Grant Village, Grant Village, WY

Grant Village, Wyoming is located in Yellowstone National Park. Grant Village is in the southern area of the national park near Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin. It is just before visitors reach the loop that will take them to Old Faithful or around the Yellowstone River towards the north section of the park. This area of the park can be found with any of the five entrances, though it is closer to the Jackson entrance.

Before heading into the actual village, visitors may wish to stop by the Grant Village Visitor Center. This center is on the shore of West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. It is one mile from the main park road at Grant Village Junction. The village and center are named after Ulysses S. Grant, the president who helped protect the land as a national park. In 1872 it was Grant who signed the bill. The visitor center was started in the 1970's. Some individuals did not feel this was the right place for a center or village because of the streams around it. The streams are spawning ground for freshwater trout, which means grizzly bears tend to stop by.

Also in the area of Grant Village is the West Thumb Information Station. The little log cabin is the Yellowstone Association sales outlet. It is a place for visitors to go for interpretive walks and talks in the summer. In winter the hut is a warming station for visitors to warm up and learn about the winter season in Yellowstone.

A backcountry office in which the staff can remain for spring and fall is also near the gas station and Hamilton store. These building are .75 miles from Grant Village Junction and on the road to the actual village.

Grant Village is one place visitors can stay in the park. There is a lodge and other accommodations for visitors who wish to remain inside the park instead of leaving and finding a place in Jackson. The reason for staying in Grant Village is not only for the amenities like the general store, gas, and souvenirs, but also for the area attractions. Yellowstone Lake can be used for boating and other recreational activities. West Thumb is also near the lake with numerous geysers to trek around. The Abyss Pool and Fishing Cone are two of the area's highlights that should not be missed in West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Grant Village is just a home base for visitors in the park. While the village is not as important as the natural wonders around it, it can be a good place to start. Grant Village is also near the 1988 fire. In 1988 a fire was started near Fall River in the southeast. This fire grew and spread over several weeks harming the trees and forest land. The fire moved quickly doing great damage, but now this area has new growth that is astounding to see when the devastation is compared to what visitors can see now.