Xanterra announced that Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Snow Lodge closed Tuesday, October 13, for the Winter 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19.
In accordance with the closure all rooms services and concessionaires, such as the restaurant and gift shop, has ceased operations.
In-house guests were able to keep their rooms until Tuesday morning. Guests with existing reservations will have those reservations canceled and refunded unless they request relocation to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel for the same date.
Xanterra officials stress there is “very little availability” at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, so it’s unlikely many visitors who request a transfer will be able to obtain one.
It has been suggested that stranded guests contact the chambers of commerce in Cody, WY, Jackson, WY, West Yellowstone, MT, Cooke City/Silver Gate MT, or Gardiner, MT for information on lodging in those gateway communities.
The sudden closure was announced after several COVID-19 cases were sourced to the Old Faithful area. Employees who either tested positive, presented COVID-like symptoms, or interacted with positive individuals have been contacted by health officials. Those employees are quarantining, as necessary.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Xanterra has been committed to guest and employee safety. They suspended all hotel operations in Yellowstone from March until May 21 and have required masks in the park’s hotels and concessionaries since they reopened.
This isn’t Xanterra’s first early closure this year. Similar circumstances led to the closure of the Madison Campground one week early on Sunday, October 11.
With the closure of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, there will be no overnight accommodations at Old Faithful for the entire winter.
