Many a hearty laugh has been had by us over names like Pony Espresso, Jesusland, Jan’s Cut & Yak Hair Salon, The Lucky Chucker, and Born In A Barn, but one name has baffled us. Why, oh why is anything having to do with the U.S. named “Buffalo” when there are no buffalo in North America and there never have been?
“Bison Bill Cody” doesn’t have the same ring, we’ll give you that, but it, and the name of the town in Wyoming, would be more correct as “Bison,” not the name mistakenly given to the animal those of us of a certain age incorrectly grew up calling “buffalo.”
None of that mattered too much when we paid a visit to Buffalo, partly on the suggestion of our RV driving instructor Geoff, who told us the Occidental Hotel there had a really cool saloon.
We’d make it our lunch stop, but first we took a little wander around town. Wyoming loves its metal sculptures and cut-outs, and Buffalo was no exception.
Ruthie wasn’t so sure about some of them.
The downtown area was pleasant, and while it wasn’t as jam-packed as Deadwood, it felt far more original, and we like that.
Known to the locals as “The Ox,” the Occidental Hotel was founded in 1880, and its saloon replaced a raggedy old bar in 1908. With its location at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains and central to the heavily-used Bozeman Trail, the hotel once played host to the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and, later, Teddy Roosevelt. It is now on the National Historical Register.
The saloon is chock-full of Wyoming stuff – animal heads and skulls (of course), antiques, period stained glass, and even bullet holes from some long-ago booze-fueled gunfight. The saloon is original, and we could almost imagine cowboys, rustlers, gamblers, and the lawful and lawless bellying up to the 25-foot bar, some for a shot of “liquid courage” as poker games sometimes went on for days.
We just wanted lunch, but with No Dogs Allowed, our dining took place in the back garden that sits along a river, where the hotel has live music every Thursday night.
We only had ourselves as entertainment that afternoon, along with Ruthie, who loved us when we gave her a fry, then ignored us when that was all she got.
Luckily, we adore each other and are happy with our own company. Even luckier, two young children, their mother, and their grandparents showed up for an al fresco lunch, and we were treated to several rounds of Hide and Seek, during which the youngest cheated like crazy.
After Buffalo, we returned to Sheridan to see the famous King’s Saddlery & King’s Ropes, an institution in a town where even the kids are decked out in cowboy hats and boots. We stuck out like the boring-clothed tourists we are.
King’s is part Western-wear and tack shop, part saddle makers, part rope makers, and while we wouldn’t know a good saddle or rope from a bad one, they certainly had some superb examples of the craft.
It was nearly time to say “goodbye” to Sheridan, but we’d be doing it having made some new friends. There is nothing quite like adversity to help bring people together, and this time we were able to be on the giving end of “a friend in need.”
A massive storm rolled through a night or two ago, and our newest neighbor sprung a little leak. A couple three sites down had a tarp they could lend her, and we had Ruthie’s long leash, which would help tie the tarp down, plus a Disney Cruise Line towel to sop up some of the leakage. In the end, we had great conversations about each of our travels, where all of us were headed next, and which locations were in our Top Five.
Our intrepid neighbor is heading to Alaska for work, and we wish her great success and safe travels. As luck would have it, the other couple showed up at our next campground a few nights after us, and we promised to get together and chat over a drink. But Simon bashed his noggin on one of the slide-outs before that could happen, with a little blood, a very sore neck, and an early bedtime being the unhappy result. We’re traveling roughly in the same direction, though, and we sincerely hope our paths cross again, next time with wine.
Veness Travel Media 
Well I’ve learnt something about buffaloes and a lack of them in North America ( and I’d guess I’m not the only one) Lots of great pictures again I don’t think I have ever seen so many saddles and ropes ! ( supply and demand I suppose) Sorry to hear about Simons head. Hopefully a quick recovery and no scarring.
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The number of ropes was incredible. When we walked into the rope-making area, a young man was doing some twirling tricks to test out his newest rope. We could really feel the “wild, wild West” still alive in Sheridan, and in Buffalo.
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Hello Sue & Simon,
Years ago (and I mean years ago) Mom & Dad took us on a trip out west, including Wyoming. Since we kids were quite young, we did not visit saloons (I think I was 11 at the time.) It was still pretty interesting: all that open space with no people and interesting towns. So, Simon, looking at these pictures, all I can say is, “Simon, you ain’t in Merrie Olde England anymore, pahdner.” You can call yourself Slim or Tex; I suggest Slim for obvious reasons.
Re bison vs. buffalo: I looked it up, and the second definition says that the two words are synonymous; however, the etymology of the word buffalo is most interesting. The buffalo is so closely associated with the Wild West that it would seem natural to assume its name comes from a Native American word, such as moose and skunk among others. Wrong. It can probably be traced via one of the Romance languages-> Vulgar Latin & Latin-> Greek word boubalos (antelope or buffalo). Really? Really. This obviously was the Old World buffalo. So, how in the wide world did it get to the Wild West? Interested minds need to know, namely mine. Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. I love that dictionary.
I can see you are having a wonderful time, Judy
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I (Susan) am going to call Simon “Slim” until we get to Texas, then I’ll start calling him “Tex.” LOL! He fit in very well in Michigan, and he does love Wyoming and Montana, but it certainly isn’t anything like England. He looked it up, and you could fit all of the U.K. into Wyoming, with room to spare (specifically, a full 10K square miles left over!).
I certainly grew up thinking the west was full of buffalo, but when Simon looked it up a few years ago while we were planning this trip, he found out that, genetically, there is no relationship to real buffalo (water buffalo and Asian buffalo), and it was just a mis-naming due to the French word for “beef.” Our animals have only ever been bison, even though the terms are now (incorrectly) used interchangeably. Fascinating!
How bison (or buffalo!) were ever thought of as beef is a mystery to me (I feel some research coming on!), but it’s one of those head-scratchers, like so many places being named after Custer, a man who was instrumental in trying to commit genocide on the native people. Mind-boggling.
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It really is a completely different way of life out there. I love the murals and the statues. Sorry to read that Simon got hurt.
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It really is different. Have you been out this way? I know you’ve traveled most of the world.
We are even sorrier now that Simon got hurt, as the couple we were going to meet for drinks is now facing a life-altering medical challenge. We continue to hope we’ll meet them somewhere along the road again, and that his full health will be restored.
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No, unfortunately not. When it comes to the USA, apart from Hawaii and Alaska, we only ever have been to the extreme east and west of the country. I would love to explore some of the more rural states though.
I keep my fingers crossed that you will get to meet again at some stage and that he makes a full recovery.
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Can I just put in a vote for Michigan, especially upper Michigan? And especially in autumn. Stunningly beautiful. Lots of water, lots of forest, and just so, so pretty!
Then Utah. You almost don’t know where to look, there’s so much rocky mountainside to enjoy.
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Utah is definitely on my radar because I have friends with links to this state. Apart from the countryside, I also really would love to see Salt Lake City. Have made a note to add Michigan to the list.
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Salt Lake City makes a good base to see a lot of the state’s natural beauty. Travel as far from the city as you can, though. The national parks are fantastic, and the scenery just getting to them is immense.
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