Tag Archive for: cody

From Buffalo Bill Cody to Amelia Earhart, History Abounds in Cody

Buildings that line Cody’s main street and dot the vast northwestern Wyoming landscape illustrate Cody Yellowstone’s storied past. Here are some examples:

Built in 1841, Buffalo Bill Cody’s boyhood home can be seen at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Pahaska Teepee, just outside the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, was Cody’s hunting lodge where he brought his pals – including Theodore Roosevelt and the prince of Monaco.

Kirwin Ghost Town is an abandoned mining town in the high Absaroka Mountains and 34 miles from the town of Meeteetse, Wyoming. A short hike away is the foundation of Amelia Earhart’s cabin, intended to be her summer home before she disappeared.

Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West is an enclave of 27 authentic frontier buildings, including one used by Butch Cassidy and his infamous Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Barracks at the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center show how incarcerated Japanese-Americans lived until the war ended.

The Chamberlin Inn in downtown Cody often hosted high-profile guests like Ernest Hemingway and Marshall Fields. And The Poker Church was built after a group of men gambling in 1902 pledged that the winner of the game would put all of his winnings toward the church of his choice.

Kirwin Ghost Town is an abandoned mining town in the high Absaroka Mountains, a short hike away from the foundation of Amelia Earhart’s cabin, intended to be her summer home before she disappeared. Photo courtesy of Visit Cody Yellowstone

For more information on Cody Yellowstone, visit www.CodyYellowstone.org.

There’s A Lot (Or A Little) To See In Cody Yellowstone

Exploring Cody Yellowstone during its quiet season means you have two choices every day of your visit: You can see a lot of a little, or a little of a lot.

With abundant sunshine, surprisingly comfortable temperatures (we love low humidity) and plenty of snow, Cody Yellowstone in winter is an adventurer’s paradise.

Outdoor options include Sleeping Giant Ski Area, with 184 skiable acres and a terrain park constructed of materials found on the hill. In addition to being the only resort in Wyoming with “SNO-GO” bikes, Sleeping Giant has night tubing and skiing, a big New Year’s Eve party with live music, and yurt and tent rentals for groups.

If you prefer non-downhill activities, try ice skating at Homesteader Park in Powell, climbing on one of many frozen waterfalls, cross-country skiing at Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park or riding a snowmobile throughout the world-class trail system in the Beartooth Mountains.

Indoor options include watching the Yellowstone Quake Hockey Team, ice skating at the Victor J. Riley Arena, or checking out various attractions like the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center and the Cody Firearms Experience.

With abundant sunshine, surprisingly comfortable temperatures (we love low humidity) and plenty of snow, Cody Yellowstone in winter is an adventurer’s paradise. Photo courtesy of Cody Yellowstone

For more information on Cody, visit CodyYellowstone.org.

Mark Your Calendars for Summer in Cody-Yellowstone

The John Wesley Powell Festival takes place over two days in late May at Homesteader Park in Powell, Wyoming. The event highlights local foods, outdoor recreation and the arts. A kids’ carnival features bike races, a boat float, games and more.

The Jake Clark’s Mule Days in mid-June is an auction, competition, rodeo and barbecue rolled into one. It celebrates an animal that is great on trails, in the mountains and on the ranch.

The Cody Stampede is celebrating its 103rd year and begins June 30 with the PRCA-sanctioned Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls followed by four days of rodeo competitions, parades (because just one isn’t enough) and fireworks.

The Heart Mountain Pilgrimage is an annual event that sees formerly incarcerated American citizens and their descendants return to where they were unjustly imprisoned during World War II. Held the last weekend of July, this event features time for remembering, processing and opening up new dialogues.

The Rendezvous Royale and the 41st Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale is a week-long celebration in mid-September of Western art featuring stylistic interpretations, educational seminars, a “quick draw” competition, studio tours, and an art show and sale. The week culminates with a Patron’s Ball.

The Cody Stampede features five days of bull riding, rodeo competitions, parades and fireworks. Photo courtesy of Cody Yellowstone

For more information on Cody, visit CodyYellowstone.org.

Wildlife-watchers will love a visit to Cody Yellowstone

Cody Yellowstone features some of the best wildlife-watching in the world. Yes, the world! The park’s Lamar Valley is known as “America’s Serengeti,” while Hayden Valley and the Wapiti Valley attract spotters looking to see many species of mammals and birds. The region is known for bison, elk, pronghorn, wolves, coyotes, fox, bighorn sheep, badgers, deer, bears, moose, mountain goats, eagles, ravens, osprey, pelicans, dippers and more. Extremely fortunate people will spot the occasional mountain lion or lynx.

If you really want to stretch things, look for “Snoopy the Dog” and “Laughing Pig,” two rock formations on the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway between Cody and Yellowstone’s East Gate.

All of these animals will be in high demand in 2022 when Yellowstone National Park celebrates its 150th anniversary. The world’s first national park was created on March 1, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant passed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Law.

Other noteworthy events in 2022 include 20th anniversary of the Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the 120th anniversary of the Irma Hotel, built by “Buffalo Bill” Cody and named for his youngest daughter.

Yellowstone National Park and the Cody area feature some of the best wildlife-watching in the world. Lucky visitors can spot wolves, bighorn sheep, bears, moose and much more. Photo courtesy of Cody Yellowstone Country

For more information on Cody, visit CodyYellowstone.org.

Cody, Wyoming – where everybody is a friend

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Considering that the Cody Yellowstone region covers 6,967 square miles, you’d think it would be near impossible to know many of its 30,000 residents.

In this corner of Wyoming, however, it quickly becomes apparent that it’s unusual to walk into a restaurant, store, bar or cowboy music show and not at least recognize the locals. As anyone who grew up in a small town can tell you, the person ringing up your groceries can be your neighbor three doors down and his kids are on your kids’ soccer team. Oh, and their coach operates the horseback riding concession at a local campground.

“It’s a little like everyone’s favorite watering hole,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of the Park County Travel Council’s Cody Yellowstone, comprised of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, Wyoming, and parts of Yellowstone National Park. “The faces become familiar, and pretty soon everybody knows your name.”

The open spaces contribute to this phenomenon. It’s easier to recognize a fellow angler when she is the only other person on the river. And on the road, it doesn’t take long before you recognize both a person and his vehicle.

The best way to deal with such familiarity … tap your glasses and say “Cheers.”

Despite the huge area covered by the Cody Yellowstone region, all of the 30,000 locals seem to know each other. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bill’s Cody

For more information on Cody, visit CodyYellowstone.org.

Wyoming Celebrates 150th Anniversary as ‘Home of the Women’s Vote’

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Home of the Women’s Vote – 150th Anniversary

When the nation rings in the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment in 2019, Wyoming will celebrate the 150th anniversary of women voting. In fact, the Wyoming Territory approved the first law in U.S. history granting women the right to vote and hold office in 1869 — more than 20 years before it became the 44th state. Aptly named the “Equality State,” Wyoming’s history is full of pioneering ladies, including the first woman in the world to cast a ballot and vote in a general election, Louisa Ann Swain. On Sept. 6, 2020, Wyoming will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first women’s vote under democratically enacted laws guaranteeing women equal political rights to men. To honor the first vote by Laramie’s Louisa Swain, visitors can experience must-see historic site and events throughout the year. For more information visit: travelwyoming.com/wyoming-womens-suffrage

Courtesy of: Wyoming Office of Tourism

Cody, Wyoming Multiple Anniversaries in 2020

Cody, Wyoming was founded in 1896 by the living legend, Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who at the age of 41 was one of the most famous men in the world. Founded as a hospitality center, Cody truly is the “Wildwest way into Yellowstone” located just 50 miles from the east entrance and 80 miles from the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Experience the west with attractions that include nightly rodeos, gun fight re-enactments, cowboy music and the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Cody will be celebrating many anniversaries throughout 2020, including the 125th anniversary of the original townsite of Cody, 110th anniversary of the Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center, and 75th anniversary of the closing of Heart Mountain WWII Confinement Site.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sheridan Travel and Tourism

Sheridan WYO Rodeo – 90th Anniversary

The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is an elite rodeo on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) circuits. Held every July since 1931, the WYO is known for featuring world champions alongside raw beginners competing in a back-to-back format. The fastest 12 contestants during each morning’s slack move to that evening’s performance, with the remainder completing their second run during the day, allowing you get to see the best contestants each night and a potential Sheridan WYO Rodeo event winner any given night. This year’s Sheridan WYO Rodeo week runs July 6 – 12, with four nights of high-octane, PRCA rodeo action and World Championship Indian

Relay Races from July 8-11. WYO Rodeo week features the annual Boot Kick Off at Whitney Commons on July 9, Carnival at the Fairgrounds each night of the rodeo, plus Main Street Bed Races, Sneakers & Spurs 5K, Saddle Up for the WYO Rodeo Main Street Parade, Native American Pow Wow, Duck Races and Boy Scout’s Pancake Breakfast on Friday, July 10. The WYO is one of the TOP 40 PRCA Rodeos in the world. Over the last two years, guests from all 50 states and more than 20 countries attended the WYO Rodeo in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Credit: Visit Sheridan

Additional Events in 2020:

For more information on the Great American West state of Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com.

Cody/Yellowstone – the Great American Adventure

Cody/Yellowstone Country — is a prime destination for an authentic Western experience, and that has been the case for generations of travelers. This rugged, breathtakingly beautiful region of northwestern Wyoming draws nearly 1 million visitors from around the world each year.

Many visitors spend time in Cody before or after a trip to the world’s first national park, Yellowstone, just 52 miles west of town. Some come to spend a week playing at one of the region’s dozens of guest and dude ranches. And others come to explore the region’s outdoor adventures including fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, river float trips, kayaking, wildlife watching and the Sleeping Giant Zipline.

Cody was founded by Col. William Frederick Cody – more commonly known as “Buffalo Bill Cody” – in 1895. The lanky, good-looking outdoorsman had tried his hand at many careers — trapper, bullwhacker, Pony Express Rider, Colorado “Fifty-Niner,” wagon master, stagecoach driver, soldier, and army scout. But he was at heart a showman. In 1872, he began playing himself in “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show,” and he became famous throughout the world.

In the mid-1890s Cody began a years-long mission to establish and build the town of Cody, and although he died over 100 years ago, visitors can still see the many ways that Buffalo Bill’s big dreams for the town of Cody came true.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is often an important stop for vacationers interested in learning more about the region. With five highly regarded museums under one roof – Buffalo Bill Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Draper Natural History Museum and Plains Indian Museum — the Center employs a variety of techniques to engage visitors. Other important cultural attractions include the Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center, a perfect stop for travelers who like to know how things work; and Old Trail Town/Museum of the West, an enclave of 26 frontier buildings. Visitors also enjoy exploring the small towns of Powell’s Homesteader Museum and the Meeteetse Museums – each about 30 minutes from Cody.

Throughout the summer season from the beginning of June through the end of August, visitors can enjoy the Cody Nite Rodeo, celebrating its 80th anniversary this summer. The Cody rodeo is the longest running nightly rodeo in the world. Cody activities also include the Wild Bunch Gunfighters, a fun-loving group of local actors who put on a nightly show in front of the Irma Hotel, and the Cody Firearms Experience, an indoor shooting range and arcade featuring guns of the Old West.

Nature-lovers and road-trippers have plenty of options as well. The region is a prime wildlife habitat, with many animals viewed from the road throughout the spring, summer and fall. And Cody is a great home base for driving five scenic loops.

No matter what visitors choose to experience in Cody/Yellowstone Country, they can be sure that it will be authentic, just the way Buffalo Bill would have wanted.

Contact
Cody/Yellowstone Country
836 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414 USA
Ph. 307-586-1574
www.CodyYellowstone.org