Yellowstone and Paradise Valley

Let’s not kid ourselves. One of the things Montana is known for is Yellowstone National Park (though most of the park is in Wyoming). The first organized expedition of the area took place in 1870 and the park was “founded” two years later. Eventually, in 1883, Yellowstone got railroad access, making it far easier for tourists and travelers to get out to the park. But before any of that, the land and area were used by a number of Native tribes, such as the Tukudika. Anybody who knows anything about Yellowstone is aware of the beautiful scenery, the unique natural wonders, the varied wildlife (300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, and 67 species of mammals, to be precise), and of its status as the first National Park. That’s why, instead of mentioning the rivers, waterfalls, calderas, geysers, buffalo, bears, or bighorn sheep, we want to focus on one historic architectural feature: the Old Faithful Inn, named after the park’s famous geyser. 

Constructed between 1903 and 1904, the Inn was the brainchild of architect Robert C. Reamer and hotelier Harry W. Child. The Inn was modeled after log cabins, but featured electricity, indoor plumbing, and steam heat. As the hotel and park grew in popularity of the years, the hotel would receive a number of additions, include an East Wing in 1913 – 1914, which used plaster for a lot more generic design (due to the increased demand for hotel space), and a West wing in 1927, which brought with it automobile access. The hotel has stood against a plethora of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and harsh winters, as well as manmade disasters, such as the Great Depression and a series of poor decisions. Nevertheless, the Old Faithful Inn has withstood it all and is still accepting guests to this day. 

Just outside of the Park, between Absaroka and Gallatin Ranges on the way back to Livingston, lies the Paradise Valley, known for being the setting of the TV drama that has attracted so many people to the region: Yellowstone. Aside from the media attention that garnered, the valley is also known for its world class fly fishing. The stunning views make it immediately clear why this place is named after “Paradise.” If you want a small piece of that paradise, take a trip to the Valley’s own Chico Hot Springs Resort, founded in the early 1900s by Percie and William E Knowles as a hotel and natural hot springs resort. After William’s death in 1910, Percie would go on to convert Chico into a health spa with 20 hospital rooms alongside Dr. George A Townsend. After Dr. Townsend retired, the spa would be taken over by Percie’s son, who went on to sell the resort in 1948. Chico has gone through many changes since then. For instance, after saving the resort from ruin in 1973, Mike and Eve added a dining room that featured top class chefs and menus. To this day, Chico attracts locals and tourists alike to stay for a weekend in the historic hotel, dine in a world class restaurant, or simply enjoy the rejuvenating natural pools. You can’t jump into the calderas or hot springs at Yellowstone, but Chico Springs could scratch your hot bath itch.