The Cody Hotel

The Cody Hotel comprises two buildings that sit on the main thoroughfare in William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s hometown. The wood-and-brick exterior of the main single-story building is well-maintained, and there's also a three-story red building with green room doors behind the reception area. Grassy lawns surround the pine tree-dotted property. Inside, a fireplace in the lounge adds to the warm and inviting ambience in the lobby, which has recessed lighting, chunky plush and wooden furniture, raw-wood accents, and thoughtful details like coffee on a wooden buffet hutch. The atmosphere is akin to staying in a cozy mountain lodge. In the evenings, the lobby's baby-grand piano is put to use to entertain guests. Patio furniture surrounds a fire pit outside, and the front desk often provides the marshmallows for roasting. A pond separates the patio from a huge parking lot, which can accommodate buses and RVs. This property is geared toward tourists -- families and couples -- on their way to Yellowstone National Park, but the meeting and event space draws the occasional business traveler as well.

Located on West Yellowstone Avenue, this hotel is within walking distance to attractions like Old Trail Town and Cody Rodeo. This main thoroughfare leads to the Yellowstone National Park's East Entrance, which is about an hour away by car. In the immediate area are other motels, restaurants, shops, and the Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum. Within a five-minute drive -- in central Cody -- are such attractions as the Buffalo Bill Center, Cody Dug Up Gun Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, and Cody Trolley Tours. The Shoshone Hot Springs are a two-minute drive away. The hotel provides free shuttle service to a nearby Walmart and the Yellowstone Regional Airport, which is 15 minutes away by car.

Country-style decor invokes the spirit of the Wild West in the hotel's 75 rooms, which have heavy dark-wood furniture, neutral carpeting, and photographs of iconic Western scenes. The look is homey and cozy, if traditional, though dark wood headboards look sharp over white-linened beds with brown throws. Suites and Deluxe Rooms -- but not Standard Rooms -- have balconies or patios with green wooden benches and views of the town, parking lot, or mountains. Suites have additional Western touches, and include 55-inch flat-screen TVs, wet bars, sitting areas, whirlpool tubs or fireplaces with lovely wood mantels. Most rooms have 40-inch flat-screen TVs, DVD players, iPod docks, microwaves, safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, irons/ironing boards, and hairdryers. Tan tile bathrooms have vanities with ample storage space, scales, and shower/tub combos. Some guests have complained of hearing noise from neighboring rooms. 

This hotel is in Buffalo Bill Country, and its style reflects that fact. Pinewood surrounds the 24-hour indoor pool and hot tub, creating a cozy setting, with seating on the deck. There's also a sauna. The small gym has cardio and weight equipment, plus mounted flat-screen TVs. The hotel's library, with its fireplace, two computers, and a printer, is also an inviting place for guests to pass their time. There's also a gift shop with vending machines and souvenirs for sale. A popular breakfast buffet, included in the room rate, is served in the dining room, which is decorated in fishing ornaments. Hearty offerings typically include eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, cereal, fruit, toast, yogurt, muffins, tea, coffee, and juice, while coffee and tea are available throughout the day in the hotel's cozy lounge. Lunch and dinner are not served. The Shoshone River Room can accommodate up to 75 people for events and conferences, and it can be split into two separate spaces with a projection screen and Wi-Fi service. Other freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, and area shuttles, and the hotel is pet friendly.