Entire home
Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.
Cottage with kitchen, near Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
Photo gallery for Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.
Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bathroomSleeps 2500 sq ft
Popular amenities
Explore the area
- Place, Roosevelt Arch
- Place, Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
- Place, Mammoth Hot Springs
- Airport, West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone)
Rooms & beds
0 bedrooms (sleeps 2)
STUDIO
1 Queen Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.
Access to Yellowstone Park from our north entrance was fully restored October 30, 2022 with a beautiful new road! Our sweet backyard cottage is nestled among the fruit and flower trees of the yard. It is easily within walking distance to the grocery store, coffee, shopping, restaurants, laundromat, post office, and local arch park events. It is at the north entrance to Yellowstone Park, as is all of Gardiner. The cottage is in the heart of town but shielded from the main street by the owners' home. The yard is shared with the owners but privacy is afforded by the layout. The owners' home was built in 1930 and its cottage was built in 1940 by former owners, the Eastons. It is believed that their intent was to rent the cottage to visitors of Yellowstone, making it a very early vacation rental in this town. The cottage is a perfect fit for two people who want to day trip to northern Yellowstone, book local activities like rafting, biking, horseback riding, and return to a simple, basic, clean environment to relax. Our guests note that the well cultivated green and floral landscaping add to the charm and character of their experience. The stucco cottage still has the details of its early history with the old style glass door knobs and kitchen cabinets. There is a comfortable queen bed, sitting area with Smart tv, eating area, full but small kitchen, and full bathroom. It is clean, well cared for, and you are welcome! We keep our reservation calendar updated to the minute and our description on this page accurate. So as you're reading this page if Lilac Cottage sounds like a good fit for you and if the dates you want are open on our calendar and you have no questions, you are welcome to book directly without contacting us (use Instant Booking option). Just follow VRBO's process with your credit card. We'd be in touch immediately upon booking, through VRBO. If you do have specific questions not answered here, please email Eleanor through VRBO. NOTE: Because the lilacs and other historic bushes and trees were planted in 1930s and 40s, Tom is constantly pruning and removing sections for new growth.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
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House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Adults only
Events
No events allowed
Groups staying nearby cannot congregate here
Pets
No pets allowed
There are no exceptions.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is not allowed on the entire property.
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Groups staying nearby cannot congregate here
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Gardiner
Located in Gardiner, this cottage is in the city centre. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone National Park North Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Gardiner, MT
What's nearby
- Parks' Fly Shop - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
- Roosevelt Arch - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
- Gardiner Community Library - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
- Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 16 min walk - 1.3 km
- Mammoth Hot Springs - 18 min drive - 10.4 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dining Room - 14 min drive
- Terrace Grill - 14 min drive
- Wonderland Cafe & Lodge - 5 min walk
- Antler Bar and Grill - 11 min walk
- Cowboy's Lodge & Grill - 5 min walk
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Eleanor Stone
Tom and Eleanor Stone came to Yellowstone Park in the late 70s and early 80s, met and were married here. We worked in the interior of the Park for a number of years and then settled in Gardiner in 1989. We raised our two daughters in Gardiner. Newly retired in 2019 from work in Yellowstone, Tom enjoys gardening, cooking, fly fishing, reading, home projects, and learning Italian. When not working at a local cattle and guest ranch, Eleanor loves to read, take walks, nordic ski, volunteer in the community, keep in touch with her very large family, and help Tom care for the house and cottage. We have been hosting family and friends in the Lilac Cottage for years and it makes us HAPPY to have opened it in 2014 to newcomers and folks who want to enjoy the area.
Why they chose this property
We have lived in Yellowstone/Gardiner for over 40 years and have owned our home and backyard cottage since 1995. The neighborhood is a mix of residential and commercial. With all the TLC we've poured into this property you can see from the reviews that the folks who love it most are the ones who enjoy that charm of the old cottage and the beautiful, outdoor space to relax. If you prefer a "newly built place" kind of character, or a vacation rental with owners far away, this may not suit your vacation.
What makes this property unique
We love our home and cottage because of its location. It is handy to go out the door to run errands, grab a meal, raft, rent an e-bike, shop, or hop into Yellowstone, and yet this downtown property has a surprising ability to tuck you away. We love the old fashioned comfort of this small, historic property and work to keep it that way. We purposely keep the nightly rate of Lilac Cottage reasonable for this area. The reason is that we think that the additional 12% taxes (8% state and 4% local) plus the $50 cleaning fee plus the taxable VRBO Service Fee add enough to your charges! We are making our rate fair in comparison to small vacation rentals in the area and even to Gardiner motels.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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