Buffalo Bill's historic 1902 hotel in Cody, featuring local sandstone architecture and a legendary cherrywood bar gifted by Queen Victoria.
The Irma Hotel was built in 1902 by legendary frontiersman Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who famously called it "just the sweetest hotel that ever was." Named after his youngest daughter, Irma, the hotel opened with a grand celebration on November 18, 1902, drawing dignitaries and press from as far away as Boston. Cody financed the construction, which cost approximately $80,000, using proceeds from his globally successful Wild West show. Designed by Alfred Wilderman Woods, an architect from Lincoln, Nebraska, the building features a striking exterior constructed from local materials: the first story is composed of uncut river boulders of various shapes and colors, while the second story is made of native brown sandstone quarried from Beck Lake, just south of town. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, representing a critical piece of the town's early history as a staging point for travelers journeying toward Yellowstone National Park.
Inside the hotel, the focal point is the famous cherrywood back bar in the main dining room, which originally served as the billiard and bar room. The ornate bar was a gift to Buffalo Bill from Queen Victoria of England, who presented it to him in appreciation of his command performance in London. Carved in France, the massive structure was shipped across the Atlantic to New York, transported by rail to Red Lodge, Montana, and finally hauled to Cody by horse-drawn wagon. Another architectural feature of the lobby is the large fireplace, which is constructed from an eclectic assemblage of rocks, ores, minerals, and fossils collected from the surrounding Big Horn Basin. The hotel has been owned and operated by the Darby family since 1982, with John Darby and his sons, Mike and Scott, carefully maintaining its historic integrity, including the original brass foot rail that still sits beneath the bar stools.
The hotel's accommodations retain their turn of the century character while incorporating modern amenities. Guests can stay in Buffalo Bill's original private suites, where the showman kept his personal office and living quarters, or choose from rooms named after notable local pioneers like newspaperwoman Caroline Lockhart and retailer Jakie Schwoob. Over the decades, the hotel expanded to meet the needs of early automobile tourists, notably with the addition of a two-story west annex built in the late 1920s by then-owners Henry and Pearl Newell. The dining room is well-known for its traditional prime rib buffets and western fare, while the adjacent Silver Saddle Lounge provides a classic gathering spot. Outside, the hotel's long porch serves as the stage for the Cody Gunfighters, who perform free, historical reenactments on summer evenings, continuing a tradition of western hospitality that has defined the property for more than a century.
Grab a seat on the porch or the street curb before 6:00 PM between June and September to watch the free, action-packed Cody Gunfighters show. Afterward, head inside to the Silver Saddle Lounge for a drink at the historic cherrywood bar.
Where to Stay — Curated accommodations hand-picked by Basecamp West. Glamping, boutique hotels, historic lodges, and unique stays across the American West.