Bill Gates Buys Historic Wyoming Ranch
By: Diane Tuman, Zillow Content Manager | June 18, 2009
Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, has reportedly purchased Irma Lake Lodge, a famous Wyoming ranch once owned by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who may have been one of the earliest successful entrepreneurs. After serving in the U.S. Army, Cody was hired to hunt bison and scout Indians and then he started his famous “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show where Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull performed among other notable characters of the Old West.
Cody established Irma Lake Lodge as his own personal hunting retreat. It is a 492-acre property named after Cody’s youngest daughter, Irma, and is located about 20 miles outside of Cody, WY. The lodge is virtually secluded and surrounded by wilderness and forest lands since it sits next to Shoshone National Forest and nearby Washakie Wilderness. It is approximately 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park.
The final purchase price is unknown at this time, although it was originally listed at $12 million several years ago and has received several price cuts — coming all the way down to a listing price of $8.9 million before Gates bought the ranch.
Only two people have owned the ranch since Cody: the William R. Coe family, who purchased it from Cody in 1911 and owned it for 75 years, and then Minnesota’s Roger Hollander. And now, another famous Bill takes over.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Celebrity Real Estate
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Bill Gates Buys Historic Wyoming Ranch - (WY) - City-Data Forum on June 18, 2009 1:31 pm
[...] Bill Gates, the world
Misty Floresca on June 18, 2009 2:34 pm
well, if I can afford it..I will buy the place too. Unfortunately, I can’t. Indeed, the place is so beautiful and so peaceful. Away from the noise of big city, pollution and traffic.
JF on June 18, 2009 3:31 pm
$8.9 million purchase price?
Bill earned that today in interest and dividends. Imagine being able to buy that ranch for $23.50 - that’s about the financial decision equivalent for you and me. Regardless, beautiful place, no doubt.
Dingle on June 18, 2009 7:56 pm
I wonder if he paid cash or got a mortgage?
Andrew on June 18, 2009 8:07 pm
I think he got mortgage, He get the PreApproval from bank.
Eric Underwood on June 18, 2009 8:54 pm
Bill Gates is buying 8.9 million dollar properties while the rest of America is going through forclosure… I hate Bill Gates!
Lynn Behlendof on June 18, 2009 8:57 pm
Great article and nice pictures of the ranch. My pet sheltie is named Cody, and his pedigree name is Maramet William Cody, in part after the breeder and I have three good friends named Bill and live in the southwest. So anything about Buffalo Bill Cody has some sentimental value. Buffalo Bill was quite an entrepreneur in his day.
Ray Strickland on June 18, 2009 9:02 pm
Bill earned it the old fashioned way … he created an empire from scratch, ingenuity, and hard work. Bill Gates haters have to love the NEW way … Obama and his socialist slavery. Good going, Bill Gates. True Americans are proud of you and your accomplishments.
J. Cox on June 19, 2009 7:08 am
It’s amazing how jealous people get over someone elses hard work and success. My wife and I own a 1,000+ acre plantation in South Carolina that we worked out butts off for, sometimes 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we saved our money and paid cash for it. We did not ask anyone, especially the Government for anything. When we were married 26 years ago we had nothing but a desire to succeed, and we did. If people would focus on their own life instead of worrying about what someone else has maybe they would realize the American dream, too. Great going, Bill Gates!
RICHI on June 19, 2009 8:40 am
WOW! Amazing… The only thing Bill Gates doesn’t own is the things he doesn’t want too and ofcurse few other things that people won’t let him (IE: Google and Oracle etc… But lets not get into that)!
Congratulations Mr.Gates!!!
Mark on June 19, 2009 9:47 am
Beautiful weekend place! I wonder if he’s going to rent it like the Rockefellers did/do? I’m in!
Otto E. Schuett on June 19, 2009 2:49 pm
A place of my dreams. Mr. Gates please be sure to enjoy it with your family and friends as frequently as possible.Wow.
Michael Thomas on June 21, 2009 2:52 am
Enjoy it Bill….you deserve it. He will likely donate it to the state or federal government eventually. He’s that sort of class-A dude. In the meantime, its in safe hands as I don’t see him trying to carve it up to make a few bucks sub-dividing.
Michael Thomas on June 21, 2009 2:56 am
Eric Underwood–why do you hate Bill Gates? Because he is successful and created wealth for himself and thousand of others? His company provdes jobs for Americans. Would the US be better off without him? You should use your energy looking inward rather than spending it hating BGates (or anyone else for that matter). Get A Life, buddy.
bill gates compra el rancho de buffalo bill (fotos) — idealista news on June 22, 2009 7:30 am
[...] visto en zillow.comBill Gates Buys Historic Wyoming Ranchcompartir esta noticia ¿de qué va esto? los gestores de información son páginas web que [...]
Noticia: Gates, el nuevo vaquero del rancho de Buffalo Bill « Blog edt.diximedia.es on June 22, 2009 9:04 am
[...] que fue propiedad de su homónimo William Cody, más conocido como Buffalo Bill. Así lo indica Zillow, que informa también de que se desconoce la cifra que ha pagado el ex presidente de Microsoft, [...]
carol aragon on June 22, 2009 1:58 pm
Thank you Mr.Gates.. Welcome to Wyoming.. I hope you and your family enjoy your new home..
carl on June 24, 2009 2:05 pm
nice parcel , i think he should subdivide the property .
Vie Bottger on July 9, 2009 9:34 am
Beautiful! Hope you enjoy the view and solitude. Need any horses to go with that ranch?
Verl Matteson on July 22, 2009 12:00 pm
I grew up in Cody Wyoming and still have family and friends living there.
I think Cody is more beautifull today then it was back in the 50’s when I went to school there.
Although it has lost some of its flavor. It was a rough and tumble town in those days.
It is in my opinion a good place to live and raise a family.But, has become more of a tourist town, like Jackson Hole.
I think it is good for cody,That Bill Gates bought the Irma Ranch property. Just maybe, he will buy the famious Irma Hotel in downtown Cody to go with the ranch.
John on July 27, 2009 11:31 am
Leave it to Americans to worship the rich while going broke. There is no salvation for the stupid.
mexicojane on July 27, 2009 11:34 am
My great, great uncle would be floored by such fancy quarters! Ranch? Not really!
paul on July 27, 2009 12:21 pm
A gorgeoous property in now in capable hands. Well bought, and will no doubt be well preserved.
To Bill, Melissa, and the family - may it bring you joy and peace.
Paul S.
Scottsdale, AZ
R. MacKay on July 27, 2009 2:10 pm
Anyone who bad-mouths Bill Gates is just envious what he has accomplished. Through hard work he has achieved great success. What is wrong with spending money honestly earned? But did he spend his own money? Maybe one of Obama’s recent stimulus disbursements ended up being sent to him! Haha!!
Debra on July 27, 2009 3:16 pm
I think it is great for Bill.
Just to let you all know I am loosing my home soon. Have been unemployed since October, having made many efforts to find a job, as well.
I find more peace in being happy for those who do have during these times. Knowing there is an ultimate plan for each and everyone of us. Bill just happens to be able to buy a home in WY.
Dont waste the energy within being jealous of him.
Bill, do you need a housekeeper for this home?
james glass on July 27, 2009 3:24 pm
I don’t care how much Gates has, he still looks like a NIT or a NURD…
Mimi on July 27, 2009 3:33 pm
Gorgeous place. Bill, I’ll come wash dishes and dust?!!
He and his wife do so much for so many they deserve some peace and quiet, they’ve earned it.
Cathy McManus on July 27, 2009 3:38 pm
Congratulations Bill, what an amazing looking place. Let me know if you need anyone to go up and check on the place maybe bring some horses to check out the property………
C in New Mexico
Rich Foster on July 27, 2009 3:43 pm
It’s nice that Bill could buy this property. It’s a beautiful place. I have a very, very distant connection, in that a very good friend of mine in high school and college, and a fraternity brother, Jim Hayes married Anne Coe from Cody. She is a grandaughter of Wm. R. Coe. Guess they’re still there.
Anyway, enjoy Bill and whoever your wife is. They have done a lot with their money for other people around the world. Maybe they could open a homeless shelter in Cody for the rest of us. Ha!
Yvonne Iiams on July 27, 2009 3:45 pm
Mr. Gates did just what God intended us to do. He used his imagination to manifest a peofitable business. Our inheritance from God is prosperity. Be happy and love one another. Everything startes with an Idea, even all of us!!!!
Jim Matters on July 27, 2009 4:15 pm
I used to defend Bill Gates at every turn, until I got a taste of his business practices firsthand. I don’t begrudge anyone their success. I do shun those who achieve it by plunging knives into the backs of the innocent. The organization is a manifestation of the management.
So I hope that he enjoys his home, but that when he needs a plumber, it costs him $50,000 because the plumbing won’t work with any other copper pipe, and he needs to lease a 20 seat bathroom license to add a spashower in the guest room.
Darlene on July 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Hi Bill & Family,
Your home is outstandingly gorgeous. I sure wish you a lot of luck,you are a very intelligent man. I could use a few dollars if you need a write off. I am disabled and barely getting by. I have COPD plus many other complications with my condition,which consist of having only 15% of my breathing capacity.
Good Luck with everything you do,no matter what you touch your fingers on you make it. I wish I was as lucky as you.
God Bless You & Your Family
Greg on July 27, 2009 6:57 pm
Mr. Gates Congrates, You deserve it. You worked hard and so many are just standing there with their hand thrust out waiting for someone to give them something.
Thomas Bundrick on July 27, 2009 7:27 pm
I stand in AW at what God has created. Bill, I hope you are the kind of person who acknowledges from whom all blessing flow. God has been good to you. He has a much more beautiful place prepared for us and it is free. Jesus paid for it.
Thomas Nast on July 27, 2009 7:43 pm
The weak-wing, er I mean right-wing will take any opportunity to slam Obama. How funny to praise Gates and attack Obama in the same comment, since Gates is a progressive politically regardless of his wealth. Gates will be a good caretaker of this beautiful property and Obama will do all he can to keep the air and water there as clean as possible so it will be beautiful for future generations.
Ina on July 27, 2009 7:48 pm
If it wasn’t for Bill I wouldn’t be able to read this article and look out his “Windows”…Peace Out
Wanda on July 27, 2009 10:09 pm
To the Gates family:
You have earned all the happiest and serenity. Kick up your heels and enjoy. Life is way to short.
May you and the family be blessed for all the good you have contributed.
Bayr on July 28, 2009 3:13 am
Mr. Gates.
You will never read this anyway, but I’ll ramble on.
I was one of many that supported you in the early days. I supported you and your products, and let you kill Xerox & Atari, Gem, & IBM OS/2. They never saw us coming did they?
We didn’t wan’t the big Blue machine to win, wanted a standard, and you provided.
We’ve gotten a standard, but now legacy cards and drivers are an issue w/Vista and Windows 7. I actually have a stable 64 bit Vista platform. The rest of my cronies run 32 bit xp.
My cronies are Judicial Information Systems for the Supreme Court, major auto & manufacturing, and school systems.
Drivers are an issue.
Vista, and Win 7 beta can only gain acceptance w/drivers.
Nevermind. I’m done giving free advise.
I’m logging onto Google now.
Bayr
Barry_Griffin@Hotmail.com
P.S. I edited Mike Zbikowskies MZ on DOS files to BG. Then I ended up being friends w/his sister. Who could ever know!
Mary Lou on July 28, 2009 10:28 am
Too bad the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming were not able to buy it, after working on fund-raising for years and offering many Masses and prayers to make this a monastery and retreat center. At least they will have a nice place in heaven, as they now pray for Bill Gates and his intentions.
steve laughton on July 28, 2009 12:30 pm
Must be nice. Like other readers have pointed out, while the rest of the country is going through a DEPRESSION - yes you head me right - Gates is out buying speculative property; I’m sure he will sell it for a handsome profit someday.
You know, with capitalistic pigs like Gates and Warren Buffett, it’s just never enough! These pigs would be the last ones I’d help if they were stuck by the side of the highway in 130 degree heat.
annjeanette on July 28, 2009 1:14 pm
I think that the property is a dream! I don’t begrudge him the right to own such a beautiful home. He has worked long and hard to help others and utilize his talents for worldwide assistance. Bill and family…enjoy your home…you deserve it!
My Duong on July 28, 2009 1:25 pm
Yes, It is a dream property of many of us. Bill and family deserve it.. congratulation! for your new home.
Fred on July 28, 2009 1:25 pm
I would do the same If I were to earn his money now is the time to invest in real estate if you have the money
Tedine Long on July 28, 2009 2:11 pm
Hey everyone, all of life is a constant trade off. Good going Mr. Gates and God bless. Like Johnny Carson said …Money only solves money problems, if you’re sick and dying it cannot heal you, if your loved one walked out on you it cannot bring them back.
Be happy for anyone in this life that gets ahead, I’m sure he deserves his earned happiness. Congrats to you, from the bottom of my heart!
Debra on July 28, 2009 4:44 pm
yeah! Tedine Long
“MONEY ONLY SOLVES MONEY PROBLEMS, IF YOU ARE SICK AND DYING IT CANNOT HEAL YOU, IF YOUR LOVED ONE WALKED OUT ON YOU IT CANNOT BRING THEM BACK”
If I could bold your statement, I would.
Should we judge others…I think not.
Again Bill YEAH for you, this will be a great place to go to when you need time with your family.
Steve Holmgren on July 28, 2009 4:52 pm
Nice piece of land Bill.
Good for you.
Steve Holmgren
Phoenix, AZ
Eric on July 28, 2009 11:46 pm
Good deal!…Bill you beat me to it.
P.S. Your hair cut looks better.
Tanya Walsh on July 29, 2009 9:22 am
Hey to everyone that’s happy for Bill and and big “shame” on the losers who are bitter and jealous of someone who used his brain and found wealth. We should never judge others for their success just because we don’t have the smarts to do something great of our own. Thank God for Nerds and people who have the courage to be different when they have a dream or belief that others are quick to shoot down.
Cody must be a great place because my sister and her Fiance are out there right now looking to buy property. They will probably be Bill’s neighbors some day soon. More power to the people who are smart and moving to Cody. Thank’s Bill!!!
Mr Suane B. Huff on July 29, 2009 10:47 am
Bill I have some property for sale in McComb, MS that I just had renovated, it is on Zillow. If your interested please contact me on my e-mail address. I’m in kind of bind because I,m not working and I need money ASAP. Thanks and God Bless you, Mr Huff…..
Robert Undsderfer on July 30, 2009 12:38 pm
Congradulations / you earned it –now enjoy it!! I bought a cabin 20 years ago and enjoyed it for years with all the family and friends! Losing it now, because I lost my job, but believe me it was worth it!! The memories it will make will never fade. Just make a concious effort to use it!!
JULIA on July 31, 2009 8:08 am
I’VE BEEM OUT TO THE IRMA RANCH SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE MY COUSIN WORKED FOR MR. HOLLANDER. IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE WITH FABULOUS VIEWS. I HOPE THE NEW OWNER WILL ENJOY IT, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS BUSY LIFESTYLE HE MAY NEVER BE THERE.
BOB on August 1, 2009 9:13 am
I THINK IF WE ALL COMBINE TO GATHER EVEN WITH JUST
ONE DOLLAR A MONTH YOU CAN OWN MANY THINGS FOR ALL
OF US. THINK THE WHOLE WORRLD. 6 BILLION DOLLARS
A MONTH WHAT NOT YOU CAN DO. EVEN WITHOUT USING
A PENY FROM THAT 6 BILLION A MONTH
IF SAVED AT ALL THE TIME AND ONLY USE 50 % OF
INCOME FROM IT AND THEN PUT THE OTHER 50 %
BACK IN IT. I THINK AND HAVE A FULL PLAN TO DO
THAT. I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW MANY OF US
EVEN CAN THINK AND SUPORT TI GIVE ONE DOLLARA
MONTH FOR ALL CAUSE AND PROBLEMS OF OUR AND YOUR LIFE
THAT CAN BE HELPED AT ALL TIME. PLEASE REPLY YOUR
SUPPORT OF ANSWER TO BOBMAJ122@HOTMAIL.COM SEND THIS
TO OTHER YOUR FRIENDS IF YOU WANT OUR WORLD TO BE
SAFE, FULL PROOF, AND RUN BY OUR OWN MONEY, STRENGHT OR VOTING ANT OUR OWN THOUGHTS AND POWERS GOD BLESS US ALL SUPPORT AND WRITE TO ME. BOB FROM BOBMAJ122@HOTMAIL.COM
Eric on August 5, 2009 12:08 am
Stop wining about losing property and jobs!! If Beal can do it so can you…suit up an show up!! Don’t take NO for an answer..Beal probably paid 10 cents on the dollar!! ” if you want something you never had before do something you’ve never done before.”
Chuck Moen on August 5, 2009 9:37 am
Good for Mr Gates.
That is truely a beautiful getaway. I hope he is able to make time to use it.
rb on August 7, 2009 12:53 pm
John,
There must be no salvation for you then. I’m sure the people defending Bill aren’t the ones going broke. Just because you don’t know how to manage your finances, doesn’t mean everyone else is in the situation you are. Get some help angry man!
Jon Cherry on August 7, 2009 5:36 pm
Giving this one a Five Woof Rating! Congrats. Wish I could visit for a weekend.
John on August 7, 2009 5:59 pm
Mr. Gates is not helping anyone. You think life is better now that he has that much wealth. There is only so much money and people increase right? OK now he has how much money and what is he doing with it? You don’t think that affects us all? You don’t think it affects us when massive amounts of wealth are concentrated in a few hands and no one can get a job because the rich don’t need us to do anything cause they want us to stop using their world. Please educate yourself in reality for all our sakes Mr. Gates included, you would think he would know that such a smart man, sad cracked too.
WMR on August 7, 2009 9:48 pm
Given the passion that Bill Gates seems to motivate in people (either pro or con), you should add your feedback to one of two UnSpun lists.
For those how dislike Bill Gates, check out http://unspun.com/27076-what-do-you-hate-most-about-bill-gates
And for those who think he is worth of admiration, take a look at http://unspun.com/40877-great-things-about-bill-gates
Enjoy.
AUSTIN PETERSON on August 7, 2009 9:55 pm
All of you that are whining about Bill Gates probably voted for Obama. You are all losers looking for a government hand out. Bill gates will no doubt preserve the natural beauty of the entire piece of land & later donate it as a National Park. Those of you that complain about Bill Gates are self haters. You loathe yourselves because you don’t have the brains or guts to go out there and do what Bill did.Bill Gates’ inventions have completely changed the way the world operates and saved mankind trillions upon trillions of dollars & man power. Not to mention how many trees he has saved due to paperless systems. Wake up, pull your heads out of the sand. I would work for Bill Gates for free, just to be a part of something that has & will change the world for the better.
Tanya Walsh on August 8, 2009 9:23 am
Yeah, Austin Peterson…you have the right attitude. Only, I don’t know if I’d work for him for free. We could all use a paycheck. Right-on about all the a-wholes in this world. Peace!
Leo Castellon on August 8, 2009 10:12 am
Hey John, you sound like a communist, why don’t you go live in Cuba, you’ll like it there where everyone is even, what you may not know is that everyone evenly lives in poverty.
Jake on August 8, 2009 4:26 pm
I would like to ask Mr. Bill gates if I could hunt there. I am sure there is some good hunting around them areas. I would like to kill all of the Bison on the ranch. I heard them sum bitches where good eatin. Good job Bill for buying the place now give me an email so I can start killing me some dinner. I would also like to shoot me some coons. I like to coon hunt. I got me a house not as big because I drive a backhoe in West Virginia but it is real nice.
Domenic on August 8, 2009 5:40 pm
To Eric who wrote, “Bill Gates is buying 8.9 million dollar properties while the rest of America is going through forclosure… I hate Bill Gates!”
Do you know how generous Bill Gates is? He’s given millions to the most needy on earth. He has earned the right of a beautiful home and the privacy this property will give him.
Domenic on August 8, 2009 5:56 pm
To Eric who wrote, “Bill Gates is buying 8.9 million dollar properties while the rest of America is going through forclosure… I hate Bill Gates!”
Do you know how generous Bill Gates is? He’s given millions to the most needy on earth. He has earned the right of a beautiful home and the privacy this property will give him.
The same to John and anyone else who begrudges Bill Gates or anyone who has amassed millions/billions. People who work hard deserve good fortune. Can you imagine how much privacy a billionaire would have if he lived in a $400,000 home in the suburbs.
It doesn’t happen to me but if I suddenly became jealous of what someone else had, I think my first impulse would be to work harder. You ought to try it.
AUSTIN PETERSON on August 9, 2009 8:53 am
I don’t believe that antone has the right to say what Bill Gates deserves, good or bad. Bill Gates has the rights as an American to say what he deserves. Everything in life is relative. We all should live within our means so we never become a burden on our kids or a burden on society. When we as a society start looking at what someone else has and what we don’t have, we have lost all of our self esteme. I grew up poor money-wise, but extremely rich in a loving family. Now I have plenty of money, but we are so scattered as a family & so “busy” chasing the almighty dollar, we don’t have time to enjoy our family like we used to when we were “poor”.
We don’t even have time to enjoy all the toys that the riches have afforded us.
100% Mortgage on August 9, 2009 3:17 pm
Beautiful place, absolutely gorgeous, however the guy has worked hard, we can all make ourselves a bit of luck too, good on him.
Droog on August 9, 2009 3:45 pm
Bet his wireless internet connection won’t be half as good as mine here in San Jose, Ca. But then again bet that was the last thing on Bill’s mind when he bought this beautiful and historic property. Hope you enjoy it Bill, you deserve it!
Raj on August 10, 2009 6:39 am
You deserve it Mr.Gates!!!
Marilyn Fillilngim on August 10, 2009 1:00 pm
I would think this would be the most wonderful place to be with his family and friends and out of the spotlight for probably some much needed rest.
I wish for the Gates family wonderful wonderful times in this beauty.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Fillingim
Jim in TX on August 10, 2009 1:32 pm
Bill and Melinda,
Congrats on your new home. I hope that you keep the property pristine and as natural as all possible. My wife and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary at the end of the month, so if you want someone to keep tabs on it for the weekend, please let us know. Once again, best of luck at your new house.
Blessings, Jim
Johnny Boy on August 11, 2009 8:12 am
Gotta say this about Bill: what other wealthy person - and there are many - has seriously devoted a great portion of that wealth, plus his time and considerable personal abilities, to creating and sustaining a well-focused charitable organization that does important work?
Terry on August 12, 2009 8:19 am
I only live about seven miles from the gate to the Irma Lake Lodge and I hope Mr. Gates enjoys his new property because it is beautiful. Should Mr. Gates actually meet the people of Cody he will find them to be warm hearted, decent people in general and folks who could care less about his wealth and fame. Here in Cody we are use to wealthy people and most of us could care less about it. Cody has been home to such folks as Bill Ruger of Ruger Firearms, Dupont family members, Fisher Body of G.M. and many others. Welcome Bill, I hope you fall in love with Cody as much as the folks who live here.
Jerry on August 25, 2009 8:20 pm
Congrats on your wonderful way of life, you earned it, so enjoy it to the fullest! Wish you could show our leaders how to do things, the right way!!! God bless you and yours and the USA.