Living Our Dream: Buffalo Bill Dam and Drive in Wapiti Valley

One stop we wanted to take in was the Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir. Lots of interpretive signs, a visitor's center, and history. First I want to tell you about this campground. Every late afternoon, two mule deers cross the road in front of us, coming along int the field to our right and pass on to the Shoshone River which boarders the campground. When we were partially hooked up in another site, we had great views of them each evening passing through. Now that we have moved to the back of the campground (against the river and greater vista views of the mountains all around us), we only get a glimpse of them as they are nearing the river. Big horns on one.

View looking back of our site - North Fork of Shoshone River

Visitors every day (mule deer)

The Buffalo Bill Dam was chosen to be placed here just west of Cody due to the perfect V of the Shoshone Canyon. It is billed as the tallest dam built at that time (1910), using no structural steel in the process. They filled with cement, then with granite stones, then cement, etc. But had a terrible history of being built. Management problems, strikes of workers, weather a huge factor since it got to 20 below in the winter months, and floods with the spring melt which destroyed progress and had to literally start over. After 6 long years the dam was completed and put on line. This dam was one of the enterprises that William Cody (Buffalo Bill) pushed for. Was not until we went to the Buffalo Bill Museum of the West did we learn just how involved and quite an entrepreneur he was. That will be explained in another post.

Before the dam was built - today a large reservoir

Standing on top of dam looking straight down

Top of dam - debris is removed later this month

Looking east towards Cody - Shoshone Canyon and River

Reservoir near top of dam - water level has already dropped 30 feet

Took in the views of the canyon, dam, tunnels, and reservoir, learned its history of how it was built, and then stopped along the way to view the sites. Very impressive. Once the dam was built and the tunnels and roadway were expanded to allow more traffic to the west side of the dam, traffic to Yellowstone National Park increased through what is called the 'eastern entrance.' A vision of William Cody. He also knew with the increase in traffic travelers would need places to stay on their way in and out and built a couple of lodges along the 'Cody Highway'. Today these lodges are still in existence and thriving.

Drove past the campground going towards Yellowstone on our way back from Cody and drove along the Wapiti (wah-pit-ee) Valley - Wapiti means elk in the Crow language, North Fork of Shoshone River runs through valley. Absolutely beautiful. Was very overcast - rain began as we turned around and headed back - traveled about 15 miles (had another 15 to get to Yellowstone) but I felt so peaceful in this area. The homes that are built in the valley - stunning (and very expensive!). Stopped at the small grocery/gas station and asked about the valley - said that heavy snow in the winter literally shuts down the road. Snowmobiles are the common way to get around. The east entrance into Yellowstone (15 more miles) is closed in the winter. Did say that moose and bear do roam around here.