Step through the doors of The Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, and you’ll find yourself transported to the days of gunfighters, cattle barons, and frontier legends. This remarkable piece of living history has been welcoming travelers since 1880, offering an authentic Wild West experience that money can’t buy elsewhere. From the original saloon where outlaws once drank to guest rooms filled with period antiques, every corner tells a story of America’s untamed frontier days.
1. Walk Through 140+ Years of Frontier History
Built in 1880, The Occidental Hotel stands as one of Wyoming’s most treasured landmarks, having survived boom and bust cycles that claimed countless other frontier establishments. Buffalo Bill Cody, Butch Cassidy, and even President Theodore Roosevelt once walked these very halls, leaving behind stories that still echo through the corridors.
The hotel served multiple roles during its early years – saloon, boarding house, and social center for the growing cattle town. After nearly crumbling in the 1980s, dedicated preservationists rescued this gem through meticulous restoration.
Today, visitors can experience authentic Wild West atmosphere while enjoying modern comforts, making it a perfect blend of historical accuracy and contemporary hospitality.
2. Belly Up to the Original 1908 Saloon Bar
The heart of any frontier town was its saloon, and The Occidental’s drinking establishment remains gloriously intact from its 1908 heyday. The magnificent back bar, imported all the way from Glasgow, Scotland, still serves thirsty travelers just as it did when cowboys and cattle barons ruled these lands.
Embossed tin ceilings catch the warm glow of vintage lighting, while original fixtures transport you back to an era when whiskey was cheap and justice came from a six-shooter. Live music sessions, particularly the Thursday Night Bluegrass Jams, keep the frontier spirit alive.
Order a cold beer or aged whiskey while imagining the colorful characters who once shared these same wooden stools and brass rails.
3. Sleep Where Legendary Outlaws Once Rested
Each of the 18 guest rooms and suites tells its own frontier tale through carefully curated antiques, period wallpaper, and vintage quilts that transport guests back to the 1880s. The Cloud Peak Suite features a crackling fireplace and oversized balcony perfect for watching Wyoming sunsets paint the sky.
The Nate Champion Suite honors the famous rancher who became a folk hero during the Johnson County War. Every piece of furniture, from ornate dressers to iron bed frames, maintains historical authenticity while providing comfortable modern amenities.
Imagine drifting off to sleep in the same rooms where notorious outlaws planned their next adventures or weary travelers found refuge from the harsh frontier life.
4. Feast Like a Frontier Aristocrat at The Virginian Restaurant
Named after Owen Wister’s classic Western novel that helped define cowboy mythology, The Virginian Restaurant serves hearty Wyoming fare in surroundings that would make any cattle baron feel at home. The elegant dining room combines frontier charm with sophisticated touches that reflect the hotel’s role as a gathering place for the region’s most influential figures.
Menu offerings focus on regional specialties like prime beef, wild game, and locally-sourced ingredients that celebrate Wyoming’s agricultural heritage. The restaurant’s atmosphere captures the essence of frontier hospitality, where good food and conversation were sacred traditions.
Candlelit tables and period furnishings create an intimate setting perfect for savoring both exceptional cuisine and the romance of the Old West.
5. Grab Coffee and Stories at the Busy Bee Café
Since 1927, the Busy Bee Café has served as the hotel’s casual dining heart, where locals and travelers gather over hearty breakfast plates and satisfying lunch fare. The bright, cheerful dining room overlooks Clear Creek, providing peaceful views that contrast beautifully with the rugged frontier atmosphere found elsewhere in the hotel.
Ranch-inspired dishes celebrate local flavors, from fluffy pancakes drizzled with Wyoming honey to robust sandwiches that fuel modern-day adventurers exploring the Bighorn Mountains. The café maintains a warm, welcoming atmosphere where conversation flows as freely as the coffee.
Early risers especially appreciate the generous breakfast portions and friendly service that help fuel day-long explorations of Buffalo’s historic attractions and natural wonders.
6. Join the Cowboy Poetry and Storytelling Traditions
The Occidental Hotel keeps Western oral traditions alive through regular storytelling nights, cowboy poetry gatherings, and music sessions that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the American frontier. These events transform the hotel’s common areas into intimate venues where modern visitors can experience the same entertainment that once captivated weary travelers.
Local ranchers, historians, and visiting artists share tales of cattle drives, frontier hardships, and the colorful characters who shaped Wyoming’s identity. The annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering draws performers from across the West, creating a festival atmosphere that honors literary traditions born around campfires.
Participating in these events provides authentic cultural immersion that goes far beyond typical tourist experiences, connecting guests with living Western heritage.
7. Explore the Bighorn Mountains’ Majestic Wilderness
Buffalo’s strategic location makes The Occidental Hotel an ideal basecamp for exploring the breathtaking Bighorn National Forest, where snow-capped peaks, pristine lakes, and diverse wildlife create outdoor paradise just minutes from your historic accommodations. The scenic Bighorn Scenic Byway winds through landscapes that remain largely unchanged since frontier days.
Hiking trails range from gentle nature walks to challenging backcountry adventures, while fishing enthusiasts can test their skills against native trout in crystal-clear mountain streams. Wildlife viewing opportunities include elk, deer, and occasional bear sightings that remind visitors of nature’s untamed power.
After days spent exploring rugged mountain terrain, returning to the hotel’s period luxury feels like stepping back into a frontier fantasy where comfort and adventure perfectly coexist.
8. Discover Buffalo’s Rich Frontier Heritage
Beyond the hotel’s walls, Buffalo offers numerous attractions that illuminate the complex history of cattle country, including the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, which houses one of the West’s finest collections of frontier artifacts, Native American items, and Johnson County War memorabilia.
The historic Bozeman Trail once passed directly through this area, bringing wagon trains, military expeditions, and countless pioneers seeking new lives in Montana’s gold fields. Walking tours reveal architectural gems, historic markers, and stories of the conflicts that shaped this region’s destiny.
Local museums, historic buildings, and interpretive sites provide context for understanding how places like The Occidental Hotel served as crucial gathering points where diverse cultures, economic interests, and competing visions of the West’s future collided and merged.
9. Encounter the Hotel’s Friendly Frontier Spirits
Ghost stories add another layer of intrigue to The Occidental Hotel experience, with staff and guests reporting encounters with friendly spirits who seem reluctant to leave their beloved frontier home. The most famous resident ghost is Emily, a young girl whose playful presence has been felt throughout the building for decades.
Rather than frightening visitors, these supernatural encounters seem to enhance the hotel’s authentic atmosphere, suggesting that some souls found the place so welcoming they chose to remain permanently. Guests report gentle touches, mysterious footsteps, and occasional glimpses of period-dressed figures in hallways and guest rooms.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories contribute to the hotel’s mystique and remind visitors that some places hold memories so powerful they transcend ordinary time and space.
10. Relax in the Outdoor Beer Garden Paradise
After exploring Buffalo’s historic attractions or hiking mountain trails, The Occidental Hotel’s beer garden provides the perfect spot to unwind while soaking up Wyoming’s legendary big sky country atmosphere. Comfortable seating areas surrounded by native landscaping create an oasis where modern visitors can imagine how frontier travelers felt when finally reaching civilization after long, dusty journeys.
The outdoor space captures Wyoming’s casual, friendly spirit while maintaining connections to the hotel’s historic character through thoughtful design elements and period-appropriate touches. Cold beverages taste especially refreshing under the expansive Western sky, where dramatic cloud formations and brilliant sunsets provide natural entertainment.
Evening hours bring particularly magical moments as historic building lights begin twinkling and the sounds of live music drift from the saloon, creating perfect ambiance for reflecting on your Wild West adventure.
