Right on the lake, 1 mile south of Lake Junction, the oldest hotel in the park dates from 1891, but even so, it glistens, frozen in the 1920s, giving guests a true feeling of the park's heritage.
White columns lead to the entrance of this colonial-style building, where the large sitting area is more like a living room, and guests relax on cheery, tan, wicker furniture, listen to a string quartet, or gaze out huge windows at boats crossing the lake. Though not as famous as the Old Faithful Inn, this
hotel, with its buttery yellow walls and tastefully carpeted hallways and guest rooms, has an air of elegance found nowhere else in the park.
Beyond the small bar, the large rattan-fitted dining room is capable of feeding busloads while retaining an intimate feel, especially at dinner (when reservations are a must). For those in a hurry, a delicatessen is also on the premises, providing great boxed lunches for impromptu picnics.
Excursions and riding attract active folk, and a shuttle runs to Fishing Bridge and its marina. A large gift shop in the lobby is filled with furnishings and clothing not found in other park stores. Another general store with a grand selection for kids is nearby.
Smoke-free accommodations are in three- and four-story wings and cabins. The better rooms are among the nicest in the park, with stenciled walls and traditional spreads atop one queen or two double beds, phones, and roomy baths. Smaller rooms in the annex have paired double beds and phones, while the knotty-pine-paneled cabins, with paired doubles and no phones, are the lowest-priced choices.
For those seeking an elegant environment, this hotel offers the best option in the park. The entire property is smoke free and operates mid May-early October.
