Welcome to Cody!

Founded in 1896 by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the city of Cody is framed by wide-open skies, rugged mountains, and winding rivers. With a population just over 10,000, Cody offers world-class hiking, fly fishing, rafting, and wildlife viewing, along with direct access to the eastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, making it a gateway to one of America’s most iconic landscapes.

Home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a Smithsonian-affiliated, award-winning museum celebrating the spirit and history of the American West, Cody is equally defined by its living traditions. Visitors can explore immersive museums by day and experience the town’s famous nightly summer rodeos, a can’t-miss event that has earned Cody its title as the “Rodeo Capital of the World!”

Beyond its attractions, Cody offers an authentic Western atmosphere that is both welcoming and unpretentious. Late August brings warm days, cool evenings, and a relaxed, walkable downtown filled with local shops, restaurants, art galleries, and historic charm—creating an ideal setting for filmmaker panels, networking events, post-screening conversations, and genuine hospitality within a close-knit creative community.

Wildlife and open land remain central to the Cody experience. Herds of wild horses can still be found roaming nearby public lands, alongside elk, bighorn sheep, and other iconic Western species. Scenic routes such as the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway provide breathtaking views of canyons, forests, and alpine vistas, making the journey into Cody as memorable as the destination itself.

Set against this uniquely American backdrop, the Yellowstone Film Festival offers an experience that is both intimate and expansive, where storytelling, culture, and landscape come together in one of the most distinctive settings in the American West.