Absaroka Mountain Lodge

Absaroka Mountain Lodge consists of 15 log cabins spread along Gunbarrel Creek within the Shoshone National Forest, surrounded by stands of pine trees. The buildings are positioned to follow the natural topography and the creek's path across the property.

Earl F. Crouch founded the property in 1917 as Gunbarrel Lodge before it was renamed Absaroka Mountain Lodge in 1925. The name change reflected a shift toward establishing the lodge as a recognized destination in the mountain hospitality trade.

The lodge represents an early 20th-century approach to mountain hospitality, with handcrafted log cabins designed to blend with the surrounding forest landscape. Visitors can observe how the buildings were arranged to work with natural features rather than against them, showing an older way of thinking about building in wild areas.

The site sits roughly 21 kilometers from Yellowstone National Park's east entrance and operates seasonally from May through September. Access comes by way of local roads, and visitors should expect mountain conditions and plan visits accordingly.

Fred Garlow, grandson of Buffalo Bill Cody, once owned this mountain lodge, creating an unexpected link to the Wild West era. This family connection remains one of the most talked-about aspects of the property's past.

Location: Park County

Inception: 1917

Architectural style: rustic architecture

Address: 1231 North Fork Highway

GPS coordinates: 44.45722,-109.79028

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:45