Yellowstone National Park Lodging – Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins is one of the most historic and well-known lodging options inside Yellowstone National Park. Built in 1891, and restored in the 1990′s, I felt like I was stepping back in time as I walked through the doors of Lake Yellowstone Hotel. The main hotel offers an ambiance of the 1920′s with a string quartet playing in the lobby with the sun shining through the large windows that provide a view of Lake Yellowstone. As I walked around the hotel, I expected to see Vanderbilts and Rockefellers dining in the elegant dining room.
The Rooms
The main hotel, while elegant in the common areas, provides basic amenities in the standard rooms. You won’t find a television, you won’t find a radio, and you won’t even find air conditioning. Cell phone service is almost non-existent, as is internet. However, there’s no need for these modern conveniences as all you have to do is open your window for a fresh breeze and take in the wonderful setting of Yellowstone National Park.
I enjoyed my stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and found the beds to be comfortable, the bathrooms clean, and the overall experience wonderful. Before bed, I gazed out my window at Lake Yellowstone, watching the full moon hang in the sky, as its twin looked back from the water. It was a beautiful and peaceful sight. The next morning I woke up to see a Bison grazing in the yard of the hotel.
The Dining
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I enjoyed an evening meal in this elegant dining room. The white columns gracing the yellow dining room made me feel like I was in the scene of an art deco era movie. The menu itself offers a wide variety of sustainable and organic cuisine, including entrees such as Blackened Wild Alaska Salmon, stuffed quail, bison tenderloin, and many other options. It was delicious and much better than I was expecting, if not possibly one of the better meals I’ve ever enjoyed during my travels. Of course, no meal is complete without dessert and I highly recommend closing your meal with a Yellowstone Caldera, a warm chocolate truffle torte with a molten middle. Wine afficianados will not be disappointed by the extensive wine list, with offerings by the bottle and a few by the glass.
If fine dining isn’t what you’re looking for, you can visit the Lake Lodge Cafeteria or find a quick sandwich to pick up at the Lake Deli.
Things to Do
You may be on a road trip with hiking or outdoor activities from your base of Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, but consider one of the many activities the park provides. I took a Lake Butte Sunset Tour on the Historic Yellow Bus Tours. Our small group was picked up out front of the hotel and took this open air ride to the Lake Butte Overlook. We watched the sun set over Yellowstone National Park before heading back for a late dinner at the hotel.
If you’d rather see the view from the water, visitors to Yellowstone National Park can take a scenic cruise from Bridge Bay Marina towards Stephenson Island. You’ll get to see wildlife such as eagles and osprey, along with bison and other animals while listening to the history of the area.
For more information to plan and book your stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, visit Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Special thanks to Xanterra Parks and Resorts who hosted my stay at Lake Yellowstone.