New lodges being built at Yellowstone

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Five new lodges are under construction at Yellowstone National Park’s Canyon Lodge that will replace 400 outdated cabins.

Mia Bell, assistant general manager for Xanterra’s Yellowstone National Park Lodges, said the five new lodges will have 73 to 87 rooms each.

Three of those buildings will open to guests early next month, with the other two opening next summer.

The redevelopment at Canyon Lodge is part of Xanterra’s 20-year contract as the concessionaire in Yellowstone National Park. That contract calls for $150 million in improvements of Yellowstone’s lodging and dining facilities.

The Canyon Lodge project will account for $90 million. Other projects in that contract include the renovation of Lake Hotel and a new dorm at Old Faithful Inn.

The new lodges at Canyon will have a total of 409 rooms.

They will offer a range of rates. Larger suites that have multiple bedrooms and balconies will run $479 a night. On the low end, small rooms will rent for $122 a night, which is close to the rate at some of the old cabins.

“It is so much better than what was here before for the same price,” Bell told the Great Falls Tribune.

Xanterra opted to build five smaller buildings rather than one huge hotel to give the area a village feel.

The Canyon Lodge, which houses a restaurant, cafeteria and gift shop, will remain in place. It will also be renovated beginning in Fall 2016.

When the project is finished, the whole area will be connected by walking trails and bike paths.