Are you ready to spend the night in the world's largest log cabin watching geysers erupt while sipping a glass of wine?

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The beautiful lobby of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park by Reese Moore Photography.

Imagine watching the sun set over the world's most concentrated collection of geysers to the sounds of live music, or picture yourself sipping a glass of wine from the comfort of a rocking chair before a giant fireplace with a roaring fire.

When it comes to Yellowstone National Park, home to some of Mother Nature's most exquisite works, the Old Faithful Inn is a must-experience destination in and of itself. The largest log-built structure in the world, the Old Faithful Inn boasts three floors of rocking chairs and seating overlooking the spacious lobby and massive, multi-sided fireplace. A soaring ceiling houses a 76-foot staircase to the now defunct crow's nest that once housed an orchestra for evening entertainment and dancing. (Unfortunately, an earthquake rendered the supports structurally unsound for the high numbers of visitors to the inn in 1959.)

The Old Faithful Inn is the largest log structure in the world.

A Brief History of the Old Faithful Inn:

The Old Faithful Inn was designed by then-29-year-old Robert Reamer after the only hotel in the Upper Geyser Basin burned down in 1894.

Built in 1903-1904, the Old Faithful Inn complements the striking natural landscape surrounding it with dramatic, rustic architecture and awe-inspiring details. The electric sconces and chandeliers imitate candlelight, and the gorgeous gnarled and twisted wood of the handrails, support beams, staircases, and railings make you feel like you're deep inside a secret treehouse.

The Old Faithful Inn is the best place to stay in Yellowstone National Park.

The East and West Wings were added under Reamer's supervision in 1919 and 1927, respectively, and the Old Faithful Inn was added to the National Historic Landmarks in 1987.

With its excess of charm and so many luxurious common areas, it's no wonder the Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodging in Yellowstone National Park. If you're interested in a more comprehensive history of the Old Faithful Inn, you may enjoy this Wikipedia article or Old Faithful Inn: 100 Anniversary by Christine Barnes.

The Old Faithful Inn feels like a giant treehouse.

13 Amazing Reasons to Stay at the Old Faithful Inn

The Old Faithful Inn is a stunning architectural masterpiece.

According to Wikipedia, "In 2007, the American Institute of Architects conducted a survey to determine the 150 favorite buildings in America; the Old Faithful Inn ranked 36."

Dormer windows adorn the inn's exterior, and a porch deck frames the Old Faithful Geyser for an impressive first impression upon arrival at the inn. The steep soaring roof of the world's largest log structure houses three stories accessible to guests. A 76-foot staircase to a crow's nest and a roof walk formerly offered guests a rooftop view of Old Faithful's eruptions.

The Old House at the Old Faithful Inn also features second and third-floor balconies with views of the lobby and dining hall, the giant multi-sided stone fireplace, and an enormous hand-crafted clock made of copper, wood, and wrought iron.

Perhaps the greatest showpiece of the inn, however, is the wood. The Old Faithful Inn is made from local lodgepole pine, and craftsmen took great care to source gnarled and twisted trees for the decorative elements of the Old House. The twists and curves of the decorative balconies are all naturally shaped tree trunks and branches, adding wonder and whimsy to this already breathtaking hotel.

Beautiful details fill the Old Faithful Inn.

The rooms in the Old House are filled with charming, rustic details.

You'll use a real key to access your room, and the oversized wrought iron latch will clunk securely behind you. Electric candle wall sconces bathe the rough-hewn lodgepole pine logs of the walls and ceiling with warm, cozy light. Each room has a copper-topped vanity, though many in the Old House utilize a shared bathroom down the hall. Rooms may vary depending on where in the inn you stay, but some offer views of Old Faithful and window seats.

Sunrise view of the Old Faithful geyser from the porch deck.

Old Faithful Geyser is literally steps away.

Slide your feet into slippers, grab a cup of coffee, and shuffle out for a sunrise viewing of Old Faithful's regular eruptions; the Old Faithful Inn is mere steps away from the viewing boardwalk and benches. The world-famous geyser spews between 4,000 and 8,000 gallons of scalding water into the air about every 90 minutes, give or take, and each eruption lasts between 1 and 5 minutes.

Hot spring at the Upper Geyser Basin by the Old Faithful Inn.

The Old Faithful Inn is conveniently located near some of Yellowstone's best sites to see.

Speaking of convenience, the Old Faithful Inn is a wonderful Yellowstone lodging choice because of its proximity to a number of the national park's most famous sites. The Upper Geyser Basin literally runs along the parking lot for the Inn, and the Firehole Canyon Drive (and swimming area), the Fountain Paint Pot, Biscuit Basin, and the Midway Geyser Basin are mere minutes away.

Note: The Firehouse Canyon Drive Swimming Area is one of the only safe places to swim in the park. Yellowstone is a very beautiful and extremely dangerous part of the world, so strictly adhere to all signs, warnings, and protocols.

Sunrise view from the porch deck at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

The porch roof offers sunrise, sunset, and geyser views.

One of the best views of the Old Faithful Geyser is from a bench on the Old Faithful Inn porch roof with a glass of wine or espresso in your hand. The open porch area offers plentiful seating (generally turned toward the famous geyser) as well as sweeping views of both the sunrise and sunset.

The Old Faithful Inn hosts live music.

If you're lucky, you'll get to enjoy the beautiful sounds of live music floating from the second-story balcony piano. Staying true to its long bygone history of dining room string quartets and orchestral performances, the Old Faithful Inn sometimes hosts live music for the enjoyment of its guests.

The rocking chairs are the best places to spend the evening at the Old Faithful Inn.

You can spend the day curled up in a rocking chair, watching the world go by.

Some of the prime rocking chairs at the Old Faithful Inn are in front of the roaring, giant stone fireplace. If those are taken, don't fret. The second and third-floor wrap-around balconies each offer a large number of rocking chairs and benches. And, if the weather is fair, there are rocking chairs flanking the sunny front entrance.

The Old Faithful Inn is filled with quaint nooks for relaxing.

The Old Faithful Inn is filled with quiet hideaways and quaint nooks, a must if you're spending your time in Yellowstone rushing from epic site to epic site. Slow down and catch your breath or settle in with a volume on some Yellowstone history (the gift shop has you covered there) in one of the many lovely benches, armchairs, window boxes, or vintage desks.

Curl up by the hearth at the Old Faithful Inn on cool mornings.

The Old Faithful Inn has enormous fireplaces.

The 1959 earthquake reduced the number of functional fireplace hearths from 8 to 2, but the remaining enormous fireplaces are still a sight. Stave off the morning and evening chill by curling up in front of the roaring fire; there's nothing more relaxing at the end of a long trip.

The Old Faithful Inn is steeped in history.

Completed in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn has survived earthquakes, the 1988 fire, and multiple renovations and restorations. History permeates this beautiful inn, which the National Park Service has taken great care to preserve and maintain. When you step through the heavy, wrought-iron-adorned entrance doors, you almost feel as though you've stepped back in time. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Old Faithful Inn, you may enjoy this book.

The craftsmen who helped build the Old Faithful Inn carefully selected wood with natural twists and knots.

They have a great gift shop.

What's a trip to Yellowstone without some quality souvenirs? You'll find everything you could want (and more) in the Old Faithful Inn gift shop. They also display the work of local artists in the lobby.

The espresso bar stays open until 9 pm.

Yellowstone National Park contains some of the most impressive natural wonders in the world, but coffee shops are few and far between inside the park gates. If you're going through latte withdrawal, head to the second story of the Old Faithful Inn. Their team of baristas will serve you espresso, lattes, and cocoa until 9 pm each evening.

The dining room at the Old Faithful Inn. — Make dinner reservations for the dining room at the Old Faithful Inn.

The dining room's buffet offers quality food on the go.

I'm not much of a "buffet person" myself, honestly, but the Old Faithful Inn's dining room gets a shout-out for providing a substantial buffet with a plethora of tasty options. With so much to see and do in the area, you'll want to enjoy your meal and move on, and the buffet is a yummy and time-efficient option.

The Old Faithful Inn is an architectural wonder.

Know Before You Go:

Book Now: Are you ready to book your stay at the Old Faithful Inn? Hop on it! Rooms in the Old House book up quickly, especially those with geyser views from the window.

Private Bathroom: Book the Suites, Junior Suites, Superior Hotel Room and Premium West-Wing Hotel Rooms, Premium Hotel Rooms, Standard Hotel Rooms, and Old House Standard Hotel Room for a private bathroom.

Shared Bathroom: Are you anxious about a shared bathroom and shower? Don't be. While sharing a toilet and shower with strangers may be out of your comfort zone, your room has its own vanity, the bathrooms are clean and spacious, and the tiled solo shower stall and changing area are quite private.

Air Conditioning: Like many of the Yellowstone lodging options, the Old Faithful Inn does not have air conditioning. All of the windows do open, however, and that's usually sufficient due to the area's massive temperature swings, even in the summer. The rooms usually come with a fan to help cool your space even more quickly.

Dinner Reservations: Finally, don't forget to make your dinner reservations at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room ASAP. They book up quickly, and a reservation is required.

A Note on Safety: A number of people have died gruesome, horrific deaths in Yellowstone National Park. Those signs asking you to stay on the boardwalk and not put your hands or feet in the thermal features spewing hot gases and steam? Those signs actually apply to you and all the members of your party as well. During this most recent trip to the park, I witnessed no less than 4 individuals plunge their hands into the run-off from hot springs without knowing the temperature, acidity, or chemical makeup, and one man received a nasty scalding as a result. Please celebrate the beauty and wonder of this amazing area safely so that you'll leave with happy memories and without a trip to the medical clinic.