Yellowstone Forever’s partnership with Yellowstone National Park Lodges, the primary authorized concessioner in the park, has spanned now over two decades.

They have a big job to say the least – managing all lodging facilities (9 in total with over 2,000 rooms) in Yellowstone in addition to five park campgrounds. Their services include restaurants, gift shops, in-park activities, and transportation. If you’ve stayed at the historic Old Faithful Inn, Madison Campground, or simply had an ice cream cone at the Old Faithful Lodge, Yellowstone National Park Lodges has been there behind the scenes making it all happen.

In addition to jointly running Lodging and Learning tours with the Yellowstone Forever Institute and offering discounts to Yellowstone Forever members at their retail stores, they’ve implemented an incredibly successful donation program at all locations and campgrounds. In fact, their Guest Donation Program has collected over $1.8 million since the inception of the program in 2003!

During the check-in process, front desk staff ask if overnight guests would like to make a voluntary donation to Yellowstone Forever as a part of their stay. Guests can donate $1, $5, $10, or any amount of their choosing. Through these efforts, and the generosity of Yellowstone visitors, Yellowstone National Park Lodges has made a significant impact in support of our mission to help protect, preserve, and enhance Yellowstone for future generations. This substantial support has allowed Yellowstone Forever to fund critical park projects like (but not limited to), the renowned Yellowstone Wolf Project (and other wildlife research), the restoration of some of the 1,000+ miles of trails in the park, youth programs like the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps, and more.

In addition to this monetary support, the Guest Donation Program helps raise awareness about Yellowstone Forever’s mission and how non-profit organizations, corporations, and individuals can come together to make a real difference.

In essence, Yellowstone Forever and Yellowstone National Park Lodges have the same core goals – to provide visitors with unforgettable and transformational park experiences and to help ensure Yellowstone National Park’s ecosystem and remarkable natural wonders remain intact in perpetuity.

We quite literally cannot thank Yellowstone National Park Lodges enough for this ongoing, fruitful partnership and their commitment to the world’s first national park.

Images:
Featured Image, Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Old Faithful lobby from above and Old Faithful Inn check-in, YF / Matt Ludin
Old Faithful eruption from Old Faithful Inn deck, NPS / Jacob W. Frank