National Register of Historic Places

Red Star Lodge and Sawmill

Cody, Park County, Wyoming
Listed
October 30, 2003
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
03001106

About this property

The Red Star Lodge and Sawmill, also known as the Shoshone Lodge, is a dude ranch in Shoshone National Forest near the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Built between 1924 and 1950, the ranch includes a rustic log lodge surrounded by cabins and support buildings. What is now called the Shoshone Lodge is the most intact example of a dude ranch operation in the area. The Red Star Lodge occupies a 6.2 acres (2.5 ha) site leased from the U.S. Forest Service near US Highway 14-16-20, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The lodge was built by Henry Dahlem, the first sheriff of Park County, Wyoming, beginning in 1924 and progressing by stages. The second quarter of the lodge was built in 1930, the third in 1935, and the final quarter in 1944. The lodge and other structures were built of D-shaped milled logs, produced on site at the Star Sawmill. Henry's son Harry took over management of the ranch in 1949 at a time when the Forest Service called the operation "Shoshone Lodge." Harry died in 1954, and his wife Betty managed the lodge with the help of their children Keith and Deborah. Keith Dahlem operates the nearby Sleeping Giant Ski Resort in the winter, while the Shoshone Lodge is open during the summer. The irregularly shaped grand lodge is a two-story log structure set on a stone foundation. The east half of the building is built of hand-peeled round logs, while the west portion uses D-shaped milled logs produced on site. The lodge's roof is very complex, a result of the many additions. The main lodge is surrounded by guest cabins, employee dormitories and service buildings. Photographs of the Shoshone Lodge at the National Park Service's NRHP database Red Star Lodge and Sawmill at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office

Location

349 Yellowstone Hwy.
Cody, Park County, Wyoming
44.49680, -109.93526

Categories

COMMERCEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONSOCIAL HISTORYTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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UXU Ranch
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Questions about this property

When was Red Star Lodge and Sawmill listed on the National Register?

Red Star Lodge and Sawmill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 30, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Red Star Lodge and Sawmill?

Red Star Lodge and Sawmill is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Red Star Lodge and Sawmill?

The period of significance for Red Star Lodge and Sawmill is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1924.

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