Phase One of the property includes 52 guest rooms, a family dining restaurant and lounge, two-story main entrance, two-story lobby fireplace, hardwood floors, heavy timber construction, exterior log columns and cedar shingle roof.  Guest rooms at the lodge are priced at $121 plus tax per night. Guests also can stay at 34 Western and Frontier Cabins located near the lodge.

Reflecting Yellowstone�s commitment to recycling, all of the pine and cedar heavy timbers used in the new Old Faithful Snow Lodge came from older buildings facing the wrecking ball.  In fact, timbers used for the porte cochere came from a dismantled sawmill owned by Aloha Lumber Company out of Pacific Beach, Wash. Aloha supplied lumber and cedar shingles for the original Old Faithful Inn in 1903/04. The new Old Faithful Snow Lodge was designed by A&E Architects of Billings, Mont. The general contractor is Groathouse Construction of Laramie, Wyo.

"While maintaining the charm and ambience found in national park lodges constructed in the early part of this century, the lodge offers modern-day comforts and amenities that today�s travelers expect,� said Jim McCaleb, general manager of Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Funding for the new Snow Lodge came from Amfac, which invests 20 percent of its gross receipts to improve facilities and operations in the park � 10 percent of which is specifically earmarked for capital improvements. Although the company had steadily contributed to the capital improvement account, there still was not enough money to fund the estimated $19 million project. Amfac made an additional $6 million commitment in exchange for consideration on future franchise fees and other incentives. It is also acting as project manager, put the project out for bids and awarded contracts.

Phase Two is scheduled to open May 1999 and will feature an additional 48 guest rooms, a quick service restaurant and a retail/ski rental shop.

Amfac operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops and activities throughout Yellowstone.  Lodges include the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, Old Faithful Inn, Grant Village, Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, Lake Lodge Cabins, Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins, four campgrounds and an RV park. In addition to Yellowstone National Park, Amfac operates concessions at the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Everglades National Park, Death Valley National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Petrified Forest National Park. The company also manages resorts in Napa, Calif.; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Nebraska City, Neb.; and at eight Ohio State Parks and three North Georgia State Parks. 

For reservations at Yellowstone call 307-344-7311 or visit the Yellowstone web site at http://www.ynp-lodges.com. Reservations at other national park lodges can be made by calling 303-29-PARKS or visiting Amfac's web site at http://www.amfac.com.