'd been told to lay off the juke box since there were guests upstairs. He asked for our permission to play some tunes and even asked what kind of music we preferred. Ranch Furniture While the juke box played a Fleetwood Mac song, I took in my surroundings.
I found the hefty leather and wood, longhorn chairs pretty tempting. But we were drawn to the bar stools, where we could study the decor. Horns, Hats and a Clown Our new friend chatted about life, growing up in an isolated town, of less than 300.  He liked it enough to move back, after some years in more exciting places. Sad Emmett I recognized the sad clown above the bar as Emmett Kelly, the famous Ringling Brothers' clown. I wondered about the sad piece of decoration.
Our friend seemed to think he was a rodeo clown, which would tie into the western decor. Emmett was pitiful enough just hanging above us, but at least he no longer had a rope around his neck. We were told there had been such a rope, until an angry hotel guest made them remove it. Posing in Our Western Wear After Sharon hustled over from the Eating House to take our order, our new friend encouraged us to pose behind the bar.  I'm posing with a bottle because I'm not too picky about how I drink my beer. However, Don always asks for a glass. When he asked Sharon, she looked at him as if no one had ever made such an odd request. She looked at his bottle and said, "Your beer's in glass." Don and I grinned at that comment. Sharon wasn't being a bit sassy. She was just stating the fact, before she got Don a mug. Dinnertime There were no options in town for dinner, besides the hotel's Eating Room. Don and I took a table under the fine Virginian mural.  Local families and a few teens ate at the other tables and booths. Sharon teased some teen boys for ordering french fries when dinner was waiting at home. The hotel owner addressed a few diners by name, as he busied himself with some paperwork. Dining and Goats While Don and I settled into our good enough sandwich meals, I became distracted by a man who had stopped by the hotel to announce something about goats.
I ended up outside with a few other diners to see the 3 baby goats riding in his truck. He said they'd been born 2 hours ago and he was out to get them some milk, since they were unable to nurse. That was the highlight of my mea! Hunkering Down We had a few issues, getting ready for bed. A new wave of guests had arrived at the saloon and the voices and juke box music drifted up to our room. Don listed the options for soothing sleep sounds on his phone app, while I took on the light situation. I safety-pinned the drapes, to block out the exterior spotlight. I told Don we'd need to ignore the hall light glowing through the door's glass transom. We plopped our pillows on the bed and I gave a quick blast of soothing lavender spray.
We both lay back and laughed. We were amused by our accommodations and amused with ourselves. It wasn't even 10:00, but we were going to bed so it would hurry up and be morning. Shortly after 10 pm, we heard a door slam below and the final car pulled away from the gravel lot. For some reason I slept well and hardly even noticed the numerous trains in the night. Morning I woke before 6, when I heard noises from the kitchen. Don said he'd hold off on a shower, until our next hotel. I went for the claw-footed tub experience, using shampoo (from a previous hotel) as my bubble bath. No fancy bath products in the Owen Wister Suite.
We headed downstairs before 8 and turned in our key to a young woman. I sensed a bit of distance. She seemed uncertain about whether to ask about our stay. We headed off, grinning. What a curious place! What's Notable? It's an odd experience being the only overnight guests, in a hotel of this size. Is that what made our stay a little unsettling?
We weren't worried about safety or ghosts or even the dust and smells or sounds. But it was odd sleeping in a building that seemed more of a community gathering place, than a hotel.
I'll remember our curious and creaky Victorian suite and the fortress-like vision, of our isolated hotel. But I will also remember feeling like we were outsiders. When we walked down the stairs, we were the guests from the Owen Wister room. When we were in our room, the voices from the saloon reminded us that we weren't a part of the local crowd. Maybe if we had stayed one more night, we could have eased into the place and talked with more folks. Well, never mind that. I'm glad we stayed. But one night was all that was needed!
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Buffalo Bill's Hotel in Cody, Wyoming So, I've made it past 100 on my lists of Ninety Notable Nights.
Since Buffalo Bill Cody was pretty proud of this hotel he built in 1902, I'm sure he would be glad I didn't stop listing Notable Nights when I reached 90. My First Stay I've been curious about this hotel since Don returned from a business trip 20+ years ago. "You wouldn't believe this place!" He said, describing the creaky old hotel on a cold windy night.  There had been a door in his room leading out to the terrace. He woke in the night when the door flew open. I loved the image of the deserted town and nearly empty hotel. But when we arrived last September it was not so quiet. The porch area was crowded with eager tourists. Back in the Day The Irma, named for Bill Cody's daughter, was built not long after Buffalo Bill Cody co-founded the town.  He'd made a lot of money from his Wild West Shows that took him all over the world. There were no cars in this photo from 1908 ... just horses, wagons and carriages. No Cars on This Day Cars weren't present on the afternoon when we arrived, either. That's because, the streets were blocked off, as they are every evening from June through September.
Tourists can rent a chair for $2.00 and enjoy a little shoot-out with Buffalo Bill and some outlaws. I don't want to sound like a "been there, done that snob", but on a 4-week road trip out west, you actually see a lot of these mock shoot-outs. We enjoyed a brief view and photo, as we crossed the street to head away from the crowded hotel for a while. All Lit Up  When we returned, the neon Irma Grill sign was all lit and the streets were open again. Time to settle in and enjoy our fun little hotel. Our Friends We passed by numerous mounted friends on the wall, before heading up the stairs to find our room. There were a lot of celebrity friends of The Irma that I would like to have met, but they are long gone.  Wild West guests like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane would have kept things lively. I imagine the artist, Frederick Remington was a very different kind of guest. But what do I know? His paintings and sculptures depict some of the wildest scenes of the west, so maybe he whooped it up like the rest of 'em! The Irma Suite We wandered the flowery halls searching for our room. Floral wallpaper, floral carpets... and wonderful door-sized windows.
We didn't just stay in one of the historic rooms, we were guests in the very room that Irma once called her own. Irma's mother owned the hotel until her death in 1925, and I'm not quite sure what became of Irma. But, she was looking down on us from her portrait above the bed. And she looked pretty pleased, as if she had just finished decorating the suite with its mighty fine mix of patterned wallpapers, fabrics and carpet! Spacious!
Our corner room was comfy and clean, with radiators and a chain-pull toilet, to keep things feeling old. There were nice updates with retro tile and a nice flat screen TV mounted to the exposed brick wall. There was lots of space to spread out and if we'd come for a week, we could have put the very large closet to use. It was an interesting storage space, with no pole or hangers. But I did count 14 hooks. The View I always try my best to appreciate any room view. Our front windows had a nice little view of Sheridan Avenue and the Art Deco theatre across the street.  Best of all we had the fine, Irma Restaurant and Grill sign! I guess Mr. Cody never had the fun of seeing his hotel with neon. Luckily we also had sturdy blinds, for when we didn't want to enjoy the neon glow. The Grill and Saloon The hotel has a Grill and a Saloon, but it's confusing.
If you walk past the sporty blue car and go in the door by the neon sign, you'll think you're at the bar. Looks Like a Saloon There was a tin ceiling and a moose looking down at a few cowboy hats.  There was a chandelier made of antlers and best of all, the Cherrywood Bar that I'd heard about. But we were told, "No this is The Grill, the saloon is through that doorway." Fireplace & Skull We wandered back through a number of rooms and it seemed like they were all occupied with diners. I guess all those tourists had finished watching the shoot out and now they were enjoying a Prime Rib Buffet.
We weren't up for the buffet, but I did have to get a picture of the amazing fireplace made with rock, ores, minerals and fossils form nearby Big Horn Basin... with a little cow skull thrown into the mix. Silver Saddle Saloon? This wasn't part of the saloon either. These wonderful wooden booths with little buffalo shaped hat hooks and framed portraits and lots and lots of flags, was all part of the big Irma Grill with the cherrywood bar.
I don't have a photo of the saloon because it wasn't photo worthy. Just a '60's era bar, glowing with Monday night football TVs. But we did have a drink and a nice chat with locals about how friendly Cody used to be back in the day... and how frustrated the ranchers get when they lose their livestock to the wolves...and how there's nothing you do when you meet up with a mama grizzly... Queen Victoria's Bar! We finally got our chance to sit at the beautiful carved bar that was a gift from Queen Victoria to Buffalo Bill. She fell in love with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show when it performed in London.  Don and I absorbed the beautiful details as we ate a French Dip sandwich and taco salad, served by a terribly serious young summer worker from Bulgaria. So Many Buffalos As I stared up at the sweet carved critter on the top of the bar, I began to wonder just how many buffalo figures there were in the hotel. Then I started to wonder what Buffalo Bill would think if he saw these tourists sitting at and near his beautiful cherrywood bar.  A display case of old rifles took over the space where whisky bottles would have been at home. Glass shakers of sugar, salt and pepper cluttered the bar counter instead of mugs and shot glasses. I guess maybe he would be glad to just know the hotel was still there. Dreaming of Buffalo It was a treat just walking up that old stairway to our room that night. Luckily all was quiet on the streets below, on a Monday night.  I expected to dream of buffalo since we'd seen so many buffalo reminders in the hotel. Besides, we'd started our day driving through a meandering herd as we left Yellowstone Park. But I don't think I encountered a single one in my dreams. What's Notable? It was gimmicky and touristy, but I will happily put up with that, to enjoy an authentic piece of history. This was not an old hotel with a Wild West theme. It was the hotel that Buffalo Bill built.
Bill Cody made his money playing to the tourists and his hotel is still doing that. I guess that makes it all work out. I'm just glad we weren't there in the summer with carloads of traveling families or caravans of bikers. And maybe I'm glad we weren't there on a cold and windy winter night!
Yellowstone, Again After spending one night at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, we left behind the bustling activity of geysers and tourists.
We headed for a quieter part of the park. "Wylie's Lake Camp" Before this lodge was built in 1920, William Wylie ran a camp here, for tourists who slept in colorful, striped tents on wooden platforms.  Eventually they built this lodge for dining and recreation. There are still no guest rooms in the lodge, but eventually the sleeping tents were replaced with cabins. Our Pioneer Cabin, C-14 Don and I checked in at the lodge and took our key up the hill to the "Pioneer" and "Frontier" cabins.  In 1929, there were 250 cabins and today there are about 180. The Pioneer cabins were the older, less updated of the two cabin options. Neglected? I'm always game to stay in the less modernized rooms.
But the weeds and worn steps made the little cabin seem a tiny bit neglected. Summer Camp But Don and I were more amused than concerned about our dated room. It was perfectly clean and that's really all I cared about.  The fishing themed bedspread looked like something June Clever would have picked for Beaver and Wally's room. The window, above the bed was actually pretty charming, with a view of pine trees. Sink & Water Heater The wall near the bathroom was cluttered with important things.  Between the ceramic sink and the hot water heater, there was a maze of connecting pipes and covered electrical cords. In fact the whole room had intriguing connections. Plumbing Pipes and Locking Gadgets The bathroom revealed more pipes. Again, all was clean, but the paint on the inside of the metal shower stall was peeling.
The door locking system was a perculiar one. But no worries, since Yellowstone is incredibly safe. Unless bears can operate those locks! More Focus I must go back and focus on that sink one more time. A two faucet system requires a little extra work (for face washing) unless you don't mind using icy or scalding water on your face. I have to give them credit for providing a stopper plug, so I could mix the water.
And then I had an option of soaps! National Parks steer away from wasteful individual soaps and disposable bottles. But I had big choices here! The pump bottles provided nice quality facial soap and lotion AND I had a "real" soap in the shape of a bear. He traveled home in my suitcase. Lobby We actually didn't mind our little cabin at all.  It was especially nice since we were traveling with ukuleles which can be a problem, when you have thin walls. But the best place to spread out and enjoy some free time, was at the lodge. Corner Bar and Fireplace There was a small bar that opened in the evening and there were two fireplaces which were in use.
In the morning we enjoyed some coffee in front of the rock faced hearth. We didn't even have to share the fire with anyone. The Dining Room This spacious old dining room had big windows looking out towards the lake. The food was served cafeteria style, so we opted for a trip up the road to another hotel for dinner.  However, breakfast was perfect. After two weeks on the road, we were getting tired of being served. It was nice to just pour our own coffee and pay for a yogurt and sit wherever! Dinner? The ritzy Lake Hotel, was just one minute up the road. The old Colonial looking hotel, was mighty ritzy in comparison.  The guests were wearing nicer clothes than us and the menu prices were a bit steeper. I'm sure the rooms didn't look like our cabin, either. Funny though, the hotel had the the same lake view as our lodge, but where were the rockers? I don't even think they had a real porch. Our Porch Luckily we made good use of our lodge porch before we went to dinner.  We grabbed 2 "front row" rockers and stared out at the water across the grassy field.  Pretty soon the porch chairs were all in use and we had a pretty nice time sipping our drinks and chatting with our fellow rockers... ...or at least some of them. The couple to my right talked about how their Yellowstone Trip was planned around spreading a relative's ashes. We rocked and talked and it felt oddly like we were residents in a home for the aged... in a peaceful, not gloomy way.  Then "Debbie Downer" sat down next to Don. She started a monotone conversation with Don by asking where he was from. "Oh you're from Texas? I'm sorry..." She used this as an intro to her poorly executed joke, with a punchline that I'm guessing was supposed to make fun of Texas. She'd obviously been waiting to meet a Texan so she could try it out. Safe at Sunrise Don and I were determined to catch sunrise over Yellowstone Lake the next morning. We were also determined to lug along our protection since we promised our kids we would be smart travlers in bear country... and not make them orphans.
Our son had visited Yellowstone a couple months earlier, the same week a park employee was mauled to death by a grizzly. Scott gave us his unused bottle of Bear Mace, which was a requirement for wilderness camping. I carried extra protection, a primitive jingle instrument which would hopefully scare any bears away, before mace was needed. Peaceful It was so lovely and peaceful as we walked along the shore.  I spent part of the walk trying to mute the annoying jingle sounds coming from my bag as I walked. We clearly were not in an area where bears hang out. Morning! The sun rose over the mountains and it was officially morning!  It was such a stunning view and so very different than 24 hours earlier when we saw the sun rise through the steam of Old Faithful geyser. I liked this sunrise even better. Back to Camp We hiked back to the lodge... which is really not a camp. But it so reminded me of two camp memories from my youth.  The first, was a 2-night cabin stay with my Campfire troop... lanyards and poison ivy is about all I remember. The second was a two month experience as a camp counselor at Camp Waziyatah (for wealthy girls from New York) in Harrison, Maine. What's Notable? My memory of our stay at Lake Lodge will always be a blend of two cozy worlds... the cabin and the lodge. It was an odd combination of Summer Camp and Old Folks Home!  That sounds bad, but there was something sweet and simple about it! The fall travelers who filled up those lodge rockers were mostly retired. They had the time to stop and enjoy and chat with each other. Back at the cabin, I felt like a kid at camp. I wanted to move in a bunch of cots and gather my friends to join Don and me with flashlights and ghost stories!
Yellowstone National Park When Don and I reached this famous log lodge in September, we were about half way through our month-long road trip.
This was the overnight (out of 27 different places) that I had most looked forward to! Finally! I grew up imagining Yellowstone Park from images I had seen on The Wonderful World of Disney and Yogi Bear cartoons.  In more recent years I've spent a lot of time studying a large framed print that Don and I acquired. It's a painting of the original "Old House" with its steep, gabled roof. Less than two months ago, I finally got to lay my eyes on the real thing. Much Drama We arrived about 4 pm and the grounds were bustling with tourists. The eight fluttering flags on the roof seemed to add to the giddy atmosphere. The Old Faithful geyser was already sputtering and teasing a crowd that gathered on the walkway.
When the geyser finally erupted, there were cheers and cameras clicking and I had to remind myself this was real and I wasn't at Disney World. There's one piece of drama that we didn't get to see. We were 67 years too late to see the geyser illuminated at night. They removed the "searchlights" from the roof walk in 1948. Heading Inside I had to wait till late at night to get a picture of the red doors opening to an empty lobby.  I wish I had also gotten a photo of the crowds earlier. It was quite a sight to see the lobby floor, buzzing with guests, holding luggage handles or cups of coffee or ice-cream cones... all looking upward. Wood & Stone The multi-storied log lobby was mesmerizing. So many wood beams and pillars... supporting and twisting and curving.
And all that wood was surrounding the mighty stone fireplace, that rose right up to the top of the structure! Alive? Like a scene from Fantasia or the creepy trees in Wizard of Oz, I almost expected to see the rustic lodge come to life! Enjoying Every Angle After checking in, Don and I couldn't stop wandering. We had to view the interior from every level and angle.  I had seen photos before, so I knew about the impressive 7-story interior. But I felt like a little kid, gasping at the sight of Santa for the first time. How is it possible that a 29 year old man designed this? And how is it possible that they had the knowledge and equipment to start building such a structure in 1903? Eight Hearths and a Clock! The stone fireplace dominated the lobby with its 16-foot square base. The lava stone work was crazy enough, but there were some other exciting accents. There was a gigantic, gnarly piece of tree, nearly growing out of the stone.
And there were 4 large hearths on each face of the chimney, with 4 more tiny ones at the corners! (Enough space for every child-guest to hang a Christmas stocking!) Only 2 of the original 8 hearths still operate, but the original custom ironwork clock still tics and tocs. Love Them Stairs! We did a lot of stair climbing, looking for the best views and best seats. The crooked railings and swooping banisters were just comical.  I could picture Yogi and BooBoo sliding down that polished wood! Actually, many of the logs were once covered in bark. I wonder how much bark was peeled off by curious kids... or banister riders? Sitting Don and I tried out rockers and cozy leather sofas on both of the levels of balconies. Peering down over the railing, it felt like we were in an old opera house watching a show of people below. Actually, later that night we did see a "show". We sat near the clock's hypnotic pendulum and enjoyed the sound of music coming from a piano tucked into a corner across from us.  It was late and there were mostly empty chairs. It almost felt like a private concert. Then the performer, closed her piano and took out a cello. She moved to a chair by the railing and ended her performance with the most beautiful piece, that I vaguely recognized. The lovely sound was dreamlike as it floated into the open space. She finished and Don and I raised our hands high to clap. Others in different areas of the lodge joined in. So Much to Study Early and late when there were fewer people to watch, we still found much to study while sitting in those fabulous chairs. The whimsical supports and beams were constantly reminding me... "Yes, wood comes from trees." You can't forget that.
It's hard to imagine how many trees were cut down to make this lodge, yet how wonderful to see the character of each tree revealing itself, with all its twists and curves! And look how they clean those endless poles and beams! What a surprise to spot the young man using a towel and rope to dust, where no white glove would ever reach! Crow's Nest The "Crow's Nest" looks like a child's dream treehouse, perched right below the ceiling, over 70 feet up! Musicians once entertained guests from that platform and I can only imagine how magical that must of been, with guests dancing far below.
I don't know if anyone is allowed up there anymore. But, I spoke with a "tourist" who had worked at the lodge during summer breaks from college, 40 years ago. She said she remembered sneaking up there at least once per summer. "...even though we knew we'd be fired if caught." What About Accommodations? Original rooms in the "Big House" can cost over $500. 00, if you want a bathroom and view. If only Don and I had known to request one of the rooms along the "loggy" hall downstairs.
The hall itself was charming, like a Lincoln Log house! If you're willing to put up with a shared bath down the hall, you can have a room with log walls and some original fixtures and furnishings. Some won't put up with sharing a bath, but I peeked at the Ladies Room and it was classic! They had marble stalls and spacious showers with fancy tile work! I would have gone for that. Our Room Our room was in the west wing, which was added in 1927. The price was almost twice the cost of an old "loggy room" and we had to hike down numerous halls and down a few sets of stairs to get there. There was nothing lodge-like about our remodeled room. It could have been Holiday Inn Express.  The space was perfectly okay, with tidy Mission Style (new) furniture and a window looking at trees (and parking lot) We were fine with no phone or TV and we were amused by the stuffed buffalo on the bed. But I would have given up our very mediocre bathroom with shower stall, to have had one of the rooms in the Old House. Next time! Spending Time... Outside the Room With a crowded lodge, we were surprised to find open bar stools at the Bear Pit Lounge, with a great view of the etched glass and the carved wood panels.  I wish I could have better captured the whimsical animals etched in the glass. The images of lively creatures (many dancing) were inspired by the etched wood murals, that decorated the original bar. A bar that was built at the end of prohibition. Dining This view is from a balcony that looks down on the lobby, as well as the dining room.  It's also a spot where years ago musicians performed for diners, before they moved to their higher perch, in the Crow's Nest. We looked down and studied the room, hoping our 8:30 reservations would be in the more rustic front room, not the back addition. Lucked Out! We lucked out and had a great table,.  We had a view of the bar's etched glass and the fireplace, with the Old Geyser painting above the mantle. Cookbook Goes to Dinner Luckily my 1950 Ford Motor Cookbook, featured a potato pancake recipe, from Old Faithful Inn. I hoped to have some fun with this book. tried to place an order.
I tried to place an order for potato pancakes and our server laughed at my request. He said it wasn't on the menu. I told him I would tell him later, just why I had asked. (I've waited tables before and know when not to bother a busy server.) Love the Plate! I ordered rotini with parmesan, mushrooms and vegetables. Don went for some bison bratwurst, pheasant & chicken sausage with sauerkraut. All was pretty tasty and the old plate design made it extra fun.
When we finished dining, the room was quiet enough to share the cookbook with Christoph. He didn't roll his eyes at my Baby Boomer Nostalgia. He was actually delighted and showed other servers... who were playfully, happy to pose! The Great Outdoors! It's important to focus on the outside as much as the inside at Old Faithful! The laziest, most decadent way to enjoy the outside is from the observation terrace.  The deck gets jammed when crowds want a view of the erupting geyser. But it was perfect before sunset, with a glass of wine. ...or with a very HUGE bottle of wine.
This group was celebrating their 17th year in a row gathering at the lodge. They wandered the deck and shared their wine with anyone who was thirsty! Deck Views While lounging on the deck it was fun to have a closer view of the gabled dormers and the diamond paned windows.
There's no a.c. at the lodge, so we saw windows open and curtains fluttering. We also got to watch the flags being removed from upper walkway. I wanted to run up and see if they needed help! Views Old Faithful The rows of rigid benches were filled during dramatic Old Faithful eruptions.
It was a nice elevated view, but we preferred to be down on the ground... With the Crowds This photo doesn't even capture the immense size of the crowd.  It was pretty amusing listening to the voices rise and fall each time the geyser faked a big display, then fizzled. "Oh come on baby, you can do it!" One elderly woman encouraged. Better Yet But the absolute best time for viewing was at sunrise, when the air was still and chilly.
The sun made the geyser look like it had caught fire. Once again I was brought back to a childhood memory. I half expected to see the image of "The "Great and Powerful Oz" appear behind that steaming flame! More Steam... and Critters We wandered the wooden walkways on the grounds that next morning. There were such dramatic images of steam and clouds and eerie morning light.
But the biggest treat was spotting some furry friends enjoying the morning with us.
Two coyotes trotted through the grass not far from us. One coyote must have read the same sign we read, that warned us about the thin crust that covers the boiling springs and scalding mud. A dozen people have been killed. Mr. Coyote climbed onto the wood path and seemed to be content playing it safe, like us. The lone buffalo across the Firehole River, wandered a bit, then napped comfortably. Good-Bye Geysers and Lodge We explored the grounds until breakfast and check out. It really was an amazing place, with many more geysers and highlights than I had expected.  The Beehive Geyser was just steaming when we walked beside it.
By the time we got back to the lodge it was spurting up through the nozzle, while a couple of curious tourists observed nearby. That looked dangerously close to me! What's Notable? I was delighted to be able to conclude, the lodge was as charming as the old picture I've been staring at for years. We had a less than a 24-hour experience, but that was enough time to observe the lodge from different angles and at different times of day.  The Contrast! That's what I'll always remember. I was sort of amused by the carnival atmosphere when busloads of tourists filled the lobby and grounds at peak hours. But I adored the peaceful wee hours, viewing the historic inn without distraction. Only then could I really imagine 1904, when women wore long dresses and men wore hats and puffed on cigars. Guests arrived with steamer trunks... How lucky that we could enjoy the lively and the quiet side, of Old Faithful Lodge!
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
November 2024
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