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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 Historical Center 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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