Near the top of Cedar Mountain just outside of Cody, a lone buffalo statue has stood guard for nearly 60 years, overlooking the Shoshone Canyon and Buffalo Bill Reservoir behind it.
The buffalo, a tribute to Buffalo Bill Cody, had seen better days though, leading a group from Cody to refurbish the statue as a community service project.
Two years after it all began on a chilly but clear day last month, things came to completion with the installation of a plaque commemorating the site.
“The sculpture being restored has significance far beyond recapturing the physical essence of a large cloven-hooved beast with curved horns,” group member John Housel said. “It subliminally reminds us that we live in the heart of the American West; that we each and all carry within us a part of Buffalo Bill’s spirit; that we owe it to ourselves to live with his zeal and enthusiasms for adventure and daring.
"And that, ultimately, we should continue to perpetuate the story, life and drama of William Frederick Cody, the world’s first famous showman.”
The idea for the project came about in a roundabout way in September 2023 after a group, including Housel, Brian Beauvais, Sam Hanna and Jeremy Johnston, hiked up to the Winona claims in the Sunlight Mining District in Park County to explore.
They all agreed they should do something similar soon.
At the time Beauvais, the Park County Archivist, was working on a GIS history map of Park County and came across a lone statue on Cedar Mountain.
The buffalo is located in a somewhat remote site at 7,560 feet. It stands about 5 feet tall and with its pedestal is 8-10 feet wide. There was no marker or signage explaining what it is and why it’s there.
“It’s right on the edge of the cliff,” he said. “There’s a great view of Cody and the Shoshone Canyon, North Fork and Buffalo Bill Reservoir.”
Sam Hanna (from left), Brandon Dallas, Matt Thompson, Brian Beauvais and John Housel reattached the new appendages to the buffalo in June 2025. Ray Hatfield of Nature’s Design Taxidermy donated his time and materials to mold the parts from epoxy resin. (Courtesy Photo) 
Kent Houston (from left), Sam Hanna, Brian Beauvais, Amy Phillips, John Housel, William Frere and Corey Anco repainted the restored buffalo statue in July 2025. 
Dr. Jeremy Johnston’s son Sam (from left), and wife Amanda hold the plaque installed on the statue base in October 2025. The statue was rededicated in honor of Johnston, who passed away in June 2024. (Photo by John Housel) 
A plaque was placed at the refurbished buffalo statue in the hopes of curbing future vandalism. (Courtesy Photo) 
Sam Hanna with the Buffalo Bill Museum at the Center of the West installs the plaque at the base of the buffalo statue in October 2025. (Photo by Brian Beauvais)
Seen Better Days
Upon closer inspection it became clear the statue had seen better days.
It was full of bullet holes and missing various body parts, including its horns and tail. It had also been painted over the years from its original brown to white, back to brown and then to white once again.
“After doing a little research, I thought it'd be really cool if we could improve it as a community service project,” Beauvais said.
He sent an email to the original group, along with some additional friends, who agreed to the idea.
First up, finding out the history behind the statue and its relationship to Buffalo Bill Cody, who founded the town that shares his name.
Buffalo Bill Cody stated in his will that he wanted to be buried on Cedar Mountain, to “lie in close proximity to that fair section of my native country which bears my name and in the growth and development of which I have taken so deep and loving an interest.”
But when he died while on a trip to Colorado in 1917, his wife had him buried on Lookout Mountain outside Golden instead.
The Cedar Mountain site has long held interest for Housel, who when he was just 11 traveled with neighbor Fred Garlow up to see the spot Fred’s grandfather, Buffalo Bill, desired for his final resting place.
“As we gazed in awe at the view of Cody to the east and the Shoshone Canyon directly below, Fred firmly said, ‘This is the spot where Granddad wanted to be buried,’” Housel said.
Years later in 1968 when the new Buffalo Bill Museum was being dedicated, the cities of Cody and Golden held a joint ceremony which recognized Buffalo Bill’s intended burial site.
As a part of it all, the buffalo statue was flown to its final destination on Cedar Mountain by a Husky Oil helicopter.
“During the dedication ceremony in the parking lot of the new museum a helicopter appeared from the east, struggling with a buffalo sculpture suspended on a cable and swinging to and fro in the strong headwind,” Housel recalled. “A few years later I drove to the site, and the solitary buffalo was standing firmly on a rock pedestal where Fred told me his story years before.”
Men at the Husky Oil Hangar at the Cody airport prepare the buffalo statue for its helicopter ride to the top of Cedar Mountain in 1968. (Photos by Jack Richard. McCracken Research Library Collection) 
Men installing the buffalo statue in 1968 after it was lifted to its perch atop Cedar Mountain. (Photo by Jack Richard. McCracken Research Library Collection) 
Renowned hunter and outfitter Ned Frost stands at the marker of Buffalo Bill’s chosen burial place before the installation of the buffalo statue. (Park County Archives) 
In Buffalo Bill Cody’s “Last Will and Testament” he wrote of his intention of being buried atop Cedar Mountain so as to “lie in close proximity to that fair section of my native country which bears my name.” (Park County Archives) 
In Buffalo Bill Cody’s “Last Will and Testament” he wrote of his intention of being buried atop Cedar Mountain so as to “lie in close proximity to that fair section of my native country which bears my name.” (Park County Archives)
The Work Begins
Before any repair work could begin, the group needed to determine if anyone laid claim to the statue.
The buffalo is located on BLM land, but can only be accessed by crossing through private property.
After talking to Jay Nielsen, whose grandfather Glenn was part of the original dedication, people from the City of Cody, Buffalo Bill Center of the West and BLM, and owners of private property near the site, they finally had the go-ahead to proceed after no one claimed it.
The group took measurements in 2024 of the bison and contacted Ray Hatfield of Nature’s Design Taxidermy, who donated time and materials to recreate the missing body parts.
In June the group, along with employees from Nature’s Design, went up to attach the new appendages.
“We also wanted to paint it, and we really debated if we should paint it white or if we should paint it brown,” Beauvais said. “Everyone that we talked to seemed to think that brown was the original color and we should paint it the original color, just to restore it.”
They collected some leftover outdoor paint from Park County Building and Grounds and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
On a warm, clear day in July, they went up and painted the statue two tones of brown, along with some black for the muzzle, hooves, tail and other small details.
The buffalo statue shortly after it was installed in 1968. (Photo by Jack Richard. McCracken Research Library Collection) 
The fiberglass buffalo statue on Cedar Mountain overlooking Cody has been damaged and vandalized since its installation in 1968. (Photo by Brian Beauvais)
Finally Complete
For the final piece of the project, the group wanted to do something to honor Johnston, who passed away from cancer in 2024.
Johnston had worked at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, first as the managing editor of The Papers of William F. Cody, and then as curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum.
“He was our friend, and his whole job was preserving the history of Buffalo Bill,” Beauvais said. “We wanted to rededicate this statue in his honor, because he did so much for Buffalo Bill.”
Beauvais approached the Park County Historical Society, of which Johnston had served as president, about creating a plaque explaining the site and dedicating it in his memory.
The historical society was happy to donate the money to buy a plaque, which was placed in mid-October.
A flat stone already at the site was the perfect spot for the plaque, and it was drilled without the stone breaking.
Johnston’s wife and son also attended and spread some of his ashes at the spot.
“I think it is an outstanding project not only because of all the restoration work but also because I’m very hopeful that the plaque will explain to visitors to the site why the buffalo is there,” said Lynn Houze of the Park County Historical Society. “The fact that the buffalo not only honors Buffalo Bill and his intended burial site, but also Jeremy, I hope will deter some of the vandalism that had occurred since it was originally placed there in 1968.”
The plaque reads, “This statue was placed in 1968 to commemorate William F. Cody’s intended gravesite atop Cedar Mountain.
As Buffalo Bill embodied the spirit of the America West, so too does the buffalo — now recognized as the national mammal — symbolize that enduring legacy.
In 2025, the statue was restored and dedicated in honor of Dr. Jeremy Johnston.
