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Moms around the world: Cody, Wyoming
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Thea, Francis and Aspen home on the range, near Cody, Wyoming.
Cody, Wyoming was named for Frederick William Cody, commonly known as “Buffalo Bill” for his hunting feats and made world famous through his Wild West Shows. Cody lies in northwestern Wyoming, just east of Yellowstone National Park along the Yellowstone Highway. Though it’s a small city by most people’s standards at just under 9,000 residents, Cody is home to the largest rodeo in the U.S. The Cody Stampede has taken place the first four days of July every year since 1919.
Cody, Wyoming is also home to some of “The American West’s” best historical museums, including the Buffalo Bill Historical Center which actually houses 5 different museums, including the Buffalo Bill Museum, The Whitney Gallery of Western Art, The Plains Indian Museum, The Cody Firearms Museum, The Draper Museum of Natural History, and The Harold McCracken Research Library.Thea Marx is a Cody resident, mother, and expert in contemporary western design (www.contemporarywesterndesign.com). While Thea is the direct descendent of five generations of Wyoming ranchers, she has spent much of her adult life working in a world far different than the one she grew up in. High tech advances have made it possible for her career to flourish at an international level, all while living in what was once a fairly remote region of the U.S. However, Thea still longs to return to the ranch lifestyle she knew from her own childhood, especially to share the experiences and values with her own daughter, Aspen.
Read on as Thea discusses life, work, and parenting in the old American West, and shares some of her tips for parents planning trips through Cody with their own kids.
Q: Thea, what was life like for you as a kid growing up in Wyoming?Thea: I grew up near Kinnear, Wyoming, population 44. The town consisted of a post office, tiny store and rural fire station. It is situated in the middle of the five million acre Wind River Indian Reservation, home to both the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes. For five generations my family has ranched in Wyoming raising cattle, sheep and horses. I grew up learning to be self-reliant, independent and self-entertaining. The nearest town of any size (7,000) was 25 miles away. We didn’t have television until I was a teenager, but we had books. My class graduated 29 students. I was very involved in school; played basketball, was in drama, band and choir. The FFA and 4-H programs for youth were critical in my evolution into adulthood.
Q: So is it very different where you are raising your daughter now?
Thea: I now live in Cody, Wyoming population 9,000. Cody is 180 miles from where I was reared. My daughter, Aspen, is six years old. Living in town has its definite advantages including access to many things I never dreamed of as a child: dance, tae kwon do, swimming pools just to mention a few. Aspen has seen more movies than I saw in my entire first 20 years. We have a Japanese restaurant, a beautiful museum and public library. She can swim at a recreation center everyday if she wants to. The grocery store is a few blocks away.
Q: Sounds like quite a change from your childhood. Do you ever miss life out on the ranch—or wish you could share a little of that lifestyle with your daughter? Thea: We don’t have television. I believe books are the most potent tools for exploration possible. We are trying to make the transition back to where I grew up. Back to ranch life and the open spaces.
We spend as much time as possible on the ranch. It is a place where Aspen can run out the door and I don’t worry about streets or someone taking her. She can get on her own horse, ride the ATV on her own, build forts and make mud pies. She is independent, safe and creative.
We churn our own butter and I bake bread once a week. We grow a substantial garden. It is a place where we witness the sun rising over a regional landmark and site of a significant Indian battle every morning and hear the powwow drums beating long into a summer night.
Q: It must be an amazing place to raise children. What are some of your favorite family outings in your area?Thea: Wyoming has incredible places for children. One of our very favorite places is Thermopolis. Thermopolis is home to the world’s largest mineral hot springs. A treaty in 1896 between the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes and the state of Wyoming gave the general public use of the healing water. In Thermopolis, we play in the hot mineral pools and go down the slides until we are exhausted. The warm water is soothing and good for you, and the entertainment is long lasting. Beautiful parks in the tiny town provide wonderful picnicking spots.
For fun we also fish in nearby streams, hike and explore nearby trails. Louise Lake is a short 5 mile hike into the Wind River Mountains which gives a breathtaking look into Wyoming’s back country. Many times we take horses and ride into the wilderness or camp overnight in a backcountry camp.
Q: Wyoming has some pretty harsh winters though, doesn’t it? What do you do then?Thea: In the winter, we bundle up and ice skate on a nearby lake, snowshoe, cross country ski and sled. We always go into the mountains to cut a Christmas tree with great ceremony—including hot chocolate and the much anticipated winter picnic, which is sometimes from the confines of the vehicle because of the temperatures.
When it rains, irrigating boots come out and puddles become irresistible. Popcorn is made, games are played and end rolls from the newspaper are rolled across the dining room floor for everyone to paint on.
Q: What would you say every visitor to Wyoming should experience?
Thea: Nearly every town has a rodeo during the summer. It is a must see. Many have special events for children including stick horse races and “mutton busting”—which is riding sheep. The 4th of July is a perfect time to take in parades, rodeos, picnics and fireworks. Many towns have celebrations that are especially entertaining for children during this time.
Also, be sure to check powwow schedules. The Plains Indian Museum Powwow is June 20-21 in Cody. Ft. Washakie and St. Stephens also have powwows as do other small towns on the reservation. They are not only colorful, but fun to watch. There are always Indian Tacos and native artists who sell their wares at the powwows. They are fun for children and adults alike.
Q: Has raising children in Wyoming changed much since you were a child?
Thea: Wyoming has always been family-inclusive. Because of its ranch culture, children are a part of every day. Most times, parents must take their children with them when they work in the fields or with the stock. Children learn at an early age how to entertain themselves, and be little helpers when they can. When I was young I remember holding on for dear life to the saddle strings as my mom worked cattle on her horse. I was both expected to be a part of the daily operations and not get in the way.
Q: Is it common for new moms to take maternity leave in the state of Wyoming?Thea: Maternity leave from a regular job is encouraged and accepted, though on a ranch, that is hardly possible. New mothers immediately go back to their duties.
Ranch children are rarely left with baby sitters. They are with one or both of their parents from infancy on daily. That creates a bond both with their caretakers and with the land. It has not changed much since I was raised, and even though I was not a part of ranch culture when I had my daughter, I raised her as such. She traveled with me, went to meetings, client dinners, lectures and social events.
Q: Wyoming seems like it’s hung on to a lot of traditional values by and large, with the ranching lifestyle still at its core. I’m not sure if that means people are largely uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding there—or perhaps nursing babies never even went “out of style” in Wyoming?
Thea: Breastfeeding is highly encouraged and believed to be the most important thing for a baby to thrive. Mothers breastfeed in public and appreciation by both genders is usually openly expressed. Visiting mothers should feel comfortable breastfeeding their children in Wyoming in public, though adequate modesty is expected.
Q: Speaking of visiting parents, what is the current booster seat law in Wyoming?Thea: Wyoming car seat laws say that children must be in a car seat or booster until they are at least 80 pounds or 8 years old. If there is a back seat in the vehicle, the child must be secured there. The laws are strictly enforced with substantial fines for those who do not comply.
Q: I would imagine people, tourists and residents alike, spend a lot of time on the road in Wyoming. Any tips for driving in your state?
Thea: Wyoming has few roads compared to other states and is easy to navigate, though one must remember that the driving distances are long. Driving long distances is common in our State which has 99,000 square miles within its borders and under 500,000 residents. Distances of 100 miles can be driven without a place to stop to refuel. Keeping the gas tank full, snacks and plenty of water is highly recommended.
Also, winter travel is hazardous. If doing so, be prepared. Keep an emergency supply kit in the car with appropriate winter clothing, sleeping bags, extra food and water along with a shovel. Make sure and check travel conditions and weather before starting out. Many mountain passes, canyons and desolate stretches of road can have adverse conditions.
Q: I think summer sounds much more inviting! In addition to a rodeo and powwow, what should families traveling to—and through—Cody be sure to see? Thea: The Buffalo Bill Historical Center has a wonderful children’s exploration center and Old Trail Town is full of historic buildings in their original state. Saloons with bullet holes, a livery stable and board walks are perfect for child’s imagination of the Old West to run wild. In Thermopolis, the Dinosaur Museum and dig allow children to experience the thrills of discovering fantastic specimens.
Q: Any suggestions for places families might like to stay around Cody?
Thea: Booking a trip to a guest ranch is a wonderful way for children to experience the western lifestyle. The horses are safe and there are a variety of different activities each day for families to choose from including fishing, riding, hiking and camping. Log cabin accommodations, local cowboys and sing-a-longs around a campfire add to the intrigue for children.
Q: Any final tips for families planning visits to Cody or road trips through Wyoming?Thea: The 300 days of sunshine a year provide beautiful vistas and exquisite opportunity to enjoy the varied landscape, but always have layers of clothing. Days can be very hot in the summer and cool as much as 60 degrees at night. High mountain elevations can be cold even in the middle of summer. The climate is also very dry, so always pack plenty of water and don’t be tempted to drink out of streams—you can get very sick. Wear plenty of sunscreen; because of the high elevation, sun exposure is intense here.
Also, there are many species of wildlife in Wyoming. They are beautiful, but don’t be tempted to approach them, they are dangerous! Always ask for permission to go on land and if you open a gate to get through make sure you close it. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals in rural areas for advice or help. They are very helpful. They consider their land sacred so don’t litter.
Good sources for information are www.wyomingtourism.com and www.codychamber.com nearly every town has a chamber of commerce or visitors center. The chamber can provide information on hotels, attractions and travel details.Thea, thanks for sharing your tips and photos with us. And thanks to the photographers who have also contributed to this article and the photo tour of Wyoming: Casey Brown, Ron Bronson, Billy Hathorn, and Tim Pearce. Don't miss the slide show below!
Can you guess where we're going next?
Get ready for some serious culture shock—and jetlag! To catch up with our next mom, you’d take the 2-hour flight from Yellowstone Airport to Denver International, then embark on an 8,900-mile flight with a stopover at London Heathrow. When you arrive at this very large city that has been the set of several American and British films, it will be 2 days later than it was when you started your journey. Think you know the answer? Email your guess to “examiner” (at) travelswithbaby.com and the first right answer will receive a free signed copy of Travels with Baby.
Shelly Rivoli is the author of the award-winning guide Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children.
This article is part of a series. Click here to see a complete list of Moms Around the World features.
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