Living in Yellowstone

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Our associates live either at, or very near, the store where they are working for the season.  Depending on your needs, YGS will either provide dormitory housing or RV sites.

 

Dormitories – Roughly half of our associates live in company-provided dormitory housing.  The rooms are rustic with centrally located bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities & employee dining room; most associates will have one roommate.  The dorms are all non-smoking, and pets and cooking are not allowed in the buildings.  The room & board cost to live in the dormitory is $77.00 a week, which includes 3 meals per day on the Employee Meal Plan (see below).  Since we all live & work together, be sure to bring a spirit of cooperation!

RV Sites - For those associates planning to live in their own RV while working for YGS, an RV site will be assigned by store management.  Associates will be charged between $32.20 - $56.00 per site per week, plus electric & propane costs. Associates living in RV sites may fully participate in the Employee Meal Plan if they choose.

West Yellowstone Associate Housing – Our associates working in West Yellowstone will share efficiency apartments (double occupancy required) for $35.70 per week (per associate), or RV sites for $32.20- $70.00 per week.  Associates living here will be responsible for their own meals, no Employee Meal Plan is available in West Yellowstone.

My summer was great here, we were like a big family.  - Diana P.

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All associates living in the dormitories must participate in the Employee Meal Plan (the cost is included in the $77/week room & board charge).  Each employee dining room (“EDR”) operates on a menu cycle and provides three meals a day.  The menu is designed to offer a variety of food choices, but due to the size of staff and facilities, we cannot generally accommodate special dietetic needs.  Associates living in RVs also have the option to enroll and fully participate in the Employee Meal Plan at a cost of $7.73 per day.  (To keep costs down, we are not able to offer a ‘pay-only-as-you-eat’ option.)

 

Great outdoor environment with a variety of places to visit. - Summer 2008 employee

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Internet, satellite television, and cell phone services are slowly expanding through Yellowstone, but associates should be aware that we are still in a wilderness area and there can be some technical “black holes.”  Most dorms have both a computer with internet access and a television with satellite service, but cell service is intermittent at many park locations (and even non-existent in some places).  There are pay telephones in each dormitory so bringing a pre-paid calling card is a great idea.  If you need daily access to the internet, Yellowstone may not be the best fit for you.

All co-workers are friendly and cooperate together in a team which provides a really good working environment.  - Lee K.

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Yellowstone is a fairly isolated, wilderness location.   Our stores are located at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to over 8,000 feet, and our jobs are generally strenuous and physically demanding.  Although the National Park Service provides emergency services, the closest hospital can be several hours away by ambulance or helicopter.   We encourage anyone with a heart or respiratory condition, or any medical issue that requires frequent treatment, to consult with his or her physician before planning to work in Yellowstone.

Medcor offers medical services to employees at three in-park clinics located at Old Faithful, Lake, and Mammoth Hot Springs.  In order to finance and make this service available, all employees in the Park are mandated by the National Park Service to subscribe to the medical service at a nominal cost of 60 cents per day.  This can entitle you to a discount on office visits and other services (private insurance and Medicare are still primary).  This discounted service is applicable within the park boundaries only.   Associates with persistent medical needs should bring medical records to the park with them.

 

The employee morale was strong.  Everyone was enjoyable to work with.  - Marie W.

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What you bring depends in part on how you plan to enjoy Yellowstone, but everyone should bring the following items: 

• Valid identification – You will need it for both employment verification and registering your car, if you bring one. 
• Cold and warm weather clothing – Our weather changes fast here, plan to bring a little bit of clothing for a wide variety of temperatures.   Snow in July is not uncommon!
• Towel, washcloth, and extra blanket
• Toiletries – Don’t forget prescriptions/medications.  Sunscreen & mosquito repellent are available here if you forget!
• Alarm clock
• Laundry soap
• Required clothing for your uniform
• Comfortable shoes for work & play.  Work shoes need to be closed-toe & have a heel to the back of the shoe; non-skid is highly recommended!
• Extra cash – Payroll deductions take care of your room & board charges, but you may want cash for personal spending.  Pay periods are Monday through Sunday with paychecks issued the following Friday. 

While your storage space will be somewhat limited & we don’t recommend that you bring lots of valuables, you might enjoy having some of these following items with you as well:

• Hiking and/or camping gear – Water bottle, backpack, hiking boots & socks, gloves, rain gear, flashlight, tent, sleeping bag, stove, etc.
  Camera & binoculars for sightseeing
• Fishing gear
• Bicycle & helmet (Bikes are allowed on established roads, but prohibited on backountry trails & boardwalks)
• Softball glove
• Music and/or instrument
• Playing cards, books, puzzles
• Telephone calling card
• Stamps
• Your private vehicle – although it’s not necessary, you will have more flexibility to explore the area if you bring one
  

 

The friendliness of the staff made for a pleasant work environment.  - Gary M.

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Once you get to Yellowstone you may find you never want to leave, but you do have to get here first.

All employees will check in for employment with Yellowstone General Stores in West Yellowstone, Montana, located on Highway 191, 90 miles south of Bozeman, MT.  Individuals driving their own vehicles will experience a great deal more flexibility getting around Yellowstone during the summer, but it’s not a necessity.

Employees arriving in their own vehicle should drive directly to West Yellowstone for check in on their assigned day.  If you are driving your own vehicle, you will receive a 7-day temporary park entrance pass when you check in; you will then be able to register your car with the local National Park Service rangers once you arrive at your work location and get your vehicle sticker for the season.

If you are arriving here without a vehicle of your own, Bozeman, Montana, must be your final destination.   Yellowstone General Stores will provide transportation from Bozeman to West Yellowstone Monday through Friday mornings only for associates scheduled to check in.   (If you arrive in Bozeman on Friday afternoon, we won’t be able to pick you up until Monday so plan to enjoy Bozeman for the weekend!)  After checking in, employees will be transported from West Yellowstone to their assigned summer location in the park.