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Cody, Wyoming, is both a gateway to the famed Yellowstone National Park and a chance to explore the Wild West history of the region. Cody has plenty of attractions - one of the most popular and family-friendly attractions is Old Trail Town. It is conveniently located on the road to Yellowstone - it is arguably one of the things first-time visitors to Yellowstone should have on their bucket list.

Old Trail Town has been formed by collecting rare authentic structures and furnishings from around the region. The structures have been sourced from remote locations in Wyoming and Montana. They have been disassembled and then relocated and reassembled at Old Trail Town. Another great place to learn about the frontier and settler history of Wyoming is Mormon Row with its historic buildings and awe-inspiring backdrop of the Grand Tetons.

Why One Should Visit Old Trail Town While Driving To Yellowstone

Old Trail Town has been built to offer visitors the opportunity to experience firsthand the Old West heritage of the region. It has been voted “Best Tourist Attraction and Historical Site” by True West Magazine. Cody is a town that continues to preserve the heritage of the Old West.

Step back in time in Old Trail Town and see surviving frontier buildings that date from the 1890s. It was on the site where Old Trail Town stands that western scout and showman William F. ("Buffalo Bill") Cody laid out the first town that would become Cody.

Old Trail Town was the project of Bod Edgar - a former archeologist at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. He realized that the old Western buildings and their furnishings and artifacts were rapidly disappearing. In 1967, he undertook the effort to gather historic buildings and relics on the west side of Cody - where the town was originally founded.

One of the best Wild West towns to visit is Tombstone, Arizona - it is the site of the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Related: Experience Saskatchewan's Wild West At These Unique Road Trip Stops

Buildings & Old West Collections At Old Trail Town

Visitors can also see thousands of historic Old West artifacts and grave sites (including notable Western figures). Among the buildings are original cabins used by Wild West outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (as well as a Wyoming saloon frequented by Cassidy’s “Hole-in-the-Wall Gang”).

Another notable structure is the log cabin home of "Curley," a Crow Indian army scout. Curley helped guide Lt Col. George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry to the disastrous Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1878. Curley was one of the lucky ones who survived the battle and relayed the news of Custer's defeat in the wake of the battle. Today people can learn of Custer's last stand at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Learn about the clash of cultures and how the Native American Indians of the region perceived the "Wild West" in a completely different way.

  • Buildings: 26 Historic Buildings

Today the collection of buildings includes 26 buildings dating from 1879 to 1901. It also includes 100 horse-drawn vehicles, lots of Wyoming frontier memorabilia, and some authentic American Indian artifacts. Old Trail Town boasts the largest such collection in Wyoming. The buildings include frontier cabins, an original general store, a small school, a granary, a barn, the home of the first mayor of Cody, a blacksmith shop, a wagon barn, an 1888 saloon, and more.

The Museum of the Old West contains artifacts of the Old West (including a horse-drawn hearse from the late 1800s, prehistoric stone tools, and Native American clothing and beadwork).

Some of the buildings are furnished to be as they would have been during the frontier days.

Related: Why Everyone Should Visit The Old-Timey Wild West Town Of Virginia City In Nevada

Planning A Visit To Old Trail Town

Old Trail Town is only open seasonally (May 15 to Sept. 30) and is a great attraction while driving from Cody to the East entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Old Trail Town is open for self-guided tours only.

  • Open Season: May 15 to September 30
  • Opening Hours: 8.00 am to 6.00 pm

Admission Fees:

  • Adults: $12.00
  • Children: $6.00 (Aged 6 to 12)

While the tickets are non-refundable, they never expire.

After the "Wild West" days of the United States came to a close in 1890, Canada's "Last Best West" continued for a few more decades. Today, visitors to Canada can discover Canada's parallel "Old West" story.