Despite being the tenth largest US state by total area, Wyoming has the smallest population in the country. When you venture out to the wilderness or take a drive on the open plains, you have plenty of chances to enjoy the landscape to yourself. It can actually remind you of the state’s Wild West roots, an era when the idea of survival described as ‘every man for himself’ was very real.
Epic vistas such as the Rockies and the High Plains will let out your inner cowboy. Discover more of the Wild West in Wyoming through the destinations and activities below:
Cheyenne
The Atlas Theatre (before refurbishment of the exterior to its original paint scheme!) Image: Pixabay
Wyoming’s capital and largest city, Cheyenne, is regarded by the Huffington Post as the heart of the Wild West. Cowboy legends including Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, “Calamity Jane”, Doc Holliday, and Luke Short called it home. Downtown Cheyenne has an abundance of Old West architecture, Wild Western wear shops, and museums. There’s Cowgirls of the West Museum as well as Messenger’s Old West Museum where old carriages, saddles and other Wild West memorabilia are exhibited.
Trolley Tour
Cheyenne Trolley. Image: Cheyenne.org
Cheyenne also offers tourists the 90-minute Trolley Tour that will allow you to learn about the city’s origins. You will hear stories of people like Union Pacific Major General Grenville Dodge who set up a town in 1867 (now Cheyenne) to service a nearby fort when railways were being laid out. It was called the “Magic City of the Plains” because they were able to quickly build huge tents that became saloons, halls, and bordellos.
Nelson Museum of the West
Interior, Nelson Museum of the West. Image Source: Travel Wyoming
The Nelson Museum of the West is another unique museum in Cheyenne. It houses a collection of costumes, including some worn by actor Roy Rogers, AKA “King of the Cowboys”, and his wife Dale Evans. The museum also displays Old West relics including guns, horse saddles, and Civil War era military clothing. There’s even a reconstructed Cattle baron’s living room. It will give you an idea of how the wealthier classes in Cheyenne lived it up.
Terry Bison Ranch Train
Buffalo at the Terry Bison Ranch. Image i.ytimg.com
It increases the sexual appeal and also prolongs cialis without prescription the sexual intercourse. discount levitra no rx It means making sex is very far distant for him. So it is better to this page generic sildenafil tablets stay away from it. Before of all make sure that you talk to your health advisor about generico viagra on line review it, make sure that the pharmacy, you are buying medicines from is reliable.
The Terry Bison Ranch is located right on the border between Wyoming and Colorado, just about 10 minutes from downtown Cheyenne on I-25.
They offer trail rides via horse or ATV. They offer buffalo burgers at the Senator’s Restaurant. You can learn how to horseshoe! RV hookups are available.
They also have their very own train which will take you right through the middle of a herd of bison. You can also see camels and llama.
Occidental Saloon
Musicians at the Occidental Saloon. Image: i.ytimg.com
Wyoming in Motion previously featured Buffalo, and one of its ‘tickets to the Wild West’ is the Occidental Saloon. This establishment opened in 1908 and became notorious for high stakes card games that lasted days! As you enter, there’s an unmistakable smell of whisky and you will see that there are still bullet holes in the wall. Put simply, the Occidental Saloon takes visitors back to that bygone age. It has that signature Old West ambience that’s hard to replicate.
These days, there are mediums that can capture this atmosphere, one of which is through interactive games that heavily feature Wild West elements. The upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2, for one, will let you play as an outlaw that’s trying to survive the end of the Wild West. The imagery has only gotten more lifelike in this new installment of the series. Gaming platform Slingo also recaptures the Wild West experience in Gunsmoke where you hunt down most wanted criminals through a slot reel gameplay. It even features images depicting the Wild Western landscape. These are diverting escapes, although the experience is generally limited. One of the best ways to fully savor moments associated with this era is by entering an actual saloon like Occidental. There’s a kind of intensity that allows you to imagine scenarios like gun duels; or sheriffs barging through ‘batwing’ doors that were often used as entrances in Old West buildings.
Snake River Sporting Club
Bridge into Bridger-Teton National Forest. Image: i.ytimg.com
The formerly exclusive Jackson Hole Club has been turned into a resort open to all. It’s now called Snake River Sporting Club, and sits near the eponymous river. Its amenities include a Wild West-looking clubhouse, golf course, horseback riding center, and pickleball courts.
The resort also has access to Bridger-Teton National Forest. There are twelve hiking trails you can explore by foot, or you may hop on a golf cart and navigate the forest with a map provided by the club. Travel writer Alex Schechter suggests taking one of the trailheads that will lead you to “The Bench”, a peak which gives overlooking views of the valley below. If you visit in the winter, you may even see herds of elk that graze in the valley. This is an immersive experience that will make you feel like a regular cowpoke.
