Looking at the snow-capped peaks that line the mountain of the town of Crested Butte, Colorado, it’s hard to realize that more than 1,400 people piled up in this long, narrow valley at 8,885 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rockies in the mid-1800s, to weather the winter. In tents and cabins.
The settlers of this domain survived a series of booms and busts that caused the town to stand slightly firm during the time when the first ski slope was built in the early 1960s.
The tenacious spirit of those early pioneers can be summed up in a local nickname: the city that would not die. It also describes the spirit that animates many of the ancient pioneer cities of the West. These places have reinvented themselves as destinations that shine especially in the summer, showing travelers that going back in time could be one of the most productive tactics to get away from it all.
Here are 3 towns that maintain and celebrate their history and multiply the fun and entertainment in summer to be offering visitors an authentic Wild West experience.
Forget its fashionable finery and Cody, Wyoming looks like the Wild West, the city of all cowboy shootouts.
This is no coincidence. In fact, Cody founded showman “Buffalo Bill” Cody in the late 1800s to find a real-life destination for visitors to revel in the horseback riding and parlor duels they had seen at his Wild West shows.
He knew there was money to be made by marketing the mythology of the big fan, but it had to look authentic, and Cody still does.
Frontier enthusiasts head straight to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. At the center is the Buffalo Bill Museum, which tells the engaging life story of William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who began riding the Pony Express at the age of 14. and have become famous all over the world. The center is also home to other attractive collections, including the Plains Indian Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum.
The next step in the cowboy odyssey is Old Trail Town, an expansive collection of 26 historic buildings salvaged and assembled in the surrounding ghost towns. Stroll along the boardwalks and immerse yourself in the shops, offices, and public buildings with plank walls, and feel like you deserve to be decked out in a prairie cap or leather vest.
Don’t miss the living room and cabin with a hole in the wall featured in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” or the grave of legendary mountaineer Jeremiah Johnson in the cemetery. Adjacent to Western Hands, a historic shop and gallery, it preserves and presents handmade leather goods, carved wood furniture, and other classic crafts from the plains and prairies.
Twenty minutes northeast of the city, the Japanese-American World War II containment site Heart Mountain, a National Historic Landmark, offers a thought-provoking dive into the lives of families incarcerated in 10 such camps throughout the World War II West.
The east front of Yellowstone National Park is just 52 miles from town via the scenic Buffalo Bill Road, making Cody a smart starting point for those who need the summer lines that form on the park’s busy south front.
Related: How to Plan an Epic Road Trip Through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
Along the way, head to the impressive Buffalo Bill Dam, the tallest concrete dam in the world at the time of its construction, where you’ll find some other statues of the cowboy entrepreneur. Closer to the park, the Bill Cody Guest Ranch offers hiking and you can also stay overnight for a more in-depth equestrian experience.
You don’t have to go far to witness one of Cody’s must-see shootouts. Six nights a week, one takes up position at 6 p. m. in front of the Irma Hotel, named after Buffalo Bill’s daughter and still retains the glamour of its heyday. Then, visit the hotel’s grill bar for a rib dinner. You’ll find even more entertainment on the frontier at Cody Cattle Company. , where dinner includes brisket (and other dishes) and a nightly live music show.
But the spectacle not to be missed is the Cody Stampede Rodeo, with its nightly performances adding occasions such as rope races, bull runs, barrel races, and a calf race for kids. There’s also the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Review, which features hoedown-style shows. Country tunes at the Cody Theatre.
To keep the cowboy theme, stay at one of Cody’s many historic ranches, such as Rimrock Ranch or Bill Cody Ranch. However, keep in mind that most ranches require a one-week stay and book in advance.
Just down the street from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village will entice IHG members with an on-site restaurant, free parking, and airport shuttle service. The Hampton Inn
The original name of this 19th-century Sierra Nevada gold rush is Hangthe City, which probably tells you everything you want to know about its turbulent history.
Explore on a self-guided antique walking tour, starting with the 15-meter-tall iron bell tower, erected to alert local volunteer firefighters after a series of fires in 1856 that still destroyed the city. Key stops include 3 of California’s oldest. businesses still in operation: Placerville News Company, now an original general store and art gallery; Randolph Jewelers; and the 150-year-old Placerville Hardware, the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi River. You’ll find vintage materials from general stores, as well as outdoor items and even gold panning gear for those who fancy nuggets.
Shoppers shouldn’t miss Dedrick’s cheese and its varieties; Winterhill Olive Oil, showcasing local production; and Hangtown Leathers, located at the iconic Pearson Soda Works.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy plenty of activities in Placerville’s uncrowded landscape during the summer, where rafters and kayakers come to paddle on the South Fork of the American River, while swimmers and anglers seek out the swimming holes along the Consumnes River. Campers and hikers have plenty to do in the El Dorado National Forest east of Placerville, adding the El Dorado Greenway Trail, which stretches for more than 35 miles, with the closest segment to Placerville paved for easy biking.
Families and history buffs will be pleased to know that Gold Bug Park, on the outskirts of town, is one of the only historic gold mines that still allows visitors access to the mine’s tunnels. The exhibits also feature a blacksmith shop with live demonstrations.
Vineyards and apple orchards stretch along the hills north of Placerville, known as Apple Hill. Starting in August, Larsen Apple Barn, High Hill Ranch, and Delfino Farm celebrate the apple harvest with apple picking, haywalks, and baked passes with apple fritters. and donuts. Kids will love El Dorado Orchards for the exercise rides that pass around a duck pond. Popular stops along the Apple Hill Wine Trail are David Gerard, Lava Cap, Boeger, and Narrow Gate, which grow biodynamically.
Placerville’s culinary scene ranges from old-fashioned favorites like Sweetie Pie’s, housed in a pink Victorian space and known for its four-egg omelets and berry pancakes, to the many new cafes, restaurants, and artisan purveyors that have opened in recent years under the direction of evolving chefs. Sacramento and San Francisco.
Try Hog Wild BBQ, which specializes in slow-cooked beef brisket and shredded red meat with classic sides; Rocker Oysterfellers for, yes, oysters and Southern specialties; and V’s Paradise, an American bistro.
Enchanted Forest Dining Experience is unlike any other restaurant, with its fairy-themed décor and dishes like the doughy Irish Gold Miner’s Pie dusted with genuine gold dust. Smith Flat House’s courtyard is the best place to enjoy live music on summer nights, while its ground-floor Cellar and Grill houses the façade of a veritable gold mine and a bar where Mark Twain is said to have drunk.
Loyalty features in the city are limited to the Best Western Plus Placerville Inn, which offers a pool and a basic breakfast, while IHG members will enjoy the Holiday Inn Express.
The sumptuous and romantic touches of the Eden Vale Inn begin as soon as you lay eyes on the pond in the middle of the property, which includes a dock and rowboat in a sailing position. A fireplace greets you with extra concoctions at your fingertips, while you are delivered a sumptuous breakfast at the location of your choice, whether in your room, on your personal terrace or patio, or across the pond surrounded by gardens.
Crested Butte’s rugged spirit is reflected in the eclectic businesses housed in 18th-century clapboard buildings and the spandex-clad backpackers and mountain bikers relaxing in the historic town’s colorful cafes. It is a destination where you can In fact, we see how the courage of ancient and modern mountaineers merge.
To understand why Crested Butte is called the gateway to the Elk Mountains, begin your excursion by climbing more than 12,000 feet in the elevator to Crested Butte Mountain Resort. From here, get perspectives of the plethora of hiking and biking trails that stretch from the city to the surrounding mountains.
The characteristics of summer hikes are incredibly varied, but you can expect amazing perspectives and valleys carpeted with lupins, poppies, and columbines as you go. For an easy hike, hike to Judd Falls or take a stroll around Meridian Lake; Those looking for the ultimate challenge can get up early to hike the 17-mile East Maroon Trail. High-altitude perspectives can be gained without climbing by taking the Silver Queen chairlift to Crested Butte Mountain and from there.
Related: Epic Passes Now On Sale For Ski Season Of The Year
In addition to skiing, Crested Butte is known for mountain biking, with cyclists from all over the world coming to show off on the amazing trail that runs from Pearl Pass to Aspen. But there are also plenty of less challenging courses suitable for hobbyists and intermediate riders, including those at the Evolution Bike Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Speaking of the resort, the descent from the most sensitive part of the Red Lady Express chairlift is a long feeling. Those who want an electric bike will find them can be rented, along with regular mountain bikes, at The Alpineer and Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven. While many of Crested Butte’s single-track trails are not open to electric motorcycles, they are allowed on almost all forest roads.
Or ride through the mountains on horseback with Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures, offering a full-day ride around the 11,800-foot East Maroon Pass with a lunch break at Copper Lake. And look for some good fishing in the East River near Three Rivers. Complex.
Start your day at Camp 4 Coffee, which offers smoothies and frappes, plus a great cold drink, and end it with local craft beers at a historic Eldo brewery and tavern.
Public House, which bills itself as a trendy day salon, feels outdated as bands step in and dancers take over the dance floor. But with truffle fries, cereal bowls, and burrata beet salad on the menu, trendy Crested Butte is also well represented.
Accommodation in the village of Crested Butte is made up of boutique hotels and old inns such as the laid-back Old Town Inn, which offers a hearty breakfast on the go, and the tranquil European-style Christian Guesthaus with its family room. Stylish lobby with games and Swedish-style dry sauna. IHG members’ problems can stay close to Gunnison, 20 minutes away, where the new Holiday Inn Express is located.
On the mountain, the Grand Lodge at Crested Butte Resort offers oddly moderate rates plus memorable mountain views, a restorative spa, and a pool.
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