The Irma Hotel stands at 1192 Sheridan Avenue in central Cody, Wyoming, approximately fifty miles east of Yellowstone National Park's east entrance. The property occupies the main commercial street of the city William Frederick Cody founded in 1896, placing guests within walking distance of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum complex, local restaurants, and Cody's summer rodeo grounds. The town's compact layout makes the Irma a natural base for Yellowstone day trips, with the drive typically taking about an hour under normal conditions.
Buffalo Bill Cody commissioned the Irma in 1902 and named it after his daughter. The hotel has operated continuously since its opening and retains much of its original character. The most celebrated interior element is the cherrywood back bar in the saloon, a piece reputed to have been a gift from Queen Victoria to Buffalo Bill following his successful Wild West Show engagements in Europe. Whether or not the complete royal provenance is fully documented, the bar itself is a striking piece of Victorian craftsmanship that draws visitors on its own merit and anchors the saloon's identity.
Room types include Standard, Heritage, and Suite configurations. Heritage rooms occupy the historic section of the building and feature period-appropriate furnishings and architectural details that distinguish them from the standard inventory. The hotel restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an American Western menu in a dining room that maintains the period atmosphere. The saloon operates year-round and functions as a popular gathering point for both hotel guests and Cody locals.
During summer months, a theatrical gunfight reenactment is staged on Sheridan Avenue outside the hotel most evenings, a program rooted in Cody's Wild West heritage. Service is informal and knowledgeable, with staff well-practiced at helping guests plan Yellowstone excursions, rodeo tickets, and visits to the five museums within the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The hotel is family-friendly and accommodates travelers of all ages and interests.
Room types
- Standard Room
- Heritage Room
- Suite
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Cherry wood bar (gift from Queen Victoria)
- Nightly gunfight show (summer)
- Saloon
Location
1192 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414
44.5230, -109.0568 View on map
Highlights
- Built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill Cody and named for his daughter — one of Wyoming's most storied historic lodging properties
- Legendary Victorian cherrywood back bar in the saloon, reputed to be a gift from Queen Victoria to Buffalo Bill
- Ideal gateway base for Yellowstone National Park, approximately fifty miles west via the scenic Wapiti Valley corridor
- Summer-season gunfight reenactments staged on Sheridan Avenue adjacent to the hotel most evenings
- Walking distance to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, one of the foremost Western history museum complexes in the United States
Tips for visiting
- Heritage rooms in the original 1902 section of the hotel have considerably more character than the standard annex rooms — worth requesting or paying the modest premium.
- Arrive at the saloon bar early on busy summer evenings; it fills quickly before and after the outdoor gunfight show.
- The Buffalo Bill Center of the West requires most of a day to cover all five museums — purchase a two-day pass to avoid rushing.
- The Wapiti Valley drive toward Yellowstone's east entrance is among the most scenic approaches to the park; plan to stop at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir overlook en route.