On the way to the rodeo

In Cody, rodeo isn’t just a show, it’s a way of life. The town proudly calls itself the Rodeo Capital of the World, and for good reason: it’s the only place where you can watch a professional rodeo every single evening all summer long, from June through August. So before you leave town, head out along 8th Street for about 4 kilometers and treat yourself to a show that’s absolutely worth it. Rodeo here goes back to Buffalo Bill himself, in the late 1800s, he was already staging demonstrations and tryouts for his famous Wild West Show right here in Cody, with informal events held near the Irma Hotel that helped anchor rodeo culture in the area. In 1919, two years after his death, locals created an official rodeo in his honor, launching what became the Cody Stampede Rodeo, now one of Wyoming’s biggest annual events, especially around the 4th of July, when the town comes alive with rodeos, parades, concerts, and fireworks. Then in 1938, a new idea took shape: putting on a rodeo every evening for travelers on their way to Yellowstone, and that’s how the Cody Nite Rodeo was born, a tradition that still continues today. The events you’ll see are rooted in real cowboy work from the 19th century, from riding wild horses and bulls for eight intense seconds to fast-paced roping competitions, all based on practical ranch skills. Over the years, many top riders have competed here, including Chris LeDoux, who went on to become a country music star but first made his name as a professional cowboy, even winning the world championship in bareback riding in 1976, one of the toughest events in rodeo. On your way to the arena, you might want to stop by Old Trail Town, an open-air museum that recreates a Western town with 28 original buildings from 1879 to 1901, carefully moved here piece by piece from across Wyoming, a great way to step back into the Old West before the show begins.