David Kelly Consulting

The spirit of the American West is alive and thriving, and its heartbeat is Cody Wyoming.

This picturesque Western town, founded in 1896 by the renowned cowboy “Buffalo Bill” Cody, sits an hour from Yellowstone National Park’s East Gate and serves as a welcoming doorway to unspoiled outdoor excursions, legendary historic tales, rousing rodeo action, and more. Add in the spectacular weather of the Rocky Mountain high desert, and Cody stands out as a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.

We grabbed our cowboy hats and headed west to check it all out.

THE HOME OF RODEO

When we arrived in Cody, the east-to-west time zone change allowed us to immediately get involved with the spirit of the town. We headed to the Cody Cattle Company, an all-ages interactive experience that features dinner, live music, and great singalong fun. First up were the Snakebite Margaritas with jalapeño tequila to get us in the spirit, then we hit the family style buffet, which featured such classic cowboy fare as beef brisket, baked beans, and creamy coleslaw. After a trip back for seconds, we topped it all off with freshly baked brownies as we awaited the band’s arrival.

To the delight of the raucous crowd, Ryan Martin and the Triple C Cowboys hit the stage, digging into classic cowboy tunes from the 40s right through to today’s hits. They thrilled us with their show and soon had us up and dancing, some of us on the dance floor while others swayed at their tables. The band’s talents and energy filled the dinner theater with an hour’s worth of excitement as we anticipated the thrills that were yet to come on our first night …

Just around the corner from the Cody Cattle Company sits the expansive Cody Stampede Park. The city proudly holds the title of the "Rodeo Capital of the World," and since 1919, rodeos have been held every summer, producing three months’ worth of bull-ridin’, calf-ropin’, and bronc-bustin’ action. The Cody Nite Rodeo takes place each evening from June through August, with this streak interrupted only by the huge PRCA-sanctioned Cody Stampede and Xtreme Bulls event that celebrates the July 4thholiday.

Since the dinner theater times its meal and show to finish just as the rodeo begins each night, we arrived at the perfect time and grabbed seats up in the Buzzard Roost section, giving us a spectacular view of all the action. As the sun set and the cool evening breezes picked up, we were treated to an outstanding show of local and regional rodeo talent. Barrel racers, steer wrestlers, and tie-down ropers all performed throughout the evening, thrilling the cheering crowd with their talents. Over the decades, many of rodeo’s top bucking stock and famous cowboy champions trace their roots to the Cody Nite Rodeo, including the legendary Come Apart, a Wyoming bronco renowned for his bucking abilities.

YELLOWSTONE’S BEAUTY AND MORE

The next morning, we got an early start on what proved to be the heart of our visit to Cody – a private excursion to Yellowstone National Park. Our extensive research before the trip led us to Cathy and Alvin Heggie, owners of Cody Shuttle. In our pre-trip conversations, Cathy’s passion shone through, and her company’s dedication to a customized Cody experience made our choice easy.

We headed west with Alvin and lead guide Jill. The drive from Cody takes about an hour to reach Yellowstone’s East Gate via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, passing through the breathtaking mountain scenery of Wapiti Valley and the Shoshone River as you go. For our day-long trip, we chose to visit the park’s Lower Loop, creating a twelve-hour experience that included visits to Old Faithful geyser, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its falls, the wildlife-rich Hayden Valley, and the incredible thermal features at Black Sand Basin. Additionally, Cody Shuttle even pays for your National Park pass as a part of your trip.

With years of experience to lean on, Alvin and Jill knew the places to go that often avoided the summertime crowds, such as the historic Old Faithful Inn at the geyser’s park and quirky little hidden waystations with quiet restrooms and unique souvenir choices. All the while, the vistas were amazing, including those of bucket-list visits to Old Faithful and massive Yellowstone falls.

Yellowstone’s true scenic feature is its wildlife, often encountered without fences or barriers to separate you from nature’s creatures. Within minutes of entering the park, we noticed a lone buffalo grazing quietly on the side of the road. Upon closer look, however, we started to count … and soon realized that we were surrounded by a herd of over 25 of these magnificent beasts. Bulls, cows, and newborn calves lazily surrounded our vehicle, at times wandering side by side with us as we eased down the road.

Sightings of wildlife were everywhere that day. Cody Shuttle supplies their guests with long-range binoculars and a spotting scope, so we got close-up views of elk, antelope, bald eagles, and even some elusive grizzly bears, all in their natural habitat. Our guides spent the day with us personalizing and tweaking the entire trip to our liking, asking about our interests and adding thoughtful advice and insight into the day’s activities. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the wilds of Wyoming.

On Cathy’s suggestion, we contacted Melanie Sell, owner of Cody Wild Mustang Tours, to arrange for a morning of horse chasing in the high desert. We set out early and headed east to the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management Area, a huge tract in the badlands east of Cody that is home to wild mustangs. For the next four hours, we traversed key areas, continuously finding herds of these majestic wild creatures playing and relaxing in the morning sunshine. We hopped out of our vehicle and approached the herds, which ranged from just a few to over 50. Special rules kept us at a safe distance, but we were always close enough to hear their snorts of joy while Mel identified individuals by name. Our field binoculars brought us even closer to the action.

Mel informed us that there are currently only 149 of these wild mustangs in the area, roaming over 123,000 acres of desert scrub and mountain. While they are feral horses descended from stock brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers, these mustangs are now managed and protected by the Bureau of Land Management and local volunteers. This ensures continued success of a healthy herd, evident in the glow of their coats and the fire in their spirits.

Where did we stay for all this adventure? The charming Moose Creek Lodge & Suites, a Western-themed hotel located right in the center of Cody that is just a short walk to restaurants, pubs, shops, and museums. Guests can choose accommodations in The Lodge - seasonally-open from May to October with amenities like a pool and specialty coffee bar – or opt for a multi-room Courtyard Suite any time of the year, as we did. The log structure of the buildings is a nod to the lodges of Yellowstone and gives each room a coziness that feels friendly and familiar. Our King/Queen Suite was perfect for our week’s multi-generational stay, with separate bedrooms, full kitchen, and eating areas. Interior walls were warm wood tones, with our suite providing a huge full private bathroom. It was the perfect home base for our trip.

Owners Larry and Sharon King oversee this magical property with the passion that we found to be so common among Cody’s business owners and residents. “We don’t sell rooms, we sell experiences,” says Larry. “There’s so much to do in Cody Country and we’re proud to be the gateway to it all.” True to his word, the Moose Creek website includes dozens of ideas on trips to take, places to visit, and a Calendar of Events to keep all the info current. We were also thrilled that, after long days of exploring the expansive area, downtown Cody’s nighttime excitement was just steps away to enjoy.

“COME FOR YELLOWSTONE, STAY FOR CODY”

In addition to all the outdoor activities, Cody is filled with other amazing things to do and see. Check them out and you are sure to feel the heartbeat of this great Western town like we did.

Must Do

· Cody Firearms Experience – Have you ever shot a Gatling Gun? You can do that and more at this state of the art indoor firearms range that offers participants the opportunity to choose from over 70 different kinds of guns. From the Kentucky flintlock muskets of the 1770s to John Wayne’s 1873 Colt revolver to modern-day AR-15 rifles, just choose the one that interests you and have one of their expert team members guide you through the learning experience.

We each chose an 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle (known by many as the Gun that Won the West) and peppered the target’s bullseye, then experienced the thrill of the Gatling Gun as we cranked through the 20-round gravity-fed box magazine. The Cody Firearms Experience also offers training courses featuring certified instructors as well as annual club memberships.

· Old Trail Town – In 1967, archaeologist Bob Edgar began to gather historic buildings and relics around Wyoming to be displayed in Cody. Over the ensuing years, many of the buildings were taken completely apart, moved to the Cody site, and reassembled. The Old Trail Town collection that we visited now showcases 26 buildings dating from 1879 until the early 1900s. It also houses over 100 horse drawn vehicles as well as an extensive collection of memorabilia from Wyoming’s Wild West frontier that is displayed throughout the buildings.

Old Trail Town is home to the original cabins used by Old West outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It also features memorials of the area’s legendary mountain men, plus the gravesites of famous western frontiersmen such as Jeremiah “Liver-Eating” Johnston, the inspiration of the film by the same name starring Robert Redford.

Must See

· Buffalo Bill Center of the West – This extensive complex encompasses five individual museums that are all dedicated to the culture, art, and history of the American West - Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, and Whitney Western Art Museum. Each one is packed full of tales, artifacts, and information. We were drawn to the firearms museum, where over 4,200 guns are on display, many from the early 1800s and before. It was also great to learn more about the city’s namesake, Buffalo Bill Cody, who’s life and times as a frontiersman, showman, and celebrity helped to shape the city of Cody into what it is today.

· Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel & Restaurant – The “Grand Old Lady of Cody” was built by Buffalo Bill Cody himself in 1902 and named after his daughter Irma. Cody stayed there regularly in between his Wild West Show tours, and it became the headquarters for big game hunters and well-known personalities worldwide during its heyday. The massive ornate cherrywood backbar in the restaurant was presented to Colonel Cody by Queen Victoria of England after a command performance he gave for her. Folks today can stay in renovated rooms including Buffalo Bill’s private suite.

In addition to its capacity as a hotel, the Irma boasts classic restaurant and bar facilities. Although we chowed down on their famous Prime Rib Buffet and Buffalo BBQ buffet, they also offer breakfast, lunch, and other dinner options daily throughout the summer. Additionally, you can catch the Cody Gunfighters performance on the porch each evening while sipping your Silver Saddle Margarita. The Irma is the essence of Cody - a place “fancy enough for royalty and plain enough for cowboys.”

ROUND UP

Moose Creek Lodge & Suites

www.CodyMooseCreek.com

Cody Shuttle

www.CodyShuttle.com

Cody Wild Mustang Tours

www.CodyWMT.com

Cody Cattle Company

www.TheCodyCattleCompany.com

Cody Rodeo

www.CodyStampedeRodeo.com

Cody Firearms Experience