A Wild West showman paid for an entire Wyoming hotel with show money and named it after his youngest daughter. Most of us get a birthday card, so the bar is now officially too high.
The doors still open for overnight guests, more than a century after the original building went up in 1902. You can even book the private suite the showman kept for his own stays.
Historic furnishings and Old West details fill the rooms, while later additions keep the story growing. A fireplace studded with fossils brings decor that feels a few million years old.
Dinner centers on slow-roasted prime rib, served under plenty of frontier history. Order a plate, then tell everyone you basically had dinner at a cowboy’s house.
A Dad Gift So Big It Came With 39 Rooms
Colonel William F. Cody knew how to make a statement. He built Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel & Restaurant and named it after his youngest daughter, Irma Cody.
Irma was born on February 9, 1886. The hotel officially opened on November 1, 1902, with a big celebration following on November 18.
Buffalo Bill paid for it with earnings from his famous Wild West show. He reportedly invested about eighty thousand dollars, which was a huge sum back then.
He wasn’t just a rich guest, either. He co-founded the town of Cody in 1895, so this hotel was part of his bigger dream for the area.
The hotel was designed to welcome travelers heading toward Yellowstone National Park, giving Cody a stronger place on the region’s growing tourist route in the early 1900s.
Architect Alfred Wilderman Woods designed the building. Crews used local sandstone and river rock, so the walls literally came from this corner of Wyoming.
Today the hotel offers 39 air-conditioned guest rooms. That’s a lot of rooms to carry one young woman’s name.
I believe that personal story is what makes the place stick in your mind. Plenty of old hotels have history, but few started as a father’s tribute.
So when you check in, you’re stepping into a family story. It just happens to include a front desk and room keys.
You Can Actually Sleep Where Buffalo Bill Slept
Bragging rights come standard with one particular reservation here. Guests can book Buffalo Bill’s own private suite, restored with period decoration and a roomy layout.
When he wasn’t touring, Cody often stayed at the hotel. He kept two suites and an office for his personal use, which tells you how much he loved the place.
Other restored suites carry the names of significant historical figures.
The original section of the hotel was built in 1902, followed by a northwest addition in 1929 and a southwest addition in 1976 and 1977.
Picking one feels a bit like choosing which famous neighbor you’d like for the night.
The historic rooms may include Victorian furnishings and radiators. Those details give you the old-timey charm without needing a time machine.
Modern comforts still show up for the party. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, cable, private bathrooms, toiletries, hair dryers, desks, and coffee and tea makers.
That’s a nice balance for travelers who want history but still need to charge a phone. Nobody wants to send a telegram home.
Here’s a practical tip worth remembering. The building is historic, so expect old-building quirks and ask about room details when you book.
A little planning goes a long way. Then you can relax and enjoy sleeping in a genuine slice of the Old West.
The Prime Rib Is the Main Event at Dinner
Slow-roasted prime rib is the dish this restaurant is known for. You can order it as a plated entree or enjoy it from the buffet, especially in the busy season.
That flexibility is handy. Some folks like a single neat plate, while others prefer to wander and choose.
The menu goes well beyond one star, though. Steaks include a Buffalo Rib Eye, which feels right in a hotel named for Buffalo Bill’s daughter.
Seafood fans get options like Wild West Salmon, Crab Stuffed Salmon, and shrimp. Comfort food shows up too, with chicken pot pie, burgers, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily. Buffets run daily in summer and frequently during the rest of the year.
That means you can start your morning here and come back after exploring town. The restaurant easily becomes your home base.
Planning a summer visit? Dinner followed by an evening stroll through historic downtown Cody makes a pretty fun combination.
Just pace yourself if the buffet is calling your name. Prime rib and second helpings can turn a short evening into a long, happy one.
Look Closely at the Fireplace Before You Walk Past
Most fireplaces are just stone and mortar. This one doubles as a geology lesson.
The hotel’s fireplace is built from rocks, ores, minerals, and fossils gathered from the Big Horn Basin. It’s basically a collection of the region, stacked up and put on display.
Curious kids will love hunting for different textures and colors. Adults might find themselves leaning in just as close.
I like how the fireplace connects the building to the land around it. The sandstone walls do that too, but the fireplace makes it personal.
Every piece came from the surrounding area. That gives the lobby a real sense of place you won’t find in a chain hotel.
Plan to spend a few minutes here when you arrive. It’s an easy, free activity before dinner or check-in.
Snap a photo for later, too. You can look up what you spotted once you get home.
It’s a small detail in a big building. Still, it might be the most quietly impressive thing under the roof.
Some Guests Supposedly Never Checked Out
Ghost stories cling to this hotel like dust on a cowboy hat. Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel & Restaurant has a long reputation for reported paranormal activity.
One local ghost story involves a mysterious uniformed figure near Room 35.
Irma Cody Garlow herself is said to linger near Room 16. Stories often place her close to a rocking chair.
A well-dressed gentleman in a fedora has been reported in a restaurant booth. Maybe he just really likes the menu.
Buffalo Bill makes the list too. Reports place him near the historic guest rooms and other parts of the hotel.
Other stories mention unexplained footsteps, strange lights, and objects moving around. Whether you believe or not, it makes for great bedtime talk.
Spooky fans might want to request one of the rooms tied to these stories. Availability isn’t guaranteed, so ask early.
If you scare easily, a standard room might suit you better. Either way, the legends add another layer to an already colorful place in Wyoming.
Handy Extras Make the Stay Surprisingly Easy
Old buildings sometimes feel tricky for travelers. Here, plenty of practical perks smooth out the trip.
Parking is free, which is always welcome on a road trip. The hotel also offers a complimentary roundtrip shuttle to Yellowstone Regional Airport on request.
A 24-hour front desk and luggage storage help with odd arrival times. Late flights and early checkouts get a lot less stressful.
You’ll also find a terrace, a picnic area, and a banquet hall. Vending machines handle those late-night snack cravings.
Complimentary newspapers sit in the lobby for morning readers. It’s a nice old-school touch that fits the building.
The porch might be the best perk of all. Guests can enjoy refreshments and snacks there while watching downtown go by.
Plan for a little porch time between adventures. It’s a relaxing way to soak up the scene.
One tip: request the airport shuttle ahead of time. That way the ride is ready when your plane lands, and your trip starts smoothly.
Downtown Cody Basically Becomes Your Backyard
Location is a big win here. Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel & Restaurant sits at 1192 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414, right in the heart of town.
The Cody Trolley is headquartered at the Irma. It offers live narrated tours of Buffalo Bill’s town, so you can learn the history without planning a route.
That’s a smart first activity after check-in. You’ll get your bearings fast and spot places to explore later.
Downtown Cody has several small museums and historic attractions within walking distance of the hotel.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is about an eight-minute walk. It houses several museums exploring Western art, regional history, Native American cultures, and the legacy of Buffalo Bill.
Buffalo Bill State Park sits roughly 9.8 miles away. It makes a good outing when you want open Wyoming scenery.
Since the hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, staying here feels like part of the tour.
Park the car, lace up your shoes, and wander. Cody has welcomed visitors for generations, and its historic downtown continues that tradition today.