Fort Cody – North Platte, Nebraska

Sometimes the most unexpected roadside attraction turns out to be the most memorable one on a road trip. And that was certainly the case when we stumbled upon Fort Cody in North Platte, Nebraska. 

As soon as I caught a glimpse of the place I was transported back in time…about 60 years…

Back then our family road trips were epic, and our car trips out west always included several stops at sites that are hard to explain to kids today. The roadside stores were set up to draw us in…from the brightly colored billboards that started to appear a hundred miles away from the store. Billboards shouting about all the wonders we might behold if we just stopped by. And when I walked through the doors at Fort Cody, I suddenly felt that same excitement and wonderment I felt nearly sixty years ago. 

We all know a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll spare you the verbiage and I’ll give you a tour of Fort Cody…a tour in pictures!

Fort Cody is a place to be a kid. And it didn’t take Peepaw and me long to regress…

The exterior of the place is filled with nostalgia and history…and it was FREE!

Fort Cody pays homage to that well-known cowboy turned showman…

But when we walked through the door the magic really began! For the next few minutes I was six years old again. There was almost too much to take in! It was like trying to take a drink from a fire hose as I looked around the huge showroom/store/museum. Which way do I turn? What toy do I pick up? What do I look at first?

This is as close as I ever want to be to a rattlesnake!

It’s hard to believe there are still places where kids are told to TOUCH THE DISPLAYS!

And it’s easy to learn a little history without really trying. (Who knew John Stetson was “the boss of the plains” and that his cowboy hat was the FIRST one?)

And speaking of hats…Everybody needs a coon skin cap…but believe it or not, Peepaw already has one in a cupboard back in Iowa! (Put that back, Peepaw!)

And when was the last time you saw a life-size statue of Buffalo Bill?

Or a train set surrounded by a complete cavalry regiment…

And if THAT’S not enough…How about having your fortune told by a Medicine Man?

Or when have you stopped to watch a game of checkers played by Indian braves…

And who hasn’t wondered if a two-headed calf really exists?

And haven’t you always wanted your very own dinner bell?

Yes…this store is a throwback to the carnival barkers and politically incorrect days of old, and it brought me back to another place and time. A time when some things could just be seen…for FUN. No judgement. No sermons. Just FUN!

And as Peepaw and I walked back out of Fort Cody, we marveled at the collection and the artifacts and the memories we relived…if only for a moment…

And as we strolled back to our hotel we noticed the full moon rising over Fort Cody…just as it has for decades…

What a night. Priceless.