Lodge History

Elephant Head Lodge gets its name from a rock formation overlooking it

Lodging near Yellowstone
Elephant Head Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The Lodge, Restaurant, and the “Trapper” cabin were all built in 1910 by Buffalo Bill Cody’s niece, Josephine Thurston, and her husband Harry W. Thurston.

Harry chose the site for its water. He was one of the first Rangers in the Shoshone Forest and knew about the spring that still serves the Lodge today. It was a dependable source of good water for early travelers to Yellowstone – and for trappers and Indians before them.

The Elephant Head Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lodge is now operated by a Wyoming native with fourth generation ranch family background.