This was not what we were expecting. We arrived around 3pm on a Saturday, driving down from the Glacier area. When you pull into the property off US-89 it is an odd first impression. First cause of alarm, there were no vehicles present.
Off to the right is a marijuana dispensary about the size of a small takeout coffee drive-thru. Behind it is what appears to be a hotel, but it is not active, or at least it had the appearance of not being active, i.e. no cars around it. Maybe at one time this was part of the operation.
To the left was what the online pictures of the place I booked looked like. Again, there were no cars present, so my sketchometer started to peg. I went to where the sign said "office". The door was locked. Looking inside did appear like a reception area, with tables and chairs, a desk.
Some years ago we booked a hotel in Seattle, arriving late at night and there was no one on duty when we arrived. People in an unfamiliar town, late at night and nowhere to stay, very unsettling.
There was a sign posted to call a number if no one was there. I called and spoke with the proprietor. She told me she would be there in 15 minutes. She did arrive and asked me my name.
She seemed to know of our booking and asked what room I had booked. This was months ago that I booked, a laborious search looking far and wide around Yellowstone, where nightly rates seemed to start at $300 and go up.
I recalled the room name was the Jefferson. She said, "oh, that is number 4, follow me around to the back." So there is a narrow turn off the corner of the building on this gravel drive around to the back.
As you went around the narrow gravel roadway, looking further downhill toward the river at the back of the property past some trees were campers in tents of various types.
The building has a very ranch-like feel, rustic cut lumber and trim. Two stories , the covered deck on the backside is each units entry point with a combination lock key entry. A rather beaten up screen door was in place on our unit. It was broken. You park your car here, just a few feet from your door, no actual space marked.
Entering a small vestibule where a mini-fridge, coffee maker and table are present to the left. A doorway to the right off that is the bathroom. Very small, only one person could fit at a time. The door just clearing the toilet. Shower, no tub.
From there is the bed, chest of drawers, TV. Another doorway is present. I am shown that by using that you enter an interior hallway that is common to each unit, a washer and dryer are available there.
At the end of this hallway are a full kitchen, a couch and big screen TV. What appears to be a small 2-3 person bar is present. Another seating area off that. The area is dark with a low ceiling.
You are given a key to the door of your room off the common hall. It is a very simple door/lock. Being from a city, the security of this door gave me alarm. Considering we were in Montana, maybe not a problem.
The room was tastefully decorated. The pillows were not great. The DirectTV package was pretty basic, not a lot of selections, many shopping channels available.
It appeared like there was a leak from above on the ceiling that needed some work. The toilet cycled every few minutes. Not much insulation shielded the upper units from the lower. Persons moving about were easily heard.
As you pulled around the facility to leave, just adjacent to the road was some form of commercial building with a loading dock. It had no name on it, also a rather odd arrangement.
Looking at reviews of the past, people really liked Seven Points. I don't want to bash a business based just on my personal experience. Our expectation was this was going to be an affordable option to W. Yellowstone.
Some people like rustic, ranch-style and are more connected to the outdoor activities of the area. I get that, everybody has different tastes.
Our visit was to see Yellowstone and to not have to pay over $300 a night. Seven Points is a great alternative to West Yellowstone prices. In 25 minutes you are in the Yellowstone North Entrance on US-89. A simple drive.
On making several trips in/across the park, the North Entrance through the town of Gardiner was in my opinion better than West Yellowstone entrance.
The downside of the Emigrant area is that it is remote. Some other B&B operations are opening near Seven Points. We were not into communal bath arrangements they had.
Dining limited. We had meals at the Old Saloon, and Follow Yer Nose BBQ. Old Saloon was ok, we really liked the BBQ. Behind Follow Yer Nose is a bakery, but we did not try that. Beyond that you have to go into Gardiner for any level of choices.
If you pack and fix your own meals, Seven Points makes sense. Another way to save. There is a general store across from the Old Saloon, but the choices of food items there is only slightly above what a convenience store stocks. It appeared that Gardiner was the closest full-service grocery. read more
