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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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CODY, WYOMING OFFERS FANTASTIC FALL ACTIVITIES
CODY, Wyo., August 22, 2011 – Ah, fall. The kids are back in school, and couples without children and older travelers hit the road. It is peaceful, the weather can be wonderful, lodging easy to secure and there is still plenty to do.
Everyone knows there are numerous attractions in Yellowstone Country, including Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, Wyo., in the summer. But what about autumn? Oh, yes. The days are pleasant (average September temperatures are in the upper 60s), and nights are cool (the gauge hits mid-40s) – perfect sleeping weather. It tends to be a dry month (an inch or less of precipitation). October is slightly cooler with a little more chance of dampness.
It’s a time of fall colors, which can be lovely here and in nearby Yellowstone National Park. The elk are in rut; hear their signature bugle call everywhere a herd is gathered. Bears prepare for winter by eating everything in sight – pack away your camp food in the proper manner—so you might see them foraging by day.
In this town founded by and named for Wild West showman Buffalo Bill Cody, it is not surprising that autumn ushers in some true Western pursuits.
Game on!
Tackle some blue-ribbon trout fishing in the streams in and around Cody. Seasoned fishermen will find their own way; novices might want to hire a fishing guide for their first foray. Fly fishing shops also offer maps and advice. For more information on fishing in Park County, go online to www.yellowstonecountry.org/outdoor-recreation/.
There are several hunting seasons in the fall – for pronghorn, deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. Dates for each season vary, so check online for this year’s at http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/Regs/. You will find all the rules and regulations there, too.
No hunting? It is still possible to see all of this wonderful wildlife. Check with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s online wildlife watching guide at http://gf.state.wy.us/services/education/wtw/index.asp.
Hit the road
Scenic doesn’t begin to describe the drive between Cody and the east entrance of Yellowstone. This 50-mile Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway through the Wapiti Valley and Shoshone National Forest may result in some of that wildlife-watching. Look for grizzly and black bears, pronghorn, big horn sheep, deer, elk and moose. Keep a camera handy. There also are some amazing rock formations and, if the timing is right, fall colors. For complete information about viewing wildlife in the area visit www.yellowstonecountry.org/things-to-do/wildlife/wildlife-viewing.
Indoor fun
If the weather does turn dicey, there are still plenty of diversions.
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a complex encompassing a variety of museums dedicated to fine Western art, firearms, Native Americans, Yellowstone Park and Buffalo Bill himself. It is easy to spend an entire day here. If the art gallery inspires the urge to buy, there are a number of private galleries nearby to salve the itch. For more on the historical center, go online to www.bbhc.org.
The Cody Wild West Show Concert Series brings a bit of Nashville to the West with such noted artists as “Whispering” Bill Anderson, Mel Tillis, Suzy Boguss and Asleep at the Wheel gracing the stage of the historic and intimate Cody Theater downtown. Three times larger, with 900 seats, is the newer Wynona Thompson Auditorium where some acts also appear. For a current schedule of shows, go online to www.yellowstonecountry.org/cody-wild-west-show/.
Special events
Autumn also brings a few annual events to Cody, but one deserves special mention.
The Rendezvous Royale happens the fourth week of September, and is one of Cody’s biggest and most prestigious events. There’s the nationally rated Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, with Western-themed art from every genre: oils, watercolors, pastels, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media. There’s a quick-draw contest (between artists, not gunfighters), an auction, a Western fashion show, seminars, studio tours and a fancy-dress ball to top it all off. For more about the rendezvous, go online to www.rendezvousroyale.org/.
The Park County Travel Council (www.yellowstonecountry.org) has information about more special events, as well as guide services, weather and vacation packages. Call them at 800-393-2639.
***
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.
Media contact:
Mesereau Public Relations
1-720-842-5271
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Grand Opening Celebration Set for Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center
Event Speakers to Include Tom Brokaw, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Judge Lance Ito and
Boyhood Friends Sec. Norman Mineta, Sen. Alan Simpson
POWELL, Wyo. – The grand opening of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation’s long awaited Interpretive Learning Center will offer the public a unique chance to tour the new museum free of charge from Saturday, Aug. 20, through Monday, Aug. 22, and hear nationally renowned speakers participating in key events during the weekend-long celebration, according to Executive Director Steve Leger.
“When the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center opens its doors to the public for the first time next month, it will mark the culmination of a preservation effort that has involved the communities of Cody and Powell, Wyo., and many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center during World War II,” said Leger. “It will be an important new museum and an exciting new visitor attraction for the region,” he stated.
According to Leger, former internees, descendents and supporters across the nation will be traveling to the area to participate in the weekend-long celebration. The public is invited to participate in all events, including a dedication ceremony and other activities at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center throughout the day on Saturday, Aug. 20. Tours of the Interpretive Learning Center will follow the dedication ceremony taking place at 10 a.m., and entertainment and refreshments will be available. For those who wish to tour the Interpretive Learning Center at a less crowded time, it will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking will be available in an adjacent unpaved area.
“The dedication ceremony and opening of the doors of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center is a momentous event for the region and promises to be an enjoyable and enlightening experience for the community,” said Leger. “I urge everyone to visit us during the grand opening weekend,” he added.
Dinner Events Open to the Public
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation also is planning two dinner events at the Park County Fairgrounds scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, and tickets are available for purchase via the registration form on the web site www.heartmountain.org or by contacting the local office at 307-764-2320. Preregistration is required for attendance at the dinners.
Award-winning broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw will be the special guest speaker for the pilgrimage dinner on Fri., Aug. 19, with a reception starting at 6:00 p.m., at the Park County Fairgrounds in Powell. Currently a special correspondent for NBC News, Brokaw’s best-selling book, “The Greatest Generation,” includes the story of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Tickets for the Friday casual-style dinner are $45 per person.
A grand opening banquet is set for Saturday, Aug. 20, also at the Park County Fairgrounds, with a reception starting at 6 p.m. The program includes a panel of leaders from across the country will comment on legal, psychological and legislative perspectives of the Japanese American experience, and how lessons from the past inform today’s civil rights discussions. The panel will include Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lance Ito, a respected advocate for civil rights and judicial reform, whose parents were incarcerated at Heart Mountain; Irene Hirano Inouye, president of the US-Japan Council; and Dr. Melba Vasquez, President of the American Psychological Association. Tickets for the Saturday banquet are available for $75 per person, $25 for children.
Dedication Ceremony to Reunite Old Friends
The Saturday dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., adjacent to the Interpretive Learning Center, and will feature a keynote address from Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, a World War II hero who worked to pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, granting token redress payments to surviving Japanese Americans incarcerated during the war and a formal apology.
Introducing Sen. Inouye at the ceremony will be two statesmen who famously met at Heart Mountain as Boy Scouts when one was incarcerated there with his family and the other belonged to a troop in his nearby hometown of Cody. Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, who serves on the advisory council of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, and former Congressman and Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, became lifelong friends and long-time colleagues. Mineta will also be participating in the banquet panel Saturday evening.
Following the ceremony and throughout the day – in addition to Sunday and Monday – the public will be able to tour the new Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center. It will house permanent exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays in a barracks-like structure that captures a sense of everyday life at Heart Mountain. Visitors will learn about the forced removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, their arrival at Heart Mountain, how families struggled to live under harsh conditions and, finally, the challenges of rebuilding their lives after the war.
Visitors also can experience the existing paved, 1,000-ft. loop walking tour with informational kiosks. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center is located on Road 19, off Highway 14 between Cody and Powell, 60 miles east of Yellowstone National Park. More information can be found at www.heartmountain.org.
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CODY, Wyo., July 1, 2011 – It is not too late to arrange a classic summer vacation in northwestern Wyoming’s Yellowstone Country, comprised of the towns of Cody, Meteetse and Powell, Wyoming and parts of Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone Country offers a full range of Western entertainment options, a wide array of quirky, kid-pleasing attractions and many affordable lodging options, including numerous guest ranches, charming inns and budget motels.
Well-known for its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, many vacationers visit Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country on their way to or from the park or make Cody their home base for a day trip into the park, just 50 miles away.
“Yellowstone Country offers a classic vacation experience, and for our younger visitors it is often their first exposure to Western traditions, history and hospitality,” said Claudia Wade, executive director of the Park Country Travel Council, a tourism organization that supports marketing of the area. “With the addition of new adventures and attractions recently, Cody has been increasingly transformed into more of a ‘drive-to’ rather than a ‘drive-through’ destination.”
Last-minute vacationers will still be able to find lodging have great Western experiences this summer, said Wade.
To illustrate the area’s summer offerings, here is a sample three-day itinerary. The Park County Travel Council also offers an online vacation planning tool at http://www.yellowstonecountry.org/plan-your-visit/.
Day One
Morning – Start with a visit to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. This world-class facility is actually five separate museums, each with exhibits that look at different aspects of the American West. The Draper Museum of Natural History is especially popular with young visitors because of the museum’s extensive interactive displays and life-size exhibits of animals found in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
From the museum, take a stroll to downtown Cody and enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants on Sheridan Avenue, Cody’s main street.
Early afternoon – Take a two-hour float trip down the Shoshone River. Vacationers with more time can opt for half-day whitewater rafting trips. Interpretive guides steer floats while providing stories and information about the area’s colorful characters, breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife.
Late afternoon – Visit Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum, where thousands of miniature people, buildings and animals depict Western scenes of the past. Owner and collector extraordinaire Jerry Fick has spent a lifetime working on this room-size diorama and extensive exhibit of Western artifacts.
6 p.m. Watch a hilarious street performance by the famous Cody Gunfighters. The porch of the Irma Hotel is the best viewing point to watch this entertaining, quirky Cody event.
7 p.m. Experience The Cody Cattle Company with the high-spirited “Rockin M Wranglers” and an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Day Two
After breakfast, wander the town’s many shops and galleries along Sheridan Avenue, Cody’s main street. The town offers numerous shops featuring antiques, gifts, sporting equipment and fine art. Or check out the galleries of local furniture-makers who specialize in creating distinctive furniture in the Western genre.
Late morning - Take an hour-long trolley tour of Cody and the surrounding area. The tour features live narration by a knowledgeable tour guide, entertaining audio clips and historical photos. The trolley tour is a great way to get an overview of the town and its history.
Have lunch in town.
After lunch, take a half-day drive on the “Road to Yellowstone,” the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. The scenic road takes travelers through the Wapiti Valley to the East Entrance of Yellowstone. The area is known for its abundant wildlife and incredible rock formations. Stop along the way at the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center. Located about six miles west of Cody, the dam was the brainchild of Buffalo Bill himself. It was completed in 1910 was at the time the highest concrete dam in the world, at 353 feet high. Continue to drive along the road and watch for elk, grizzly bears, eagles and other wildlife.
Stop at Pahaska Tepee to stretch your legs and have a snack at the Lodge Pole Room. The popular attraction was Buffalo Bill Cody’s original hunting lodge and the odd-sounding name originated from local Indians, who called it “Long Hair’s Lodge.” Watch for grizzlies and moose. The area surrounding Pahaska Tepee is prime wildlife habitat.
On the way back to Cody, look at the mysterious rock formations. Can you spot “Snoopy the Dog” or “Henry Ford?” Equipped with healthy imaginations and a Western-style sense of humor, locals have given names to several of the strange-looking rock formations throughout the Wapiti Valley. There is even a book, called “The Most Scenic 52 Miles in America: Cody to Yellowstone,” which includes photos and locations of the rock formations along the road.
Enjoy dinner at the Irma Hotel. Built by Buffalo Bill, the hotel is an authentic Cody landmark that captures the essence of Western hospitality. It was named after Buffalo Bill’s youngest daughter, Irma, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
After dinner, enjoy Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue, located in the historic Cody Theatre across from the Irma Hotel. The popular Branson-style music variety show features Nashville transplant Dan Miller and the “Empty Saddles Band.”
Day Three
Get out of town today. After breakfast, take a drive on 14N towards Powell, a quaint town located 25 miles from Cody.
Visit the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, a Japanese internment camp which once housed more than 11,000 Japanese-American citizens during World War II. Visitors can see the ruins of the one-time hospital and a few other buildings and take an interpretive walk surrounding a monument to the many internees who served in the armed forces during the war. The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation will open a new visitor education center at Heart Mountain on Aug. 19, 2011.
Visit the Powell Homesteader Museum and other shops and galleries. Return to Cody.
Visit Old Trail Town, a collection of authentic buildings laid out on the original town site of Cody City. The buildings were collected from an 80-mile radius of Cody and date from 1879 to 1900. Buildings include the “Hole-in-the-Wall” cabin used by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Curley’s Cabin, named for the Crow Indian Scout to General Custer in the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Take a horseback trail ride. Numerous near-town outfitters offer trail rides throughout the area.
Have dinner in town.
End your Cody vacation with the Cody Nite Rodeo. The 59-year-old rodeo has earned Cody the designation as Rodeo Capital of the World. It is the only seven-night-a-week outdoor rodeo (June through August) in the country.
***
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.
Media contact:
Mesereau Public Relations
1-720-842-5271
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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CODY, Wyo., July 5, 2011 – With the high price of gasoline this summer, vacationers are naturally keeping an eye on the contents of their wallets. Yellowstone Country, comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Meteetse and Powell and parts of Yellowstone National Park, offers a wide array of affordable experiences, including many that are free.
“The price of gas is unfortunate, but based on advance bookings, vacationers are still choosing to enjoy travel adventures this summer,” said Claudia Wade, executive director of the Park County Travel Council, the region’s marketing arm. “Yellowstone Country has always been a destination that offers incredible value, and many of our most memorable experiences – like watching our nightly Cody Gunfighters or spotting a bear along the road outside of town – are free.”
Wade offers the following ideas for free and moderately priced Cody experiences:
Free:
· Find “Snoopy the Dog” or “Laughing Pig Rock.” The 52-mile road between Cody and the east entrance to Yellowstone National park has abundant rock formations and lava flows that have been named by imaginative locals. The road travels along the north fork of the Shoshone River and traverses the Wapiti Valley through the Shoshone Forest. Don’t forget your binoculars. “Wapiti” is an Indian word meaning white tail, or elk, and the region is known for its abundance of deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears and moose.
· Visit Heart Mountain Internment Camp, home to some 11,000 Japanese-American citizens – mostly from California – who were interned there following Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. A new visitor center operated by the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation will open in August 2011. An interpretive walking tour at the site showcases the history of the camp and its residents. This free site is a must-visit for students of American history, young and old.
· Watch a gunfight. The place to be at 6 p.m. on summer evenings is outside the Irma Hotel to watch the supremely entertaining Cody Gunfighters engage in Western skits that always end up in a gunfight (often prompted by a damsel in distress). Kids learn a bit about gun safety, and parents enjoy a classic Cody experience without opening their wallets. This fun-loving and slightly wacky group of locals has been performing nightly in the summer for 15 years. The show is free, but dinner at the Irma Hotel – highly recommended for its prime rib and aged steak – is extra. The Irma Hotel was built by Buffalo Bill Cody and named after his daughter, Irma.
· What started as simply a way to fill a ranch house with functional furniture has turned into an art form in Cody. Today, some 25 local artisans create high-quality Western furniture and accessories for display and sale. Cody has long been a center of Western design. The most famous designer and builder was Thomas Molesworth, owner of the Shoshone Furniture Company in Cody from 1931 to 1961. Molesworth combined the basic furniture designs that local cowboys used in their ranch homes with elements such as leather, horsehide and elk antlers. His work eventually became known by Easterners, and he became the best-known furniture-maker in the Western genre.
· See a diorama that will knock your socks off – and give your children ideas for their next social studies project. Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum is a room-sized, glass-enclosed diorama of miniature trains, bison, soldiers, cabins and more. The display illustrates the history of the West by depicting important battles like the Battle of Little Bighorn, 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.
· Pahaska Tepee. This is where Buffalo Bill went to relax with friends such as Teddy Roosevelt and the Prince of Monaco. 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. An excellent restaurant and gift shop are housed in an adjacent building.
· If there’s someone in the group who likes to see how things work, they will thoroughly enjoy a visit to the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center. Water was as much a concern in the days of Buffalo Bill Cody as it is in the West today. 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. The dam is located six miles west of Cody.
· For chocoholics, a “must-visit” is The Meeteetse Chocolatier. See the creations of cowboy and dedicated chocolatier Tim Kellogg. 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. This stop is only free if you have the willpower to look but not taste.
· View fine Western art created by local artists at the Cody Country Art League, which shares a historic building – the original Buffalo Bill Museum – with the Cody Visitor Center. Artists with ties to the community display photography, oil and watercolor paintings, sculptures and more.
· Strap on your walking shoes and hike, stroll and explore downtown Cody and some of the hundreds of hiking trails that surround the town.
Moderately Priced:
· A terrific introduction to the destination is the Cody Trolley Tour. This 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 6-17), $12; ages 5 and younger, free with adult. Visitors who are planning to take the Cody Trolley Tour and explore the Buffalo Bill Historical Center should consider the “Experience Cody: Inside and Out” package which includes tickets to both attractions. Package price: adults: $37; youth: $20.
· Western history buffs will appreciate a visit to Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West, an 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. There is a built-in teaching moment – astonished youngsters visiting Old Trail Town are often heard commenting about how really small the houses were back then. Admission: adults, $8; children 12 and younger, $4; seniors, $7 and groups of eight or more people, $6 per person.
· The Cody Nite Rodeo has been entertaining visitors for decades, and it is often travelers’ first rodeo experience. Open nightly from June 1 through August 31, the audience will see riders, ropers, bull riders and bronc busters from all over the country. Admission: adults and teens, $18; children 7-12, $8; ages 6 and younger, free.
· Try your hand at Cody’s blue-ribbon trout fishing in one of Cody’s many streams, lakes and rivers. Local guides can be hired to take anglers to their own favorite spots. Fishing licenses: $14 daily for non-residents.
· Cody is home to several musical attractions including the immensely popular Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue. Hailing from Nashville, local singer Dan Miller entertains crowds six days a week with cowboy songs, poetry and laugh-out-loud jokes. This is a fun evening (Mondays-Saturdays, May-September) for visitors of all ages. Admission: $15. New this year is a dinner and show package including a dinner at the Irma Hotel Dining Room and one ticket to the show. Adult prices start at $26.95 for the Chuck Wagon dinner; kids rates start at $10.95
· Some visitors can’t quite believe that the little town of Cody is home to the massive, world-renowned Buffalo Bill Historical Center (BBHC). Plan to spend at least a day to explore the BBHC’s five museums – The Whitney Museum of Western Art, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Museum of Natural History, Plains Indians Museum and, of course, the Buffalo Bill Museum. This family-friendly museum is designed to be interesting to youngsters as well as adults. One day isn’t really enough to do justice to exploring this museum, so all tickets are good for admission on two consecutive days. Admission: adults, $18; seniors 65 or older, $16; students (13 and older, including college kids with IDs), $13; youth (ages 6-17), $10; children younger than 5, free.
· Cody is home to several outfitters offering float and whitewater raft trips that last from just a couple of hours to a half day. Floating on the Shoshone River with a knowledgeable guide is a terrific way to learn more about Cody’s most colorful characters, its geology and wildlife. Wyoming River Trips offers a two-hour tour that passes through breathtaking red rock canyons and passes though white-water rapids with names like “Hole in the Wall,” and “Sundance Kid.” Admission: adults, $27; children (under 13), $25.
***
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 vacation can also call the Park County Travel Council at 1-800-393-2639.
Media contact:
Mesereau Public Relations
1-720-842-5271
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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