Visitor Insights
Visiting Cody Wyoming Temple
The Cody Wyoming Temple grounds welcome all visitors during daylight hours to walk the scenic perimeter paths. The sacred interior remains reserved exclusively for active church patrons participating in holy rites. Guests can view native landscaping while taking in views of the Absaroka Range.
Highlights
- Native garden pathways featuring drought-tolerant high-desert plantings
- Unobstructed views toward Cedar Mountain and the Big Horn Basin
- Exterior facade featuring warm-buff Romanesque architectural stone detailing
Things to Know
- Interior admittance requires a valid temple recommend from church leaders
- Modest attire and reverent demeanor are requested on all grounds
- There is no cafeteria, patron housing, or public visitor center on site
Location
555 Temple View Lane, Cody, Wyoming 82414, United States
Hours: Grounds open daily from dawn to dusk; interior schedules vary Tuesday through Saturday
Getting There: Located off US-14/16/20 via Skyline Drive to Temple View Lane, just 10 minutes from central Cody.
Get DirectionsTips for Your Visit
Golden Hour Photography
Visit at late afternoon to photograph the warm stone panels against the Absaroka Mountains.
Visit the Historic Cody Mural
Tour the famous 1952 Edward Grigware dome mural at the nearby Cody Stake Center on 19th Street.
Yellowstone Excursion Stop
Plan your trip while traveling toward Yellowstone National Park East Entrance fifty miles west.
About
The Cody Wyoming Temple stands as a sacred sanctuary dedicated to the worship of God and Jesus Christ. Anchored within the Abrahamic lineage of holy ground, the structure provides a quiet retreat where heaven and earth meet in eternal covenant.
Completed in 2026, the temple honors northern Wyoming's rugged pioneer legacy. It provides faithful Latter-day Saints with a sacred place for eternal ordinances, including sacred endowments and everlasting family sealings.
Constructed with a refined modular stone design, the edifice incorporates regional motifs and local craftsmanship. Its presence along the ridge offers sweeping views of Cedar Mountain and the surrounding Absaroka Range.
Gallery
Symbolic Elements
The temple's exterior features intricate carvings, each rich with spiritual meaning:
Indian Paintbrush Art Glass
Vibrant crimson art glass blossoms celebrate Wyoming's state flower and beauty in the wilderness.
Sheridan-Style Leather Motifs
Carved rosette and acanthus leaf woodwork motifs honor the craft heritage of northern Wyoming.
Twelve Oxen Baptismal Font
Cast oxen support the font, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel upholding the work of salvation.
Ascending Central Spire
The slender spire points heavenward, signifying the spiritual ascent of the soul to God.
Romanesque Arched Corbeling
Bracketed cornices along the parapet recall historic frontier architecture and protective refuge.
Opposing Eternity Mirrors
Parallel mirrors in the sealing room cast reflections to infinity, signifying eternal families.
Holiness to the Lord Carving
Gold lettering above the portico denotes the building as a consecrated House of the Lord.
Interesting Facts
The Cody Temple is the third operating Latter-day Saint temple dedicated in the Equality State (Tier A).
It serves as the closest temple to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, only 50 miles away (Tier B).
Interior woodwork and carpets incorporate motifs inspired by regional 'Sheridan-style' tooled leather (Tier A).
Stained-glass panels honor the Indian paintbrush, which is the official state flower of Wyoming (Tier B).
Its tower height and site design were affirmed by the Wyoming Supreme Court following extensive municipal review (Tier B).
The temple stands as a spiritual milestone for descendants of pioneer settlers who dug the 1904 Sidon Canal (Tier B).
More than 18,500 patrons toured the interior during its open house, nearly double the town's population (Tier A).
The temple's modular GFRC wall panels were manufactured by Unlimited Designs in Utah (Tier B).
Common Questions
Can members of the public tour the interior of the Cody Temple?
Public interior tours concluded with the dedication; only active recommend-holders may enter now.
Are the landscaped grounds open to the general public?
Yes, the gardens and perimeter walking trails are open to all visitors during daylight hours.
What is the closest airport to the temple site?
Yellowstone Regional Airport is situated approximately twelve minutes east of the temple grounds.
Is there a visitor center located on the temple grounds?
No, but visitors can explore pioneer displays and a historic mural at the Cody Stake Center.
Featured Stories
The Hand-Hewn Sidon Canal
1904
In 1900, early Latter-day Saint pioneers answered a colonizing call to northern Wyoming's arid Big Horn Basin. Without heavy machinery, families utilized horse teams and manual scrapers to construct the 37-mile Sidon Canal. Modern Saints view the Cody Temple as the lasting spiritual reward for their forebears' resolute sacrifice.
Source: Church News Historical Archives
Artistry in the Basin Rotunda
1953
In the early 1950s, local members commissioned renowned non-LDS artist Edward T. Grigware to paint the rotunda dome of the Cody Ward chapel. Grigware studied church scripture for a year before rendering a 36-foot panoramic masterpiece celebrating pioneer endurance. This rich artistic heritage paved the way for the temple's own refined western aesthetic.
Source: Park County Historical Society
A Beacon for New Frontiers
October 25, 2026
During the dedicatory session on October 25, 2026, Elder Clark G. Gilbert praised the grit of early Big Horn Basin homesteaders. He emphasized that while earlier generations conquered physical deserts, modern believers face cultural frontiers requiring spiritual fortitude. Patrons departed with renewed purpose to maintain holy lives in a rapidly shifting world.
Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dedicatory Ledger
Timeline
Big Horn Basin Colonization
Latter-day Saint pioneers arrive to settle northern Wyoming under Church President Lorenzo Snow.
MilestoneSidon Canal Completed
Pioneers finish hand-excavating the 37-mile canal to bring life-giving irrigation to the arid basin.
MilestoneHistoric Cody Mural Dedicated
Artist Edward T. Grigware completes a massive 36-foot rotunda mural in the Cody meetinghouse.
MilestoneStar Valley Wyoming Temple
Wyoming's first temple is dedicated in Afton to serve the western border settlements.
MilestoneTemple Announced
President Russell M. Nelson announces the construction of a temple in Cody, Wyoming.
MilestoneSite Location Announced
The First Presidency designates the 4.69-acre parcel off Skyline Drive for the new temple.
MilestoneCasper Wyoming Temple
Wyoming's second temple is dedicated in central Wyoming to serve eastern stakes.
MilestoneGroundbreaking Ceremony
Elder Steven R. Bangerter presides over the official site dedication and groundbreaking.
component.timeline.groundbreakingSupreme Court Affirms Permits
The Wyoming Supreme Court dismisses legal challenges over zoning and tower height.
EventPublic Open House Begins
The temple opens its doors to more than 18,500 visitors during a two-week open house.
EventTemple Dedication
Elder Clark G. Gilbert formally dedicates the temple for sacred ordinance service.
DedicationHistory by Decade
1900s — Pioneers of the Big Horn
Church President Lorenzo Snow called pioneer families to establish settlements in the arid northern basin. The settlers successfully excavated the 37-mile Sidon Canal to bring irrigation water from the Shoshone River. Their agricultural settlements anchored the faith permanently in northwestern Wyoming.
1950s — Cultural Foundations
As local stakes expanded, members built a landmark meetinghouse on Cody's 17th Street. Artist Edward Grigware spent months executing an expansive ceiling mural inside the dome rotunda. For decades, members traveled long distances to temples in Utah and Idaho for their holy ordinances.
2020s — Realization and Dedication
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Cody Wyoming Temple in October 2021. Despite contentious zoning debates over tower height, the Wyoming Supreme Court upheld the approvals in 2025. Elder Clark G. Gilbert formally dedicated the completed house of the Lord in October 2026.
Architecture & Facilities
The Cody Wyoming Temple features an architectural design that blends Romanesque Revival motifs with rugged Western vernacular forms. Inspired by turn-of-the-century stone edifices along Cody's historic Sheridan Avenue, the exterior integrates classical arched corbels, crenellated parapets, and warm masonry textures that echo the surrounding mountain desert landscape.
Building Materials
GFRC Architectural Cladding
Textured buff-colored glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels cast with rich sandstone hues.
Structural Steel Frame
High-grade structural steel framework engineered to resist mountain-basin wind loads.
Leaded Art Glass
Insulated custom stained-glass windows depicting blooming scarlet Indian paintbrush flowers.
Hardwood Millwork
Cherry and maple timber mouldings carved with traditional Sheridan-style leather patterns.
Interior Features
Baptistry
A consecrated font supported by twelve sculpted oxen referencing Solomon's ancient brazen sea.
Instruction Room
A peaceful auditorium where patrons participate in sacred covenants with presentation altars.
Celestial Room
A luminous sanctuary finished with crystal chandeliers and soaring ceilings signifying God's presence.
Sealing Room
An intimate chamber with facing mirrors where eternal marriages and family sealings occur.
Temple Grounds
The 4.69-acre parcel incorporates native blue spruce, quaking aspen, drought-resistant perennials, and concrete paths enclosed by dark metal fencing.
Additional Facilities
A discreet utility pavilion and maintenance wing serve groundskeeping operations without an on-site cafeteria or housing.
Religious Significance
Rooted in ancient Abrahamic sanctuary theology, the Cody Wyoming Temple stands apart from regular Sunday meetinghouses as a dedicated House of the Lord. It provides a holy retreat where Christian believers enter into lifelong, sacred covenants with God through Jesus Christ.
To serve as a consecrated space where holy ordinances bind families eternally and connect heaven with earth.
Sacred Ordinances
Temple Endowment
A Christ-centered instructional ceremony outlining creation, the fall, and atonement through covenantal promises.
Eternal Marriage Sealing
A holy rite solemnizing marriages for time and all eternity rather than till death parts.
Baptism for Ancestors
Proxy baptisms performed in behalf of deceased forebears who died without the opportunity to receive the gospel.
The Modern Holy of Holies
Like the wilderness tabernacle constructed by Moses, Latter-day Saint temples feature graduated degrees of sanctity. The Cody Temple's quiet Celestial Room serves as an earthly symbol of returning to the presence of God in heaven.
Generational Reconciliation
Through proxy ordinance work, members act in behalf of their forebears across generations. This vicarious ministry reflects the New Testament command to unite families across time in the love of Jesus Christ.
Sources & Research
Every fact on Temples.org is backed by verified Sources & Research. Each piece of information is rated by source tier and confidence level.
View All Sources (8)
| Field | Source | Tier | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| About & Historical Background | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (opens in a new tab) | A | 2026-02-15 |
| Timeline & Dedication | Church News (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |
| Architecture & Planning Records | City of Cody Planning and Zoning (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |
| Legal Appeals & State Court Records | Cowboy State Daily (opens in a new tab) | C | 2026-02-15 |
| Community & Open House Coverage | Powell Tribune (opens in a new tab) | C | 2026-02-15 |
| Photographic & Construction Documentation | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org (opens in a new tab) | C | 2026-02-15 |
| Regional Temple Milestones | LDS Temple Pics (opens in a new tab) | C | 2026-02-15 |
| Historic Cody Mural Documentation | Photogent Cultural Heritage (opens in a new tab) | D | 2026-02-15 |