Cody or Greybull? (Cheyenne, Jackson, Buffalo: crime, buying a home, buying)

[GEORGIAINMT]

Cody got about 3 in. of snow earlier this week. We just got some huge flakes that fell, then melted. It's pretty late in the year to be getting snow, but it's definitely not unusual. The nice thing is that it can snow one day and be 70-80 degrees the same week. It has been a cool spring/early summer so far, with the exception of a few really warm days. I hope summer really does get here soon!

I don't know how easy it is to get ranching jobs. Although I grew up in Wyoming, that's something I just don't know about. Sorry

[Darrow]

We did get a lot of heavy snow Sunday - enough to break new growth on trees. Yes, we've had snow even in July. Cody is a higher elevation than Greybull and more windy. We get Chinook winds that blow the cold away. There are large ranches near Cody - maybe contact the Chamber of Commerce for a listing. There are a lot of dude ranches here if that interests you at all.

Cody and Greybull are very different towns, but I think either will give you the cowboy experience and lifestyle. They both are very western and near great mountains, fishing and camping. You'll see buffalo, grizzly and mt. sheep around the Cody area - but I like the fishing streams, camping areas and safeness from bears on the mountain near Greybull. It wouldn't take much to move to the other town - they are only 50 miles from eachother.

[countryway]

Yeah...I had friend who used to go Fly Fishing out in the Wind River area...He said it snowed towards the end of August one time.

I did get a nice packet from Cody chamber. I also got a DVD from a place near called Copperleaf. Are you familiar with that? I guess its some kind of housing developement towards Yellowstone? I'm not interested anyway, just something I was sent.

I haven't decided yet, but you all sure have been a great help. I really love the mountains and forests. So, Greybull might be the best. I was concerned that if I lived in Cody, if to go towards Yellowstone to be in the mountains...do you have to pay to get in everytime? Just for day use?

[Darrow]

Copperleaf has really been critisized by the locals. It's supposed to be a gated community for the "elite." We took a drive out that way last weekend and it doesn't seem to be up and going like I'm sure the developers had hoped for - probably too expensive and a lot of the trees that were landscaped in have died. I think most people that want to live in Wyoming do not want to be in a "gated community" The northfork is a very beautiful area, but the urban sprawl is ruining it.

If you move to Cody, you will be in the Shoshone National Forest within minutes. Yellowstone is a 50 mile drive from Cody, but you don't have to go into the Park to be in the mountains...the 50 mile drive is stunning in itself and there are trailheads, campgrounds and such before Yellowstone...the Buffalo Bill Resevoir is just a few minutes from Cody as well. Clark, which is by the Beartooth Mtns and the Southfork are also within a quick driving distance from Cody.

If you go to Greybull, you will be close to the Shell canyon - gorgeous and also a quick drive up the Big Horns...not as many people will get in your way. Cody is a tourist hub. We can have 100,000 people a day here during tourist season and it stinks. The regular population is around 10k - including the surrounding area. Is it possible you can visit for a week or so and check out the area first?

[GEORGIAINMT]

Originally Posted by countryway

Yeah...I had friend who used to go Fly Fishing out in the Wind River area...He said it snowed towards the end of August one time.

I did get a nice packet from Cody chamber. I also got a DVD from a place near called Copperleaf. Are you familiar with that? I guess its some kind of housing developement towards Yellowstone? I'm not interested anyway, just something I was sent.

I haven't decided yet, but you all sure have been a great help. I really love the mountains and forests. So, Greybull might be the best. I was concerned that if I lived in Cody, if to go towards Yellowstone to be in the mountains...do you have to pay to get in everytime? Just for day use?

If you plan on going into the park more than once a year you'd be best off getting an annual pass. They are inexpensive and you can get into any National Park.

[WyoNewk]

Originally Posted by GEORGIAINMT

If you plan on going into the park more than once a year you'd be best off getting an annual pass. They are inexpensive and you can get into any National Park.

Yeah, I always bought the annual pass. I think it's $50 for you and everyone in your vehicle, and it's good for every national park and monument for a year. I finally got the senior's pass last year. It was cheaper and is good for life, but you gotta live to 62 to get it.

[countryway]

I hear Cody has shoot-outs evry night down at the old hotel? Like old-west celebrations and rodeos and such. Sounds like alot of festivities are going on all summer. Does that tax the emotions of the locals or does everyone gladly participate? I was told that in Jackson, you can't get from one end of town to the other in under and hour due to pedestrians. Is Cody like that?

[WyoNewk]

Originally Posted by countryway

I hear Cody has shoot-outs evry night down at the old hotel? Like old-west celebrations and rodeos and such. Sounds like alot of festivities are going on all summer. Does that tax the emotions of the locals or does everyone gladly participate? I was told that in Jackson, you can't get from one end of town to the other in under and hour due to pedestrians. Is Cody like that?

I don't live in Cody, but I'm fairly well acquainted with it. I can't say how much the "festivities" bother the locals. I imagine most of them know that they need tourists for a healthy economy and "put up with them." The tourist thing is why I chose Gillette over Cody when moving to Wyoming 38 years ago. Then I learned that tourism in Cody isn't really that huge -- not compared to Jackson and many other towns. Fact is, tourism is probably as big in Gillette now, since we've built a huge "CamPlex" center for national and regional conventions and other activities. (National High School Rodeo Finals, national RV gathering, etc. etc.)

Tourists make travel down busy streets a pain, and they'll slow down your service at restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, etc., but most locals appreciate the money they bring to town and understand that they make it a better town for everyone -- especially AFTER they leave!

There was talk of building a by-pass for tourists to take through Cody. Lots of controversy, as I recall, but I don't think anything was done in the end. (Maybe I'm wrong.) Retailers depend on that heavy tourist traffic.

[jkb826]

Having lived in Cody for 7 years I would have to say the tourist thing got old pretty fast. One thing that is good about it is that there usually is something to go see or do. The traffic is also a pain too but you learn to avoid it as much as possible. I dont think Cody is as bad as Jackson because they have just one main way through town. There are some really neat things to see and do in the summer in Cody. One thing you may want to be aware of is that living in Cody brings out all the friends and relatives you may not have seen in years wanting to come see you and stay with you and sometime they want you to be a tour guide. This could be fun or maybe not. I myself did not like living there but that is just me. Having been born and raised in Sheridan, I couldn't wait to move back home.

[Darrow]

Sometimes the shop owners get agitated with the shootout, but I think it's really parking issues and sectioning off the street by the hotel...but after the shootout, the tourists go to the shops - so it kinda works out for them.

It's difficult when the town fills up. The tourists bother me like jkb826, but mainly it's the slow drivers looking at everything and not paying attention - or the folks at the crosswalks, ignoring the traffic...and yes, there's lots to see and do. Usually on Fridays thru the summer we have free live music in the downtown park - which is a great way to wind down the work week...and I've noticed some streetcorner musicians already out...and generally the bars have live music all summer. The Hell's Angels had their world rally here in 2006 - that was interesting! The most complaints I heard about from the locals was the policing - not the gang!

You're right WyoNewk - the bypass road was brought up a few years back and quickly tabled...and I think we are gonna be in a mess because of the new medical center, strip malls, hotel/motels and restaurants that have gone up in the last few years. There's only 1 road on the west strip and if anything happens on it -we're gonna be in trouble. Cody has new housing developments in every direction. It's really changing. My son was gone from Jan - Aug this past year and he couldn't believe the changes, and when he gets leave in October he's going to be very surprised again.