Gun fights and rodeos. What could be more "real west"?
On Friday evening we attended a gunfight in front of the Irma Hotel in downtown Cody. The Irma Hotel was built by "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1902 and was named after his daughter. Today, the hotel retains much of the look it had of over 100 years ago.
During the summer months, actors stage a 30-minute gun fighting skit in front of the Irma Hotel. The show runs Mon-Sat and begins nightly at 6 PM. Here is a picture of the crowd beginning to gather.
In the skit the bank gets robbed by the "bad guys", then the good guys come and shoot 'em up.
Although the skit is somewhat shallow, everyone appears to have a good time.
The cast of the show gathers afterwards and acknowledges the cheers from the crowds.
Immediately after the gunfighting show we went out to the western edge of Cody to attend the Cody Nightly Rodeo. During the season, the rodeo occurs every night of the week at 8 PM, with the gates opening at 7 PM.
View from "Buzzard's Roost" before the Rodeo
The rodeo lasts for two hours and we had a very nice time. (Actually, we liked it so much we attended the next night at a 1/2 off ticket price.) If you go, sit in the stands across from the entrance in an area called "Buzzard's Roost". All of the chutes are closer to that side, and it's shady as well.
We arrived just after the gates opened and had our choice of seats. We were sitting in the front row (near center) and overlooking the bull and bronc riding chutes.
One of the "cutest" events in the entire rodeo was when a 6 year old little guy rode in the barrel riding event. (For those not familiar with rodeos, females are usually the riders in the barrel riding event.) Notice the size of the horse this little guy is riding. He, of course, received a lot of cheers from the crowd.
I took several short videos, but will only include a short clip of the bull riding event. It was not a good night for the bull riders tonight.
Oh boy, bad guys and bank robbers! Hope you didn't have too many flashbacks from your past career! ;c)
Interesting rodeo visit! Who'd a thought you'd enjoy it so much you did a return visit? Really cute that little guy riding the barrels, I guess rodeo champions need to start out young. :c)
Did you try the bull riding? You mentioned a short clip of bull riding....... being from Texas, I can tell you that you will probably never get a "LONG" clip!!
Still a good blog.... I just don't understand why!!!
We weren't planning to go to the east side of the park, but you guys are having so much fun in Cody, I may have to rethink this. We're in the mountains of North GA for a few days - post up tomorrow.
There is a lot to see and do by using Cody as a base. We drove into the east entrance of Yellowstone from Cody, but it's still 50 miles to the gate. We'll be moving over to just south of West Yellowstone for 2 weeks to explore the park from that side.
Oh boy, bad guys and bank robbers! Hope you didn't have too many flashbacks from your past career! ;c)
ReplyDeleteInteresting rodeo visit! Who'd a thought you'd enjoy it so much you did a return visit? Really cute that little guy riding the barrels, I guess rodeo champions need to start out young. :c)
You are going to be a country girl yet :) shell
ReplyDeleteDid you try the bull riding? You mentioned a short clip of bull riding....... being from Texas, I can tell you that you will probably never get a "LONG" clip!!
ReplyDeleteStill a good blog.... I just don't understand why!!!
Later,
Richard
That's such a great area!! Sounds like your doing up right.
ReplyDeleteWe weren't planning to go to the east side of the park, but you guys are having so much fun in Cody, I may have to rethink this. We're in the mountains of North GA for a few days - post up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot to see and do by using Cody as a base. We drove into the east entrance of Yellowstone from Cody, but it's still 50 miles to the gate. We'll be moving over to just south of West Yellowstone for 2 weeks to explore the park from that side.
Delete