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Heading to Yellowstone National Park? America’s first national park is an epic vacation destination, as a standalone stop or part of a road trip exploration of the Wild West. Your trip may include a pit stop outside the park in Cody, WY. It’s the closest community to Yellowstone’s East Entrance, with lots of fun things to do and a wide range of lodging options including the cowboy cabins in Buffalo Bill Village.
The Buffalo Bill Cabin Village includes many room amenities that make it appealing to families, including its convenient location on the quiet end of Cody’s main drag, Sheridan Ave. The look is vintage Americana. The 83 log cabins are arranged in a tidy layout to the rear of the larger Buffalo Bill Village Resort property. When you open the door to your private, rustic one-bedroom cabin, you’ll be surprised to find unexpected amenities like high-end toiletries and plush bedding.
Want to know more? Here’s why a stay at the Buffalo Bill Cabins in Cody, Wyoming is one of the best places to stay near Yellowstone.
Why Buffalo Bill Cabins Works for Families
- Vintage log cabins in a range of room types
- Friendly staff
- On-site restaurant and lounge
- Heated outdoor pool
- Free parking for cars, trailers and RVs
- Free airport shuttle service to Yellowstone Regional Airport
- Lawn areas for play
What Might Not Work for Families
- Free wi-fi but service is patchy
- Kitchen amenities limited to microwave/mini fridge
- Cancellation within 72 hours of arrival will be charged one night
Buffalo Bill Village Resort
The Buffalo Bill Village cabins are one of the lodging options located in a resort complex on Sheridan Avenue in Cody, Wyoming. Sheridan is the town’s main drag, where you’ll find most of the restaurants, bars, shops and noise. But the Buffalo Bill Village is located a block from the start of the commercial strip; you’re a quick walk away but there’s quiet in the evening.
The resort, operated by generationally family-owned Blair Hotels, includes the cabins, a Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn and the Buffalo Bill Village gift shop.
The Buffalo Bill Cowboy Cabins
The 83 cowboy cabins are historic log cabins, constructed in phases during the 1940s when the site was a campground adjacent to the original Cody rodeo arena. They’re Inst-a-dorable, resembling life-size versions of their toy Lincoln Log counterparts.
They come in a range of sizes so you can find one to fit your family whether you’re a couple, traveling with littles or a multi-gen mix of many groups. With no stairs or elevators to contend with, they’re a particularly accessible choice if you have elderly relatives traveling with you.
Check-in after 3 pm for the cabins in the Village gift shop. The friendly front desk staff will provide you with all the details and your room keys – actual keys, so come prepared with a key ring! Check-out time is 11 am.
Most visitors in Cody arrive by car. The cabins offer the convenience of free parking steps from your front door. You can leave the bulk of your luggage in your car and only drag in what you need for your night’s stay.
Guests arriving at Yellowstone Regional Airport can arrange for the Buffalo Bill Village Resort’s complimentary airport shuttle service. There are three daily scheduled commercial arrivals and departures through Denver on United Express. Private and semi-private charters also use the airport.
The Buffalo Bill cabins are an economical choice for families staying in Cody. Early season rates are approximately $100-$140 per night, depending on the size of the cabin; high season rates are about $250.
Inside the Cabins
Get settled in your deluxe cowboy cabin and pull back the retro curtains, emblazoned with John Wayne quotes, to check out the tilt-in windows with original hardware. Wayne, America’s cowboy, once served as Grand Marshal of the Cody Stampede parade.
The cozy family-friendly rooms are furnished with function in mind. Each cabin’s configured differently. My Single King Bed Cabin had several chairs, an armoire, dresser, desk and table for one tucked into a nook. My traveling companion’s room was larger, with a separate sitting area and two double beds.
The bedding has a very luxe feel with a plush pillowtop that provided much-needed cushioning after a day spent adventuring in Wyoming’s great outdoors.
The cabins’ private bathrooms feature walk-in showers and pedestal sinks. I was tickled to find boutique brand Beekman 1802 toiletries in the cabin. They’re a new addition, sourced by General Manager Quintin Blair. He fell for the feel and smell of the New York-made products during a stay at the posh ($2000+ per night!) Brush Creek Lodge and Spa.
Additional Cabin Details
The cabins are equipped with wall air conditioning units. There’s no heat since the cabins are only open May through September. If you’re chilly, call the front desk for extra blankets. The friendly housekeeping staff operates from their headquarters in the cabin village, providing quick response to requests. Their carts are stocked with the usuals like TP and towels but they also carry Cheerios to feed the resident bunnies.
The rooms come equipped with cable TV and the resort has free wifi. But the service is patchy, something that you get used to while traveling throughout the West. I found the service much stronger in the Holiday Inn lobby. If you need a reliable signal, consider traveling with a hot spot. I had no trouble connecting to my iPhone.
There are no kitchenettes in any of the cabins. If you desire a microwave and/or mini-fridge and your unit doesn’t have one, call the front desk to have one delivered. No grills are available on the property but there are picnic tables on the grounds.
Buffalo Bill Cabin Room Amenities
- Flat-screen TV with cable channels
- Air conditioning
- Plush pillowtop bed
- Hair dryer and Beekman 1802 toiletries
- Stuffed toy bison (available for purchase)
Buffalo Bill Cabin Dining
Cabin guests have access to the dining options in the Buffalo Bill Village Resort. QT’s Restaurant is a full-service eatery in the Holiday Inn. The breakfast buffet’s a popular option. The baby back ribs are a dinner favorite but also consider anything Italian on the menu, since it’s Chef Carrie’s specialty. The hotel’s Bottom’s Up lounge is the place to relax and relive the day’s adventures over an evening cocktail.
With three different sets of guests in the Buffalo Bill Village, the dining situation can get a little confusing, particularly in the early morning when everyone’s looking to get on the road to Yellowstone. Here are the specifics:
- Complimentary coffee service is available for cabin guests in the Holiday Inn lobby or Buffalo Bill Village gift shop.
- A continental breakfast is included in the room rate for Comfort Inn guests. It’s served in the Sarsaparilla Saloon in the rear of the gift shop.
- The Holiday Inn serves a hearty breakfast buffet at QT’s for $19.95. Children under 6 are free. Cabin guests can’t charge to their rooms at the restaurant, so bring a credit card or cash.
Things to Do at Buffalo Bill Cabins
- Guests staying in the Buffalo Bill Cabins have access to the outdoor heated pool at the Holiday Inn next door. At check-in you’ll be provided with a map of the property and shown the location of the gated pool. You’ll find pool towels in a cabana on the pool deck with loungers, tables and chairs and umbrellas. Imagine how great a swim feels after a long day cooped up in the car!
- Include time during your stay to browse in the Village gift shop. The selection of vintage Western jewelry in particular is very appealing. I bought a lovely pair of opal and sterling silver earrings for $50. Cabin guests receive 10% off gift shop purchases.
- There’s a selection of outdoor games available for guest use including a giant Connect Four and Cornhole. They’re available by request. Inquire at the reception desk.
- Attend the nightly welcome reception in the gift shop from 4-6 pm.
Explore Cody
If you are planning your trip and time permits, plan to spend two nights in Cody. You will welcome the break from days spent on the road because Cody has many fun things to do for all ages. Make your first stop (especially if you need a pit stop), the Cody Visitor Center. Besides clean restrooms, there are a ton of brochures and maps for the Cody Yellowstone area. The friendly staff is happy to offer up recommendations for their favorite local places and spaces.
Two of the town’s attractions are must-dos. First, you’ll need a few hours to explore the 5 museums that make up the Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
- Buffalo Bill Museum
- Plains Indian Museum
- Cody Firearms Museum
- Draper Natural History Museum
- Whitney Western Art Museum
Then you’ll want to head over the nightly Cody rodeo for an evening of cowboy fun including bull riding and roping tricks.
Other things to do in Cody include:
- Explore the great outdoors on a horseback ride, river raft trip or off-road excursion
- Visit Old Trail Town, a collection of vintage Wild West buildings including the infamous hideout of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Or head to Kirwin, a ghost town in the Absaroka Mountains.
- Get a deeper understanding of guns and their integral role in Western culture at the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum or Cody Firearms Experience.
About Blair Hotels
Buffalo Bill Village Resort is one of three properties operated by family-owned Blair Hotels, a hospitality company started by Quin Blair. Blair, an Illinois native, arrived in Cody in 1929 with $15 in his pocket, according to his 2013 obituary.
Blair’s interests were wide-ranging. He was an orchestra conductor and pharmacist before launching his career in the hospitality industry. Today, over 100,000 vacationers pass through the three Buffalo Bill Village resort properties each season, according to General Manager Quintin Blair, Quin’s grandson.
Additional Blair Hotel properties include Cody’s Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn, a Holiday Inn in Riverton WY and The Ranch at UCross, a 31-room family vacation guest ranch in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains.
Deluxe Cowboy Cabins in the Buffalo Bill Village Resort, 1701 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414
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