This year’s event includes a slide presentation by Pete Tapley, professional guide, writer, photographer and videographer on Friday evening. A silent auction and presentation by Ralph Tingery, “The Grand Rescue: A True Story of 1967 Teton Rangers” will round out the day on Saturday. Sunday evening will conclude the event with a pizza party, slide show and music. These events are open to the public.

Event organizer, Don Foote, says that this year’s event has the most participants the festival has ever seen. Foote says that the festival has “some of the best instructors, guides, professional athletes and gear reps supporting us and helping the clinics be safe, successful and fun for all ice climbers.” Local company, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides will be helping in the clinics as well as Montana Alpine Guides from Bozeman, MT. Foote reports that the Southfork ice is in its prime right now and has seen little activity this winter.

Sunlight Sports in downtown Cody is the spot to get outfitted for your climbing adventure. They have a full line of ice climbing gear to rent, including ice tools, crampons and boots. Owner Wes Allen says they will have a 40% off sale on ice-specific gear that weekend. He also says they are the only place in town with the Joe Josephson guide to the South Fork and the classic Todd Cozzens map. Sunlight Sports also carries a wide variety of quality outdoor clothing and gear. Be sure to stop in!

For those not climbing, it is worth the beautiful ride up the Southfork to watch.  In the winter, big horn sheep are all over the valley. You may even spot a moose, elk or a bald eagle on your drive.  There are several spots along the road to watch the climber’s progress. Back in town, be sure to hit the downtown shops, restaurants and Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Another highlight is the city of Cody’s wonderful recreation center that is a great spot for swimming and exercise for those waiting for their climbers. Daily passes are very reasonable.

Whether you are a participant or just want to hang out and learn more about the sport, this festival will not disappoint. Experience Cody during a great winter festival! To learn more about the festival visit www.southforkice.com. We hope to see you in Cody!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

              Corrie N. Cody

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a necessity when visiting the Cody area. The Center is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West.”  My family never tires of the Center. You can learn about Buffalo Bill, the Plains Indians, western art and Yellowstone. The Center also boasts the largest collection of firearms in the world-a favorite of the males in my family! Don’t forget to check out the gift shop for great souvenirs. You can bundle your museum trip with the Cody Trolley Tour at a discounted rate. The Trolley will pick you up at the front door of the museum and take you on an hour long tour.  This 22-mile tour in a classic trolley explores places, people and lore of the area.

Step back in time as you stroll through the original town site of Cody located at Old Trail Town. Historic buildings of the area have been carefully moved to the site in addition to authentic artifacts. My favorite building is the saloon. It is a quaint building with great character. This saloon could probably hold about 20 people. We forget that Hollywood has depicted saloons as sprawling buildings when in fact they were small. That is why western boom towns had so many saloons!

Buffalo Bill had many dreams for Cody and the Buffalo Bill Dam was one that was achieved. When it was completed in 1910, it was the tallest concrete dam in the world.  The dam visitor center is a great spot to enjoy tranquil waters of the reservoir and take the audio tour to learn about the dams construction and the area wildlife. The dam is also a great spot for a picnic lunch.

One of Cody’s best kept secrets is Tecumseh’s Trading Post out by the Rodeo grounds. Tecumseh’s is an old west museum and old west miniature village. My kids can’t get enough of the 7000 sq. ft. miniature village that depicts the historical events in Wyoming and Montana from the 1600’s to the 1800’s. The miniature train that can be controlled by visitors is a favorite for kids of all ages. The western artifacts rival most museums. This family owned and operated collection is truly special. They graciously share their collection with the public at no charge!

Meeteetse also has a wonderful treasure in the Meeteetse Chocolatier! Sample gourmet confections made by owner Tim Kellogg who is also a bronc rider and working cowboy. These chocolate delights are made by using only the finest ingredients and are meant to be enjoyed in the “here and now.” Don’t miss this unique shop with amazing treats located on the quaint boardwalk in Meeteetse!

Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center between Cody and Powell is an amazing learning opportunity for everyone in the family.  Ten thousand Japanese-Americans were interned at this facility during World War II. Learn about why and how the internees spent their time at the camp. The Center offers a self-guided tour in addition to the Learning Center.  You can pick up the Cody Trolley for a tour to the Center and through area farm land.

Cody has the longest running nightly rodeo in the country which has earned it the distinction of being the “Rodeo Capital of the World.” Rodeo season begins June 1st through August 31st. Enjoy this outdoor rodeo with plenty of excitement and mountain views.  Whether this is your first rodeo or you are a connoisseur, it is sure to be a great time!  

Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue is a wonderful Branson/style music show that is a family favorite.  Enjoy classic cowboy favorites, poetry and much more. If you want to truly experience the West, you must take in the Dan Miller’s show!

These are just the highlights in Cody/Yellowstone Country. There are so many great things to do from the relaxing to the adventurous. Don’t forget to minimize the stress of planning by allowing everyone in the family a voice in the vacation!

Until next time, happy traveling in Cody Country!

The Cody Community Theatre group has been working incredibly hard to bring one of the most beloved musicals to life for this holiday season – “The Sound of Music” will open to audiences at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium the day after Thanksgiving, for a three-day run. Over 40 community members are involved in the production, either on stage or behind the scenes, and it’s going to be one of the best shows ever put on by the Community Theatre group, thanks to the involvement of theatrical professionals who have elevated this production above what you’d expect for a town the size of Cody – it will be amazing!  If you’re planning to come, you can get your tickets through Wednesday, November 23rd here.

The Cody Christmas Celebration is an event that the entire community looks forward to every year, and this year’s festivities happen the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There will be hay rides, caroling, entertainment, ice sculpting, a lighted parade and, of course, an appearance by Santa! The event encompasses the entire town, from the top of the hill to Sheridan Avenue.

Old Trail Town is hosting a Christmas event this year, as well – “An Old Trail Town Christmas” open house happens Saturday, November 26, from 2:00-8:00 PM. Stop in to see Victorian and old fashioned decorations, and enjoy homemade cookies and confections. Oh, and we can’t forget the hot toddies that they’ll be serving up in the saloon, too!

December 3^rd will be busy – it’s the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Holiday Open House, which means entertainment by local musicians and school groups, cookies and punch, and free access to all of the BBHC’s amazing museums (except the wing dedicated to Buffalo Bill himself, that section of the center is closed for renovation until May). It’s also Powell’s Country Christmas, when the downtown shops open their doors for a holiday celebration. There’s also a lighted Christmas parade!

Yellowstone Quake Hockey will be hopping the first week of December – the team plays the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th at the Riley Arena. It’s a great family event, full of action and a great way to get into that winter spirit. But dress warm – it’s cold in that ice rink!

Something that’s become a great annual event is the Christmas Light tours put on by the Cody Trolley. The trolley, along with some local merchants, sponsor a contest to see which businesses and residences can come up with the best lighting designs for the holidays – then the trolley takes a tour of those great locations!

And, of course, what would the holidays be like without a performance of The Nutcracker? Here in Cody, the Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre puts on their version of this classic tale each year (this year’s performance is December 17&18). The number of local children that are involved means that the house is always packed – and there are guest artists that are featured every year that brings a professionalism to the production, along with sets and scene designers from the University of Wyoming. It’s a fantastic family outing, not to be missed.

There is so much happening in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country the next few weeks – if you’re in the area, plan to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ the holidays here in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

1. an agreement between two or more persons to meet at a certain time and place.

2. the meeting itself.

3. a place designated for a meeting or assembling.

4. a favorite or popular gathering place.

All these definitions apply to the annual Rendezvous Royale, a fabulous week-long party here in Cody that celebrates all that is unique and great about western art! 

If you haven’t been to the Rendezvous before, be prepared for events and happenings all day, every day, for five days!  According to Kathy Thompson, the director of the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, people come from all over the United States to take part in the authentic western experience that is Cody.

Although Rendezvous Royale takes place the last full week in September, the activity actually begins in August, with the display of the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale’s Miniature Art Show.  These smaller works of art have all been created by the artists who have been invited to participate in the larger Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale that happens during Rendezvous Royale at the end of September.  The show hangs at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center until it’s time for the big show to be unveiled!

Come the end of September, things really kick into gear.  That’s when all four components of the Rendezvous come together for the enjoyment of residents and visitors:

- Cody High Style celebrates artisans – furniture, clothing and jewelry makers, leather work, and other fantastic “functional” art that is in a class of its own, apart from the Buffalo Bill Art Show.  There are classes on everything from building a Molesworth-style magazine rack to interior design; round-town events that include book signings and artist demonstrations; panel discussions on western design; and a high-energy fashion show at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center Wednesday night, complete with music, lights, models and a runway!

- The Boot Scootin’ Boogie is a relative newcomer to the Rendezvous Royale.  Put on by local merchants, this free downtown event has a party atmosphere, with sidewalk sales, food, drink, and a runway fashion show which closes down the main highway through town for four hours! There’s a great fundraiser that’s going on this year in conjunction with the Boot-Scoot – there are 3’ high ceramic cowboy boots that have been decorated by local artists, and these boots will be raffled off during Rendezvous Royale to raise money for

- The event that draws the most participation during the week is the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale – this live and silent auction takes place Friday night, and generates huge dollars for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the Cody Chamber of Commerce (which takes a portion of the money and returns it to the community in the form of grants that support arts-related activities and events).  Folks look forward to this auction all year – it’s a great social event celebrating 30 years in 2011!  And the Friday event isn’t the end – there’s a Quick Draw on Saturday morning that is becoming more and more popular.  In the Robbie PowWow Gardens at the BBHC, artists sculpt, paint and draw for one hour, then that piece that they just created goes on the auction block then and there!  It’s exciting and fun to be a part of that action.

Kathy Thompson relies heavily on the large pool of volunteers who make this event happen – she says that these volunteers do everything from the non-glamorous (stuffing envelopes, cross-checking lists, signing up other volunteers) to the high-profile (carrying and displaying $1 million worth of art on stage in front of 650 patrons).  Volunteers also assist artists during the Quick Draw, and work behind the scenes to ship the pieces, manage contracts, and register people for events.

- The black tie event of Rendezvous Royale is Saturday night’s Patron’s Ball.  (Locals affectionately call it “The Cody Prom”).  This is a fundraising event for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and everyone who is anyone attends!  Current and former governors, U.S. Senators and Representatives, high dollar donors to the BBHC, local elected officials and business folks, all dance and socialize to the tunes of a fabulously entertaining band.  It is THE social event of the season here in Cody!

Whew!  So much partying, all in one week!  Come join the fun – it’s a week of celebrations here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!

Lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

But the case of the black-footed ferret is unique – the species was thought to be extinct in the late 1950s, until a small population (a group of ferrets is called a “business” – isn’t that cool?) was discovered in South Dakota in 1964.  When that “business” of ferrets began to decline, wildlife officials captured some of the ferrets to save the species.  However, the last of those died in captivity in 1974, and it was thought the species was officially extinct.

Then came a fateful day – September 26, 1981. I talked to a friend of mine, Dennie Hammer, who is now with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  On that day, Dennie was employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the crew leader for a team searching for endangered species that might have habitats on land that was being considered for coal leasing.  He checked in with his office and was told that John Hogg, a rancher just outside Meeteetse, Wyoming, had found a dead animal that his dog “Shep” had brought home.  When he couldn’t figure out what it was, he brought it to a local taxidermist who identified the animal as a black footed ferret.  The taxidermist called wildlife officials, and Dennie and another Fish and Wildlife guy, Steve Martin, were sent to try to find more of the ferrets.

According to Dennie, they were conducting a spotlight search in the Meeteetse area on the Pitchfork Ranch, in the early morning of October 29^th, 1981.  At 6:20 a.m., they spotted a black footed ferret scurrying across the road before it dove into a prairie dog burrow.  They set traps for the animal, which they captured that evening.  (They nicknamed the young male ferret 620, since that was the time they first spotted him.) Dennie and Steve took “620” to veterinarian Bill Gould in Meeteetse, collared him and sent him back into the wild.  The little guy led them right to the rest of his clan, and the rest is history.

Since then, the black footed ferret has survived, both in captivity and in re-population efforts in eight states and in Mexico.  Thanks to the work of the government wildlife officials and private organizations whose mission is to keep the species around for a long time, the black footed ferret, while still an endangered species, is no longer on the brink of extinction.

And that’s the reason for the big shindig in Meeteetse on September 24^th through the 26^th – the 30^th anniversary of the day the ferrets were re-discovered. With events ranging from school programs to tours of the discovery location to the dedication of a black footed ferret display at the Meeteetse Museum, the fuzzy critters are being celebrated in grand Wyoming style.  There will be a street dance and a barbecue at the Oasis Motel on Friday night; the Meeteetse School will play host to demonstrations and panel discussions Friday and Saturday; there will be a drawing on Monday the 26^th for a commemorative bronze sculpture of a ferret; and the Governor has even signed a proclamation declaring September 26^th as Black Footed Ferret Day in Wyoming.  And if you’ve never seen an actual black footed ferret, there will be live ones there in Meeteetse that weekend on display!  That in itself is a reason to head to Meeteetse next weekend.

And all this over a furry weasel-looking creature that somebody’s dog brought home… amazing how life works, isn’t it? See ya in Meeteetse September 24^th, 25^th and 26^th!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

One of the things that I have discovered that I really like to do is to participate in 5k races.  I’m not fast, I usually finish in the last third of the pack, but I do finish!  And for me, the most fun is not the actual running of the race, but the social aspects of the event, and the sense of accomplishment I feel when the race is over.

Another neat by-product of running a 5k around here is the incredible scenery that you’re surrounded by as you run!  When I participated in the Runner’s Stampede on July 4, the route took us to Beck Lake, which is a pretty park on the east side of Cody that affords a great view of Cedar and Rattlesnake mountains to the west.  Even MORE incredible was the setting for the Meeteetse Wagon Box Social 5k/10k/13k in June – that race was in the Wood River valley near Meeteetse, and was absolutely breathtaking!  (The scenery AS WELL AS the running part…)

I have always thought that building a vacation around a race would be a neat experience, and I know there are folks out there who do just that!  So in case YOU’RE that kind of runner, I’ve compiled a list of upcoming races in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country (and nearby areas) that you might want to consider:

Just next weekend (August 6 & 7), in neighboring Red Lodge, Montana (just 60 miles away) is the Beartooth Run and Ride – a two day event set in the beautiful Beartooth Range.

August 20^th is the Sugar Beet Classic in Powell – this race features a 5k run/walk, a Duathlon and a Triathlon!  The event starts and ends at Homesteader Park, and the iconic Heart Mountain is visible throughout the race.

The Tails and Trails 5k is a relatively new event that takes participants from West Park Hospital in Cody down to the Paul Stock trails next to the Shoshone River (the “trails” part of the race).  The “tails” part of the race refers to the fact that dog owners are encouraged to take their pets along – plus, the race is hosted jointly by West Park Hospital and the Park County Animal Shelter.

Meeteetse’s Labor Day Celebration is a HUGE event in this area, and extreme sports and running enthusiasts look forward to the Meeteetse Mountain Run, which is part of that annual event.  This race is EXTREME – I’m quoting from the Meeteetse Rec District’s web page here:  “The 5k, 10k race will run up the Timber Creek jeep trail which will be set up so the whole family will be able to participate. The 15k mountain run is an extreme race and not for the faint of heart. It continues up and around the mountain with a 2000′ rise in altitude to around 9700′, then through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in all the Rocky Mountains. It concludes with a descent down a 1000′ mountain face. According to local mountain running legend Fred Thomas and other participants from past races, it is one of the most RADICAL FINISHES around with the makings of a classic!”  In other words, with my level of ability, I’m probably NOT going to participate in this one!

So if you love the outdoors and you love being active, consider participating in one of these fabulous events – and maybe I’ll see you there!

Until next time, I’ll be huffin’ and puffin’ in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

The Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour, presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, returns to Cody on Thursday, June 30 to kick off the 92^nd annual Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede Rodeo. The Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls tour stop is featured as part of the PRCA’s nationally-televised programming on Great American Country (GAC) – and it offers a “Fourth of July Fight” among the leading PRCA bull riders.

PRCA Cowboy Kanin Asay

Forty of the world’s top bull riders will converge on the Cody Stampede Park to take their shot at the prestigious Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls title. The showdown will include a head-to-head battle between the bull riders ranked 1-2 in the PRCA World Standings: Shane Proctor, of Grand Coulee, Wash., and J.W. Harris, of Mullin, Texas. Harris, a three-time and reigning world champion, is fresh off a win at the Reno Xtreme Bulls and is the defending champion of the Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls event.

Also scheduled to compete are Wyoming bull riders Tyler Willis, Wheatland; Bobby Welsh, Gillette; Seth Glause, Cheyenne and Will Farrell, Thermopolis.

Clownin' around...

All 40 riders will compete in a long-go on June 30, beginning at 7 p.m. (MT), and the top 12 will be brought back for the finals, where the Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls champion will be crowned based on the highest total score.

Preparing to ride

The payout for the Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls event is $50,000. Monies won at Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour stops count towards the 2011 PRCA World Standings, which determine qualifiers for the Dec. 1-10 Wrangler NFR.

The Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour provides ProRodeo enthusiasts a national schedule that brings the excitement of PRCA bull riding to millions of fans. Great American Country (GAC) Network will produce 10 original telecasts from the Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour events, including the Tour Finale in Ellensburg, Wash., Sept. 3.

Xtreme Bulls TV announcers Dan Miller and Donnie Gay

The shows have been expanded from 60 to 90 minutes this year, and will be broadcast on Sundays from 10-11:30 p.m. (ET).  Cody’s own Dan Miller and his longtime on-air partner, 8 time world champion bull rider Donnie Gay, will provide the commentary for the broadcast.

 The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. are the title sponsors for the Xtreme Bulls Tour, presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. Local sponsors of the Xtreme Bulls Tour include Wyoming Travel & Tourism, Buffalo Bills/ Yellowstone Country and Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.codystampederodeo.com or by calling 1.800.207.0744.  Ticket prices are as low as $20 adult/$10 children (12 and under) for general admission. The Cody Stampede Park is located on Yellowstone Ave., west of downtown Cody.

One of these signature events is, obviously, the rodeo!  But not just any rodeo.  The Cody Nite Rodeo is the longest-running outdoor nightly rodeo in the country.  It’s got all the excitement of the big-time events – steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping… you get the idea – and it happens EVERY NIGHT from June through August!

But speaking of big-time rodeo events, Cody is also proud to show off the best of the rodeo world every July 1-4 during the Cody Stampede!  It’s been voted the best outdoor rodeo in the country more than once, and it draws rodeo cowboys and cowgirls from New York to Australia, competing in the various events.  At the Cody Stampede, you’ll see big rodeo names like Bobby Mote, Howdy Cloud, Billy Etbauer and local boy Kanin Asay – and all the big rodeo action that comes with it!

We’re also proud to host, for the fifth year in a row, the Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls tour.  The top bull riders from all over the country compete in this tour, which is televised on the GAC network.  Hosted by Donnie Gay and Cody’s own Dan Miller, the event shows off the best that rodeo AND Cody have to offer!

Okay, so that’s the cowboy part… the Indian part is just as cool!  This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Plains Indian Powwow at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  The event showcases Native American drumming, competitive dance, and the vibrant cultural traditions of Northern Plains tribes. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, with grand entries at noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

According to folks at the BBHC, the powwow began in 1982 with just a few dancers and one group of singers who stopped to participate on their way to another powwow. The event has since grown to include several hundred dancers—men, women, and children ranging in age from “tiny tots” to golden age—representing some thirty tribes from across the Plains, at least a dozen drum groups, about four thousand spectators, and more than forty arts vendors. And it’s not just a demonstration, either – the dancers compete for more than $30,000 in cash and other prizes!

So when you’re making your plans to head this direction for your summer vacation, Cody is where you’ll find the true West!  Stop in and see what we’re all about!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

April 29-May 1^st: Fire School – firefighters (volunteers and otherwise) from around the region converge on Cody for three days of training, seminars, workshops, and camaraderie.  Want to watch a group of firefighters set fire to a vehicle, then put it out?  It happens that weekend!

April 29-May 1^st: Cassie’s Spring Fling – entertainment, darts, a pool tournament, outdoor barbecue, and a talent show, all at one of the most historic and colorful locations in Cody – Cassie’s Steak House on the west end of Cody!

April 30:  Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown comes to Cody as part of our Cody Wild West Show concert series!  Only $25 per ticket, but there are only 300 tickets, so get yours now – call 1-800-EYE-CODY for more information on this concert, as well as upcoming events in the summer and next fall.

May 6-8: Wild West Days – The Irma Hotel is the central location for true western recreation.  The first full weekend in May the Irma blocks off 12^th Street in front of the hotel for a horse sale, and the fun is just beginning!  There are rodeo events at the Stampede Grounds and the Heart Mountain Equestrian Center, as well.

May also marks the opening of several of our major attractions – The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center opens its doors May 1; Old Trail Town will begin showing visitors how the west really was beginning mid-May; the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue will begin entertaining audiences around the 20^th of May; the Dug-Up Gun Museum opens its doors this month as well; before May is over the Cody Cattle Company will start their twice-nightly dinner shows; and Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum will be open daily in May.  Of course, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center year-round – no matter when you come to town, that’s got to be on your must-see list!

So whether you’re planning to pass through, or stay for a few days, May is a great time to visit us here in Cody!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

Now, there are a lot of folks who live in the area who are pretty well-known – we’ve got artists, actors, WWE wrestlers, famous politicians, and other recognizable personalities who have homes here and live here either full-time or part-time.  Most of these people love the anonymity of living way out here in the mountains, but there are a few who are very visible members of the community and strive to make Cody the best little town in the Rockies.

One of these personalities partnered with the Park County Travel Council a few years back in order to liven up the slower winter months.  Dan Miller, who has been a television personality since the late 1980s on The Nashville Network, ESPN’s (now GAC’s) Extreme Bulls, The Outdoor Channel’s “Best of the West” series, and other television shows through the years, headlines a music show in downtown Cody in the summer, Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue.  It’s a fantastic show!  Entertaining, funny, western and country music – everyone who goes to the show just can’t believe that kind of quality and talent is tucked away here in little Cody, Wyoming.  Anyway, Dan offered to contact his big-name country-music-star friends in Nashville and ask them to come to Cody during our slower season.  And come they did!

The Cody Wild West Show series kicked off in January of 2009 with a visit from music legend Lacy J. Dalton.  She was followed the next month by country hit-maker T.G. Sheppard.  And the next month – what a show – Mel Tillis!  Since that flashy beginning, there have been a total of fifteen different acts that have put on shows here in Cody.  Gary Morris (“Wind Beneath My Wings”) was here twice, as was the incredible Suzy Bogguss (“Letting Go,” “Someday Soon”).  Others who have shown up with fantastic performances include The Kentucky Headhunters, Asleep at the Wheel, BJ Thomas and The Bellamy Brothers. 

Dancing in the street!

The concerts take place throughout Cody, although most of them are at the Historic Cody Theatre – that concert hall’s intimate quality (just 300 seats) and amazing sound make for an incredible night of entertainment!  However, for groups like the Bellamy Brothers or the Kentucky Headhunters, other venues here in Cody are put to use.  In conjunction with the Irma Hotel, last summer the Bellamys (and special guest Suzy Bogguss) played a street dance that was sold out!  And the fabulous Texas swing band Asleep at the Wheel played at the Cody Auditorium, also to a packed house, and folks were dancing in the aisles.  The high school auditorium is also a location that’s been used frequently, since it’s a better place for entertainers like Mel Tillis, with his 11-piece band!

One of the things that I think is so cool about the concert series is how impressed the performers are with the hospitality they receive while they’re here.  As a producer, Dan treats the entertainers with genuine respect and personally makes sure they’re well taken care of.  And when I talked to Dan, he said that almost as important as the concerts themselves is the feedback that he receives from the entertainers.  He told me, “I’ve known these guys for a long time, and to have them feel as strongly about Cody as I do is very rewarding to me.” 

Dan credits the people of Wyoming and Montana, who come to these concerts, for their genuine western hospitality.  The audience greets the acts with such warmth and gratitude, the entertainers themselves have been spreading the word in Nashville that Cody, Wyoming is THE place to book a show.  Billy Dean (“Only Here for a Little While,” “Billy the Kid”) absolutely loved it when he was here in January of 2010, so much so that he recorded some video with his camcorder and posted it to his Facebook page, along with some footage from the concert that was shot by the Wyoming Office of Tourism!

The best thing is, the hits just keep coming!  Dan’s good friend Jim Ed Brown will be making an appearance in Cody at the Historic Cody Theatre on April 30.  If you’re going to be in the area, be sure to get tickets – they’re a steal at just $25!  Go to http://www.codywildwestshow.com/ to get more information.

Be sure to check the web site often for updates, too – because you never know who’ll show up next here thanks to the Cody Wild West Shows!

Until next time, I’ll be dancin’ up a storm here in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody