| Buffalo Bill State Park | |
|---|---|
Location in Wyoming | |
| Location | Park, Wyoming, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°30′04″N109°11′02″W / 44.50111°N 109.18389°WCoordinates: 44°30′04″N109°11′02″W / 44.50111°N 109.18389°W[1] |
| Area | 11,290 acres (45.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,371 ft (1,637 m)[1] |
| Established | 1957 |
| Named for | Buffalo Bill Cody |
| Governing body | Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites |
| Website | Buffalo Bill State Park |
Located in Jean, Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino is within a 15-minute drive of Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas and Primm Valley Golf Club. This casino resort is 23.3 mi (37.5 km) from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and 20.1 mi (32.4 km) from Mojave National Preserve. Popular Hotel Amenities and Features. It has several amusement park style rides that are fun for the whole family including the Desperado roller coaster, the Turbo Drop, and the Vault, and Adventure Canyon Log Flume Ride. Buffalo Bill Resort and Casino, Primm's largest hotel and casino, is the center of the action for thrill seekers and family fun. If you are looking for Buffalo Bill's Theme Park travel information, Expedia has you covered. When visiting the Primm area, Expedia can provide you with extensive Buffalo Bill's Theme Park information, as well as great savings on nearby hotels and flights! Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino 31700 Las Vegas Blvd S, Primm, Jean, NV. 2.5 out of 5.
Buffalo Bill State Park is a public recreation area surrounding the reservoir formed by the Buffalo Bill Dam, an impoundment of the Shoshone River, in Park County, Wyoming. The state park, reservoir and dam were named after William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, who founded the nearby town of Cody and who owned much of the land now occupied by the reservoir and park. The park offers camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and picnicking and is managed by Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites.[2]
History[edit]
Buffalo Bill Cody was one of the most colorful figures of the American Old West, mostly known for the shows he organized with cowboy themes. He once owned some of the land that is now part of the state park bearing his name. He sold his property to the United States government prior to the construction of Buffalo Bill Dam. Cody settled in the Shoshone Canyon area in the 1870s. He first came to the region as a guide for a survey expedition. Cody spent parts the next twenty years in the area serving as a hunting guide. Buffalo Bill worked to bring irrigation and agriculture development in Park County. He founded the nearby city of Cody in 1896.[3]
Buffalo Bills Theme Park
Construction on Buffalo Bill Dam, originally known as Shoshone Dam, began in 1905.[4] Upon completion, in 1910, the dam was the highest in the world standing at 325 feet (99 m).[3] The dam is a concrete arch structure of constant radius.[5] It was part of the Shoshone Project, one of the first projects overseen by the Bureau of Reclamation.[6]
In addition to providing water for irrigation and downstream flood control, Buffalo Bill Dam provides hydropower for a power plant. The first and second units of the power plant were constructed in 1922. A third unit was built in 1931. Units one and two were decommissioned in 1980 and unit three was replaced in 1991.[7]
Buffalo Bills Amusement Park
The park was established in 1957 and rebuilt in 1993 after an eight-year project to increase the height of the dam by 25 feet (7.6 m). The original park facilities were flooded when the dam was raised and the reservoir was deepened and widened. The project added 260,000 acre feet (320,000,000 m3) to the area of the lake. A visitors center at the dam was opened upon completion of the heightening of the dam. Further modifications to the dam included an expansion of the underground spillway and addition of gates to the spillway for flow control.[8]
The park's picnicking facilities and fencing were improved in 2007 by the Wyoming Conservation Corps.[9]
Geology[edit]
The park occupies the Shoshone Canyon portion of the Shoshone River in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Wyoming. The area is part of the Absaroka Range, which includes Rattlesnake Mountain, Cedar Mountain (also known as Spirit Mountain), Logan Mountain, Sheep Mountain, and Carter Mountain.[3]
Activities and amenities[edit]
Recreational activities at the park include fishing, boating, hiking, camping and picnicking. The park is open May 1 through September 30 with limited access in winter.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Buffalo Bill Dam'. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ^ ab'Buffalo Bill State Park'. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails. State of Wyoming. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ abc'Buffalo Bill State Park Brochure'(PDF). Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^'Buffalo Bill Dam History'. Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^'Buffalo Bill Dam'. Bureau of Reclamation. April 30, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^'Shoshone Project'. Bureau of Reclamation. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^'Shoshone Power Plant'. Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^'Buffalo Bill Dam Modification Project'. Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^Staff and wire reports (July 5, 2007). 'In brief'. Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buffalo Bill State Park. |
- Buffalo Bill State Park Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails
- Buffalo Bill State Park Brochure Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails