Nebraskaland Magazine
The roof on Scout’s Rest Ranch Barn was replaced in late winter 2018, early spring 2019 and still has “Scout’s Rest Ranch” painted in four-foot-tall white letters on it from the Cody era. (Julie Geiser/NGPC)
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The former home of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is looking fresh and improved after a series of restoration projects recently were completed.
The roof on Scout’s Rest Ranch Barn was replaced in late winter 2018, early spring 2019. The large, two-story horse barn was built in 1887 and could stable 80 horses, some belonging to actors in Cody’s “Wild West” show. Cody had “Scout’s Rest Ranch” painted across the south side of the roof in four-foot-tall white letters, which still adorns the barn today.
Renovation of the Cody mansion’s wooden porch floors and decorative spindle railings was completed in 2019. Inside the mansion, the interior wooden floors were sanded and restored to their character-defining features of the Cody era.
In 2020, many historically correct restorations were made to the outside of the iconic Cody mansion, consisting of: replacing the Cupola roof and renovating many decorative wooden features on the outside of the mansion’s windows, siding, and porches. The mansion was topped off with a fresh coat of white paint and green trim; the historic colors for the mansion.
Adjacent to the historical park lies Buffalo Bill State Recreation Area where a new public archery range was built last year near the recreation area campground.
Nearly $100,000 dollars was reinvested into renovations, made possible with the use of Capital Maintenance Funds and State Park Improvement Funds established by the state legislature to support park projects, and with Park Cash Funds, which includes proceeds from camping, lodging, and park entry permit fees.
