Cody, Wyoming, United States
Cody calls itself the Rodeo Capital of America because of
its daily night rodeo during the summer months.
It is also the eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, although at
50 miles away from the east entrance over a pass, it’s not exactly an easy
daily commute for visitors to the park. It makes a cheaper alternative to
Jackson or Bozeman as a base, though.
Lodging in Cody may be more expensive during the summer
months, but I found it to be quite reasonable in early October. I decided to
book our night in town at the historic Irma Hotel, built by and once owned by
town founder William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Cody was one of the most famous
people of his era and traveled around North America and Europe with his Wild
West show. He even played for Queen Victoria’s jubilee of 50 years on the
throne, for which she gifted him the bar that still graces the Irma Hotel’s dining
room. I’m really not one to spend a lot
of money on accommodation, but with the Irma being only slightly more expensive
than most basic modern motels in town, I thought we’d give it a try.
Although
the building is old, the rooms are perfectly modern if not luxurious. The atmosphere
is right, though, right down to the country band and dancing cowboys in the bar
on the Friday night of our stay. The Irma is known for its great buffets too,
the highlight of which on my last visit to town was the beard pudding with a
very strong whiskey sauce. We weren’t feeling hungry enough for a buffet that
evening, though, so went elsewhere for dinner but enjoyed breakfast in the
dining room at the Irma.
Besides the summer night rodeo, Cody’s main attraction is
the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, a complex that includes five museums in
one, dedicated to natural history, the Plains Indians, firearms, western art,
and the life and legacy of William Cody himself. I have been to the museum complex several
times already but enjoy going back every few years to show it off to visitors,
in the case Rodrigo. Rodrigo loves
museums and anything about the American West and its history, so he naturally really
enjoyed the place. We spent about four hours there, but it is entirely possible
to spend an entire day. Luckily, the tickets are valid for two days if you
arrive late and don’t manage to see everything on the first day.
2025-05-22