Come for the second-largest bronze elk sculpture in the world, stay for the luxurious cabins and close proximity to Yellowstone Park. Located in West Yellowstone, just a short walk away from the western entrance to the park, Hibernation Station is a community of hand-built log cabins that’s perfect for families or couples looking for something out of the ordinary. Rustic? Not really. Full of personality? You bet.
As you walk past the aforementioned bronze elk, perpetually locked in battle and standing at 9-feet tall and 22-feet long, you’ll immediately be struck by the hand-carved cowboys, ranchers, and local wildlife lining each of the 40 on-site cabin’s roofs. That’s your first clue that these aren’t your normal, run-of-the-mill cabins. The second comes as soon as you step foot into your accommodations. Now, each unit is decorated differently and categorized, i.e. Henry’s Fork and South Fork Series, Madison Series, etc., so I recommend heading to the Hibernation Station website, where you can preview each cabin ahead of time and find the one that’s most appealing to you. Once you’ve done that, go ahead and book it.
With two rocking chairs, a satellite TV hidden behind the folding doors of a cabinet/dresser, and a very comfortable bed, I felt like Daniel Boone in his own private mansion. But the huge bathroom, which came stocked with rolled towels and quality toiletries, was the highlight. A huge mirror runs the length of the wall, extending into a tub that was so big that, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I was able to stretch out my long legs without having my poor knees stick out from the hot water in cold rejection. Needless to say, I stayed put for a good 40 minutes before getting out.
Other cabins have fireplaces and full-sized kitchenettes amongst other surprising amenities. Glancing through the website, I’ll tell you right now that the "Wyatt Earp" looks primo, as does "The Montana," "Wild West," and "Mountain Dreams," which has a bed you’ll have to see to believe.
As one might expect from its location, Hibernation Station has easy access to horseback riding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, running, rafting, fishing... the great outdoors are at your fingertips. My friend and I went for a morning jog before heading to Three Bears Restaurant for breakfast, and were thrilled... okay, okay... terrified to see fresh bear tracks on our path after we doubled back. Needless to say, we picked up the pace and made a racket along the way to hopefully scare him off if he was still lurking. Always exercise caution when you’re out and about, as bears aren’t the only wildlife milling around.
For more information, please visit the Hibernation Station website.