 |
 |
| Old Faithful Inn Renovations: An Update from Fall 2006 |
| GO TO THE OLD FAITHFUL INN 100th ANNIVERSARY PAGE |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Have carpeted areas been returned to the lobby? In an attempt to recreate the feel and look of the Inn’s lobby as it was in 1904, carpets are placed about here and there: in front of the fireplace, by the front door, along the registration area and dining room entrance, etc. Made of a tightly woven material (probably wool) with almost a native Indian pattern, they do impart a warmth that is very reminiscent of the Inn’s early years. However, the current installation looks temporary as the carpets are just tacked down with nails that can easily be seen. They are not laid flush with the level of the wood, as I have seen done elsewhere (banks, restaurants, etc.), but are simply lying on top of the new flooring. |
| Old House Rooms According to the head of housekeeping and from my own observation of several rooms, nothing has changed in rooms 1 through 246. It is the opinion of many, including carpenters that were repairing the west lobby interior wall, that most work so far has been directed to the foundation, roof, and exterior, but is now beginning to shift toward the interior. If all goes as planned the Old House rooms will have new carpeting, new sinks and faucets, new lighting, new furnishings, and new window treatment when the renovation project is completed in spring 2008. No one believes the rooms will be any more soundproof or that all the creaks and groans will be totally eliminated. Perhaps that’s a good thing. We don’t want the old Inn to lose all of her charm! What appear to be new heating radiators are installed in the hallways of both the east and west wings, the new restrooms near the Pony Express snack shop, and within the newly enlarged snack shop itself. They are nice replicas of the ones they replace, right down to the gurgling, hissing, and banging. I still wonder what happened to the lobby’s large three-vent gas heater that I watched, as a young boy in the 1950’s, slowly rotate above the stone water fountain. It was removed about a year ago, probably never to be returned. There are now large, shiny, new women's and men’s restrooms in the west wing hallway, just past a newly constructed Pony Express snack shop exit. At first I was baffled as to how such a large restroom area was created, but after a little studying I realized what had been done. The shower facilities have been removed. As far as I can tell all ground floor, west wing, Old House guests desiring to wash off the dust of their daily adventure must go up the small, whimsical flight of stairs next to room 5 on the front side, to the second floor shower/tub accommodations. Evidently, the designers and architects felt a new large public restroom is more important than the comfort and convenience of the Inn’s paying guests. I hope I am wrong about this, and that what I observed is not a permanent situation. The east wing restrooms and shower/tub facilities have not been changed. |
| New west wing men's restroom near Pony Express snack shop. |
| Replacement lobby hardwood flooring and rugs |
| Answers to some FAQs about the Inn's Renovation text and photos by Garrett Kent |
| Has the temporary covering over the front walkways been removed? Yes. All the plywood paneling, plastic sheeting, and scaffolding has been removed. In fact, from the front of the Inn the only obvious giveaway that this is a work in progress is the large sign listing the architects and various contractors that are involved in the multimillion dollar project. |
| What areas of the Inn are still undergoing renovation? I observed what appeared to be a huge underground electrical service vault being constructed on the backside of the Inn, behind the Bear Pit Lounge. This involved many workers, cement trucks, and various equipment. Also, as stated earlier, the lobby’s second floor interior west wall was being reshingled. I was told that repairs on the large lobby fireplace chimney are still being done, but saw no signs of work. There was evidence of fresh concrete work being done around the base of the large pillars on the front side of the east wing. Much equipment and supplies including lumber, wiring, concrete, metal flashing, etc., were stored in a fenced-in area behind the west wing service entry, probably in preparation for the next phase of construction that was to begin as soon as the last guest checked out on October 10. |
| In closing, it is obvious that the bulk of the work performed so far has been directed at strengthening the roof and foundation: most of it undetectable but sorely needed. As the job progresses this fall and winter more interior problems will be addressed. Many have been critical of the slow pace of the work. Indeed, I was told that the present general contractor, Swank Enterprises, is being replaced because of this. I am as anxious as the next guy to see the Inn not as a construction site, but with that soft inviting glow welcoming travelers to her inspiring lobby and providing that wonderful amazing first impression that I experienced many years ago. However, I want the work to be performed safely, correctly, and skillfully. The Inn deserves the best. The Old Faithful Inn probably feels that she has been chosen to be on the popular television show “Extreme Makeover”! Many things have been done or are planned for her, but ultimately most of the changes will be subtle or even unseen. When completed, the renovations will, it is hoped, reveal the Inn as she looked in her youth, but with a new backbone of steel reinforced concrete that will help her endure another hundred years of Yellowstone’s harsh environment. |
| New entrance (above) and exit (right) to the Pony Express snack shop. |
| Ornate lobby staircase (above) now engulfed by Pony Express snack shop. |
|
|
| How many flag poles now stand atop the Old Faithful Inn? A total of eight poles are erected at the peak of the newly shingled main lobby roof. Four flags were flying: Old Glory and the Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho state flags. |
| Has the Pony Express snack shop been made smaller to accommodate the new restrooms? The Pony Express snack shop, with its delicious huckleberry ice cream, now engulfs the entire staircase that leads to private service areas downstairs. The snack shop main entrance is now located directly to the right of the original stone drinking fountain, and an exit door has been cut through to the west wing hallway, just left of the new women’s restroom. Overall, the snack shop is now much bigger by at least 300 to 500 square feet. |
| General Have any of the offices behind the registration desk been converted back to guest rooms? The consensus regarding the converting of office space in the first floor hallway back to guest rooms is that it will not happen. The registration manager conveyed to me that the current office space is woefully inadequate and will definitely not be relinquished. |
| Are the long pipes of the sprinkler system still exposed in the interior lobby ceiling? The large black pipes that are part of the fire sprinkler system are no longer visible in the lobby, but are still totally exposed in the dining room. I don’t mind these pipes: I see them as the saviors of the Inn. These conduits of water were installed shortly before the fires of 1988 and are credited with snuffing out the embers that fell on the roof of the Old Faithful Inn. |
| Does the new lobby flooring change the atmosphere? The new hardwood flooring that covers the entire lobby and flows down two steps and a ramp into the dining room, is lighter in color than the original. I was not alone in thinking that this blond wood is not as cozy as the much darker original flooring. It seems too contemporary to me, but I was assured by a carpenter visiting the Inn that this new light wood will darken with age. Let’s hope! |
| The Lobby Is more than one fireplace being used now? No. In fact, none of the eight hearths are presently in use. The work on the roof and chimney is still progressing and it is hoped that all eight of the openings will be functional by spring 2008. An interesting note: it is now believed the tiny corner fireplaces may actually be fire starting boxes. Kindling was placed in the small openings and stoked to red hot coals, whereupon a shovel was used to transfer the coals to one or more of the large fireplaces, igniting the logs into a roaring inferno. |
| Thanks to Garrett Kent for this report on the progress of the Old Faithful Inn's restoration. Garrett stayed at the Inn in late September and early October 2006, and took the time to write down these observations. He has been a regular observer of the park and the Old Faithful Inn for the past 50 years, and remembers exploring the Inn with his brother as a child just hours before the deadly earthquake of August 1959 shook the area, causing serious structural damage to the Inn: damage that is only now being properly corrected in the course of these extensive renovations. To add to his own observations, Garrett spoke with a cross section of workers and park staff familiar with the planning and progress of the Inn's renovations, and has sent this report along with accompanying photos. |
|
|
| (For a Fall 2007 renovation update, click here) |