But if the idea of snow shifts your attention to what you can do outside, then there are countless hours you can spend enjoying the fresh air and sunshine here!  Skiing, snowshoeing, skating, wildlife watching – you name it, it’s here.  From Yellowstone National Park to the Beartooth Mountains to the community events happening this winter, there’s no end to the ways you can enjoy winter.

Consider this – Cody is home to the Yellowstone Quake Junior A Hockey team, and they’ve got home games clear through February!  January 13-15 and 19-21, and February 3 and 10-12, come on down to the Riley Arena for some fast paced hockey action.

One of the best places in the world to go ice climbing is right here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!  Every February for the past 13 years, we’ve hosted ice climbers from all over the country who gather for the Waterfall Ice Festival.  The falls on the South Fork of the Shoshone River are incredible, and if you’d rather watch than climb, there are several spots along the road where you can view the climbers’ progress.  Contact Don Foote at 307-899-9937 for more information.

And of course, there’s Cody’s own ski area, Sleeping Giant.  The folks who run this community-owned ski hill have worked hard to create fun events for the entire family.  For example, March 9 Sleeping Giant is putting on a “Buffalo Jump”, and a Calcutta the next day.  The prices are amazingly reasonable, and the crowds are minimal.  Join the fun!

Meeteetse has its own winter festival – the 4^th Annual Ice Fishing Derby is February 18 and 19, and folks from around the region compete to see who can pull the biggest and best fish out of Sunshine Reservoir.  There’s a chili cookoff, hot drinks, and warm-hearted people to balance out the winter cold.  To get more information, contact Meeteetse’s Visitor Center at (307) 868-2454.

And if you’re more inclined to stay inside during these warm winter months, we’ve got more than enough to keep you busy.  In addition to our Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which can entertain anyone for days, and the newly opened Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center, there are community concerts, the Missoula Children’s Theatre will be in town in January, and Northwest College’s Jazz Festival takes place at the end of February.  For a detailed calendar of events, visit our website.

If you’re visiting from out of town and are looking for a great getaway ideas, the www.yellowstonecountry.org site has a “Travel Deals” page that lists all sorts of really cool packages – places to stay while you play here in the winter.  Check it out!

I guess it’s time for me to warm up my tea – mine has gone cold as I’ve been writing this.  I hope to see many of you taking part in the many fantastic events going on here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country this winter!

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

Corrie N. Cody

When I talk to visitors, one of the common topics of conversation is “Gee, how do you handle the isolation?”  Folks are so struck by the distances between communities out here.  I have to admit, when we first moved out west, it was a little hard to get used to – where I’m from, there’s about 3 miles between little towns… out here, there’s at least 15-25 miles between towns!

The fun part about that is that there is such diversity between towns here, where back east it seems one town kind of runs into another.  For example, Cody really feels like a western town – Old Trail Town, the Irma Hotel, the nightly gunfights in summer, the western-themed downtown shopping… they all contribute to the wild west feel that Buffalo Bill Cody set the scene for when he envisioned this jumping-off point to Yellowstone National Park.  In contrast, Powell is very much an agriculture-based community, and also is home to the only community college in northwest Wyoming.  Meeteetse, to the south, is a small ranching town with boardwalks, a local museum and a couple of old-fashioned bar and grill restaurants.

And there are such stand-out features and attractions in each town!  Cody’s Buffalo Bill Historical Center draws visitors to the town all the time – many visitors I’ve met have remarked that they had passed through Cody years before and had always meant to come back to spend time at the museum.  Viewers of RFD-TV watched Dan Miller and his daughter Hannah on “Larry’s Country Diner” in April, and made their plans to come to Cody to see his Cowboy Music Revue based on that!  And, of course, most everyone has planned a trip to Yellowstone National Park, either as a child, or as parents who want their children to experience the wild west here in Yellowstone Country.

Then in Powell, there’s the Homesteader Museum, celebrating and preserving the way of life that brought settlers to this part of the country.  There are farm and ranch tours available through the Powell Chamber of Commerce for those who want to get an in-depth look at the agriculture industry that shapes this region.  And there’s Northwest College, which is the cultural center to the community.

Meeteetse, by contrast, is a throwback to a simpler way of life.  As the central gathering place for local ranchers, Meeteetse’s most high-profile business is actually a fancy chocolate shop!  The Meeteetse Chocolatier, Tim Kellogg, has been a working ranch hand and rodeo cowboy for years, but in the last few years has become world-renowned for his amazing chocolate confections and pastries.  If you stroll the boardwalks in downtown Meeteetse, you can enjoy your chocolate truffle while sitting on a quiet bench near some potted flowers, watching the traffic go by… then step into the Meeteetse Museum, where they have preserved the history of ranching in the Meeteetse area (complete with a brand new display dedicated to the re-discovery of the Black Footed Ferret 30 years ago on the Pitchfork Ranch).  Have lunch at the Elkhorn Bar and Grill, and feel like you’ve stepped back in time 50 years.

And then there’s the benefit of the beautiful drives between towns!  Drivers from Cody to Powell are under the constant watch of the impressive Heart Mountain – which also lent its name to the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center between the two communities (the Japanese American Internment Camp during World War II).  And the drive from Cody to Meeteetse is filled with turns and hills that lead you to the beauty of the mountain foothills where Meeteetse is nestled. 

So, despite our “isolation” here, each community has a uniqueness that makes it stand out – and makes it worth the trip!  I know I’m sure glad to live here…

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

Corrie N. Cody

OLD TRAIL TOWN

This collection of authentic buildings (the original buildings, not just recreations) brings to life what the area was like in the late 1800s!  Step onto the boardwalks at the original town site of “Cody City”; wander into a saloon that was frequented by outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (and visit a cabin that they used as a hideout); see the log cabin that a Crow scout for General George Armstrong Custer used as his home; take in the vista of the plains as they meet Cedar and Rattlesnake mountains west of town. The Museum of the Old West holds artifacts from an era that isn’t as far gone as you’d think.

BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER

When you pay your admission fee to the BBHC, it’s good for two days – there’s a good reason for that!  This “Smithsonian of the West” houses an incredible collection of displays that highlight five different cultural genres:  the most extensive collection of firearms in the world, an amazing museum devoted to the heritage of the Plains Indians, a wing that explains and highlights the natural history of the Yellowstone region, a collection of artifacts that showcase Buffalo Bill Cody’s extensive and colorful show business career, and a world class museum of western art.

MEETEETSE MUSEUMS

The tiny town of Meeteetse, Wyoming is home to a museum that boasts several unique, permanent collections – displays that highlight the Wild Sheep of North America, the Meeteetse Mercantile, the Black Footed Ferret, Little Wahb the grizzly bear, and the Charles Belden Photography Collection.  There are also several annual field trips sponsored by the Meeteetse Museums to hard-to-reach ghost towns – these excursions really show how wild the west truly was!

HOMESTEADER MUSEUM

The community of Powell, Wyoming is proud of its agricultural heritage – and the Homesteader Museum tells that story.  The Museum’s collection includes over 5,000 artifacts that celebrate turn-of-the-century homesteading and rural life – from house work and farm work to merchants and business, the Homesteader Museum is dedicated to the preservation of this area’s rural heritage.

HEART MOUNTAIN INTERPRETIVE LEARNING CENTER

Opened just last month, the new Learning Center at the site of the Japanese-American Internment Camp from World War II shines a light on a dark period in this nation’s history – the sequestration of Japanese-Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.  At one time, the Heart Mountain Internment Camp was the third-largest community in Wyoming, and the new Learning Center depicts what life was life for internees who had been uprooted from their homes and businesses on the west coast and relocated to isolated camps throughout middle America simply because of their race.  Although this is not a “wild west” attraction, it is an important nod to another, equally important era in American history.

There are so many other fantastic places in this part of the country where you can step back in time, such as the Dug Up Gun Museum; Tecumseh’s Miniature Village; the evening gunfight in front of the historic Irma Hotel; the various western stores and shops in downtown Cody; the songs from decades gone by at Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue in the historic Cody Theatre; the wild western adventure of the Cody Nite Rodeo; or standing at the top of Dead Indian Pass and gazing at the incredible vistas that haven’t changed for eons… WOW!  I hope you’ll consider making your next vacation a trip to Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country – it’s a real step back in time!

Lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

1.  How far is it to Yellowstone National Park?

-  Answer:  It’s 53 miles from Cody to the East Entrance in Yellowstone.  However, once you get into the Park, you don’t run into any services until you get to Fishing Bridge, which is another 27 miles.  So don’t expect to just get in the entrance to the Park and be greeted by a friendly Yogi-type bear… you’ll have a ways to go before you can stop for a meal and a tank of gas!

2.  Is there lodging in the Park?

-  Answer:  There are some absolutely fabulous lodges and campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park, all operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts!  (My personal recommendations:  Old Faithful Lodge and the Lake Hotel – AMAZING historic buildings!)  Reservations can be made by calling Xanterra at (866) 439-7375.  Better contact them early, though – they sell out many nights during the summer!

3.  What are the hours at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and how much does it cost?

-  Answer:  The BBHC, one of the top attractions in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, is open daily from May 1-September 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  A two-day admission for adults is $18, seniors and college students are $16, youth ages 6-17 are $10, and ages 5 and under get in free.  And believe me, you’ll want to use the two-day admission – you’ll be blown away by how huge the facility is! (And by the way, it’s open year round!)

4.  Tell me about the Cody Nite Rodeo.

-  The Cody Nite Rodeo is the longest-running outdoor nightly rodeo in the country!  Every evening from June 1-August 31 visitors will see real rodeo action, with cash prizes awarded every night.  Tickets are sold at the Visitor Center, but can also be purchased at the gate.  If you’ve got kids with you, they can get down in the arena and chase a calf around and win a prize!

5.  What else can I do while I’m here?

-  Wow, there’s so much to do!  Go river rafting; visit Old Trail Town; eat dinner at the historic Irma Hotel and take in the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue; see a gunfight; get a chuckwagon dinner with musical entertainment; shop downtown; learn about the history of this region at places like Tecumseh’s Miniature Village, the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum, the Cody Murals, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center, and the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp; go mountain biking; take a trolley tour; hike a trail in the Shoshone National Forest; fish the Shoshone River with a seasoned guide; take a horseback trail ride; the list goes on and on!

6.  What are the road conditions in Yellowstone?

-  The road conditions in this mountainous region vary based on the season or weather conditions.  My advice is to stop in and chat with the well-informed staff at the Visitor Center before you make your plans for the day – or you can call Yellowstone National Park’s dedicated phone number for road conditions: (307) 344-2117.

7.  Where can I get supplies?

-  Believe it or not, the town of Cody (population around 9,000) is the shopping mecca for the Big Horn Basin – because we have the Super Wal-Mart!  We also have a K-Mart, Walgreens, Albertsons, banking services, several pharmacies, sporting goods stores and other places to stock up on necessities before heading on down the road.

8.  Is there someplace I can connect to the Internet?

-  Many fast-food restaurants and most of the coffee shops offer free wi-fi for folks who have their own laptops.  Also, the Park County Library has a bank of computers that are available for use by the general public.  And many local lodging properties offer Internet hookups, as well.

Then there are those questions that AREN’T asked frequently.  I asked Karen Miller, who runs the Visitor Center here in Cody, to list a few of the more unusual questions that have been asked.  Here’s what she came up with:

1.  Where are the fences to keep the animals in at Yellowstone?
2. When do they let the animals out in Yellowstone?
3. Who controls the button that sets Old Faithful off?
4. How do you see Mount Rushmore from here?

Since, obviously, the animals roam free in Yellowstone, Old Faithful is “faithful” naturally, and Mount Rushmore is a good 7 hours and two mountain ranges away, these questions are always answered pleasantly and with a smile…

If YOU have questions about visiting Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, you can find out more at www.yellowstonecountry.org, or call (800) 393-2639. 

Until next time, I’ll be telling more folks about all there is to do here in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

Personally, I don’t complain much.  I see the world as a pretty sunny place – I look for the light rather than the shadows.  That’s why it bugs me when I see news headlines or hear people talk about the negative side of an issue that can be so positive!

Take, for example, the latest visitor numbers coming out of Yellowstone National Park, which show a decrease in visitation by about 5% compared to 2010.  Sure, there aren’t as many people who entered the Park as there were last year, but it’s tough to compare this year to last!  2010 was a HUGE year for visitation in National Parks.  Much of the reasons for the increase were attributed to people staying closer to home, looking for less expensive locations to take their families, and a national park vacation costs quite a bit less than a trip to, say, Disneyworld!  So, in comparison, numbers coming down slightly in 2011 should NOT be cause for concern.  It has been an unusual year for tourism, that’s for sure, with attendance at attractions such as the Cody Nite Rodeo and the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue at or slightly above last year’s numbers, while others are down a bit.

One element that has worked against the region when it comes to tourism and travel this year has definitely been the weather.  With the huge amounts of snow and wet conditions in Yellowstone and the nearby mountain ranges, roads were closed and there were significant delays for travelers.  As a result, there was no way to even get into the Park through the East Entrance for quite a few days at the beginning of June… so a decrease in visitation through that entrance makes perfect sense, and does not indicate that fewer people CHOSE to come to Yellowstone – they just couldn’t get here!

In the grand scheme of things, Yellowstone National Park (and, along with that, Cody/Yellowstone Country) will always be a destination for families looking to re-connect with the natural wonders of this world we inhabit.  So for all of you worry-warts out there… quit frettin’!

Still smiling in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

Tim Kellogg was a young saddle bronc rider from Meeteetse who had grown up watching his grandmother make candy and other confections.  He himself had become pretty handy in the kitchen, coming up with chocolate creations of his own and sharing them with friends and family.  So in 2004, when he wanted to raise money for a new saddle, his mother suggested that he make and sell some of his chocolates.  His first response was, “no way!”, but he ended up selling them at a local event, and the Meeteetse Chocolatier was born!

I recently visited Tim at his shop in Meeteetse.  It’s in a quaint wooden building, on the same block as the Meeteetse Museum (there are really only a couple of city blocks in Meeteetse, so it’s not hard to find!).  Upon entering the shop, you’re immediately struck by how classy and cool the store is.  There is a display shelf to the right, with bags of candy coated pretzels and gourmet chocolate bark.  As you walk in further there is a glass case that holds tray after tray of truffles, chocolate-filled croissants, puff pastries, brownies, and other decadent chocolate delights!  (My mouth is watering just thinking about this…)  And in the kitchen, when he’s not working as a ranch hand, you’ll find cowboy Chocolatier Tim Kellogg creating chocolate confections that rival those found in gourmet shops in big cities!

One of the coolest things about this shop is that each and every item in his shop is hand-made by Tim himself – he has no kitchen employees, no apprentices, just one cowboy making amazing chocolates.  I asked Tim how long it took him to fill a display case, and he said that the truffle case takes him about three hours, the pastry case takes 5-6 hours, and then there’s the dessert case, which he says is the hardest to fill.  So, the natural question to ask next was, “how do you find time to do it all?”  He said his time management skills have definitely sharpened over the past few years… and he doesn’t sleep much, he added with a grin.

Let’s talk a minute about those famous truffles – they come in flavors from mocha to peanut butter to Amaretto to Coor’s beer!  They absolutely melt in your mouth.  And here’s another interesting point about Tim’s confections – they are not meant to be stored or saved, they are meant to be enjoyed immediately!  He doesn’t wholesale to anyone, because the ingredients he uses (organic, local, fresh, no preservatives at all) won’t stay fresh beyond a few days at the most.

So, if his customers all have to come to him in Meeteetse (or at a regional event), how have people come to know about him?  Tim says that he gets quite a few visitors who come in and out of Yellowstone National Park, and many of them have heard about the Meeteetse Chocolatier from friends who have visited before.  He’s also getting great word of mouth from the state of Wyoming tourism office and statewide visitor centers, and some fabulous feature articles that have been written about what he does.  In fact, Tim told me that he was interviewed last year by a French TV crew, who aired a piece about him back in France.  And so just last week, a group of visitors from France came into his shop – they had actually re-routed their vacation just so they could stop there!  And he’s been invited to work with a French Chocolatier when he goes overseas this fall.

“What makes it all worth it?” I asked him… and he said that in addition to all the great people he gets to meet, he also gets to really hone his creative skills, coming up with new ideas and new flavors (like the Sage Brownie… oh my goodness!) – and then he gets to eat what he makes!

The Meeteetse Chocolatier – a must-stop when you’re visiting Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!  Don’t miss it!

Until next time, I’ll be taste-testing truffles 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.

1.   The Buffalo Bill Dam was an incredible feat of engineering when it was constructed in 1910.  At the time, it was the tallest concrete dam in the world, and the Hoover Dam outside of Las Vegas was actually modeled after this structure!  The visitor center is free to the public (donations are always appreciated, though), and presents the history of the area as well as the construction of the dam itself.  It’s open 8 am to 8 pm from May through September.

2.  The only thing that you have to pay for is a license to experience one of the best recreational activities in this area – fishing!  The various rivers and lakes in the region are full of all sorts of species of trout, and while most fishing spots are “catch-and-keep”, there are a few that are “catch-and-release” only.  Be sure to check the Wyoming Game and Fish regulations before you drop your line in the water.

3.  Hiking is a favorite pastime for so many of the locals here, and they’re glad to share their favorite hiking trails with visitors!  From the walking trails along the Shoshone River right in Cody to the top of Heart Mountain, there are so many day hikes that it would take years to get to them all.  The folks at the Shoshone National Forest office in Cody would be glad to get you headed in the right direction, no matter what distance or how strenuous of a hike you’re looking to take.

4.  The museums in the tiny ranching town of Meeteetse and the agriculture center of the area, Powell, are full of stories and artifacts detailing the colorful history of the area.  The Meeteetse Museum features the photography of Charles Belden, and has turned its historic bank building into an exhibit, as well.  And the Homesteader Museum in Powell celebrates the homesteading families and rural life in the early 1900s.  There are also several free historical exhibits in Cody – Tecumseh’s Miniature Village, the Cody Mural Visitor Center, and the Dug-Up Gun Museum all have fantastic artifacts that highlight the historical events that shaped the west.

5.  The rich history of this region wasn’t just limited to the wild west – World War II brought an unexpected notoriety to this area, as it was the site of the Heart Mountain Internment Camp between Cody and Powell.  The Camp was the residence for 11,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans who were rounded up by the federal government after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.  An interpretive walking tour at the site details the history of the camp and its residents.  A new learning center is in the process of being constructed, and will open to the public in August of this year.

6.  Cody is the home to the official Wyoming State Veteran’s Memorial Park.  A group of Korean War veterans and other hard-working supporters have made what was a simple memorial to the local soldiers who died in the Vietnam War into an extensive park at the southeast entrance to the community.  The park features monuments to the veterans and the fallen from the Vietnam, Korean and second World wars.

7.  The City of Cody is noted for its extensive and beautifully well-kept park system!  The Cody Parks and Recreation department maintains nearly 300 acres of park land and almost 9 miles of trails for use by residents and visitors alike.  Some parks have tennis courts; one has a climbing wall; there’s even a well-designed skate park, in addition to picnic shelters, horseshoe pits and of course, playground equipment!

8.  If you love western art, but don’t necessarily want to pay an entrance fee to one of the local museums to view it, just stroll through downtown Cody and you’ll see some of the finest art that the area has to offer.  From photography to oil to watercolors to sculptures, the various art galleries would be glad to show off the talented western artists whose work hangs on their walls.  And don’t forget about the Cody Country Art League, which is housed in the same building as the Cody Visitor Center – it features professional and amateur artists who all have ties to the community.

9.  Adventure-seekers have found Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country to be one of the best playgrounds in the country!  From ice-climbing and cross-country skiing in the winter to mountain biking, kayaking, and rock climbing in the summer, there are incredible experiences just waiting to be had in the mountain ranges surrounding the area. 

10.  If you thought that all horses were domesticated in this day and age, wait until you take in the McCullough Peaks wild horse range!  This herd of wild horses lives just east of Cody and can be seen almost any time.  There are an estimated 450 animals in the herd, and if you’re willing to pay just a bit, there are guides in the area who have really gotten to know the individual horses and would be glad to introduce you…

11.  … but if your favorite type of horse happens to have four wheels and is gasoline-powered, all you have to pay for is a tank of gas and you’ve got one of the most frugal ways to enjoy this region.  There are five fantastic scenic loops that all begin and end here in Cody, and offer everything from wildlife viewing to incredible vistas that go on forever!

There it is – at least, everything that I could fit into 11 categories!  If you’re looking for a memorable vacation that won’t drain your bank account, stop out and see us here in Yellowstone Country… you’ll be glad you did!

Stretchin’ a buck in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

It’s been interesting for the staff at the Visitor Center here in Cody to answer questions from travelers as to how they should get to Yellowstone National Park… the East Entrance has been closed during the warmer hours of the day due to a pretty large avalanche risk at Sylvan Pass.  The warmer temperatures mean that some of the heavy snow that’s fallen lately could melt and slough off onto the highway.  During the night, and in the early morning, that snow is frozen in place, so it’s considered safe to go through.  And the National Park Service has certainly been busy trying to knock the snow off the mountain, using a howitzer that’s strategically placed to fire rounds right where the snow needs to fall from.  In a nutshell: the East Entrance is open from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. right now, closed during the day, and you can enter Yellowstone from Cody at any time through the Northeast Entrance.  The bonus?  You get to travel the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway – what an incredibly beautiful road!

Then there’s the flooding to the north!  The heavy rains that have fallen lately have flooded parts of northeast Montana to the point that I-90 was closed for a while last week, because it was under water.  The rain has also damaged one of the roads that gets folks from Cody to Billings through Red Lodge, Montana, so travelers have had no way around a construction area that runs from Belfry to Bridger, Montana.  The good news is, you still CAN get to Billings from Cody – you just have to slow down in the construction zone!

And let’s not forget the route from the eastern part of the state getting to Cody… U.S. Highway 14A, a beautiful route through the northern part of the Big Horn Mountains, is usually closed through the beginning of June due to the amount of snow that is normally dropped on that road and the amount of maintenance it would take to keep it open during the winter.  HOWEVER, this year’s snow season has continued late into the spring, and coupled with a rock slide that covered half the road in April, is forcing the delay of the opening of 14A.  But there are a couple of other ways to cross the Big Horns, so the delayed opening of 14A shouldn’t cause anyone too many issues.  Highway 14 from Ranchester to Greybull is open year round with no issues, as is Highway 16 from Buffalo to TenSleep.  Both are beautiful drives through the gorgeous Big Horn Mountain range.

But here’s the best news of all… in a few days, the forecast is for sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s.  YEE-Haw!

Until then, I’ll be totin’ my umbrella in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

A little history lesson, first – the Old Faithful Inn (along with the dining room and kitchen wing) was originally built in 1903; an east wing was added in 1914, and 13 years later the west wing was constructed.  The Inn was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. I was SO excited, I got to stay in the east wing, and my room looked directly out to the geyser!  I just sat in my room, with its fancy Keurig coffee maker and historic atmosphere, and watched Old Faithful go off.  

I was also fortunate that I got one of the rooms that actually had its own bathroom… in the original building, folks who stay in those rooms (which are rustic and beautiful) have to share a hallway bathroom!

There are a couple of neat things that I liked about the Old Faithful Inn’s common area – number one, the HUGE fireplace and wrought iron clock in the middle of the lobby!  Number two – the different balcony levels.  I loved climbing the (slightly tilted) stairs to the second level, where there’s a coffee bar in one corner and a liquor bar in the other, and look down from a comfy chair to the lobby below.  I really wanted to climb the stairs to the “Crow’s Nest”, but it was closed – due to the Hebgen Lake earthquake on August 17, 1959, there was pretty significant structural damage to the Old Faithful Inn.  The quake collapsed the dining room fireplace chimney, damaged the huge lobby fireplace, partially shook the Inn loose from its foundations, and made the upper levels of the Inn unsafe.  Bummer.

The historic dining room was great – a menu with fantastic choices (at surprisingly reasonable prices!), atmosphere, character, and above all, service!  My order was taken quickly and pleasantly, the food came right on time, and the dessert was to die for…  but they had great healthy choices, too, like mashed cauliflower in place of high-carb mashed potatoes.  I was impressed!

Being an early riser, I was privy to a rare sight – hardly ANYONE was out watching the geyser eruption at sunrise the next day.  There were a few hardy souls braving the frost-covered boardwalks, and together we witnessed the beauty and wonder of the Old Faithful geyser, lit by the rising sun.  The lobby at that time of day is peaceful, as well, and I could really appreciate the lighting and the atmosphere!

If you’ve got kids, or are a science buff, you’ll LOVE the new Old Faithful Visitor Center!  While it’s full of interactive displays explaining geysers and their effects on the ecosystem, colorful microbes in mineral pools, and all sorts of other really interesting things, the Visitor Center also boasts an awesome view of the geyser!

Living near Yellowstone, sometimes we locals take for granted the history and educational opportunities that we have right next door… so I was glad that I spent some significant time at one of Yellowstone National Park’s true treasures – the Old Faithful Inn!  Don’t miss it next time you’re in the area!

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

Corrie N. Cody