Cody, Wyoming

The city of Cody was named after, you guessed it: William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Buffalo Bill first went through this area in the 1870's and was so impressed with the future development possibilities that he returned in the early 1890's with some friends and founded the city. For many years he guided hunting expeditions for the rich and famous in the mountains and wilderness areas to the west of town. His last big hunting trip was to "Monaco Camp" with Albert I, Prince of Monaco, and Count Beret, Albert's aide-de-camp, in September, 1913.

Located at the western edge of the Bighorn Basin, Cody is surrounded by the Absaroka, Bridger, Owl Creek and Big Horn Mountains. Directly to the west of town is the deep canyon cut in the mountains by the Shoshone River. It's through this canyon that US Highways 14, 16 and 20 (the Yellowstone Highway, aka the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway) reach the eastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The north side of the canyon rises to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain, the south side to the top of Cedar Mountain. The Buffalo Bill Dam now holds back the Shoshone River between these two mountains, creating the Buffalo Bill Reservoir where you'll find Buffalo Bill State Park.

Cody is the quintessential pioneer Cowboy and Western town with cultural events and activities going on all summer. There is the Cody Night Rodeo, an amateur rodeo that runs every night from June 1 to August 31. Downtown is the Irma Hotel, a historical hotel that is still open and holds a wild west shoot-out out front all through the summer. Another site just off the Yellowstone Highway is Old Trail Town, with more than 25 restored historic buildings and a large collection of artifacts. Cody is also home to the Cody Stampede Rodeo, a PRCA event and one of the largest rodeos in America. The Stampede has happened every year since 1919 over the Independence Day holiday. The Buffalo Bill Historic Center also makes its home in Cody.

The biggest industry in Cody is tourism. As many cowboys as there are in the area, the really big draw is Yellowstone National Park. And Cody is a magnet for artists, not just painters but sculptors, too. Cody is also a center for small furniture makers who make some beautiful authentic western-style custom pieces.

The weather in Cody is highly variable, and can be quite the experience. While the city usually sees 300 days of sunshine per year, it can (and does) snow in June, July and August (but summer snows are brief and melt off quickly). This is a semi-arid desert where the wind is an almost constant presence.