My Yelpy friend Denny said, what were you thinking when you booked here? Perhaps he was right.
Currently a 1 star rating, be assured it could have turned out far worse that it actually was. Granted, the Wild Rose Ranch may look like a conglomeration of new and rather seedy from the outside; And Anthony Melchiorri (Hotel Impossible series) would certainly be rolling his eyes and rubbing his hands together in glee. But it had a number of favorable attributes as well.
First, it is only a 20 minute drive to get to the west entrance of Yellowstone. That was why I booked here.
Secondly, you can get an adequate room here for *not cheap* but much less than in West Yellowstone Village.
And more importantly, you can get a room, period. I booked two months in advance and it was a stressful experience finding a place even then.
And lastly, there is a scenic fishing lake, called Henry's Lake, that the "ranch" butts right up to. The feeling is very isolated, but also very serene. You cannot beat the view. Well, maybe you can, but it is still lovely and very peaceful.
Take note, fishermen. On the property there is an adequate boat ramp which you must pay to use and accommodations for cleaning your catch afterwards (think sink and faucet) for free. There is plenty of open space to park your boats and trailers. No RV hook ups. And if inclined, there are more primitive accommodations (think bunk beds with no inside bathroom, no linens) that demand much less $$.
As for us less primitive users, there are at least 6 large newish log buildings, two of which are two stories high with outdoor stairs (no elevators), with maybe 10 rooms per building. The rooms are small and dorm-like. A narrow hallway leads to a string of rooms. Our very snug accommodation had one queen bed, no bed bugs, plus a roomy remodeled bathroom with tub/shower combo and soft towels, a small refrigerator and microwave and coffee maker. The carpet was clean, the furniture sturdy, the flat screen TV had 5 channels, and there was wifi (although very slow). I overheard the host mentioning they also have a few cabins that can accommodate 4 people, and with kitchenettes.
They have a tiny gift shop that also sells a drinks/beer and food items and some fishing necessities. And there are working washers and dryers available if you have the right coinage.
Now, time for the honest downsides. Yes, there are more than several points to be considered:
-Their roadside signage leaves a lot to be desired. Look for a lighted arrow. Best not to try and find it after dark, if it is your first time.
-Then there is a dirt road leading down to the ranch, littered along the side with cast away signs and other abandoned rusting equipment. Unsightly.
-No operating restaurant currently, although they advertise having one. Eat in West Yellowstone or the small town nearby.
-The small lounge area in each building, complete with a coke machine, couch and tv, is small, rather dowdy, and could use a good cleaning.
-But I think the most serious offense is the quality of the doors for the individual room entries. These doors are sub par, hollow, with no security locking device other than the cheap turn button type you would find on an interior bathroom door. Not heartwarmingly secure.
Not the best of accommodations, but I have definitely experienced worse. I would rate them around 2.5 stars. read more