Yellowstone In the Winter

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Have you ever seen Yellowstone in the winter?

My original career, Hotel/Casino General Manager, gave me that opportunity. I was invited to West Yellowstone, a very small village that sits at the west gate to Yellowstone. It was there I was contracted to run the historical Stagecoach Inn, a full-service hotel & casino

West Yellowstone has a population of between 1200 and 120,000 depending on when you visit. If you have ever been to Yellowstone, you know just how backed up and slow traffic is into getting into the park in the summer months. Yellowstone does have some of the most beautiful areas in America, but the heavy traffic and tourism during the summer takes away from the beauty of the park and the area.

But winter..... When I went there, I did not know they closed the park in the fall for 40 to 60 days, to allow time for snow to build up on the roads. During that time their is a lull in business and West Yellowstone does not plow the roads either. Because come wintertime, West Yellowstone becomes a winter getaway most do not realize is there. The hotel I operated, has a night club that during the summers is closed. Most tourist were families, and they were not looking for nightlife. But come winter, bands are hired, the club opens, and the village came to life in a whole new way This little tourist town reopens to tracked vehicles, skiers and snowmachines.

It was easy driving on the snow, no ice all snow. At the hotel, we offered snowmobile rentals with your room. You could snowmobile the area or we had guided snowmobile tours into Yellowstone. To see old faithful in the winter... amazing! If you are not into snowmobiling, then the park also operates winter traxx vehicles, that safely transports you into tour the park safely and warm. Yellowstone is beautiful in the summer, but winter is the most beautiful