Bannerman’s Castle history

[Armybrat]

I recall reading about his massive gun business years ago. Simply amazing what he did.

https://www.guns.com/news/2015/11/07/bannermans-legacy-ultimate-army-navy-store

[Bawanna]

Excellent read Army, makes a fella wish he could of wandered both places, especially the Island Castle. Probably be sensory overload for sure. I remember my visit to the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, my head was spinning for a week. I did the whole thing in one day but to do it right a fella should take at least 3 days.

[mr surveyor]

The Bannerman story was definitely a good read!

As for the Buffalo Bill museum .... I had the pleasure of doing it in 1971, about a month after high school graduation. A buddy and myself had planned to leave East Texas and camp in Colorado for a couple of weeks. The second day of the trip we were at the campsite in the Colorado mountains... o.k. we came, we saw - Hey, we've never been to Wyoming. A couple of days later we were in Cody and found out about the rodeo there (six nights a week for two straight months, with large crowds most nights), and since we had our rodeo gear bags in the truck decided to stay. We had about 6 hours to kill before the rodeo and found the museum. I can't remember, but I think it was a two story building with a basement full also. I know it's grown and expanded a lot since then, but dang that place still deserved at least two days just to get a look at all the firearms and Frederick Remington statues. Later at the rodeo grounds we found out we couldn't "sign up" for that night (Friday night), Saturday was full booked but Monday was available. I signed up for barebacks but my running buddy was out of luck because, of all things, they didn't have bull riding. After the Friday night rodeo as spectators was done we both were wondering what to do for the next two days .... hey, we ain't never been to Montana. Somehow or another we even ended up crossing the international border into Canada, and being detained by the lonely US Border Patrol agent in Sweetgrass Montana trying to get back to Cody. Spent 4 hours visiting with Agent Gordon Peloit, and almost didn't want to leave, but I wasn't going to miss out on the Cody Rodeo. We made it back to Cody with a couple hours to spare .... I think I made 6 seconds on that crazy mare before getting body slammed .... then, hey the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is going on, we ain't never been there. That's kinda' how that whole 10 day, 5,600 mile trip in a 1969 Dodge pick-up (ave. 12 mpg) happened.

Now, I don't even like to cross the county line, except for going to the old man amusement park and the beer store.

jd

p.s. Sorry for the long winded drivel .... blame it on Bawanna for bringing up the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody :)

[Bawanna]

They still had the rodeo when we were there 6 nights a week. We went several times and it was a great rodeo except still no bull riding. Hard to believe they could get such a crowd for several months every night but it was plumb popular.

[mr surveyor]

Yep, it was quite an event for what was really a small town in 1971. We ask the stock contractor why there was no bull riding because it danged sure wasn't for the lack of very competent riders. He said the cost to winter a herd of bucking bulls was just too cost prohibitive. They had some really good bare backs and saddle broncs, steer doggin, calf roping, team roping, women's barrel racing and all the other usual stuff. We were there in early July so I guess it was about the middle of their tourist season, and pretty congested in that small, but apparently growing town.

My buddy was only a couple months past 18 years old, and I still lacked a couple weeks of 18. I don't know of any 18 year olds today that I'd even trust to drive the three miles from my house to the hardware store in downtown Stumpwater. Sure wouldn't have to worry about today's 18 year old trying to steal that '69 Dodge with "three on the tree".

jd

[Bawanna]

When we arrived in town to deliver our daughter to college in nearby Powell Wyoming the streets were lined with Harleys. I asked the check in lady at the hotel if the Hells Angels were in town. She said no they were there the week before but these were the Harley Owners Group (HOG) I think she called it. She also said they never had one single issue with the Hells Angels. Didn't tear anything up, paid their bills and were nice.
I never had an issue dealing with sidewalks or curbs. There was always a biker ready to give a lift or help. It was actually kind of cool. Nice people in town.

[jeepster09]

I miss living in Wyoming! Used to live in Laramie years ago. Loved going to Frontier Days in Cheyenne. I was the service manager at the Jeep/Ford dealer and everyone drove a Ford or Jeep. I could hunt pretty much anywhere in state [the ranchers appreciated good service on their trucks and repaid the favor].
All the kids schools had rodeo every weekend and taught marksmanship in school. Many homes had a shooting range in basement [length of house with a false wall].
All though this does also bring up one of the dumbest things I did to memory....driving along road in back country in my Jeep CJ7 [hardtop on] an annoying jack rabbit "sneered at me" so I taught him a lesson with my Model 29 from the drivers seat out the passengers window! I couldn't hear for at least a week.....:faint2:

[Armybrat]

Well, take solace that smartass Bugs still can’t hear anything.

[jeepster09]

I should of added it was after a day of Antelope hunting that I got skunked on and I was heading home....I was pretty sure Bugs WAS LAUGHING at me.