The Historic Sheridan Inn: Buffalo Bill's Wyoming Landmark
August 12, 2026 · 6 min read read · Wyo Stays Journal
An 1893 hotel on Main Street once co-owned and used as a base of operations by Buffalo Bill Cody, this landmark reportedly hosted auditions for his Wild West Show right on its front porch. Restored and reopened as a working hotel, restaurant, and bar, it remains one of Sheridan's most recognizable buildings.
We send guests here even if they're not staying the night — the porch alone, with its long row of rocking chairs facing Main Street, is worth a visit. Grab a drink at the bar and you're sitting in a building where Buffalo Bill Cody himself once did business.
What Is the Historic Sheridan Inn?
Built in 1893, the Inn was designed with a distinctive gabled roofline modeled after a Scottish hunting lodge, and quickly became the social and business hub of frontier Sheridan. Buffalo Bill Cody was a part owner in its early years and is said to have auditioned performers for his Wild West Show right on the porch — a detail that's become central to the Inn's identity ever since. It's one of the few genuine frontier-era landmarks left standing in Sheridan Wyoming, and it's still a working hotel rather than a museum piece behind glass.
After decades as Sheridan's premier hotel, the building fell into disrepair through the mid-20th century before a dedicated restoration effort brought it back. Today it operates as a boutique hotel with a restaurant and bar open to the public, alongside guest rooms.
A few quick facts worth knowing before your visit:
- Built in 1893 with a Scottish-lodge-style gabled roofline.
- Buffalo Bill Cody was an early part owner and business partner.
- Restaurant, bar, and porch are open to the public year-round.
- Sits an easy 5–10 minute walk from downtown Main Street shops.
Where Is the Inn Located?
The Inn sits at 856 Broadway Street, just north of Sheridan's core downtown business district — an easy walk from Main Street shops and restaurants, and a natural stop if you're already exploring downtown on foot.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Built | 1893 |
| Notable figure | Buffalo Bill Cody, early part owner |
| Address | 856 Broadway St, Sheridan, WY |
| Current use | Boutique hotel, restaurant, bar (open to public) |
| Walk from downtown Main Street | ~5–10 minutes |
Can I Visit Without Staying Overnight?
Yes. The restaurant and bar are open to the public, and the porch is a popular stop for visitors even if they're staying elsewhere in town. It's a good spot for a mid-afternoon drink or a meal, especially if you want a taste of Sheridan's frontier history without committing to an overnight stay there.
Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage, and we routinely point guests toward the Inn's porch as a first stop, even on the same afternoon they check into one of our downtown rentals a few blocks away. Check current availability at book.wyostays.com before locking in a date.
What's the Story Behind Buffalo Bill and the Inn?
Buffalo Bill Cody's connection to Sheridan runs deeper than a passing visit — he had business and personal ties throughout the region, and the Inn became one of his favored stops. The tradition of "auditioning" performers on the porch has become part of local lore repeated by tour guides and staff alike, and it's a detail worth asking about if you stop in, since staff often have more color on the story than what's printed in guidebooks.
The Inn has a long-standing local reputation for ghost stories, particularly tied to a former innkeeper who lived there for decades. We won't oversell it — it's the kind of story that's part local legend, part marketing, and part genuine reported experiences from staff and guests over the years. If that's your interest, ask locally rather than expecting an official ghost tour; the building leans into its history more through atmosphere than staged experiences.
The ghost stories aside, what keeps the Inn relevant a century later is that it never stopped operating as a real hotel. Plenty of historic Wyoming buildings survive as museums you can only look at from behind a rope; this one still pours drinks on the porch every summer evening.
For more of Sheridan's downtown history and landmarks, see our guide to what Sheridan is known for.
Is the Historic Sheridan Inn Worth the Visit?
Yes, especially for anyone interested in Wyoming's frontier history or Buffalo Bill Cody specifically. It's a rare building that's both a genuine historic landmark and a fully functioning hotel and restaurant, which means you can experience it rather than just look at it from behind a rope line.
We tell first-time visitors to plan at least an hour if they want to actually sit with a drink rather than just snap a photo from the sidewalk. Evenings tend to be busiest, especially in summer, so an early-afternoon visit is a reasonable way to get a table on the porch without much of a wait.
The Inn sits close enough to downtown to pair naturally with a walk through Sheridan's Main Street shops, a stop at the Trail End State Historic Site (the historic Kendrick Mansion) a short drive away, or dinner at one of the area's farm-to-table restaurants. History-minded visitors often build a full day around Sheridan's landmarks — the Inn, Trail End, and the WYO Theater downtown all sit within a few minutes of each other.
One detail that surprises first-time visitors: the Inn's guest rooms and public spaces have been restored with real attention to the original 1893 character, not a generic historic-hotel remodel. Original woodwork, the wraparound porch, and the building's distinctive Scottish-lodge roofline are all still intact. It's worth a slow walk around the exterior even before you step inside.
Book direct at wyostays.com for a stay close enough to walk to the Inn's porch for a sunset drink, then walk home without needing a car. Browse our full collection of Sheridan-area rentals if you want a downtown-adjacent stay within walking distance of the porch. Book Direct — No Channel Fees and spend the savings on dinner at the Inn instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Historic Sheridan Inn known for? A: It's known as an 1893 hotel co-owned by Buffalo Bill Cody, who reportedly auditioned performers for his Wild West Show on its front porch. It remains a working hotel, restaurant, and bar today.
Q: Where is the Inn located? A: At 856 Broadway Street in Sheridan, Wyoming, a short walk from downtown Main Street.
Q: Can I visit without booking a room? A: Yes. The restaurant, bar, and porch are open to the public regardless of whether you're staying overnight.
Q: Is the Inn haunted? A: It has a long-standing local reputation for ghost stories tied to a former innkeeper, though this is more local legend and atmosphere than a formal ghost tour experience.
Q: What is the connection to Buffalo Bill Cody? A: Cody was an early part owner of the Inn and is said to have used its porch to audition performers for his Wild West Show, a story that remains central to the building's identity.
Book direct at wyostays.com — skip the OTA fees and stay with locals who can point you to the best time of day to catch the Inn's porch without a crowd.