Old Faithful

"Out West 2010" included a stop at the most famous "attaction" in Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful. We spent the morning looking around.

Watching the geyser.

(ooooooo ahhhhhh)

Ok now you've seen it.

Off to tour the Old Faithful Inn and Lodge.

It was truly a spectacular show of architecture.

The Inn itself has been standing for nearly 106 years.

A piece of log structure. As if to say "behave or else."

With its spectacular log and limb lobby.
AND massive 500 ton, 85 foot fireplace. AMAZING!
If that fireplace doesn't make you want to snuggle up in one of the cozy chairs and sip on a cup of hot cocoa or coffee, I don't know what will.

Amazing architecture.

Where that window is located is a "crows nest" that at one time was accessible to the public. An earthquake shook Yellowstone in 1959, thus making the access unstable. So, unfortunately, we can see the spectacular views from that little hideaway. It is said that this earthquake shook the Inn off its foundations!

But just look at the beam structure. Its is all original. Truly stunning.

Story has it that the Inn is the largest log hotel in the world and possibly even the largest log building in the world.

In the fires of 1988, firemen continually sprayed water on the roofs of the Inn to protect the structure. It managed to survive the massive fires, which destroyed thousands of acres of forest, unscathed.

It was an awe inspiring site. A must see on the list at Yellowstone.

Hugs, M