Please note that none of the rooms at The Range Rider’s Lodge have private bathrooms. Built in 1938, the Lodge is a charming historic building — but its age means it has creaky floors and thin walls, so sound can travel easily between rooms.
Room #2 offers a simple setup, featuring one full bed, a nightstand, and a dresser. Shared bathrooms are available in the hallway, and guests also have access to a communal area downstairs equipped with a microwave, coffee maker, and electric tea kettle.
The space
Your Space:
Room #2 includes a double bed and comfortably sleeps two. If you're looking for something similar with a balcony view of the iconic Amphitheater Mountain, check out Rooms 9 through 14.
The Lodge:
Originally opened in 1938 as the Gorham Chalet, the Range Riders Lodge was less a place for lodging and more an “indoor playground” for drinking, gambling, and prostitution. In its early days, Ernest Hemingway was a regular at the bar on Saturday nights—he spent a few summers writing at a nearby ranch, and we now house a small Hemingway museum honoring his time in the area.
Since then, the Range Riders has gone through many hands and eras, each adding to its colorful history and connection to our mountain community. Today, it’s a bit tamer. The Royal Wulff Tavern, located onsite, serves beer, wine, and a rotating selection of delicious small plates alongside Hemingway-themed cocktails that pay tribute to the lodge’s literary legacy. The bar is open for a few relaxed hours each evening and provides a warm, welcoming space to unwind after a day in the park.
The Range Riders remains the closest lodging to Yellowstone’s renowned Lamar Valley—one of the best places in the world to see wolves and other wildlife.
While the lodge’s beautiful woodwork and storied past can be appreciated by all, the Range Riders isn’t luxury lodging. It’s a rustic experience for travelers who value character over polish and don’t mind creaky floors, shared bathrooms, or thin walls. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind place with soul and history, this is it.
Guest access
All rooms are located on the 2nd floor of The Range Rider's Lodge. The 1st floor of the lodge is split: half, a large, open area with tables and chairs. The other half, our lounge and bar. You're welcome to explore the space and hang out wherever!
There are six shared bathrooms on 2nd floor. Though shared, each is used one person at a time, maintaining your privacy. Three bathrooms have a shower and toilet. Two have a shower only. One has a toilet only.
In the interest of safety and insurance, guests cannot use the kitchen, however, we're happy to provide restaurant recommendations and do have BBQ grills for your use outside (basic foods and charcoal can be purchased at our General Store next door as well).
Also worth noting, 10pm to 8am are quiet hours in the Range Rider, as sound travels well through our old building.
Other things to note
IMPORTANT: There is no WiFi or television in the Range Riders and no cell phone service in town. However, free high-speed internet is available at the Silver Gate General Store next door, and also three miles up the road at the Cooke City Chamber of Commerce.
The Range Riders offers a hostel-style atmosphere where guests often gather in the lounge and bar area to relax by the fireplace or enjoy a drink. Like a hostel, it’s a social space, but like a hotel, you still have your own room. Guests frequently return just to revisit the memories.
Each room includes a concise “Best of Yellowstone” guide written by Henry, the lodge owner, who has spent over 25 years in and around the park. At the General Store next door, we sell bear spray, wolf charts, and detailed maps, and rent out spotting scopes and binoculars. Our nature-loving staff is happy to offer tips for exploring the area.
Location:
Just one mile from Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance, Silver Gate is a tiny mountain town nestled in a dramatic glacial valley. Bison, moose, foxes, and even bears roam freely through town. The Absaroka Mountains rise sharply around us—home to mountain goats and bighorn sheep easily spotted with rental scopes.
With a winter population of just six and a dog for a mayor, Silver Gate is a peaceful base to return to after a day in the park.
