"We've had a burst of chartered groups reserve the trolley for tours," explains Margie Johnson. "And then we performed all those "Recommend Cody Tours" for frontline staff and then the free tours we offer local residents," she adds, explaining why the trolley has been so active before it even opens for the season on June 5.
Over 300 seats with a retail value of nearly $5,000 were given away in May to local residents who enjoyed the same one-hour, 22-mile tour that is performed for over 10,000 visitors each summer. Another 120 frontline staff attended the special two-hour familiarization tour that helps frontline staff learn about Cody's most popular attractions so they can enthusiastically "Recommend Cody" all summer.
The trolley tours open to the public on June 5 with three daily tours (11 am, 3 pm & 6:30 pm) Monday - Saturday and 11 am and 3 pm on Sundays. The tours share the stories of Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley while spotlighting historical houses & events, geology, scenery and wildlife. Passengers enjoy witty narration from two guides, ten poster-sized historical photos, 11 audio clips, four pass-around relics and a trivia contestant where winners earn a wooden nickel. Even if you've lived here 50 years you're guaranteed to learn things you never knew.
The tours depart from the trolley station at the Irma Hotel. Due to limited seating, reservations are required and can be obtained by calling 527-7043 or by purchasing tickets at any of the trolley ticket outlets. Trolley tour tickets are sold at the Irma trolley station, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody Chamber, Ponderosa and KOA campgrounds, Buffalo Bill Village Gift Shop and the Best Western Sunset Motor Inn.
Each party of trolley tour passengers also receive a free copy of "The Cody Keepsake, Best of Cody" souvenir guide. The 68-page magazine is published by Cody Trolley Tours and includes the Historic Downtown Walking Tour, the fascinating "Buffalo Bill Burial Mystery" and articles about Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickok and Yellowstone National Park. The magazine normally sells for $5 retail.
To learn more, visit the Cody Trolley Tours Website, pick up a brochure at any hotel or restaurant, see the ad in the Cody Enterprise Summer Guide, listen for the trolley tour radio commercials , stop by the trolley station or call 527-7043.