Buffalo Bill Ranch

If you are ever traveling on interstate 80 through Nebraska, a good pit stop is in North Platte, roughly halfway through the state. Here you’ll find the Buffalo Bill Ranch, the home of Buffalo Bill Cody from 1886-1913, plus a few other stops worth seeing while you stretch your legs.

Buffalo Bill Ranch

Buffalo Bill Cody gained his nickname as a scout in the Indian Wars, then became world-famous as a flamboyant showman. His wild-west show employed hundreds (if not thousands), featuring battle reenactments, sideshows, and famous sharpshooters like Annie Oakley. The show even toured in Europe for guests like the Pope in Italy and the Queen of England.

When he wasn’t off wowing audiences of all kinds, Buffalo Bill made his home in North Platte at a ranch he called Scout’s Rest. Here, he could house all the animals used in the wild west show and entertain visitors in lavish style in his Victorian mansion.

Now you can tour the house, the barn, and the grounds for about $10, and it takes about an hour or so, just perfect for a chance to get out of the car and walk around.

The Mansion

The house tour is self-guided. Once you pay, you are given a pamphlet that will give information about every room in the house. It’s probably smaller than you might think, especially when you hear how many people he would host at one time.

Downstairs is a formal parlor with an elaborate music box and piano. You find Cody’s favorite chair, his office (with lots of rifles), and an absurdly small kitchen out back. My favorite detail is the dining room wallpaper. Cody had it commissioned to represent scenes from his shows, like stagecoaches, Indians, and Annie Oakley with her rifle.

Upstairs in Cody’s rooms are some of his flashy show outfits and lots of buffalo hide covers on the beds. A gaming room is tucked into a corner. It’s worth noting that Cody’s wife’s room is far from his and the guest rooms since Cody would often stay up late with his friends.

Most of the house is decorated as it was when the family lived there. But over the kitchen wing are several museum-like rooms with artifacts from the shows, like playbills, band uniforms, and photographs. A larger bunkroom has been converted to a small theater showing a documentary on the show.

Barn & Grounds

Behind the mansion is a large barn. Inside you can see remnants of show posters on the walls and old wagons and stagecoaches used in the shows, plus plenty of stalls for the animals. Along a back wall are some really fantastic photographs of Native Americans from the era, taken by a female photographer. Outside, notice the heart at the peak of the roof, which is Annie Oakley’s trademark – an ace of hearts with a hole through the middle.

Farther down still is a pen with some bison, and there are ponds and streams around the grounds. There’s a public bathroom behind the house as well.

Admission & Hours

It only costs $2 to tour the house and barn but you have to also pay entrance to the state park, which owns the ranch land. The cost of a daily permit for out-of-state visitors is $8. For Nebraskans, it’s $6.

The house and barn are open to tour from 9-5 most days from April 7-October 31. It’s open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but closed Mondays & Tuesdays in the spring and fall.

Getting There

You honestly don’t even need your GPS to get to Buffalo Bill Ranch. Once you exit the highway into North Platte, there are huge signs pointing the way. But in case you want to plug it in, the actual address is 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Road, North Platte, Neb. 69147. You’ll definitely need your GPS while leaving – there aren’t nearly as many signs to get back out of town.

Fort Cody Trading Post

If you either want to add on to your Buffalo Bill experience or only have a short pit stop, visit the Fort Cody Trading Post right off the highway. It’s a huge gift shop on the order of magnitude you don’t usually see anymore. There are gag gifts, housewares, souvenirs, jewelry, postcards, toys, and much more. I think there are even authentic boots and hats in the back.

But arguably more interesting is a room in the back with a huge Buffalo Bill Wild West Show display carved in miniature. It really gives you an idea of just how big a production the show really was. And if you look closely, there are lots of little stories to find in the tableau.

Food

North Platte is a decently-sized city with tons of dining options if you are stopping during mealtime. I originally stopped to eat lunch at the Qdoba next to the Trading Post, then walked over to see what the shop was about. It was only then that I decided to check out Buffalo Bill’s Ranch, seeing the signs everywhere for it. It is definitely one of my more favorite impromptu stops as I have driven around the country!