CodyOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

Founding a Western Town

Cody, Wyoming, was founded in 1896 by Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the scout and showman known for his Wild West shows. He first visited the Bighorn Basin in the 1870s and recognized its potential for irrigation, fertile soil, and its proximity to Yellowstone National Park. Cody planned a town that would serve as a gateway to Yellowstone and a center for ranching and tourism.

He partnered with investors such as George T. Beck, Horace Alger, Bronson Rumsey, and George Bleistein; their names are visible on downtown Cody streets. In 1895, construction began on the Cody Canal, designed to bring water from the Shoshone River to irrigate the land. The town site was officially established in May 1896. Cody invested in the town's development, including ensuring wide streets for horse-drawn carriages and constructing the Irma Hotel, named after his daughter, in 1902. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad arrived in 1901, connecting the town to other regions.

Development and Economic Growth

Cody was incorporated in 1901. Early in the 20th century, the federally financed Buffalo Bill Dam, completed in 1910, was a significant engineering project and the highest dam in the world at the time. This dam was important for agriculture, providing irrigation to thousands of acres in the Bighorn Basin, a central part of Buffalo Bill's plan. In 1909, the Wyoming Legislature established Park County, with Cody as its county seat, confirming its role as a regional center. The discovery of oil in the Oregon Basin in 1912 and later in Elk Basin in 1915 diversified Cody's economy beyond agriculture and tourism. By 1915, a road connecting Cody to Yellowstone National Park's east entrance was built, further establishing its status as a tourist destination.

• —Buffalo Bill Center of the West — This complex contains five museums: the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and Cody Firearms Museum. It displays Buffalo Bill's personal items, a collection of American firearms, and Western art.
• —Irma Hotel — Built by Buffalo Bill in 1902 and named after his daughter, this hotel maintains its Old West atmosphere. Its Cherrywood bar was a gift to Buffalo Bill from Queen Victoria.
• —Old Trail Town — This outdoor museum features 28 frontier buildings from the 1890s, moved and preserved here. It includes a cabin used by Butch Cassidy and his Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, and the gravesite of Jeremiah "Liver Eating" Johnson.
• —Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center — Completed in 1910, this concrete arch dam was once the highest in the world. Visitors can walk across the dam and learn about its construction and importance for irrigation in the Bighorn Basin through exhibits at the visitor center.
• —Cody Dug Up Gun Museum — This museum displays antique firearms excavated from various sites, arranged by era from pre-Civil War to World War II.
• —Cody Heritage Museum — Located in one of Cody's early buildings on Sheridan Avenue, this museum presents the town's development through personal stories, artifacts, and exhibits.

The best time to visit Cody for outdoor activities is from early July to late August. During these summer months, average high temperatures are 70s-80s Fahrenheit (21-32°C), with lows in the upper 40s or low 50s (4-10°C). Skies are clearest in July, and rainfall is minimal. The Cody Nite Rodeo runs nightly from June through August. Spring (March-May) can be cold with possible snow and higher precipitation in May. Autumn (September-November) offers pleasant weather in September with changing leaves, but temperatures drop by October and Yellowstone road closures can begin. Winters (December-February) are cold, with average January lows around 17°F (-8°C) and significant snowfall. Avoid winter for extensive outdoor activities.

Cody is served by Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD), located minutes from downtown. This airport offers year-round connections through Salt Lake City and Denver. For drivers, major highways like US 14A, 14, 16, and 20 provide access to Cody. The Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US 14/16/20) leads to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Many attractions within Cody's downtown area are walkable, but a car is recommended for sights outside the city and for accessing Yellowstone. Car rental services are available at the airport. Public transportation within Cody is limited, operating Monday through Saturday from June to September, with a minimum fee. Taxi services and rideshare options like Uber are available.