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ROAD TRIPPIN' TO NORTHWESTERN WYOMING; THE MOST SCENIC ROADS IN THE WEST LEAD TO YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY
CODY, Wyo., May 16, 2013 - It's time. Time to pack the kids, the dog, the picnic, the guidebooks, the maps and the "world is my oyster" attitude and hit the road to visit one of the American West's most scenic, historic and fun-filled destinations - Yellowstone Country. And no matter where a traveler is starting - from points East, West, South or North (well actually, Northeast) - there is a guaranteed "wow" factor on the way.
"No matter where you are coming from, there is going to be a visual treat for everyone in the car," said Claudia Wade, director of the Park County Travel Council, Yellowstone Country's marketing arm. "We recommend road-trippers heading to Cody bring binoculars, plenty of cold drinks and snacks and most importantly, that they lose their timetables. Our visitors tell us when they arrive that they've lost all track of time, with unplanned roadside stops to watch a herd of bison in the field, read a historical marker or meander through small-town shops on the way."
And once they arrive in Cody and are ready for some human-powered fun, travelers will find an abundance of activities and a wide array of accommodations, from scenic guest ranches to charming boutique hotels.
And if guests haven't had enough road trippin' by the time they arrive in Cody, they can always take another day and using Cody as a home base drive one of five scenic loops. Want to see more wildlife? Take the East Yellowstone Loop. Can't get enough of small towns with local color? Think about the Bighorn Basin Loop. Interested in historic sites and breathtaking sights? Choose the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.
Here's what to expect if you're driving to Cody from:
The Northwest. Driving out Yellowstone National Park's northeast gate can be a remarkable wildlife-viewing opportunity as the road travels through Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, called "America's Serengeti." It is typical to see bison and elk in this valley and not uncommon to spot wolves, bears, coyote, bighorn sheep, moose and a wide variety of birds.
 While leaving the park, you will enter Montana and drive through the small towns of Silver Gate and Cooke City and make a short drive back to Wyoming to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Sights along this route include the single-span Sunlight Creek Bridge, the highest bridge in Wyoming and Dead Indian Pass overlook area where the Nez Perce tribe outran the U.S. Cavalry for several months in 1877. History buffs should also consider taking a side trip on the Sunlight Basin Road (a gravel road) to see the Sunlight Ranger Station, a Civilian Conservation Corps structure built in 1936. After driving down from the pass, you will continue to Cody in the shadow of Heart Mountain.
The West. Before leaving the park and heading out the east gate you will drive up and over Sylvan Pass. This stretch was recently widened, and the stone walls on the uphill side of the road are excellent examples of dry stacking. If you have time, park the car at a pull out and look over the edge and down at the road cars used almost 100 years ago. The old road was so steep that it circled back on bridges over itself to create a corkscrew effect. Vehicles often travel backwards at times because it was so steep that gasoline would not flow from the gas tank to the carburetor any other way.
Immediately upon leaving the park, Pahaska Tepee is on the left. This was Buffalo Bill's Hunting lodge where he entertained friends and dignitaries, including the Prince of Monaco whose flag still resides on the wall of the original lodge. Then it is on to the Wapiti Valley and the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway with rock formations and lava flows with names provided by imaginative locals such as "Old Woman and Her Cabin," "Laughing Pig Rock," "Snoopy the Dog" and "Chinese Wall." Before entering Cody, you will pass Buffalo Bill State Park and the Buffalo Bill Dam, created for the purpose of irrigating the region's crops.
The Northeast. This trip travels from the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Bighorn Canyon and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, home to more than 120 free-roaming wild horses before hitting the towns of Powell and Lovell. In the region you can also see the mysterious 74-foot stone circle called the Medicine Wheel, which some people think had religious or astronomical implications to ancient tribes. Before you get to Cody, check out the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. This educational facility recently opened on the site of a Japanese American internment camp that housed some 14,000 people during World War II.
The South. From the south on Highway 120, you will reach the town of Thermopolis, home of the world's largest free-flowing hot springs. Stop at Hot Springs State Park for a leisurely soak before continuing. Make sure you stop in Meeteetse, a tiny Western town known for its charm and its chocolate. Cowboy and chocolatier Tim Kellogg's shop - The Meeteetse Chocolatier - serves up preservative-free truffles in wide-ranging combinations.
The East. Chances are you will go through the town of Greybull, named for a legendary albino bison bull that was sacred to American Indians in the region. You will also pass some of the world's finest dinosaur fossil beds before arriving in town.
All five scenic drives to Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country take travelers past some of northwestern Wyoming's most breathtaking valleys, mountain passes, rivers and forests. And when travelers finally arrive in the dynamic town of Cody, they can choose an inn, lodge, guest or dude ranch to park their cars and enjoy some human-powered activities for a few days.
For complete details about all five scenic drives, visit www.yellowstonecountry.org/things-to-do/scenic-byways/.
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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 more than 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 vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
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CODY, WYOMING RAISES $100,000 TO PLOW YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ROADS ON TIME, AVOIDING SEQUESTER-PROMPTED TWO-WEEK DELAY
CODY, Wyo., March 21, 2013 - Demonstrating creativity and solidarity, the community of Cody has raised the funds needed to plow roads inside of Yellowstone National Park in order to open the East Gate by May 3 as originally scheduled.
Following the March 4 announcement by the National Park Service (NPS) that it would delay plowing roads by two weeks as part of a budget-cutting plan because of sequestration, Cody - led by its Chamber of Commerce - has raised $100,000 to cover the plowing expenses. The funds will be used to pay for State of Wyoming equipment and crews, and per a special agreement with park superintendent Dan Wenk, the state will be allowed to plow inside the park.
"Cody is the little town that could - and did," said Scott Balyo, executive director of the Chamber. "Our members and other individuals stepped up to support our local community with a combination of determination, cooperation and generosity. Because of that support, travelers do not need to change plans, and we encourage all travelers to use the East Gate to the park for easy access to some of the park's most- visited features such as Yellowstone Lake and Old Faithful."
Although Balyo initially announced the goal of raising the funds by April 1, the town beat that goal by more than one week and raised the total funds in only five working days.
According to NPS, more than 11,000 travelers entered Yellows tone through the East Gate during the first two weeks of the summer season in 2012. A two-week delay would have cost Cody an estimated $2 million in tourism-related revenues and taxes.
The Cody Chamber of Commerce agreed to match donations for the plowing up to $50,000 from its reserve account. The Chamber received more than 60 contributions ranging from $10 to $10,000. Most donations were from individuals or Park County businesses, including some businesses that are not tourism-related.
Cody is located 52 miles from Yellowstone's East Gate and is a popular stop for travelers heading into the park. As a gateway community, Cody offers many attractions that complement the park and help orient visitors to not only the Greater Yellowstone area but also the cowboy culture that epitomizes the region.
"I can't think of a better illustration of the independent, determined spirit that embodies this town of 10,000 people," said Balyo. "Our town founder, Buffalo Bill Cody, was a visionary who turned a hard-scrabble region of northwestern Wyoming into a thriving town, and that vision clearly lives on. I'm so pleased with the generosity of the people who donated."
Founded in 1900, the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, the community's "front porch" represents the interests of its 575 members and the entire business community, extends exceptional Western hospitality and promotes an unparalleled visitor experience.
The county's marketing arm, the Park County Travel Council offers information about vacation packages, special events, guide services, weather and more. Travelers wishing to arrange a vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
Media contacts:
Mesereau Public Relations
1-720-842-5271
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Cody Country Chamber of Commerce
Scott Balyo
Executive Director
1-307-587-2777
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HEART MOUNTAIN INTERPRETIVE CENTER IN CODY, WYOMING RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EXHIBITION
CODY, Wyo., May 2, 2012 – The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center on the site of a World War II Japanese American internment camp, received a “Special Distinction” award from the American Association of Museums (AAM) for “Eloquent Presentation of Topic” today.
Opened in August 2011, the 11,000-square-foot interpretive center includes permanent displays and exhibits developed to showcase how the U.S. government denied basic rights to people of Japanese ancestry following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. The exhibits are told from the perspective of the internees and highlight their pre-war lives on the West Coast, forced evacuation and travel to Heart Mountain, where they settled into their barracks and lives as prisoners.
In presenting the award, AAM noted that, “Visitors are prompted to think about the relevance of the Heart Mountain experience to current events and the debate about the balance between freedom and national security. The Excellence in Exhibitions Competition chose this exhibition for an award of special distinction because of its sensitive and eloquent presentation of a difficult topic.”
The award was presented to Eric L. Muller on May 1 at the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums in Minneapolis, Minn. Muller is a Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation board member and co-chair of the 15-person program committee which oversaw the development and installation of the exhibits.
“The many dedicated individuals who devoted their talents and energy to the creation of the exhibits faced the extraordinary challenge of developing displays that would present a shameful period in American history in a way that would be memorable and thought-provoking without being preachy,” said Muller. “This award is especially gratifying, because it indicates that we were successful in accomplishing our mission.”
Now in its 24th year, the AAM’s Excellence in Exhibitions Competition recognizes exhibitions for overall excellence or for stretching the limits of exhibition content and design through innovation.
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About the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HMWF) was formed in 1996 and is dedicated to preserving the site of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County, Wyo., where nearly 14,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated from 1942 to 1945, surrounded by guard towers and barbed wire fences. In total, some 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them American-born citizens, were deprived of due process and forced to leave their homes and livelihoods during WWII. The HMWF acquired 50 acres of land to preserve the site and interpret what occurred there – for the current and future generations of Americans. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center houses an extensive collection of artifacts and educational exhibits that serve to honor Heart Mountain survivors and stand as a lasting tribute to their experiences. For more information about the grand opening, or to make a donation, visit www.heartmountain.org.
Media contact:
Mesereau Public Relations
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COMING SOON TO CODY, WYOMING; CLASSIC WESTERN DESTINATION ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITS, TOURS, HOTEL AND EVENTS
CODY, Wyo., March 19, 2012 – Cody, Wyoming’s summer season kicks off June 1 when attractions like the nightly rodeo and fun traditions like the gunfighter shootout draw visitors from all over the world. This summer visitors are in for a few surprises too, with two new museum exhibits, a tour, new hotel and roster of special events.
“Cody shakes off the winter blues with gusto, and by the time June 1 arrives, every attraction, restaurant, lodge and museum exhibit has been spiffed up in anticipation of the thousands of visitors who come each summer to see the town Buffalo Bill built,” said Claudia Wade, executive director of the Park County Travel Council, the marketing arm for Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country. “With summer-season standbys like the Cody Nite Rodeo and Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue as well as the new offerings, our visitors will find plenty of ways to spend their days with us.”
Exhibits
Heart Mountain Interpretive Center - This will be the first full summer season for the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, which opened last August. The center is situated at the site of the Heart Mountain Japanese-American Internment Camp, which housed more than 14,000 internees during World War II, making it the third-largest city in Wyoming. The center’s poignant exhibits are intended to leave visitors with a better understanding of the challenges faced by the Americans who were interned there. Heart Mountain is one of the few Japanese-American Internment Camps with ruins still standing.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West - After a $2.75 million renovation and reinstallation, Buffalo Bill Center of the West will reopen its inaugural museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum, on May 19. The new Buffalo Bill Museum will focus on the life of the famous sharpshooter, showman and town founder. The family-friendly museum will include interactive exhibits and a “Storybook Garden” with life-sized cutouts of the town’s legendary leader. A grand opening event is scheduled for July 3. Buffalo Bill Center of the West is comprised of five separate museums, also including the Draper Museum of Natural History, Plains Indian Museum, Firearms Museum and Whitney Museum of Western Art. Admission to Buffalo Bill Center of the West is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors 65 and older, $14 for students, $10 for children ages six through 17 and free for children under six. The admission price includes visitation for two consecutive days.
Tour
Cody Trolley’s new tour, “An Agricultural History: The Heart Mountain Tour” travels through the fertile agricultural farmlands of the Big Horn Basin and stops at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, where passengers will have 60 minutes to wander through the exhibits. The two-hour tour will introduce travelers to the crops and agricultural methods used by farmers in the region as well as the rich history and legends of the area. The tour is offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily June 1 through Sept. 22. A 10-passenger minimum is needed. Cody Trolley Tours also offers an entertaining one-hour tour of Cody three times a day during the summer season.
Lodging
Best Western Ivy Suites. Opened this month, this new 70-room, 22-suite hotel is situated in the heart of the town and within walking distance of many of its key attractions. The hotel includes a restaurant and lounge, indoor pool and hot tub, free in-room wireless Internet access, fitness room and meeting facilities.
Events
June 4–10 - Cody Wild West Shootout. Sanctioned by the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), some 150 shooters compete over a three-day period while wearing clothing and using firearms from the period of 1860 to 1899. The event is located at the Cody Shooting Complex.
June 16-17 – 31st Annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow. This popular event is held outside Buffalo Bill Center of the West and features dancing and a drum competition as well as food and crafts.
June 30 – Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Xtreme Bulls event. This event features 40 of the world’s top bull riders competing for a $50,000 purse and the coveted Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls title.
July 1 – 4 – 93rd Annual Cody Stampede Rodeo. The four-day Cody Stampede Rodeos are part of the Wrangler Pro Rodeo Tour sanctioned by PRCA. Other associated events include parades, a street dance, barbecues and the Wild West Extravaganza, a three-day festival in City Park with arts, crafts, food and music.
July 6-8 – Winchester Arms and Winchester Club of America Collectors Show. Gun owners can buy, trade and sell guns. This event is located at the Riley Arena.
July 13-14 – 25th Annual Yellowstone Jazz Festival. This event includes a free Thursday-night jazz concert in Cody City Park and Friday-night jazz performances on the lawn of Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
July 24-28 – Park County Fair. Located at the Powell, Wyo. Fairgrounds, this event includes displays, competitions, music and more.
July 28 – National Day of the American Cowboy. Located at Buffalo Bill Center of the West, this event celebrates the spirit of the American West with activities, presentations, music and games.
August 4-5 – Wings ‘N’ Wheels. Located at the Powell, Wyo. airport, this event includes an air show, specialty car show and remote control airplane demonstrations.
August 4-5 – 17th Annual Wild West Balloon Fest. This three-day event includes morning balloon launches from Mentock Park and a “moon glow” event one evening.
August 10-12 – 19th Annual Buffalo Bill Invitational Shootout. Located at the Cody Shooting Complex, this event is one of the best all-around shotgun challenges in the West. Events include a 350-target shoot with targets in skeet, trap, wobble trap, five-stand and sporting clays.
August 10-11 – Heart Mountain Pilgrimage. This event focuses on bringing younger generations to the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. During the weekend, films produced by descendents of the camp internees will be shown.
August 11 – Annual Kirwin Excursion. Participants in this all-day group trip to the one-time gold-mining town of Kirwin will see the ruins of buildings and mining equipment. The trip celebrates the fascinating story of how the once-thriving, quickly evacuated metropolis turned into a ghost town, almost overnight.
Sept. 1 – 3 - Meeteetse’s 100th Annual Labor Day Celebration. The town of Meeteetse has been staging a festive three-day celebration ever since rancher Josh Dean hosted the first party a century ago by roasting a steer in a large pit and celebrating with neighbors, many who hadn’t seen each other during the busy summer of ranching and farming. The event includes rodeos, street games, food and entertainment just as it did a century ago.
September 1 – Meeteetse Absaroka Challenge. Now in its eighth year, this event is part of the Trophy Series sponsored by Trail Runners Magazine. There are races for runners of all abilities, including 5k and 10k runs as well as an extreme 15k mountain run with a 2,000-foot rise in elevation.
Sept. 14-16 - Yellowstone Quilt Festival. Quilters from all over the region gather in the Cody Auditorium to celebrate the art of quilting and display their creations.
Sept. 18-22 – Cody High Style – Designing the West. Located at Buffalo Bill Center of the West, this annual event celebrates Western decorative arts and includes displays of work by contemporary Western artists, a fashion show, workshops, seminars, round-table discussions and private tours.
Sept. 21-22 - Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale. Now in its 31st year, this popular event includes sale of fine art with a Western theme in a broad range of stylistic interpretations of the American West. The event benefits Buffalo Bill Center of the West Cody Chamber of Commerce. It is held in conjunction with the Center’s Patrons Ball, Cody High Style, free art exhibition, live auction and Quick Draw, when painters and sculptors complete a piece of work within an hour.
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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 Center of the West and thriving western culture host more than 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 vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
Media contact:
Mesereau Public Relations
1-720-842-5271
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NEW TOUR EXPLORES JAPANESE INTERNMENT CENTER
CODY, Wyo. -- January 19, 2012. An historic World War II Japanese relocation center and adjoining interpretive center is the destination for a first-of-its kind public tour launching from Cody, Wyo., in June 2012.
Guests on the one-hour tour operated by Cody Trolley Tours will be immersed in the heartrending drama of some 14,000 Japanese Americans who were confined at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center as part of a nationwide incarceration of 120,000 people in 10 such centers across the American West.
Company owner and Cody Country native, Greg Pendley, has had a lifelong fascination with regional history and feels passionate about preserving the story of the relocation center. His great grandparents homesteaded near Powell, Wyo., and his father became good friends with a Japanese-American internee.
"I've driven past the center thousands of times," Pendley says, "and to see that story come back to life is a very important and wonderful thing."
Among other highlights along the course of the 14-mile drive into the badlands and farmlands northeast of Cody, passengers will also learn about Buffalo Bill Cody's heroic effort to transform the sagebrush flats of the Big Horn Basin into one of Wyoming's most fertile agricultural zones with the construction of a network of irrigation canals channeling water from the famed Buffalo Bill Dam.
Approaching the stark outlines of Heart Mountain, a legendary regional landmark looming over the relocation center, tour goers will stretch their imaginations back to 1941 and the shocking bombing of Pearl Harbor, the declaration of war on Japan and Germany, and President Roosevelt's order leading to the removal of Japanese man, woman and child from their West Coast homes and businesses.
Tour guides will point out a towering brick chimney, a swimming hole, a root cellar, and other remnants of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center which spanned 46,000 acres with 468 hastily constructed barrack-style buildings surrounded by a barbed wire fence and guard towers.
At the heart of the tour, guests will experience the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center, opened in August 2011 to memorialize the hardships and heroism of Japanese Americans forced to leave their homes with only the possessions they could carry for a railroad journey to a stoic life of confinement within small apartment buildings erected of tarpaper walls.
Through rare photographs, artifacts, and meticulously researched exhibits, the center gives visitors an understanding of the daily lives of internees, some of whom lived in the center throughout its three-year existence, 1942-45. Recreated barracks are starkly equipped with only a stove, a light fixture, and an army cot with two blankets for each person, yet the walls and shelves are adorned with family photos, knick-knacks and personal treasures, revealing a common humanity and yearning to return to their former lives.
The Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center covers the full circle of internment life, from the workings of the relocation center's hospital and high school, to its own newspaper, churches, funeral services, and the social interaction with nearby Cody and Powell which forged enduring friendships among Boy Scouts and athletes during sports competitions between the "camp" and the towns.
Returning to home base, Cody Trolley's Heart Mountain tour explores more of the region's croplands lush with malt barley, sugar beets, beans, and even a 1,000-acre dairy farm, with fascinating details about the history of the rigorous methods used to turn this arid landscape into the lushly productive agricultural land of modern times.
Other features of the Heart Mountain tour cover the prehistoric mammals, and the cowboys and Indians that once populated the McCullough Peaks, home to one of America's largest herds of free-running wild horses; and a frontier mercantile establishment, gathering place and social center known as Corbett's Shebang which was patched together some 12 years before Cody's founding in 1896.
Founded in 2001, Cody Trolley Tours is best known for its lively, entertaining and award-winning trolley tour of the City of Cody and nearby attractions. The company offers a discount package for its one-hour city tour combined with the newly created Heart Mountain tour.
For more information, call Cody Trolley Tours, 307- 527-7043, or visit www.codytrolleytours.com.
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COOL-SEASON CODY; WESTERN WYOMING TOWN OFFERS TRAVEL FUN DURING COOL MONTHS
CODY, Wyoming, October 6, 2010 – For such a small town, Cody, Wyoming offers some incredibly big adventures, particularly during the cooler months of the year. Although this Wyoming town at the east border of Yellowstone National Park is best known for its summer activities such as the Cody Nite Rodeo as well as its world-famous Buffalo Bill Center of the West, its cool-weather seasons also offer a wide range of recreational and cultural activities that will hold the interest of fun-loving travelers of all ages.
“Winter has been a hit with the winter adventurers who are into extreme adventures such as ice-climbing, but our relatively mild temperatures and the expansive Western beauty of the destination have been catching on with more mainstream winter travelers in recent years,” said Claudia Wade, executive director of the Park County Travel Council. “And although most fall and winter days are quite comfortable for exploring outside, when our visitors are ready to move indoors they will find a wide range of museums, galleries, restaurants and entertainment options.” Park County Travel Council provides marketing support for Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country, comprised of the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, Wyo.
Here are some of Yellowstone Country's top winter adventures:
· Wildlife watching. Fall is rutting season, and it is common to see huge male elk sparring to get the attention of female elk and to hear elk bugling to warn competitors away or to inform the herd of their prowess with the females.
· Scenic drives. The Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway is a 50-mile stretch from Cody to Yellowstone National Park. It features striking rock formations, the world’s first national forest and prime wildlife habitat. While traversing the Wapiti Valley through Shoshone National Forest, it is not unusual to see elk, deer, moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and even pre-hibernation grizzly and black bears during the fall months. “Wapiti” is an Indian word meaning white tail, or elk.
· Mountain biking. Yellowstone Country has many trails for mountain biking, providing visitors with a chance to take in the scenery at their own pace.
· Sleeping Giant Ski Area. Located in the Shoshone National Forest 49 miles west of Cody, Sleeping Giant covers 900 vertical feet, double the height of the ski area when it closed in 2004. The ski area reopened in 2009 after a two-year renovation that added two chair lifts, a magic carpet and terrain park with 14 features, including quarter pipes, rails, boxes and jumps. The terrain park is one of only a handful in the country that was constructed almost entirely of materials found on the hill. It is designed for use by both snowboarders and skiers.
· Ice-climbing. World-class ice-climbing is available along the South Fork of the Shoshone River (www.coldfear.com, www.bisonwillys.com, www.codyice.com). The frozen waterfalls provide one of the highest concentrations of waterfall ice-climbing in the United States. Non-climbers are welcome to watch as the artful climbers make their slow treks up the frozen waterfalls.
· Galleries and museums. Founded in 1917 to preserve the legacy of its namesake, Cody’s world-famous Buffalo Bill Historical Center (www.bbhc.org) is often the first stop for Cody visitors in any season. On a cool day in winter, the sprawling five-museum complex is an inviting all-day educational experience for visitors of any age. During the winter -- November through March -- the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Cody’s art galleries and shops – many within walking distance of the museum – are also open throughout the winter.
· Wild West Show Concert Series. The Wild West Show Concert Series brings top-performing country stars to Cody once a month from October through April for performance in one of two theater venues – the 300-seat Cody Theater or the 900-seat Wynona Thompson Auditorium. Wildly popular among locals and travelers alike, the entertaining performances are typically held on Saturday nights.
· Nordic skiing. The area offers an abundance of Nordic skiing trails (www.nordicskiclub, www.meetrec.org), including the Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park located 22 miles southwest of Meeteetse, North Fork Nordic Trails located near the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park and Yellowstone National Park itself, with groomed ski trails throughout the park.
· Ice-skating. There are two great places to glide on the ice. Outdoor ice-skating is available at Homesteader Park in Powell, and indoor skating is offered at the Victor J. Riley Arena (www.rileyarena.com) and Community Events Center in Cody. Both locations provide ice skate rentals.
· Fishing. The Cody area offers some of the best blue-ribbon trout stream fishing in the world, and the fish do not know it is winter. Professional fishing guides and outfitters accommodate anglers of any ability. A listing of professional fishing guides and fly fishing shops as well as year-round fishing information is available at www.yellowstonecountry.org/outdoor-recreation/.
· Snowmobiling and Snowcoach Touring. Winter adventurers who like to feel the rush of cool air on their faces will find a special thrill in Yellowstone Country. There are plenty of places to explore both inside the park and throughout the forestlands outside the park borders on snowmobiles and in snowcoaches. Snowcoach drivers do double-duty as interpretive guides and happily stop the vehicles along the way so visitors can truly appreciate the area’s incredible beauty and abundant wildlife.
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 Center of the West and thriving western culture host more than 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 vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
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Media contact:
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BUFFALO BILL'S CODY/YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY IS FULL OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
CODY, WYOMING, January 30, 2008 – Few places in the American West have consistently provided a great family vacation experience as well as Cody, WY and this summer will be another season of creating lifetime memories. With accommodations, activities and attractions geared toward multi-generational travelers, all members of the family can take turns doing what interests them – and typically all in the same day.
Many vacationers visit Cody before or after a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The park’s east entrance is approximately 52 miles from Cody via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway through the Wapiti Valley while the northeast entrance is 77 miles via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.
The entire region was driven and is still heavily influenced by the vision of Col. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. He founded the city of Cody, Wyo. in 1896, and today its broad streets, world-class museum and thriving western culture host more than 1 million visitors annually. At one time Cody was considered the most famous person in the world, and his fame brought attention to the area. Among the many things to do and places to visit are attractions with Cody’s name.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a world-class museum complex comprised of five collections – the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Plains Indian Museum and the Draper Museum of Natural History. The center is open seven days a week, and a single admission is good for all five museums.
The Cody Trolley Tour operates June through September and takes passengers throughout the city of Cody to gain an overview of the old and new West. A one-hour, 22 mile tour presents local history, area attractions, geology, wildlife and spectacular scenery interwoven with the compelling story of "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The tour includes two lively narrators, a dozen poster sized photos from historical archives and many entertaining audio clips.
Cody has earned its moniker “The Rodeo Capital of the World” by hosting the Cody Nite Rodeo every night from June 1 though Aug. 31. Sanctioned by the PRCA, the Cody Nite Rodeo features riders and ropers competing for prize money.
Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue is a fast-paced, family-friendly show featuring songs of the West, cowboy poetry and some well-placed comedy. Performances are held nightly May through September.
Tecumseh’s Miniature Village is a spectacular diorama that tells the story of the West. The life’s work of the owner, this attraction features thousands of authentic Western and Native artifacts. It is open daily.
Old Trail Town and Museum of the Old West is a collection of 26 authentic frontier buildings – including one used by Butch Cassidy and his gang – located on the original site of Cody City. The buildings feature thousands of artifacts from the old west, and nearby gravesites include that of the real Jeremiah “Liver Eating” Johnston. Old Trail Town is open daily.
Vacationers on their way to Yellowstone often stop at Pahaska Tepee, Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge. “Pahaska,” meaning “Long Hair,” was Cody’s nickname given to him by local Indians. Tours of the original lodge reveal items given to Cody by his guests, including President Theodore Roosevelt and the Prince of Monaco.
The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center six miles west of Cody offers self-guided tours explaining the significance of the dam and how William Cody himself convinced the U.S. Congress that government investment in the construction of the dam would be justified by the benefits to the region. Cody was right, and the dam’s effects are still seen today with agriculture thriving in the area.
The Cody Gunfighters conduct reenactment gun battles outside the Irma Hotel six nights a week from June 1 through Sept. 15. In addition to its lighthearted approach that leaves no doubt that the troupe will return to fight the next night, the gunfighters stress the importance of gun safety, especially to the younger members of the audience.
In addition to these popular family activities, the area is renowned for its abundant wildlife, fishing, horseback riding and river float trips and kayaking. Park County features three very good golf courses, and downtown Cody offers a wide range of retail options with souvenirs and fine art.
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WHERE IS BUFFALO BILL CODY REALLY BURIED?
CODY, Wyo. – While thousands of people visit William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s gravesite on Lookout Mountain just outside of Denver each year, many residents of Cody, Wyo. believe Cody is actually buried on Cedar Mountain overlooking their town. The legend behind this belief is one involving a bold plan, a middle-of the-night trip to a Denver mortuary and an unlucky ranch hand bearing a likeness to Buffalo Bill.
While visiting relatives in Denver in the spring of 1917, Buffalo Bill Cody died. Soon after, his wife Louisa arrived to claim his body and settle his affairs. While in Denver, Louisa was approached by representatives from the Denver Post newspaper and the city of Denver who offered her $10,000 each to bury Cody in the area where they felt his grave would be a tourist attraction.
Although Bill Cody was at one time regarded as the best-known person in the world and his Wild West Show incredibly popular and profitable, he was also prone to bad investments and was incredibly generous. As a result, he and his wife were broke when he died, and Louisa accepted this offer.
When Louisa returned to Wyoming and the town of Cody, its residents turned out to greet her with the expectation that she was bringing the town’s founder home to be buried. The townsfolk were shocked and more than a little upset when Louisa informed them that she had sold Cody’s body and that he was to be buried in Denver.
Among those who were unhappy were the town’s undertaker and two of Buffalo Bill’s old friends, Fred Richard and Ned Frost. These three hatched a plan to travel to Denver to switch bodies and bury Cody on Cedar Mountain where he had often said he wanted as his final resting place. When a local ranch hand died and his body went unclaimed, the three put their plan in motion. After trimming the unfortunate ranch hand’s beard in the Buffalo Bill style, the three loaded the body in the undertaker’s vehicle and drove for two and a half days to Denver.
At the mortuary, the undertaker, Frost and Richard presented themselves as old friends of Cody and asked if they could view his body. After their request was granted, the three returned later that night, switched bodies and left for Wyoming. “All the way home they were convinced that the sheriff in every town they drove through was waiting to arrest them,” says Bob Richard, Fred Richard’s grandson. “Instead, they returned to Cody and buried Buffalo Bill on Cedar Mountain overlooking his town.”
Once they had completed their job, they proceeded to make the rounds to all 13 of Cody’s saloons where they riled up the townsfolk and convinced them they should all go to Denver to bring Buffalo Bill back to be buried where he belonged. A caravan of 100 cars with three to four men in each then left for Denver. In Denver, meanwhile, the locals heard about the plan to retrieve Cody’s body, and they hurriedly and unsuspectingly buried the ranch hand’s body on Lookout Mountain even though permission to do so at the site had not been granted. For good measure, 20 tons of concrete was poured on top of the casket.
The final resting place of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody is a closely guarded secret. Bob Richard and other townsfolk who know where it is share the location with just a select few people they know and trust. They will say that it is on private property on Cedar Mountain, but as with any good legend, there are always a few details that must be left up to the imagination.
Today visitors to the area enjoy a multitude of vacation activities and a town that looks a lot like it many years ago. Go to www.yellowstonecountry.org for more information about vacation packages, special events, guide services, weather and more. Travelers wishing to arrange vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
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