All Roads Lead to Yellowstone by Powell Tribune

explore! COME

Located in the authentic western town of Cody, Wyoming and surrounded by the beauty and majesty of the Greater Yellowstone region, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center tells the stories of the history, nature, and culture of the American West in a way no other museum in the world can. Take a few hours or a day or two and come explore the Spirit of the American West with us. You’ll be glad you did. 720 Sheridan Avenue Cody, Wyoming 82414 307.587.4771 Visit us Online: www.bbhc.org

BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER

Celebrating the Spirit of the American WestTM In cooperation with the Park County Travel Council.

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The A Route The A is for Adventure

They call U.S. 14-Alternate, as it crosses the Big Horn Mountains, the Medicine Wheel Passage, a national scenic byway designation from the U.S. Forest Service. The Medicine Wheel Passage was given its National Scenic Byway designation by the Forest Service on Feb. 9, 1989. The name points to a singular feature along the route of the mountain highway, the ancient Medicine Wheel, which is located near the west face of the Big Horns. It’s part of the reason why U.S. 14-A from the top of the Big Horns to Yellowstone Park is called “The A Route — the A is for Adventure.” In this travel guide, we’ll highlight some of the top “adventures” that beckon from U.S. 14-A. Passing through the heart of the Big Horn Mountains, the 14-A traveler will enjoy wildlife, scenic vistas and pine forests with streams and meadows. To the west of the Big Horn range lies the agricultural valley of the northern Big Horn Basin and the communities of Lovell, Powell and Cody. At Cody, 14-A heads west into the east gateway of Yellowstone National Park. It’s a spectacular drive through the Wapiti Valley to the East Entrance to Yellowstone, the country’s very first national park.

About our cover

Yellowstone National Park tourists get an extremely close view of a cinnamon black bear. Park visitors are reminded that park regulations require visitors to stay at least 100 yards from bears and at least 25 yards away from all other wildlife. Visitors may not approach, harass or feed wildlife.

Photo by Max Waugh of Bothell, Wash.

Going Boating or Camping? Call ahead and order Chester Chicken plus all the good stuff from our deli to make a complete picnic. 30,025 Whopping Square Feet of Shopping Space! Come in and see our World War II Memorial Displays!

True to the “Super Market” concept... WE HAVE IT ALL!! Especially a huge supply of craft products. Many shops in one Giant store!

• Produce • Groceries • Meat • Bakery • Hot & Cold Deli • Picnic Supplies

If you need... • pillows • bedding • wash cloths • socks • underwear or automotive supplies... WE’VE GOT THEM! A baby section • clothes • toys • cards • magazines • picture frames • Rubbermaid items... WE’VE GOT THEM. School supplies • office supplies • shavers or wedding gifts... UH, HUH, WE’VE GOT THEM. Crafts for the road or home YOU BET! Flowers • kitchenware • hardware... We honor: WE’VE GOT IT ALL!

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9 East Main • Lovell, WY 307-548-2224 • Fax: 307-548-7074 ➛ Page 1

Outdoor Adventure Starts Here!

Bighorn rams nibble a meal which they found in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area east of Lovell. The spectacular scenery and animals of the area lie only a short distance north of U.S. 14-A. Photo by Steve Moseley

Craggy Bighorn Canyon A Slice Of The Old West For any traveler on U.S. 14-A, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a “must see” scenic wonder. The park straddles the Big Horn River from just east of Lovell into Montana. A lake created by Yellowtail Dam stretches more than 70 miles through the canyon. Bighorn Canyon is not a national park like Yellowstone and Teton, but is designated a national recreation area, and like the parks, is administered by the National Park Service. A day pass into the area is $5, and can be purchased at an automated fee machine when entering the area. Interagency passes from the Park Service, such as the Interagency Senior Pass, also are good for admission. Visitors entering from the Wyoming side should stop at the Cal S. Taggart Visitor Center located inside the “V” formed by the intersections of U.S. 14-A and U.S. 310 in Lovell. The center’s knowledgeable staff is on hand to answer questions and provide pointers. Boating, fishing and other water sports are naturally at the heart of Bighorn Canyon’s offerings. A trip down the canyon between walls and spires towering 500 feet above the water is a spectacular and unforgettable experience. In the South District, depending on water levels, boats may be launched at Kane off U.S. 14-A, Horseshoe Bend and Barry’s Landing, and commercial boat rides are available in the summer. Information about launching conditions and boat ride schedules can be obtained at the visitor’s center in Lovell. For fishermen, there are numerous secluded spots along the lake both in the canyon and south of the park boundary where such game fish as walleye and sauger can be hooked. The canyon and lake are also spectacular when viewed from the rim of the canyon. At Devil’s Canyon overlook, visitors can get a dizzying view of the lake below and the seemingly tiny boats heading up or down the canyon and birds riding the wind hundreds of feet below. In addition, bighorn sheep have found a home in the area and can often be seen at the overlook. The area is noted for Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, which lies » Continued on next page ➛ Page 2

Gateway to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Lovell Area Features

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Big Horn National Forest and the mysterious Medicine Wheel

• FREE camper facilities • Three town parks - including picnic shelter and kiddie pool • Veteran’s memorial & spectacular murals • Foster Gulch Golf Course • Public swimming pool • Public tennis courts • Historic Hyart Theatre - www.hyarttheater.com Largest screen in Wyoming with movies shown weekly

Celebrate Hometown Holidays • Lovell Mustang Days ~ June 20-26 • Pioneer Days in Cowley ~ July 22-23 • Byron Day ~ July 9 • Big Horn Lake Celebration ~ July 9 For more information, contact the

Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce 307-548-7552 or www.lovellchamber.com 287 E. Main, Lovell, WY 82431

or the Town of Lovell 307-548-6551, www.townoflovell.com

Bighorn Canyon...

to the west and extends into the recreation area. The road through the recreation area follows close beside an ancient route followed by Native Americans, known as the Bad Pass Trail, and some of the ancient camping spots are marked by tepee rings that have drawn students of archeology to the area. More recent history is reflected in four historic ranch sites which tell the story of ranching in the American West and of colorful characters such as Caroline Lockhart, a writer and publisher who bought one of the ranches in the 1920s and operated it until age and health forced her from ranching life. The Park Service acquired the property and has worked to restore it to the way it looked in Lockhart’s day to provide visitors with a window into the past. The park contains more than 25 miles of hiking trails in the South District and there are many options for hiking. One such trail is the stateline trail along the Wyoming-Montana border that can take hikers to more amazing views of the canyon. Camping is available in the park. At Horseshoe Bend are 48 campsites overlooking the lake and red sandstone cliffs beyond. Nineteen have been remodeled to accommodate larger RVs and boats and three are pull-through sites. Modern restrooms, an RV dump station and drinking water are available at the site and there is a picnic area and a swim beach. Camping is also available at primitive campgrounds, including some that may only be reached by boat or by hiking in. Ranger programs about the history and attractions of Bighorn Canyon are offered on weekend evenings throughout the summer at Horseshoe Bend. Guided geology walks and ranch tours are also provided at times, and many of them are free. More information about the services and attraction at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is available through the area’s website at nps. gov/bica, or by contacting the visitor’s center in Lovell at 307-548-2251.

Hundreds of feet below the rim of Bighorn Canyon lie waters backed up by Yellowtail Dam at Fort Smith, Mont. The result is serpentine Big Horn Lake and some spectacular vistas to be seen in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Photo by Steve Moseley

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O F T H E P O W E L L VA L L E Y.

Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce 111 South Day, Powell, Wyoming

307-754-3494 www.powellchamber.org â&#x17E;&#x203A; Page 4

Although nestled between the picturesque Big Horn and Absaroka mountain ranges of Northwest Wyoming, Powell is a community historically rooted in agriculture. Early in the twentieth century, homesteaders around Powell were rewarded with life-sustaining irrigation water when the United States Reclamation Service established the dams and canals of the Shoshone Irrigation Project. Today, what was once a barren, desert-like landscape has been transformed into fields and pastures capable of producing a rich variety of crops, forages and livestock. Farmers around Powell excel at producing malt barley, edible beans, sugarbeets and alfalfa; while local ranchers proudly raise cattle, horses and sheep, sustainably and efficiently. The Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce can help you learn more about the agriculture industry in and around Powell by customizing a tour for you or your group. Learn about area crops, livestock production, irrigation systems and more from area farmers and ranchers. Here at the Chamber we offer customized agriculture tours for groups, organizations, families and individuals. Area farmers and ranchers who participate in our agro tourism ventures realize the value that consumers place on visiting rural settings where food is produced, and they strive to provide tours that are informative, pleasurable and inspiring. Powell was incorporated in 1909, having been named after Major John Wesley Powell who was one of the first to explore the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River and former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. Powell is only twenty minutes from historic Cody, Wyoming. Contact us and let us arrange a customized tour for you! In cooperation with the Park County Travel Council.

Customized tours for: Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations Tour area farms and ranches - See area crops, livestock production, irrigation systems and more

On a wind-swept plateau nearly 10,000 feet in elevation, the Medicine Wheel stands as a sacred site and source of spiritual power to Native Americans The arrangement of local limestone rocks in the shape of a wheel atop the Big Horn Mountains has spawned both curiosity and controversy over its origins as well as present day use of the national historic landmark. University of Montana anthropologist Gregory Campbell believes the Medicine Wheel serves as a source of religious power to Native Americans. He believes the arrangement of stones in an 80-foot diameter circle with 28 “spokes” radiating from a central cairn should be called “a sacred universe” to native peoples. Campbell says the Medicine Wheel provides a source of great sacred and spiritual power to Native Americans. However, in a January 1977 article in National Geographic, John Eddy of the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colo., wrote that the wheel serves as an astronomical calendar. He notes that the number of spokes — 28 — is the same as the number of days in the lunar month or one moon in Indian time reckoning. Eddy says two of the five cairns on or near the perimeter of the wheel are on a north-south line, “making it possible that they served as horizon markers for sunrise and sunset.” One of the cairns rests off the rim of the wheel and may be a “sighting” cairn, in Eddy’s view. He contends this cairn aligns with three other cairns to mark the rising of three of the brightest stars that shine on the Medicine Wheel. He believes similar astronomical alignments at other stone markers in North America such as Moose Mountain in Saskatchewan, Canada, suggest widespread understanding of the stellar alignments. Campbell said archeological evidence points to “continuous use” of the site, with artifacts dating to 11,000 years ago until recent times. Today, visitors to the site frequently find “medicine bundles” and offerings left by Native Americans as part of religious ceremonies. While information about the builders of the wheel is sketchy, Campbell said people who came to the area saw the wheel as special, no matter who built it. He contends the wheel was built “by local Native American people who resided in the area for thousands of years.” He said Plains Indians were capable of producing the structure, citing similarities to several Plains Indian cultures. Francis Brown, a Northern Arapahoe tribal elder who is president of the Medicine Wheel Coalition for Sacred Sites of North America, became

involved when the Bighorn National Forest allowed logging, drilling and other activities near the wheel, which he described as “desecrations” of the sacred site. Brown noted that a long-term management agreement since worked out with the Forest Service will retain the current requirement that people walk about a mile to the wheel from a parking area. He said Native American people saved the wheel from “being destroyed by tourism” due to the erosion caused by so many people at the » Continued on next page

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Thunder of the West

See wild horses where they roam This is the American West. A morning chill in the air. The sun casting its first rays of light upon the jagged hilltops and deep ravines. Silence hanging over the sagebrushdotted landscape. Then, thunder. A rumbling off in the distance. Louder and louder it grows. The arid earth begins to tremble. Dust clouds rise. Suddenly, the once barren horizon is flooded with pounding hooves, flowing manes, and eyes — black, deep, mysterious. Wild horses. » Continued on next page

Wheel...

site. The site will be “open to anybody, but you have to walk,” he said. Visitors can reach the Medicine Wheel by turning north off U.S. 14-A near the Bald Mountain campground 34 miles east of Lovell. A sign reading “Medicine Wheel Archeological Site” indicates the turnoff

Stout Pryor Mountain mustangs graze on grass in their range. Around 150 adult wild horses have called the Pryors their home for the last 200 years. The equines are believed to be direct descendants of horses that carried the Spanish conquistadors around Mexico nearly 400 years ago. Photo by Gib Mathers with the white dome of a Federal Aviation Administration radar station visible at the turnoff. The road is usually clear of snow by the end of June. Native American interpreters at both the parking area and at the wheel will provide information to visitors. Visitors are also asked not to go to the wheel during certain times when Native American religious ceremonies are conducted, such as at the summer solstice.

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Wild horses...

For many, the famed wild horse herds of northwestern Wyoming are the embodiment of the American West. They represent the ideals and desires of those who call this rugged piece of America home. Wildness. Individuality. Freedom. Wild horses have long roamed the Pryor Mountains northeast of Cowley, a short trek north of U.S. 14-A. Mustangs are traced to the Spanish conquistadors of the early 1500s when horses that escaped or were abandoned became the nucleus of the wild herds. Later they became mounts for Indians and pioneers. Although wary of humans, the Pryor mustangs graze openly in the high elevations. They spend much of their time in almost inaccessible box canyons used only by themselves and a few deer, then move up the high ridges, traveling in small bands of individual harems — a group of mares and younger horses with one stallion in charge. Colors in the Pryor wild horse herd are as diverse as the landscape — one finds roan, black, sorrel, blue, tan, mouse buckskin and the grullas. Dark manes, tails, lined backs and tiger-striped legs suggest a return to the original species of Andalusian mustang or Spanish barb. These horses, seen in the grandeur of their natural settings, unfettered and unrestrained, preserve a segment of our historic heritage for future generations and are a living symbol of the American dream of freedom. Visitors can very often see and photograph the wild mustangs along the Trans-park Highway (Wyo. 37) in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Or they may be viewed grazing in meadows atop the Pryor Mountains. The closest route from north Big Horn County is the Crooked Creek Road (airport road) north of Cowley, but a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. For non-four-wheel-drive vehicles, the Pryor Mountain Road out of Warren, Mont., is easiest and best and also takes visitors to some nice campgrounds along Sage Creek.

Fine Dining Creekside Views Excellent Wine List

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First & Clark Streets • Powell, Wyoming 82435 307-754-2226 • Fax; 307-754-2229 ➛ Page 7

Yellowstone National Park beckons travelers

America’s first national park offers get into the park for free — the National Park something for every traveler — exciting Service waives entrance fees on June 21, the adventure, beautiful scenery, wildlife, seren- first day of summer; Sept. 24, National Public ity, geysers, fine food and accommodations Lands Day; and Nov. 11-13 for Veterans Day ranging from rustic to glamorous. weekend. Yellowstone National Park was founded Roads are open throughout the park in 1872 after early explorers reported through the summer. For current condifinding dazzling geysers, colorful mineral tions and road construction schedules, call ponds, rumbling waterfalls and abundant (307) 344-2117 or visit www.nps.gov/yell. wildlife. More than 100 Xanterra Parks and Resorts Current conditions and years later, little has changed operates lodging and store in the park’s backcountry, road construction schedules: facilities in Yellowstone. For although beautiful hotels, lodging reservations, campcampgrounds, visitor cening information and other ters and other facilities dot visitor services, call (307) the park’s 466 miles of paved roads. To leave 344-7311 or toll-free at 866-GEYSERLAND the beaten path, go to one of the park’s 92 (866-439-7375) or check the company’s trailheads, leading to more than 1,000 miles website, www.yellowstonenationalparkof backcountry trails. lodges.com. Information about Yellowstone National Come early; come often — an annual pass allowing unlimited access to the park is $50, Park is also available at the Powell Valley while a seven-day pass for a private car full Chamber of Commerce along U.S. 14-A or of visitors is $25. Those walking in or riding at visitor information offices in gateway cities a bike or motorcycle pay $12 apiece. An an- like Cody and Cooke City, Mont. To drive nual interagency pass that covers admission to Cooke City, take the scenic Chief Joseph to most national parks and federal recreation Highway off Wyo. 120 about 16 miles north of Cody and follow the signs leading to the areas throughout the United States is $80. But for a few days this summer, you can park’s northeast entrance.

(307) 344-2117

Old Faithful geyser

Photo by Kevin Kinzley

northwestcollege.edu ➛ Page 8

In June, Ralston goes to the mules Father’s Day is all about mules in the small town of Ralston, which sits between Powell and Cody on U.S. 14-A. Come to think of it, virtually the whole week leading up to Father’s Day belongs to the mules. The 14th annual Jake Clark’s Mule Days kicks off Wednesday, June 15 and runs through Sunday, June 19 at the Big Boulder Ranch in Ralston. You can’t miss the festivities on the east side of the highway. Mule Days features vendors, an art show and auction, entertainment ‘round the campfire and, of course, more mules than you can shake a stick at. Jake and Kay Clark have built a reputation for bringing America’s finest saddle mules to the Select Sunday Mule Auction. In the days leading up to the sale, mules are featured in competitions and on parade. There are mule-manship clinics, mounted shooting events and the always-entertaining, allmule rodeo on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The old-fashioned barn dance is Saturday-night fun for the whole family. For folks interested in buying a mule, the auction preview is at 9 a.m. Sunday at the arena. The live auction begins at 1 p.m. in the big barn. For more information, visit www.saddlemule. com.

The all-mule rodeo during Ralston’s Mule Days features the traditional events — and some others just for fun. Photo by Carla Wensky

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The Powell Golf Club is a public course and welcomes non-member, green fee players.

Enjoying a beautiful, sunny day at the Powell Golf Club, Wade Hernandez tees off at the par 3 15th. Photo by Toby Bonner

Powell Golf Club up to par Play a round and grab a bite at Par 72

What better way to break up the days in the car than a few whacks on the local golf course? At Powell, the golf is more than just another “local” layout. It’s golf designed to challenge and entertain the aficionados of the sport with two entirely different sides of an 18-hole course. The back nine was redesigned and rebuilt in a massive makeover in 2003. The back nine debuted in 2004, and the vastly enlarged greens are a prime feature. In addition to new and enlarged greens, the 2003 project included addition of multiple sand traps, and several holes were realigned with new tee boxes. But the big greens are the singular distinguishing characteristic. Putting is a challenge. The huge, undulating greens have three-putt written all over them. If that’s not enough, the well-placed and plentiful sand traps give the golfer plenty to think about. On the other side of the course, the front nine layout was completed in the mid-1990s and reflects the influence of present-day golf architecture. ➛ Page 10

It’s clearly a case of “welcome to target golf ” on the front side, an outward circuit into desert-like sagebrush and rock country. Even though water is very much at a premium in the upper rim of the valley, the course’s signature hole, No. 4. brings the wet stuff into play on a dramatic par 3. Golfers better hope the wind isn’t blowing. The front side finishing hole, No. 9, is another tantalizing test. A wide, usually downwind fairway beckons off the tee on this par 5. But to get to the large ninth green, the golfer is faced with a second-shot decision. A wide drainage ditch lurks some 140 yards from the green. Golfers must pick their poison: let ‘er rip and try to carry the ditch on the second shot, or play it close to the vest and lay up short. It’s one of those wonderful risk-reward challenges that keep golfers coming back again and again. The Powell Golf Course is a public course and welcomes nonmember, green fee players. The complex includes a clubhouse, pro shop and a fleet of carts. The club dining facility, Par 72, is open for lunch Wednesday – Monday from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m and for dinner Friday.

Powell

The home of Northwest College has a progressive business climate, excellent shopping and dining, plus a visitors center to assist you in your travels and tour planning.

U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S

Spring Fling ------------------------------------ May 21 PHS Alumni Weekend ----------------------- June 24 & 25 Crazy Days -------------------------------------- July 15 & 16 Park County Fair ------------------------------ July 26-30 Wings & Wheels Fly-in and Car Show --- August 19 & 20

Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce AND VISITORS CENTER

111 SO U T H DAY ST R E ET ~ P.O. B OX 814 • P O W E L L , W YO M I N G 82435 (307) 754-3494 • 1-800-325-4278 • FAX: (307) 754-3483 • www.powellchamber.org ~ info@powellchamber.org

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Homesteader Museum From the first settlers who vowed to “turn the desert green,” to the modernday residents who populate the valley — Homesteader Museum offers a look through the ages. The log cabin-style Homesteader Museum, just off Highway 14-A in Powell, houses a collection that chronicles the history of the Powell Valley. A retrospective look at the “Bridges of Park County” is on display through August, featuring both modern-day and historic photos of area bridges. More than 65 historic photographs hang in the museum’s gallery, chronicling the history of the most popular county bridges as well as some long since washed away. To complement the exhibit, the museum published a book celebrating 32 of the most entertaining and historic bridges in the county, along with a driving tour map. The book can be purchased at the museum. The exhibit also features a new “I Spy Scavenger Hunt” that encourages kids and families to explore the images to find pictured items. The “Bridges of Park County” exhibit isn’t just of bridge structures alone. Many entertain with herds of sheep, one with a timid group crossing a rickety plank-andrope suspension bridge, another with honeymooners on the concrete arched bridge in Shoshone Canyon and even one with a live bear being carried across a North Fork bridge around 1930. A special series of photos show the famous Alkali Creek Railroad and Road Bridges outside of Ralston. The bridges were featured on the television series “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” because their construction is one of the few instances in the world where a bridge was built under another bridge. Founded in 1968, Homesteader Museum also has a number of permanent exhibits, such as a hunting and fishing display featuring antique firearms, fishing poles and Lucier photos of hunting and fishing spoils of days gone by. There is also an exhibit dedicated to the history of the Powell Fire Department, complete with vintage hoses and buckets, photos and a toy train and fire engine display. The exhibit spotlighting the story surrounding the legendary outlaw Earl Durand is a continuing fascination. The museum’s collection of historical memorabilia also includes a photographic

» Continued on next page

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A peek into the pioneer past In this photo from the museum’s bridge exhibit, sheep from the E.V. Robertson Ranch cross the Cody Depot Bridge around 1935. Photo courtesy of the Park County Archives

A family poses in front of their home with their rifles and kill. Handwritten on the back of the image: ‘Mrs. Al Lucier, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. D. Zimmerman and daughter Vera May Zimmerman near Powell, Wyo., Oct. 3, 1910.’ Photo courtesy of the Homesteader Museum

Museum...

history of the Shoshone Reclamation Project that brought water to the valley and made possible the lush agriculture that visitors marvel at today. One of the first of its kind, the massive irrigation project — an engineering and construction feat that was clearly ahead of its time — first made it possible, then profitable, to live and farm the arid basin. The museum structure has a history all its own as well. Built by the American Legion in 1933, the building once served as a dining area, banquet hall, community dance hall, roller rink and youth center. During World War II, its walls surrounded German prisoners of war for a short time until the camp at the nearby town of Deaver was completed. The facility has a homesteader kitchen, turn-of-the-century woodworking tools, Indian artifacts, a blacksmith shop and an old school room, too. The museum also features the Bever Homestead, a 1913 homesteader house moved in 2004 from its original location east of Powell. The renovated building offers a firsthand glimpse of the early settlers’ lifestyle. A second building is chock full of antique farm equipment and there is a bright red caboose on the grounds that the kids will love to explore. A GPS-guided walking tour of downtown Powell’s historic buildings is available for visitors who wish to spend a bit more time soaking up the history of the area. The video tour includes 22 points of interest, including the historic First National Bank building, the site of the Earl Durand incident in 1939 — Powell’s most famous bank robbery and the first such robbery in the nation to be covered live on radio. Visitors may rent a GPS Ranger containing the tour for $10 and a second device for $5. The Homesteader Museum is open, free to the public, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The museum may also be opened at other times by special appointment.

Visit Powell’s Past

Special Exhibits • Bridges of Park County • Historic photos • Authentic caboose • Farm machinery • Homesteader cabin • Firemen display Clark & First Street • Powell, Wyoming • Quilts display Just off Highway 14A • 307-754-9481 • And much more! homesteader@bresnan.net Summer HourS: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm & Saturday, 10am-2pm

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Powell’s 12 parks are unmatched in the state. The gem of Powell parks’ system is the 57 acre Homesteader Park on U.S. Hwy. 14A at the east edge of Powell. Picnic facilities, aquatic center, wading pool,

A progressive city with hometown spirit!

playground equipment, skate park, baseball and softball fields, 1.5 miles of pathways and overnight camping with an RV dump.

Come and enjoy shopping in our downtown area with lots of convenient parking. Corner of Third and Clark streets • 307-754-5106 • www.cityofpowell.com ➛ Page 14

Wings Wheels

15th annual show lifts-off Aug. 19 & 20 The 15th annual Wings ‘N’ Wheels air show at Powell Municipal Airport Aug. 19-20 will as always feature hair-raising airplane feats and vintage cars of all stripes. Gary Rohr will return to fly daunting stunts in a Stearman biplane, said Wings ‘N’ Wheels organizer Bill Keil. Stearmans were popular military trainer airplanes in the 1930s and are in the air to this day dusting crops or amazing crowds with air aerobatics. Buck Roetman will also be performing biplane exploits, Keil said. A restored Douglas DC-3 will offer show-goers rides. “City of Detroit” is an 18-20 passenger, twin-propeller plane. The Douglas DC-3 is the pioneer of modern commercial airline travel. In fact, Frontier Airline DC-3s flew commercial flights from Powell at least into the late 1960s, Keil said. The rugged DC-3s still haul freight and passengers in northern Canada, Keil said. “There are a few of them still earning their keep,” Keil said. Over 100 classic cars will be available for view. “We’ll have a real good selection of classic and antique cars,” Keil said. There will be food and souvenir vendors, Keil said. There will be little down time. Planes will be flying during peak hours. And between aerobatic bouts, the planes will be on display, Keil said. Tickets will be a little cheaper than last year; $5 per head or $20 per automobile. Airplane or car participants or members of the public interested can call Keil at 307-754-9750 or Mike Martin at 307-899-5528 for more information. Keil said glitches in the sound system last year have been addressed. All will be able to hear the commentator. Cars will be cool and folks may recall Rohr and Roetman captured the skies in past Wings ‘N’ Wheels exhibitions. “They always put on a good show,” Keil said.

Located 6 miles west of Cody, Wyoming

Visitor Center

OpEN DAILY May through September • Area Information • Exhibits • Theater • Fantastic Views • RV Parking

Photo courtesy/M. Frost

FREE ADMISSION

Visit us at www.bbdvc.org Call us at 307-527-6076 Located on the road to Yellowstone Open 8am M-F and 9am Sat & Sun Airplanes abound at the 15th annual Wings ‘N’ Wheels air show in Powell in August. Photo by Don Amend

Buffalo Bill Dam VISITOR CENTER ➛ Page 15

WYOMING

gh o rn

Palisades Reservoir

d Gannett Pk 13804

Boysen Res

Granite Mtns

Kemmerer

Pathfinder Reservoir Seminoe Reservoir

Great Divide

Farson

Basin

Rock Springs

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Wheatland

R iv

Torrington

Medicine Bow

Rawlins

Green River

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Douglas

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The National Atlas of the United States of AmericaO R

pagegen_wy3.pdf INTERIOR-GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, RESTON, VIRGINIA-2004

GILBERT STREET

Powell, WY

High School

SEVENTH STREET

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Westside School

Park County Fairgrounds H A M ILT ON S TR E ET

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Powell Aquatic Acuativ Center

Fire Station

Chamber Museum

Parkside School

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Homesteader Park

Business District

AVENUE E

Park

Legion Baseball

➛ Page 16

UTAH U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Trapper Village West

Lander

Big Piney

Newcastle

Shoshoni

Riverton

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Moorcroft

Thermopolis

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Pinedale

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The lowest elevation in Wyoming is 3099 feet above sea level (Belle Fourche River).

Jackson Lake

Grand Teton 13770

13804 13770

Highest elevation in state (feet) Other elevations (feet)

Streams: perennial; intermittent Lakes: perennial; intermittent

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Sheridan

Cloud Pk 13167

Ferry

Greybull

Railroad

Other principal highway

Cody

Interstate; limited access highway

Yellowstone Lake

TRANSPORTATION

Lovell

Powell

State capital

MONTANA

I G

Medicine Bow

Cheyenne

24,999 and less

Casper

POPULATED PLACES 25,000 – 99,999

Powder

nationalatlas.gov Where We Are

Southside School

E MONROE STREET

Country singer Tracy Lawrence headlines July 26-30 fair Park County is proud as punch of its annual summer fair, and U.S. 14-A travelers are more than welcome to join locals for tons of fun. All it takes is to be passing through Powell the week of July 26-30. This year’s fair — themed “Proud of Our Past, Poised for the Future” — opens with a free admission day and an evening of raucous pig mud wrestling on Tuesday, July 26 in front of the grandstand, beginning at 7 p.m. The carnival opens on the midway Wednesday at noon and will continue daily from noon to midnight through Saturday. On Wednesday, July 27, country singer Tracy Lawrence takes to the grandstand stage. Country band Riverbelly performs the opening show before Lawrence brings his country and gospel singing to the crowd. Since his 1990s debut album “Sticks and Stones” — featuring his first No. 1 hit single, also called “Sticks and Stones,” Lawrence has recorded more than a dozen albums. After performing hit songs like “Texas Tornado” and

“Time Marches On” through the late 1990s and beyond, he started his own record label, Rocky Comfort Records, in partnership with his brother. Grandstand entertainment continues Thursday, July 28 with a free evening of exciting entertainment. Friday evening features a crunching event — the Figure 8 Race in the main grandstand area at 6 p.m. This exciting hair-raiser pits 4-cylinder cars on a Figure 8 track (which crosses in the middle) and it’s pretty much a game of “chicken” as drivers could meet in the middle as they go for gold. Saturday is parade day at the Park County Fair. The kids’ day parade will fill main street in downtown Powell Saturday morning, followed by the main fair parade in all its color and pageantry. The ever-popular demolition derby closes out fair week on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The crash ‘em up action is co-sponsored in a partnership between the fair and the Powell Lions Club. As always, the Park County Fair will also

feature a wide variety of continuous entertainment by musicians and magicians, cloggers and jugglers, a ventriloquist, a caricaturist and others on the free stage. There will be strolling acts on the grounds, a wonderful selection of foods from dozens of vendors and buildings filled with exhibits — from canned goods to cucumbers and culinary to clothing. Like all good county fairs, this one will host non-stop 4-H and FFA contests revolving around dogs, cats, swine, sheep, rabbits, cattle, horses and perhaps even the odd canary or hedgehog. To find the Park County Fairgrounds, head north on any through street from U.S. 14-A to Fifth Street, then simply roll down the windows and let the delightful smells of the food court lead you by the nose straight to all the excitement in the northeast quadrant of Powell. Daily gate admission is $5 per person — children 12 and younger are admitted free. Weekly passes are available for $10. Daily parking passes are $5, and weekly parking passes are $10.

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Mansion Smith

looms on the North Fork

An architectural wonder atop a hill 15 miles east of Yellowstone National Park prompts many passersby to question: ‘What’s that?’ Just west of Wapiti, the 75-foot-high Smith mansion, or, as it’s also known, “The Crazy House,” was built by Francis Lee Smith. While working on the home on an April day in 1992, Smith slipped from an upper floor and fell to his death. Sunny Smith Larsen, who grew up in the home, is organizing an effort to restore and preserve the site. “Everything is pretty much left how he left it,” says Smith Larsen. You can still see stains on the roof of the first floor where he fell. Beneath the spot, on the rocky ground, a rose bush has grown. “Makes you kind of wonder,” says Smith Larsen. “Nothing grows up here.” Most of the floorboards of the old Meeteetse High gymnasium still are sitting on shelves in the first-floor attic of the house, right where Smith put them after tearing the boards out of the gym. They’re still waiting to be used — or, as Smith Larsen now plans, to be cleared out. A deflated vacuum cleaner sits on the floor of the central “cold room,” tied to the wall in a weave of extension cords. The cords once ran all the way through the house — powering everything from a TV in the » Continued on next page

The Smith Mansion is private property and no trespassing is allowed. More information is available at www.smithmansion.org. Photo by Carla Wensky

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The cords were the only source of electricity for the home, stretching from the eletrical pole a couple hundred yards away at the foot of the hill. “I bet he (Smith) would have 15 extension cords at a time,” Smith Larsen says, adding, “I’m surprised we never had a fire.” She took a renewed interest in the mansion after her brother, Bucky Smith, died in 2005, leaving her with sole ownership. “It’s amazing that it was all done by hand,” she says, pointing out pieces that were to be used as a hand-drawn elevator. “We’ve had architects come up here, and they’re amazed,” she said. It was a talent unique to Smith, who, when not working on the home, worked as an architect in Cody. Many years ago, Smith Larsen and her late brother Bucky spent a good six hours trying to finish a portion of the third floor. “We ended with two logs up, and we lost them both,” she says. Any blueprints for the site are gone, leaving Smith Larsen with few clues as to what exactly her father had planned. “I wish he was here so I could ask him,” she says. At the time of his death, Smith was close to completing two decades of work on the mansion. “That’s all I can remember him doing pretty much as a kid,” says Smith Larsen, adding, “Boy, did we have a weird upbringing.” “He was very strange in a lot of ways,” she says. Smith was also wildly creative. As a testament to its eccentricity, opinions of the home widely differ. Some neighbors enjoy the mansion’s towering profile, others find it an eyesore. “You either love it or you hate it,” says Smith Larsen. “You’re either really intrigued or you’re just put off.”

Interest in the hilltop high-rise, however, is near universal. For passing tourists or long-time locals, the structure is hard to miss or ignore. One summer, Smith Laursen worked at the nearby Red Barn service station and dealt with a constant flood of inquiries about the mysterious house on the hill. “I got tired from telling the story after two weeks,” she said. Smith Larsen has a number of ideas for the mansion, perhaps selling branded memorabilia, perhaps creating a tourist attraction, perhaps turning it into a bed and breakfast where floors, and not rooms, would be rented out to guests. “It just comes down to the money,” she says. Realistically, Smith Larsen says it would take $400,000 to $500,000 to restore the place. For more information, visit www.smithmansion.org.

The Smith Mansion was built bit by bit by Francis Lee Smith until his tragic death at the site in 1992. Photo by Carla Wensky

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honoring vets

Memorials recognize service Heading west from Powell on U.S. 14-A. drivers enter the newly-named “Wyoming Veterans Memorial Highway.” The 23-mile stretch of highway begins at the edge of town near Road 10, where local high school students, veterans and city officials joined forces to create a horseshoe-shaped memorial to veterans. The Powell High School Veterans Memorial, dedicated by students and staff, features 32 photo plaques honoring local veterans. The Powell-Cody highway is the first in Wyoming to be named by the Legislature. Midway between Powell and Cody, just north of the highway, sit the remains of the former Heart Mountain Relocation Center, where more than 14,000 Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II. 14-A also runs through the Heart Mountain farming district, where 215 homesteads were awarded to World War II veterans in the late 1940’s. The highway leads to Cody and the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Park off Highway 14, near the old Yellowstone Regional Airport terminal. Veterans sought to recognize the 14-A stretch because the memorial park was, in large part, developed and established by veterans from Powell and Cody. World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam had lasting impacts on Americans. Those who lost their lives in the three conflicts are memorialized in Veterans Memorial Park on the south edge of Cody. The memorials are surrounded by a small park and are framed by flags fluttering in the near-constant Wyoming breeze. Three flags on two poles represent the state of Wyoming, the United States of America and those taken prisoner or still listed as missing in action. The WWII exhibit was unveiled in 2009 to celebrate the servicemen now known as “the Greatest Generation.” A red stone wall holds black plaques with the names of 850 Wyoming servicemen who died during the war. The four-part memorial also includes a central pillar topped by an eagle in flight, flanked by black-granite maps of the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war. A brass sculpture of a soldier’s boots, rifle, helmet and dog tags stands at each end. In 2008, a memorial commemorating Wyoming Korean War Veterans was dedicated. It is the only memorial in Wyoming that honors veterans who served in the Korean Conflict. The Wyoming Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the first in Cody’s park, was dedicated on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 1986. The exhibit was erected through the efforts of surviving Vietnam veterans, families, friends and the people of Wyoming. Visitors will find the memorials at Cody’s 26th Street and U.S. 14-16-20 near the Kelly Inn and Yellowstone Regional Airport. Travelers are directed to the site by green signs along the highway on either side of 26th Street.

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Internees walk down F Street, the main thorofare of the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp, with Heart Mountain in the background.

Heart Mountain Relocation Camp World War II relocation camp was third-largest city in Wyoming A controversial incident in American history can be explored with agriculture, but when the internees arrived it was a dry desert covered a stop at the site of the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp between with sagebrush. During their stay at the camp, the internees began Powell and Cody. farming the area and established a community, complete with a school, The camp, one of 10 established during World War II, was home to police and fire departments, and civic and youth organizations. thousands of Japanese Americans who were ordered The government began allowing internees to return out of their homes along the west coast and interned as to their homes in May, 1945, and in late November, Interpretive security risks. More than 14,000 Japanese-Americans the last of the residents boarded a train bound for the passed through the camp during those years, and at West Coast. its peak, the World War II center held 10,767 internFew of the buildings that made up the camp are still ees, making it, at the time, the third-largest city in there. Most were sold off to communities and farmers Grand opening Wyoming. in the area, many of them returning veterans of the war celebration The center’s existence arose from the fear and unwho were granted homesteads and took up where the certainty surrounding World War II. Some, including Japanese internees had left off in turning the land into President Franklin Roosevelt, were concerned that productive farms. Japanese-Americans might secretly support Japan, In 1996, a group of Wyoming residents who were rather than the United States. So, Roosevelt issued Executive Order interested in preserving the history of the relocation camp along with 9066. That document forced 110,000 Japanese-Americans — the ma- a group of Japanese-Americans who had been interned there formed jority of them U.S. citizens — to move from their West Coast homes the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. Through their efforts, the to relocation camps. site is now designated a National Historic Landmark, and they have The camp opened Aug. 11, 1942 with the arrival by train of 292 worked to preserve the site. A self-guided walking tour has been esinternees, and within a month, the population grew to more than tablished, and in 2008, began the establishment of the Heart Mountain 10,000. They had not been allowed to bring many of their belong- Interpretive Learning Center at the site, financed by contributions ings, and most arrived at the camp with only one suitcase. They were from individual donors, foundations and corporations as well as the housed in quickly built barracks that were uninsulated and sparsely U.S. government. An interior shell based on the design of the original furnished. A typical room contained only an army cot, a mattress and barracks was completed in 2009, and the construction on the interior blanket for each person and a potbellied stove for heat. will be completed this summer. The area around the relocation camp is now home to productive » Continued on next page

Center Opening Aug. 19-21

➛ Page 22

The new Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center, chronicling the history of a World War II relocation camp, has its grand opening celebration Aug. 19-21. Photo by Ilene Olson

Relocation camp... A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Aug. 19-21. The dedication ceremony to officially open the center will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 20. More than four decades after the Heart Mountain Center closed, the United States formally apologized for the relocation, blaming the West Coast evacuation order on “race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership.” In September of 2000, a letter was sent to surviving Heart Mountain internees and their families acknowledging “the difficulties and hardships faced by internees and the lack of consideration given to those at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center” by Wyoming governor Jim Geringer and Powell mayor Jim Milburn. In the letter they wrote, “It

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is our hope and prayer that a similar situation is never repeated, and that we can work together to see that it does not happen again.” Getting there: The Heart Mountain Relocation Camp site is west of Ralston and just north of U.S. 14-A on Park County Road 19. The site is marked by a highway sign on the north side of the road and by a lone chimney that still stands with Heart Mountain as a backdrop. Visitors can explore the Setsuko Saito Higuchi Walking Tour, a selfguided tour of the site that is accessible year-round. The tour is a paved loop that starts and ends at the site of the reconstructed Honor Roll, which recognizes camp residents who served with the U.S. Military in WWII. Kiosks at eight stations interpret various points of significance, helping the visitor imagine how the open farmland before them was once the site of Wyoming’s third-largest city — albeit a city surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers. The interpretive learning center is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

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Plains Indian Museum Powwow June 18-19

celebrates its 30th year

The 30th annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow takes place June 18-19 at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. Photo by Ilene Olson

➛ Page 24

For the Plains Indian, powwow always was a time to come together and celebrate with family and friends. It still is. Indeed, it would be a rare visitor who could overlook the unmistakable sights and sounds of the Plains Indian Museum Powwow. The rainbow of colors, the rhythmic beating drums, and the Learning Tipi are hard to miss on the Robbie Powwow Garden — a beautiful outdoor amphitheater, stage, and grounds — situated just southeast of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. This year, the 30th annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow fills the Robbie Powwow Garden with drumming, competitive dance and the vibrant cultural traditions of Northern Plains tribes. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, with grand entries at noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and at noon Sunday. The powwow began in 1982 with a few dancers and one group of singers who stopped to participate on their way to another powwow. It has since grown to include several hundred dancers — men, women and children ranging in age from “tiny tots” to golden age — » Continued on next page

Powwow... representing some 30 tribes from across the Plains, at least a dozen drum groups and more than 40 Native arts vendors. Grand entries usher the dancers into the arena with a welcome and an opening prayer, flag and victory songs from the host drum, the posting of flags by the color guard, and a pipe invocation. Competitive dance categories include traditional, jingle dress, fancy, grass, team dancing, tiny tots, golden age and chicken dance. Participants in today’s powwows share their traditions with a much wider audience of more than 4,000 visitors from around the world. These visitors find the two days of powwow filled with colorful dancers of all ages, authentic Native American arts and crafts for sale, the Learning Tipi and concessions—all “celebrating the Spirit of the American West.” Spectators are invited to watch the colorful competition and to visit the Powwow Learning Tipi hosted by Lakota educator Gloria Goggles to learn about powwow dances, etiquette, traditions and songs. Powwow runs until about 9 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission each day is $7 for adults 18 and older, $3 for youth 7 to 17 and free for children 6 and younger. The Robbie Powwow Garden is an outdoor grass amphitheater with limited bleacher seating; visitors may bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. each day. For general information visit www.bbhc.org or contact Nancy McClure at nancym@bbhc.org or 307578-4102.

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Buffalo Bill Historical Center: Whether you have two hours or two days, a visit to the five museums of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is sure to be one of the best parts of your trip West. The center, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, is billed as “The Voice of the American West.” And what a story the center’s five museums tell! The Buffalo Bill Museum recounts the tales of the legendary showman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Just imagine, by age 22, Cody had worked a wagon train, prospected for gold, rode for the Pony Express, hunted buffalo for the railroad and scouted for the Army. One need only spend some time in the Buffalo Bill Museum to meet the man and agree, “Buffalo Bill was so big — even the West couldn’t hold him.” And that’s just the beginning. The Whitney Gallery of Western Art captures the masterworks of the artists of the American West. With their tools of the trade — a sketch pad, a canvas or some clay to sculpt — these masters chronicled the actionpacked sights and sounds of the American West. Remington, Russell, Catlin, Bierstadt, Moran and Wyeth are just a few of the long list of revered artists represented in the collection. The Plains Indian Museum presents the history of the Northern Plains tribes. Native voices, coupled with beautiful objects, articulate the life stories of Plains Indian peoples — the cultures, the traditions and the histories, as well as the modern-day existence. As Crow tribal historian Joseph Medicine Crow said, the museum is “a living, breathing place where more than just Indian objects are on display.” Whether cowboy or trapper, settler or Native American, the story of the American West is incomplete without the firearm. Housing the most comprehensive collection of American firearms in the world, the Cody

Firearms Museum chronicles the history of the firearm, from the earliest days up to the modern era. The Draper Museum of Natural History, the newest museum at the center, is the first American natural history museum to be established in the 21st century. Here, visitors are encouraged to become explorers of the Greater Yellowstone Area as they explore the relationship between the people, the animals, the plants and the landscape of the West. The Draper navigates a recreated natural environment that introduces visitors to the gray wolf and the grizzly bear, to forest fires and drought, and to the people who have populated the area. Five museums and special exhibitions — plus a library, a gift shop featuring Native American jewelry, and a restaurant. It’s all at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, located at 720 Sheridan Ave. in Cody. BBHC hours for May through Sept. 15 are daily, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Fall hours — 8 a.m.-5 p.m. — become effective Sept. 16. Winter hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily in November. From Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, the center is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Daily hours resume March 1, when the center is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission rates, good for two consecutive days, are $18 for adults; $16 for senior citizens; $13 for students age 18 and over with valid student ID; $10 for youth ages 6-17; children under 5 are admitted free of charge. The BBHC also has a $65 family rate which applies to one or two adults with children 17 and under. BBHC and Museums West members are also admitted free. Group rates are available, and don’t forget to ask about the “Best of the West” combination BBHC/Cody Trolley Tour package.

A ‘must’

on any itinerary

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S pirit of the West lives at Buffalo Bill Historical Center The Buffalo Bill Historical Center has a celebration going on: It’s celebrating the Spirit of the American West. The center recently adopted this credo, but the truth is: It’s been celebrating since 1917. Rich in cultural and natural history — and Yellowstone National Park in its backyard — the Greater Yellowstone region affords the perfect backdrop for the historical center. With unparalleled exhibits, art, and artifacts, visitors experience Greater Yellowstone and the entire American West at the center. Gallery presentations, kids programs and a host of daily activities add the proverbial “icing on the cake” to your visit — including these extraordinary exhibitions on tap for summer 2011. Yellowstone to Yukon: Freedom to Roam Through Aug. 7, 2011 John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery An exhibition of 41 fine art color landscape photographs with captions highlighting conservation issues in the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor. Stretching nearly 2,000 miles from Yellowstone National Park, up the spine of the Rocky Mountains and through the Yukon is one of the world’s last fully functioning mountain ecosystems. A plan to link the existing parks with connected corridors throughout the region highlights the importance of these vital passageways that wildlife depend on for survival. German-born photographer Florian Schulz documents in full color the ambitious effort to preserve this ecosystem.

Arapaho Journeys: Photographs and Stories from the Wind River Reservation Through Oct. 2 Arapaho Journeys features contemporary photographs by Sara Wiles of Northern Arapaho people — elders, children, families, and leaders. Her insightful photographs of the people and the tribal activities of the Northern Arapaho invite viewers into the culture, values, and philosophies that guide contemporary Arapaho life. While providing a historical background for the Northern Arapaho, the exhibition also depicts the experiences of younger tribal members growing up on the reservation. Dressed Just Right: An Evolution of Western Style from Function to Flamboyance Through Oct. 2 There is a sense of being dressed just right in the West that often sparks a feeling of confidence, individuality and freedom to those who wear it. Western dress is known by familiar materials and details including embossed or fringed leather, felt hats and silver and bead embellishments. Materials and patterns did not rise rapidly, but developed over a 500-year period and were influenced by a number of cultures. These styles are still with us today and are recognized worldwide as American Western dress.

September is all about the arts in Cody “Immerse yourself in the arts” is the catch phrase for Rendezvous Royale, Sept. 20 – 24 in Cody. And there’s plenty to get immersed in — event organizers invite visitors to “play all week.” Rendezvous Royale kicks off on Aug. 25, with a free public reception at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, celebrating the opening of the 30th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, an invitational fine art sale with a Western theme that offers anything and everything related to the West. All artwork remains on display at the BBHC through Sept. 23. Rendezvous Royale kicks off in earnest Sept. 21, with the Cody High Style: Designing the West fashion show. The popular show, with its twirling fringe and fancy boots is Wednesday, Sept. 21, with shows at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the historical center rotunda. A free public kick-off party follows the first show from 7 p.m.–midnight Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Irma Hotel. Cody High Style is chock-full of activities related to western design in furnishings, decorative arts, and clothing: workshops, field trips, seminars, and, of course, the exhibition itself that runs Sept. 23-25 in the museum. The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale fills the party tent on the center’s grounds on Friday, Sept. 23. Saturday morning’s Quick Draw at the center’s Robbie Powwow Garden features nearly 30 painters and sculptors working feverishly — and often using live models — to complete a piece in one hour. All proceeds benefit local art causes. The BBHC’s 35th annual Patrons Ball is the perfect finale to the artfilled week. Billed as the “premiere social event of the northern Rockies,” the Sept. 24 event benefits the centers operations and programming. For

a complete schedule of events, or to purchase tickets, visit www.rendezvousroyale.org or call 888-598-8119. Arts about town During Rendezvous Royale week, the downtown Cody area is buzzing with activity. Boot Scoot ‘n’ Boogie takes over several blocks of downtown Cody from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Local galleries feature open houses and artist demonstrations. This year’s event also includes drawings for several 34-inch cowboy-boot planters painted by local artists. The boots will be displayed in stores all summer prior to the drawings.

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1284 Sheridan Ave • Cody, Wyoming • 307-587-3355 ➛ Page 27

Trolley tour spotlights the best of Cody Give us an hour and we’ll give you 100 years! Give us an hour and we’ll give you 100 years. That’s the promise of Greg Pendley, owner of Cody Trolley Tours, who recommends that travelers to Cody Country invest the first hour getting an overview of the town and its history. “People arriving in the Cody and Powell area often don’t realize how much our area has to offer,” says Pendley. “They are on their way to or from Yellowstone National Park and get surprised by the tremendous attractions that lie right here in our historic area.” Cody Trolley Tours started in 2001 to help visitors gain the most from their limited time in the area. The trolley provides one-hour, 22-mile tours of the Cody area, sharing the story of world-famous William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, while spotlighting historical sites, geology, wildlife, scenic vistas and old and ➛ Page 28

new attractions. Two live guides utilize poster-sized historical photos, pass-around relics and entertaining audio clips to provide a multi-media performance right inside the cozy oak interior of the festive red and green trolley. Passengers enjoy learning fascinating tidbits about the life of Buffalo Bill and his burial controversy, how the town of Marquette wound up flooded under the reservoir and the story of Cody’s first bank robbery by members of “The Hole-in-the Wall Gang.” The 2011 trolley season runs from June through September, with 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. departures seven days a week during peak season. Tours depart from the ticket booth on the porch of the Irma Hotel at 12th Street and Sheridan Avenue. Please call the trolley office at 307-527-7043 for tour availability.

Wyoming wilderness association offers hikes around Wyoming

Experience the wild in Wyoming

The Wyoming Wilderness Association (WWA) is pleased to offer outings into wild and unique places throughout Wyoming this summer. Excursions head into various roadless areas throughout Wyoming. These are great opportunities to enjoy spectacular areas while learning about Wyoming’s wild public lands. Please do not sign up for outings if you are not sure you can attend. The association members implore you not to sign up for multiple outings on the CHANCE you might go, and then when it’s not convenient, cancel. Other folks miss an opportunity if you do this. We completely understand health and weather cancellations. Please also be aware of the hike difficulty ratings and gauge your interest accordingly. Rendezvous information will be given to committed participants. Please, no animals.

SEE YOU ON THE TRAIL!

All trips are subject to change or cancellation due to health of trip leader, weather and road conditions. Space is limited on all outings, so hurry and sign up! Call the Wyoming Wilderness Association at 307-6722751 or email info@wildwyo.org today to sign up. 1. Saturday, June 11 Big Horn Basin, Dry Medicine Lodge Canyon WSA (moderately difficult) Edith Heyward and Don Crecelius, veteran hike leaders from Sheridan, will take us four miles up a creek bed of cottonwood, prickly roses, juniper and box elder, with a WSA (Wilderness Study Area) on the east and a recently designated LWC (Land with Wilderness Characteristics) on the west. 2. Saturday, June 11 Shoshone NF, DuNoir Valley Absaroka Ranch (moderate) Budd Betts owner and head guide of the Absaroka Ranch and Outfitters and Sara Domek, (WWA Staff), will take us on a tour of the ranch land and a five-mile round-trip hike to view the beautiful DuNoir Valley and the Special Management Unit. Participants may have the opportunity to spot wildlife. 3. Friday and Saturday, June 17-18 Red Desert, Honeycomb Buttes WSA painter’s campout (moderate) Join Liz Howell, WWA director, and Joy Keown, Artist, at a car camp near the Honeycomb Buttes WSA. Friday morning we’ll rendezvous in either Lander or Rawlins to drive into the Red Desert. Hikes Friday afternoon and Saturday morning will set up for painting the gorgeous Honeycomb Buttes. Campfire critiques at night. Saturday afternoon we’ll pack it up to attend the Rock Springs Red Desert Rendezvous and Conference that night where we can display our art pieces! All mediums encouraged. 4. Sunday, June 19 Bighorn NF, flowers and photography in Rock Creek recommended wilderness (difficult) Claire Leon, Botanist, and Ami Erickson, Sheridan College Biologist will lead this popular hike. We will split into two groups and hike steeply uphill and back for a 5 mile hike to photograph and learn about the spring flowers and Rock Creek proposed wilderness, with amazing views and inspiring scenery. Be sure to pack your photo gear! 5. Saturday, June 25 Powder River Basin, Gardner Mountain WSA (moderately difficult) Allison Barnes (BLM Recreation Planner) will lead a day hike of about 8 miles through the citizen’s proposed wilderness area on Gardner Mountain. This outing will offer spectacular views and a tour of the pre-history of Red Wall country of the Southern Big Horns. The proximity to the Dull Knife Battle and vast unexplored public land make this a culturally rich outing. 6. Saturday, July 9 Bridger-Teton NF, Gros Ventre Wilderness (moderate) Linda Merigliano and BTNF Wilderness Rangers will lead this scenic hike, 4 miles along the north side of the wilderness following the trail up the drainage of the Gros Ventre River and follow a ridge between Crystal Creek and Alkali Creek, with views of the Teton Range, the Gros Ventre valley, and the wild country surrounding Crystal Creek. 7. Saturday and Sunday, July 9-10 Shoshone NF, DuNoir Dundee Meadows (difficult) Sara Domek (WWA Staff) will lead this two-day backpacking trip which will bring participants to the heart of the DuNoir recommended wilderness area. Saturday we will enjoy a peaceful camp in Dundee Meadows, with views of the volcanic rock of Ramshorn Peak and Pinnacle Buttes and spectacular

Christmas Shoppe

wildflowers, and share an evening visiting about the history and future of this special area. On Sunday, we head out, following the 15-mile loop to Kissinger Lakes. 8. Friday to Wednesday, July 15-20 Bighorn NF, Rock Creek recommended wilderness campout (Hikers: difficult; Riders: experience necessary) This trip will charge a packing fee. This is a six day camping adventure into the backcountry of Rock Creek, exploring the North Fork country of Rock Creek. Buffalo Mountain Outfitters, Bob Granstrom, will horse-pack in the camp kitchen, food, your tent, bag and pad, and even YOU, if you so choose, to a remote camp in the heart of impressive rock formations of the Rock Creek area. Choose to hike both ways (about 5 miles one way) and save money; choose to ride a horse in and out, or ride a horse one way. The costs are up to you. This is a limited group, so get your 50 percent deposit in by June 10. Costs: $330 hike both ways; $480 - hike 1way, ride 1way; $630 - ride in/out. Call for detailed prospectus! 9. Saturday, July 16 Bridger-Teton NF, Shoal Creek WSA (moderately difficult) The Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Area lies directly south of, and adjacent to, the Gros Ventre Wilderness. We will hike with Susan Marsh (retired BTNF Wilderness Manager), approximately 7 miles roundtrip on the easternmost part of the Granite Highline trail, which eventually connects with Cache Creek, as far as Boulder Creek. There are opportunities for off-trail loops if the group prefers. 11. Saturday, July 23 Bighorn NF, Rock Creek recommended wilderness yoga hike (moderate) Jess Ryan, MSNS, E-RYT, creator of Yo-Ching yoga, will lead our first ever yoga outing into the Rock Creek area. Jess holds dual Masters Degrees in Natural Science and Environment and Natural Resources and has shared her enthusiasm for connecting others to the earth, working for the National Park Service and the National Audubon Society. 12. Sunday, July 31 Bighorn NF, Rock Creek recommended wilderness painting hike (easy) Artists Erica Ramsey, (watercolors) and Cindy Mohseni, (oils), will lead a plein air painting outing on the lands near the Rock Creek area. Some instruction will be provided, but mostly a beautiful landscape worthy of protection. Bring your own materials.

» Continued on next page

Christmas Shoppe

The Basin’s Biggest all year Christmas store

Gifts, décor and more!

Two Great Places O N E G R E AT L O C AT I O N !

Flea Market

Never the same place twice! Open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm 557 Main • Ralston, WY • 307-754-3464 ➛ Page 29

Shoshone Dam was once the world's tallest concrete arch • Lives and limbs sacrificed during dam’s construction It’s known today as Buffalo Bill Dam in the Buffalo Bill Canyon west of Cody. But it was Shoshone Dam when it was constructed as an engineering marvel between 1906 and 1910. The name was changed to Buffalo Bill Dam in 1946 by an act of

The Buffalo Bill Dam west of Cody was once the world’s tallest. Photo by Toby Bonner

Take a hike... 13. Saturday, Aug. 6 Shoshone NF, Grizzly Bear ecology tour (difficult) Join Chuck Neal, retired U.S. Dept. of the Interior ecologist on a hike into grizzly bear country and learn from Chuck, who calls himself “a student of grizzly bears and their habitat for 30 years.” This annual popular adventure fills fast and provides an amazing all-day expedition to a Shoshone NF roadless area to learn about the ecology and biology of grizzlies. 14. Saturday, Aug. 13 Shoshone NF, Franc’s Peak (difficult), Sara Domek, (WWA staff) will lead hikers on a tour west of Meeteesee. After an exploration of the still-standing buildings and relics of Kirwin, hikers will climb up the trail (6 mile roundtrip) to the top of Greybull Pass, which is located

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Congress. Today the Buffalo Bill Dam is even taller than it was in 1910 when it was initially completed as the world’s tallest concrete arch, then standing 328 feet high. Over a seven-year period between 1985 and 1992, the dam was raised by 25 feet to increase the storage capacity of Buffalo Bill Reservoir by 74,000 acre-feet. Buffalo Bill Dam is now 353 feet high. A modern visitors center has been constructed adjacent to the top of the dam. The visitors center tells the story of dam construction and the story of reclamation of the more than 90,000 acres of Shoshone Reclamation Project lands downriver. Powell is at the center of the Shoshone Reclamation Project where land was opened to homesteading in 1907, even before the dam was completed. The Corbett Diversion Dam on the Shoshone River some 5 miles below Cody allowed for water to be diverted into the Garland Canal which delivered the irrigation water to the first homestead units near Powell. The Shoshone Project was the second U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project authorized by Congress Buffalo Bill Dam, registered as a National Historic structure and recorded as a National Civil Engineering Landmark, stands unique among structures of its kind. It was dedicated as a National Civil Engineering Landmark in September 1973. Then Commissioner of Reclamation Gilbert Stamm praised Buffalo Bill Dam as a tribute to the architects, engineers and laborers who built the dam at the turn of the century. Engineers selected the narrowest part of the solid granite Shoshone Canyon for the location of the dam. H.N. Savage, supervising engineer for the reclamation service, called the spot “the perfect granite foundation” for the dam. Before work could begin on the dam, an 8-mile road from Cody to the site had to be carved along the rugged river bank. Much of the drilling for the construction was carried on during the winter, and drillers cursed low temperatures, high winds and anchor ice, as well as the huge granite boulders tightly grouted to smaller boulders resting on the bedrock. The original contract was let for $515,730 on Sept. 5, 1905. Before the dam was completed at a total cost of $929,658, two contractors had gone bankrupt, and the project was finished by a third contractor. Seven workers were killed during construction, three lost limbs, three more lost their eyesight and 28 others were crippled or mutilated.

in the Franc’s Peak Roadless Area. From this fabulous alpine vantage point at 11,480 feet, participants will able to view the high country of Franc’s Peak and the Wood River country. 15. Saturday, Aug. 27 Bighorn NF, Rock Creek recommended wilderness family hike (easy) This outing will introduce the Rock Creek area with a family and elder venture over rolling hills along the base of Rock Creek and the South Fork Canyon. Total distance is 2-3 miles round trip over unsteady earth. This hike will be led by Bradley Lee and Carolyn Schroth, (WWA Staff). 16. Saturday, Sept. 17 Big Horn Basin, McCullough Peaks outing (moderately difficult) Join Bighorn Basin explorers Rex Myers, (author and part-time Professor at Northwest College) and Susan Richards, (Library Director at Northwest College) on this 5-mile hike through the McCullough Peaks WSA near Cody. The hike will include wonderful eroded badlands and spectacular vistas of Heart Mountain and the northern Big Horn Basin.

with a touch of Elegance

~ Featuring ~

features fun for the family

Located in Homesteader Park just off U.S. 14-A, the Powell Aquatic Center features two pools. The new facility, completed in 2010, has a leisure pool with a beach entry, splash pad, continuous river, PEPSI water walk and bench area for relaxing. An eight-lane pool ranges from 4 to 12 feet deep with plenty of room for exercise and enjoyment. The aquatic center is open from 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Daily admission to the pool is $4 for adults (22-59), $3 for seniors (60 and over) and $3 for youth (3 to 21). Punch passes and memberships also are available. For more information, visit www.powellaquatics.com or call 307754-0639.

All That Glitters

Cody’s Friendly Hometown Jewelry & Fine Gift Gallery

Monday - Saturday • 10am-6pm • 307-587-1771 1213 Sheridan Avenue • Downtown Cody A

Kids’ Route

Park County Word Find A E B G H L P T X B Y

G R I Z Z L Y W R E H

B A S O I M Y U L A K

H N O L W O Q L R R E

O C N O M P O W E L L

R H L I K W R V T B K

S F N R S N S W T F N

E G A T C O W B O Y P

C C O D Y R E S Y E G

D N I E S O O M O G I

E O M O U N T A I N L

Yellowstone Powell Cody Bison Grizzly Bear Elk Moose Otter Mountain Geyser Wyoming Cowboy Horse Ranch Wolf

Moose Raccoon Fox Squirrel Wolf

Who’s Grizzly Deer Walking Human Skunk in Wyo? I

G H A. Squirrel; B. Grizzly; C. Raccoon; D. Human; E. Moose; F. Skunk; G. Fox; H. Wolf; I. Deer

Powell Aquatic Center

• Landstrom’s Black Hills Gold • Gold Nugget & Gold-In-Quartz Jewelry • ‘Larimar’ Rare Natural Gemstone • Unique Custom Silver Creations • Engagement Rings & Wedding Bands • Heirloom Quality Collectibles/Gifts • Mark Hopkins Bronze Sculptures

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Poker/bike runs gearing up

There are more poker/motorcycle runs around these parts than you can shake a kick stand at so motorcycle enthusiasts of all stripes best dust off their rides and get ready. There are too many to count, but we’ll take a stab at listing a few: Cancer Fun Run The 15th annual Cancer Fun Run, launching in Cody June 4, is the biggest in the Basin, said organizer Fly Brod. Plenty of poker runs entail taking the pot, but in the Brod’s run, the big winner is the Cody Cancer Support Group who receives the proceeds, Brod said. There will be door prizes contributed by area merchants. Riders make stops around the Big Horn Basin and arrive back at Cassie’s Supper Club in Cody where they started. The Fun Run is growing by leaps and bounds. The first year 25 riders registered.

Photo by Carla Wensky

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Last year there were over 260 bikers, Brod said. Anyone with a motorcycle is welcome. Highway 212 Poker Run Bone Daddy’s Custom Cycle, Red Lodge, offers two runs as part of the Beartooth Rally. July 15 is the Bud Poker Run. Tim Buckstead, Bone Daddy owner and run organizer, said at this time he is not sure the size of the winners’ pot, but the 17th annual Highway 212 Run July 16 will total over $5,000. The rest of the 212 pot will go to charity, Buckstead said. “It’s a really good time,” Buckstead said. “I can’t wait to do it.” Buckstead said the Bud Run has been running for five or six years. Highway 212 is based on a bike rally dating to the late 1960s. Vietnam legacy riders There were no ticker tape parades for soldiers returning from Vietnam. “No parades, no cheering, no bands, no nothing,” said Stan Wolfe, Cody chapter president of Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club. July 8-9 will be the 21st annual Run to the Wall to honor Vietnam veterans. It begins in Casper July 8 where riders converge. Then on July 9 riders will rendezvous at the Cody Stampede grounds on West Yellowstone Avenue. From there a procession will proceed to the Vietnam Memorial to honor Wyoming Vietnam veterans, Wolfe said. Wolfe estimated there would be up to 200 riders. ABATE rides Thad Fitzgerald, ABATE president in Cody and owner of Thad’s Cycle Shop, describes the number of ABATE rides and bike runs succinctly: “There’s a ton.” Want to find out about ABATE rides, call him at 307-272-7458. It might be too soon to be thinking about Santa, but the ABATE Toy Run rolls in October. Riders make stops in Cody, Lovell and Powell with a toy for kids from a charitable organization’s list, Fitzgerald said. Dog run Rally in the Alley, sponsored by Cody Custom Cycles, goes down in Cody the evening of July 9. Before the rally, riders can get their kicks by participating in the Gone to the Dogs Run. Dogs is designed to benefit the Park County Animal Shelter, said organizer Dawn Day. The run starts at the animal shelter, usually at around 10 a.m., but details are still in the planning stage, Day said. For those interested, Day said to give her a call at 307-899-3852.

at the Heart of Powell on 14A!

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Clothing Department Complete Wrangler Outfitter

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POWELL • 754-9521 455 S. Absaroka

Hours: Mon-Fri ---------- 7:30am-6pm Saturday ------------- 7:30am-5:30pm Sunday -------------- 10:30am-4:30pm