Buffalo Bill's Blog

You all know how much I like to talk about the fantastic attractions here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country.  What’s even more fun is to give a few more details, let you in on a local’s point of view for a specific attraction – like the really neat place you’ll find just a few miles down the road from Cody, in the little town of Meeteetse, Wyoming… believe it or not, in this town of about 350 people, there’s a gourmet Chocolatier whose yummy creations are putting him on the international map!

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

Corrie N. Cody’s stepping aside to let the folks from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tell you all about the annual event that will be kicking off our annual 4th of July celebration next week!

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.

Vacations can be hard on a budget – that’s why I’m so glad we live in a place where your vacation dollar can go a LONG way!   There are a ton of free things to do here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, so I thought I’d highlight a few in this installment of my Top 11 List!

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

For those of you who have been following our weather patterns here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, I’m sure you’ve noticed that we’re having quite an unusual spring.  Heavy snow in the high country and heavy rain in the lower elevations have wreaked havoc on how folks get around right now!

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

I was privileged last week to spend a weekend in Yellowstone National Park at the Old Faithful Inn.  What an amazing, historic place – the architecture alone is impressive, and then when you put it with the setting, oh my! 

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