Buffalo Bill State Park
| Buffalo Bill State Park | |
| Wyoming State Park | |
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| Named for: Buffalo Bill Cody | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Park |
| Elevation | 5,371 ft (1,637 m) |
| Coordinates | 44°30′04″N 109°11′02″W / 44.50111°N 109.18389°WCoordinates: 44°30′04″N 109°11′02″W / 44.50111°N 109.18389°W |
| Area | 11,290 acres (4,569 ha) |
| - Land | 3,140 acres (1,271 ha) |
| - Water | 8,150 acres (3,298 ha) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Management | Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources |
 Location in Wyoming
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| Website: Buffalo Bill State Park | |
Buffalo Bill State Park is state-operated, 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's recreational opportunities include camping, hiking, boating, fishing and picnicking.
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.
Construction on Buffalo Bill Dam, originally known as Shoshone Dam, began in 1905. Upon completion, in 1910, the dam was the highest in the world standing at 325 feet (99 m). The dam is a concrete arch structure of constant radius. It was part of the Shoshone Project, one of the first projects overseen by the Bureau of Reclamation.
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.
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Wikipedia