In the northeast corner at the edge of Yellowstone National Park is the quaint little town of West Yellowstone. Most all of the stores are along the one main street (Canyon) running through town where 912 residents live year around. This town of some 50 square blocks swells to 1,500 residents in the summer. At 6,600 feet

elevation West Yellowstone is

usually on the “coldest spots

in the nation” list!

West Yellowstone is located in southwestern Montana just 1.5 miles from Wyoming and eight miles from Idaho. The town shares a common border with Yellowstone National Park and is the Park's only west gateway. West Yellowstone considers itself to be the "Hub of Yellowstone Country" because of the excellent location to all the wonders of Yellowstone National Park with the added benefit of all there is to explore and do west of Yellowstone.

In January of 1920 President Woodrow Wilson signed the Proclamation removing the lots from the National Forest and creating the new town site. That same year the town's name was changed for the third and last time. Beginning as Riverside in 1908 it was changed to Yellowstone the following year 1909. With the confusion of the name "Yellowstone" to the neighboring National Park the "West" was added in 1920.

From: http://www.westyellowstonechamber.com/history.htm

Among the great business places in West Yellowstone (Where I have been visiting for some 20+ years now), is Buckaroo Bill's Dining, owned by Bill and Ms. Gaily Arnado offers such fine, rustic, dining that I ate over 70% of my meals there during my June 2004 fly fishing trip that lasted some 14 days. (Picture to the left).

Just some of the “family” who run the place, cook the great food, etc.

The menu includes some wonderfully delicious buffalo burgers (very large), barbeque ribs, tocos (very good), and a great variety of just “great western cooking) – oh yes, the pizza is excellent! The food is mostly prepared on the front porch with stainless steel grills and ovens – right before your eyes. One has the choice of dining inside or outside and enjoy the clean Montana air! Finish the meal off with some of their large servings of diversified ice cream choices to complete the meal. You will never meet nicer folks than Bill and Gaily.   The menu can be viewed at www.buckaroobills.com

Bed And Breakfast Alert!

There is the West Yellowstone B & B I plan to do an article on next month in this section, but in case some of our readers are looking for a B & B in the Yellowstone area, I wanted to recommend it now for summer 2004 travel.  As you know, I only recommend the best!

The unique B & B is located just four miles west of West Yellowstone, and six miles from the park entrance. Check out the place at:

http://westyellowstonebandb.com

Happy Traveling.