Statement of Significance (as of designation - May 28, 1987):
This Landmark was the first building in a National Park constructed in an architectural style harmonious with the grandeur of the surrounding landscape. Old Faithful Inn reflects Adirondack Rustic architectural idiom, but blown up to enormous proportions. Its seven-story high log lobby is unique in American architecture. Created with gnarled logs and rough sawn wood for the Northern Pacific Railroad, it has a sense of place as identifiable as the Park itself.

Condition:
The Old Faithful Inn is in good condition; a three-phase project to upgrade the Old House portion of the inn has been underway after the last report was completed in 2004. Since that time, numerous improvements have been accomplished. At the end of June of 2006, the second phase of the restoration will be complete, resulting in the majority of the inn being in good to excellent condition. The current status of the Old Faithful Inn has been upgraded from a Watch status to Satisfactory status.

When the rehabilitation of the inn began, there was a potential threat from loss of significant historic fabric, and the potential for fire loss represented by such an extensive project. At this point, there is some loss of historic fabric, but this loss mostly occurred in locations not visible to the public, such as structural elements within the walls and floor support structures. Some previous modifications were removed, and damage from the 1959 earthquake restored. One serious threat was fire, either from construction, utilizing torches, soldering equipment, or other heat producing equipment. The contractor worked closely with the park’s structural fire department to keep as many open flame applications out of the structure as possible. Overall, the historic rooms in the inn received; new lighting fixtures, new flooring, repaired and cleaned interiors, rough sawn board and batten walls, and log walls were patched or restored. Two new public restrooms on the ground floor were opened as part of the first phase. A new check-in desk was installed; ADA accessibility into the dining room was redone. Numerous features were restored, or updated, including the heating system, the fire detection system, electrical, and mechanical and plumbing systems. The project has undergone Section 106 review for the last two years, and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (WYSHPO) has concurred with a determination of no adverse effect. Each phase was submitted separately to the WYSHPO, who has concurred on each phase as having a no adverse effect. The third phase of the project was initially estimated to be over four million beyond the limit set for the project. Work has continued to cut costs in order to bring the final phase in-line with the original estimates of cost.

Recommendation/Change since last report:
A preventive maintenance schedule should be considered to keep the inn in the condition that it is rapidly attaining.