Families traveling on a budget this summer — and who isn’t? — might want to visit the town named for one of the world’s greatest showmen: Buffalo Bill Cody. Not only is it near Yellowstone National Park but Cody itself has so much to offer, and at such affordable prices, it might just be on the itinerary for next year, too.
Adults and kids will both find an abundance of entertainment that may also teach them more about the West, old and new. Take in a rodeo or visit a re-creation of an old Western town, admire fine art, tap those toes to some cowboy tunes or watch a mock gunfight in the street.
Here are some great, inexpensive ways to experience Cody this summer.
Cody Trolley Tour. This introductory and informative one-hour tour covers 22 miles and helps orient visitors to where things are and what they might like to go back to see. Offered only in the summer, the tour introduces the history, attractions, geology, wildlife and scenery for further exploration. Some fun audio clips are interspersed with the skills of entertaining live narrators. Admission: adults, $24; seniors (65 and older), $22; children (ages 5-17), $10; ages 4 and younger, free with adult.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center. People won’t believe this massive modern museum exists in a small, historic town like Cody. It’s worth the better part of a day, maybe even two, and it’ll take that long to explore all its facets. It’s really five museums in one, so guests can focus on the things that appeal to them: fine paintings and sculptures at the Whitney Museum of Western Art, firearms in the Cody Firearms Museum, animals and geology at the Draper Museum of Natural History, indigenous peoples in the Plains Indian Museum and, of course, the great showman himself. It’s a family-friendly museum, designed to be entertaining for youngsters as well as adults, and there’s even a brochure on how to best enjoy the museum with children. The price is family-friendly, too. Admission: adults, $18; students (13 and older, including college kids with IDs), $16; youth (ages 6-17), $10; children younger than 5, free. Admission includes visitation to all five museums for two consecutive days.
Cody Nite Rodeo. It doesn’t get more Western than this, or more reminiscent of Buffalo Bill himself. Visitors can experience professional rodeo every night from June 1 through Aug. 31. Riders and ropers from all over the country come to compete. Admission: adults and teens, $18; children 7-12, $8; ages 6 and younger, free.
Cody Gun fighters. There’s enough silliness that even the youngest child will soon figure out these gunfights aren’t real. Costumed characters mosey into the street by the famous Irma Hotel and act out a scenario that always ends in a gunfight. (But for the kids in the audience, they also stress gun safety.) The show starts
at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday from June to September followed by a dinner of prime rib or
or aged steak in a historic hotel. The show is free; dinner’s extra.
Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West. Western history buffs will appreciate this enclave of 26 authentic frontier buildings (one used by Butch Cassidy and his gang). Old Trail Town includes several gravesites, including that of the infamous Jeremiah “Liver Eating” Johnston — portrayed by actor Robert Redford in the 1972 self-titled film. Admission: adults, $8; children 12 and younger, $4.
Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum. Kids love miniature stuff. Dolls. Action figures. Model trains. So they’ll adore this massive tribute to small details illustrating the history of the West in an intriguing and approachable way. See the Battle of the Little Bighorn, a re-creation of a buffalo jump and a fort under Sioux Indian attack. Hundreds of American Indian artifacts are on display, including clothing, weapons and a hand-made wooden canoe. Admission is free.
Pahaska Tepee. This was Buffalo Bill’s retreat from the rigors of travel and being in the public eye. Built in 1904, this hunting lodge sits just outside the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. It was called Pahaska after the nickname given to him by the local Indians; it means “long hair.” The rustic log lodge displays many gifts given to Cody by guests, who included the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and the Prince of Monaco. It also offers a restaurant and lodging. Tours are free.
Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue. Who doesn’t love an old cowboy song? Guests can hear all their favorites — along with some cowboy poetry and maybe a joke or two — in this show designed to entertain all ages. It’s a fun evening (Mondays-Saturdays, May-September) for all ages. Admission: $15.
The Meeteetse Chocolatier. It’s a fancy name for a fun stop where customers can get a little lift in their afternoon with the chocolate creations of Tim Kellogg, a real cowboy who loves chocolate just as much as his customers do. We’re talking chocolate-dipped Oreo cookies. Caramel-dipped pretzels. And, for the adults, maybe a champagne truffle or two. Located in Meeteetse, it’s not far from Cody. Prices vary.
Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center. Water is a major concern in the West today. William F. Cody foresaw that and convinced the U.S. government to build a dam here to help conserve that precious resource. Today, agriculture thrives in this naturally arid area due to his foresight. See the dam and learn all about its construction and benefits. Located six miles west of Cody, it offers free tours.
Buffalo Bill’s Cody-Yellowstone Country is a year-round destination with a host of activities and attractions that will not be found elsewhere. For complete information, visit www.yellowstonecountry.org. The town recently received a silver “Addy” award for its popular marketing campaign, “I Got Buffalo Bill’d.”
Yellowstone Country is comprised of the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park.
The area of Park County is called “Buffalo Bill’s Cody-Yellowstone Country” because it was the playground of Buffalo Bill Cody himself. Buffalo Bill founded the town of Cody in 1896, and the entire region was driven and is still heavily influenced by the vision of the Colonel. Today its broad streets, world-class museum Buffalo Bill Historical Center and thriving Western culture host nearly 1 million visitors annually.
The Park County Travel Council website (www.yellowstonecountry.org) lists information about vacation packages, special events, guide services, weather and more. Travelers wishing to arrange vacations also can call the Park County Travel Council at (800) 393-2639.
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