Buffalo Bill's Historic Pahaska Tepee

by Susan Rissi Tregoning

Title

Buffalo Bill's Historic Pahaska Tepee

Artist

Susan Rissi Tregoning

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Located in the rugged Absaroka Mountains, 50 miles west of Cody, Wyoming, and a mere two miles from Yellowstone National Park's east entrance along the scenic Buffalo Bill Cody Byway, stands the historic Pahaska Tepee—a hunting lodge and hotel founded by none other than William Buffalo Bill Cody.

This rustic retreat was personally marked for construction by Buffalo Bill himself in 1901. However, work on it likely didn't begin until after the completion of the government road from Cody to Yellowstone's East Gate in the summer of 1903. During this time, logs were felled and notched, and foundations were laid as part of Cody’s grand vision.

Simultaneously, another one of his endeavors—the Wapiti Inn—was being erected about 30 miles west of Cody on the same route. These establishments formed part of Buffalo Bill’s ambitious plan to develop his namesake town with a trio of hotels strategically placed between Cody and Yellowstone's East Entrance. With a rail line connecting Cody to Toluca, Montana, travelers could enjoy an overnight stay at the Irma Hotel in Cody before embarking on a half-day wagon ride to Wapiti Inn and finally arriving at Pahaska Tepee after a full day’s journey.

The grand opening of Pahaska Tepee was celebrated with an announcement in the local newspaper on July 5, 1904. Later that year, Buffalo Bill led a prominent hunting party on an adventurous ten-day hunt from his new lodge. Construction reached completion in 1905 when the lodge began welcoming guests. The name Pahaska Tepee, suggested by Iron Tail—a Lakota friend of Buffalo Bill—translates to Long Hair's Lodge, combining “pahinhonska” (Buffalo Bill’s Lakota name meaning long hair) with “tepee” (Lakota for lodge).

Initially intended as Buffalo Bill’s autumn hunting lodge where he could entertain his illustrious friends from around the world, Pahaska primarily functioned as a summer hotel. Sadly, Buffalo Bill only visited Pahaska six times during his lifetime, and he was notably absent from some of the famed hunts, like Prince Albert I of Monaco's visit in 1913, when he played host rather than participating.

Financially successful yet slow to reach profitability like many of his ventures, Pahaska changed hands multiple times following Buffalo Bill's death in 1917. In 1926, Alberta Wilkinson acquired it; she and her son Willard added a log store in 1929 and transformed the dining room into a museum by 1939-1940. Henry H.R. Coe and Peg Coe purchased it in 1946, expanding winter activities like skiing while extensively remodeling the property.

It is still owned by the Coe family and managed by Robert Coe II. Pahaska is a vibrant, full-service resort catering to summer visitors while morphing into a ski and snowmobile haven during winter. Enriched with more structures beyond its original hunting lodge roots established by Buffalo Bill himself, it remains cherished by locals and tourists alike for its historical significance. A notable homage occurred in 1993 when Prince Albert II of Monaco visited Pahaska to honor his ancestor's memorable hunt there eight decades prior.

Pahaska Tepee was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Copyright 2024 Susan Rissi Tregoning

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September 28th, 2024

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