6 Bucket-List Small Towns In Wyoming
In Wyoming, the Old West comes to life in a handful of towns such as Cody, where one road leads to Yellowstone and another to downtown adventures like Old Trail Town. Buffalo's backdrop is the Bighorn Mountains, where outlaws once hid, while the Occidental Hotel & Saloon offers accommodation in a historic 19th-century landmark with themed rooms and period antiques. Thermopolis's Wild West vibe extends to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, where one can dig for dinosaur bones, and Hot Springs State Park, which features natural hot springs and scenic nature trails.
Dubois
An hour from Yellowstone National Park, the Cowboy Cafe in Dubois brews fresh coffee every day. The coffee aroma stays with those exploring the small downtown, walking the same streets Butch Cassidy did. Shoppers can even buy a couple of treasures at Welty's General Store, where Cassidy spent some of his hard-earned (read stolen) money. In the surrounding Dubois Badlands, it is easy to picture Wild West gangs and cowboys heading out on their horses. It is possible to hike here, but not too far, since there is a lack of water. Another bucket-list activity in Dubois is a visit to the National Bighorn Sheep Center. The center is open throughout the year and features a museum with exhibits all about bighorn sheep.
Lander
Lander lies around 75 miles from Dubois and is one of the best Wyoming towns to watch a rodeo on the Fourth of July. The Pioneer Days Rodeo (the oldest paid rodeo in the world) takes place at the Lander Rodeo Grounds and also features events such as mini-bull riding and bronc riding. Butch Cassidy spent some of his years in Lander, so there is lots to discover about his life at the Fremont County Pioneer Museum. After having a cold one at the 1907 Lander Bar & Grill with its Western look and feel, there are the 'Sinks' to see at Sinks Canyon State Park. Here, the Popo Agie River disappears underground and pops up again not far away. Those who want to see the horses Wyoming is famous for can head to the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary. The herds of wild horses roam the off-range pasture and can be seen via a guided ATV tour.
Buffalo
The Wild West history is strong in Buffalo too, a town that sits where the Bighorn Mountains and the Great Plains overlap. Here, the Historic Occidental Hotel & Saloon once hosted Cassidy, Calamity Jane, and the Sundance Kid. The hotel is open to overnight visitors and also has a museum with quirky displays. In summer, the Range War Rodeo Series brings a bit of tradition with rodeos taking place between June and August. A typical day out for locals in Buffalo in the summer also includes fishing at the Tie Hack Reservoir or driving out to the Clear Creek Campground in the Bighorn Mountains to spend a couple of serene hours on the hiking trails. When it gets too hot, the Buffalo municipal swimming pool (the largest freshwater swimming pool in the state) offers welcome relief.
Cody
In Cody, people live the Western way. The town is named after Buffalo Bill (William Cody), and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West features several exhibitions about his life. Buffalo Bill's legacy also lives on at the Irma Hotel, which he built and named after his daughter. The hotel is in the center of things downtown, putting on a gun show (reenactment) every night during the summer and offering a pick-up area for the trolley tour. Trolley tours run around the town, and the trolley guides provide little snippets of information about Buffalo Bill. Cody also makes it easy to see what life was like 200 years ago, with a general store that has not changed at all, and the chance to walk into the Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy's hideout. Both of these attractions sit in Old Trail Town, five minutes from downtown, which houses around 25 historic buildings and more than 100 horse-drawn vehicles. Cody is not far from Yellowstone's east entrance, which means this famous attraction is just a short drive away.
Thermopolis
The horse and cowboy statue in the middle of Broadway in Thermopolis is one of several that depict the town's history. The others include Gift of the Smoking Water that depicts the likeness of James McLaughlin, Chief Sharp Nose, and Chief Washakie. There is also a Veterans Memorial Statue that represents a U.S. Marine at the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center. Thermopolis is famous for its warm mineral water, which is featured at the State Bath House at Hot Springs State Park. The park is also home to the Swinging Bridge that crosses the Bighorn River. One of the biggest draws, however, is the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. There are dinosaur fossil exhibits, and visitors can book a dig experience to search for dinosaur bones. And, just four miles from downtown, the Wind River Canyon offers rock climbing and spectacular views.
Laramie
Wyoming's Old West history comes 'full circle' in Laramie, where the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is the only prison to have held Butch Cassidy. The prison was built in 1872 and can be toured today to see where more of the most infamous criminals of the West were housed. There are more dinosaurs to see at the University of Wyoming Geological Museum, including the skeleton of a 75-foot Apatosaurus. Horseback riding and campfires come with a stay at the Vee Bar Guest Ranch. The lodge dates to 1891 and was once a post office and stagecoach stop. The Laramie Plains Museum at the Ivinson Mansion was built in the late 1800s and features a glimpse of what life on the Wyoming frontier was like. It is also possible to taste what frontier life was like, so to speak, with the Cowboy burger at Born In A Barn.
Living It Up Western Style
The Old West atmosphere permeates these towns and, in fact, the entire state. You have places that link to native mineral waters, and villages where communities built the American West with their blood, sweat, and tears. Some of the state's biggest stories are also contained here, still fascinating people today. Every one of these places has their own attractions that keep them ranking high on those growing bucket-list goals.
