The most popular place to stay at Yellowstone National Park is Old Faithful Inn, opening in 1904. The iconic wooden facility is a symbol for the park; its pitched roof, wooden shingles, massive fireplace and huge lobby is instantly recognizable to millions of park visitors.

It is not the flashiest hotel in Yellowstone National Park, lacking the iconic grandeur of Old Faithful Inn or the modern/rustic design of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. But as the oldest structure in Yellowstone, the Lake Hotel deserves a certain amount of respect, and a visit to the understated structure should be on your list of must-sees during a visit.

The Old Faithful Lodge is one of the more underrated and under-appreciated buildings in the Old Faithful complex, but it has a history that rivals many of the other buildings in Yellowstone National Park.

The Yellowstone Snow Lodge is one of the more recent additions to Yellowstone National Park, but it is not lacking in the rustic charm and natural ambiance associated with Yellowstone National Park and the other hotels. Built in 1999, it is the only hotel in the Old Faithful area open all year round, but it's mainly geared towards people looking for a place to stay in winter, hence "Snow Lodge." Its architecture also reflects and reinforces the wild, organic setting of Yellowstone, being constructed mainly out of wood and built in the style of a cabin. The lobby greets visitors with comfy chairs and a warm fireplace, a great place to relax and sip a nice warm drink. The rooms are also an extension of the "Lodge" theme, as they are spacious and comfortable, with full bathrooms and telephones.