“Great Dam Day” Tomorrow
Written by Andrew-Rossi on August 17, 2018
Tomorrow is going to be a great Dam day.
At least, that’s the hope of organizers at the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center, who in cooperation with Buffalo Bill State Park and the Wild West Paddle Club, are hosting the annual “Great Dam Day” event tomorrow between 9 am and 3 pm.
A number of free events will mark the celebration of the Dam and its impact on Park County since it was completed in 1910. Some of those will take place at the Visitor Center, which is 6 miles west of Cody, while others will stretch along the old highway that runs between the Hayden Arch Bridge and the Dam itself.
Andy Quick is one of the organizers of the water events, which feature the Shoshone River and are part of the Wild West River Fest. Kayak races and other competitions will take place tomorrow morning, along with other celebrations. In particular, Quick says this year’s Riverfest will honor the late Ed Conning, who was revered in the kayaking world for his expertise and his heart. 
In addition to the river competitions and Riverfest events, there will be different interpretive learning stations located on the two-mile stretch between the dam and Hayden Arch Bridge tomorrow. Vehicle assistance will be available for folks needing help back up the steep grade.
Buffalo Bill Dam was completed in 1910 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the tallest dam in the world upon completion, and the reservoir supplies four irrigation districts encompassing over 93,000 acres of farmland.