Cody, Wyo., March 22, 2024 – It’s going to be another wild year in Cody Yellowstone, in part because visitors might notice something “bear-y” interesting in the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse.
“Bears in the Basin” is an app-based family-focused scavenger hunt, as well as an art beautification project that celebrates the majestic black and grizzly bears that roam the region. When families spot the bears strategically positioned throughout the historic towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, they simply capture each bear’s QR code with their phones to redeem prizes – custom-stitched iron-on patches celebrating each town’s heritage – that will be shipped directly to their homes.
Bears in the Basin joins two other visitor-focused trails in town. Last year, Cody launched its popular Sippin’ Trail highlighting some of the town’s breweries, distilleries and eateries, as well as a Wild West Trail, which takes visitors to some of the destination’s authentic Western attractions.
Also in 2024, one of the destination’s most celebrated and recognizable statues, The Scout, will turn 100. Installed in 1924, the massive bronze sculpture is a cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The lauded art museum turns 65 this year.
“From unveiling a major art beautification project to hosting one of the most prestigious groups of travel journalists in North America, plus significant anniversaries of some of the region’s famous landmarks, there will be numerous noteworthy happenings throughout the year here,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm of the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of
Yellowstone National Park. “With a list this long, 2024 is bound to be a year to remember.”
Here’s what’s new and what’s ahead this year:
The Cody Yellowstone Film Commission is continuing its efforts to draw film projects to the destination. Projects include “Midnight Clear,” a new movie being filmed in locations throughout Cody. Centered around the story of a woman trying to save her family’s dude ranch, filming locations in Cody included Cassies, Irma Hotel and Cowboy Palace.
“Heart of a Bullfighter,” a new film about the life and adventures of famed Cody bullfighter Dusty Tuckness, will be unveiled in early April. There are also numerous other projects in the works. Filmmakers are discovering a wealth of film project fodder in Cody, even beyond the destination’s well-known rugged landscapes and authentic American West attractions. For example, Cody’s foodie scene recently achieved some notoriety when Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives filmed an episode at Sitti’s Table, one of Cody’s downtown restaurants.
Visitors can now book a Hiking Buddy, a new guide service operated by local hiking expert David Leo. Leo will accompany visitors on one of nine easy-to-access hiking trails ranging
from an easy four-mile stroll to a challenging 13-mile all-day hike. The service provides snacks and water and loans hiking gear if needed.
The Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain will open this summer at Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center. A dedicated retreat space, the institute will be a home for workshops and programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage and cooperation in the next generation of leaders.
Cody Yellowstone’s burgeoning beer scene will continue to be celebrated this year, especially since Cody was lauded for the Best Small Town Beer Scene by USA Today. With multiple microbreweries – which use Powell-grown barley in their recipes – Cody Yellowstone visitors have plenty of options to quench their thirst. For extra fun, visitors can follow the Cody Yellowstone Sippin’ Trail, with stops at multiple breweries and distilleries.
Bears in the Basin is the theme of a new art beautification project. Multiple hand-carved bear statues will be strategically placed around the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, and visitors will be encouraged to find the bears and check off locations to earn points for prizes. Each whimsical bear is thoughtfully carved to reflect each town’s heritage. Cody bears depict town founder Buffalo Bill; Powell bears highlight the town’s agricultural heritage, and Meeteetse bears depict famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart, who was building a cabin in the region she loved but disappeared before she could complete the project.
Cody Yellowstone themed workshops will continue throughout the year. Examples of the popular workshops include the Wild West Discovery workshop and Women in the Wilderness workshop.
Members of the Society of American Travel Writers will meet in Cody Yellowstone this May and explore the destination through the eyes of travel journalists. The group is comprised of writers, editors, podcasters, influencers, filmmakers and other travel journalism professionals.
Cody Yellowstone will be the backdrop for numerous special events including John Wesley Powell Days, Jake Clark Mule Days, Wild West Arts Fest, Yellowstone Beer Fest, Cody Wild West River Fest, the 4th Annual Yellowstone Songwriter Festival and Homesteader Days Festival. For a complete list of special events, visit the Cody Yellowstone events page.
Coming soon are two new guide services. Out West Adventures will guide visitors to remote areas like Oregon Lakes on Polaris UTVs, and Yellowstone Excursions will guide adventurers to remote areas like Kirwin in Can Am ATVs. This winter, Yellowstone Excursions will add Ski Doo snowmobiles to its lineup of adventures, with guided snowmobile tours in the Shoshone National Forest and other backcountry locations.
True Ranch Collection is taking over management of the historic Blackwater Creek Ranch outside Cody for the summer season and will bring its Yellowstone Pop-Up Ranch to the “Cowboy State” from May 26 to Sept. 28. Set along the banks of the Shoshone River and Blackwater Creek, the ranch will offer all-inclusive three- and six-night stays with accommodations, meals, adventures like horseback riding, hiking, archery, sport shooting, fly fishing and whitewater rafting, visits to Cody and the Cody Nite Rodeo, opportunities to explore Yellowstone and evening entertainment and special events.
Cody Yellowstone has added its first in-town electric vehicle super charger. Conveniently located at the Chevrolet GMC HUMMER dealership on Sheridan Ave., the average charging time for an 80 percent charge ranges from 15 to 25 minutes.
Here are some of the destination’s most notable anniversaries this year:
100th anniversary of The Scout. Heiress and hyper-talented sculptress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney created this massive bronze sculpture depicting Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback. The sculpture was installed in 1924 and ultimately became the cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum.
100th anniversary of Shoshone Lodge & Guest Ranch. Built in 1924 by Henry and Bertha Dahlem, the Shoshone Lodge today occupies an honored place among the destination’s numerous guest and dude ranches. Remarkably, the Shoshone Lodge has stayed in the same family for a century, and it is now operated by the family’s fourth generation. Just three miles from the East Gate to Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone Lodge offers all-inclusive guest ranch experiences including cabin lodging, a restaurant and outdoor adventures like horseback riding, tours of Yellowstone and nightly entertainment.
65th anniversary of the Whitney Western Art Museum. Another of the museums at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Western Art Museum was created in 1959 with initial funding provided by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, the son of artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Considered one of the top Western art galleries in the country, the museum includes original paintings, sculptures and prints by top artists including Albert Bierstadt and Frederic Remington. The Whitney Western Art Museum was named the best art museum in the U.S. by Newsweek.
60th anniversary of the Cody Country Art League. Established in 1964, the nonprofit Cody Country Art Leagues is located in the original Buffalo Bill Museum, and it is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility promotes the work of local artists with exhibits, sales and art classes.
60th anniversary of the Cody KOA. Founded in June 1964, this family-friendly RV campground was the first KOA franchise in the country. The campground has continued to improve and expand over the decades, and this summer, it will be unveiling a new dog park.
5th anniversary of By Western Hands. Years in the planning, this centrally located new attraction celebrates the region’s heritage of Western-style furniture-makers and artisans who incorporate natural or Western elements like gnarled logs, horsehair and elk antlers into their creations. Opening this June, By Western Hands includes an education and training center for artisans, a gallery where the latest work of Western artists is on display and available for purchase and a museum showcasing the work of early leaders in Western design such as Thomas Molesworth, whose Cody-based Shoshone Furniture Company popularized Western design beginning in the 1930s.
15th anniversary of the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum. Operated by Hans and Eva Kurth, this unusual upstairs museum located in the center of town displays more than 1,300 items including relic firearms, swords and knives that have been found in fields and trees that have grown around them and collected from gun shops, antique stores, yard sales and auctions worldwide.
45th anniversary of the Plains Indian Museum. Added to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in 1979, the Plains Indian Museum promotes the art and traditions of Plains Indians through exhibits and innovative storytelling.
75th anniversary of completion of the LDS Chapel Rotunda, which houses the Cody Mural depicting the westward expansion of Mormon pioneers. Painted by artist Edward T. Grigware, the realistic painting was created off-site and then installed on the domed walls, measuring 36 feet in diameter and 18 feet high from the base to the peak of the ceiling.
120th anniversary of Pahaska Tepee, Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge. Situated a short distance from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Buffalo Bill Cody invited famous guests such as the Prince of Monaco to relax and hunt at this two-story hewn-log lodge. The lodge’s furniture and decorations have been carefully preserved, and visitors can explore the first floor for a small donation.
105th anniversary of Cody Stampede. Scheduled for Monday, July 1 through Thursday, July 4 this year, the Cody Stampede was created when the sentimental but pragmatic leaders of Cody, Wyoming circa 1919 wanted to honor the town’s legendary founder and the Western traditions he represented, as well as to capture the interest and a few dollars from tourists who passed through town on the new “Road to Yellowstone.” The celebration, called one of the top small-town American Fourth of July celebrations in the West, includes nightly Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA)-sanctioned rodeos, parades, free concerts, craft fairs, fireworks and much more.
Noteworthy events in Cody Yellowstone history:
115th anniversary of the creation of Park County. Established by the Wyoming Legislature in 1909, Park County is the fifth-largest county in the state of Wyoming, encompassing 3,349,120 acres, and is the ninth most populous county, with a full-time population of around 26,000. The county is largely comprised of state and federal land.
125th anniversary of the Cody Enterprise. This twice-weekly, award-winning newspaper was founded by Buffalo Bill Cody and Col. John Peake in August 1899.
Wyoming anniversaries:
155th anniversary of Wyoming granting women the right to vote. Wyoming became the first place in the country to legalize women’s suffrage, which is why it is known as “The Equality State.”
65th anniversary of the Hebgen Lake earthquake near West Yellowstone, Mont.Although the epi-center of this massive, mountain-moving quake was in Montana, its impact was broadly felt in Wyoming. The earthquake killed 28 campers and changed the geothermal plumbing systems of numerous geysers and hot springs throughout Yellowstone National Park.
105th anniversary of Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 72-vehicle cross-country road trip. The young Lt. Col. was charged with determining the state of the country’s roads across the country. The Wyoming portion of the trip, and discovery of abysmal conditions throughout the state (the convoy traveled at 5 miles per hour, on average), ultimately led to the development of the country’s Interstate road system, including I-80, which allows modern travelers to travel to Yellowstone in relative ease.
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Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.
Related hashtags:
#YellowstoneCountry
#CodyWyoming
#CenteroftheWest
#BuffaloBill
#Yellowstone
#ThatsWY
Media contact:
Mesereau Travel Public Relations
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