Lingle is in Goshen County, a tiny place near Fort Laramie. In fact, usually we say LingleFortLaramie as if it is one word. I've never yet been to Fort Laramie--in fact, I am ashamed to say I really haven't spent enough time in Goshen County. However, we drove through last week and stopped in Lingle at Lira's, a Mexican restaurant. The hard shell (fried) tacos are to die for! The place has nice atmosphere, if simple.
I'll be back to Goshen County sometime soon for an update.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Images from Crook County
New picture for the top of the blog--a rainbow, actually double but you can't see it so well, in Colony WY. Colony is only accessible from one highway, Wyo 212 which cuts across the northeast corner of Wyoming from Belle Fouche, SD to Alzeda MT. There's nothing there, really, except a bentonite factory. Apparently Colony produces more bentonite than anyone else. It is on the wide open plain, rather like what one thinks Montana will be like.
Crook County is a place of small towns. The biggest are Sundance, Moorcroft and Pine Haven, all on the western end. I prefer the eastern side of the county, where Hulett, Aladdin, Beulah and Alva are. Hulett is the only town of any size in this group and it is up near the northern area. It is the closest town to Devil's Tower, and possesses a new Best Western that is just fabulous. Super comfortable beds, large rooms, very quiet location, convenient to town, a nice breakfast, nice swimming area
, and friendly people. I recommend it highly. This image is from Alva, WY, a settlement of about 30 people. This was sitting on the side of the road near the post office. There are no other businesses (obvious businesses, I should say) in Alva, unless you count this lemonade stand. Aladdin, population 15, has a 110 year old store, a cafe with good food, and a small motel. Aladdin is also home to the Woolly Llama, the studio/gallery of Ila Miller, fiber artist extraordinaire. If you go by, it is a must see stop. She makes clothing, bags and hats from felted llama, and sometimes includes fur in her creations. She and her husband run an outfitting business from their ranch nearby. Aladdin was once a bustling mining town of 450 with a train spur from Belle Fouche, SD. There's also a nice B&B called The Bunkhouse a few miles down the road towards the freeway. Aladdin will be hosting its first art & craft fair in the town park on June 21, 2008.
Beulah is the easternmost exit on I90 in Wyo. It is home to the Buffalo Jump Saloon and Steakhouse, which serves excellent food in a comfortable atmostphere. South of Beulah, if you come off the freeway and turn the other way, is the Sand Creek Canyon area. This section of Wyo really should be protected. Sand Creek is lovely. There's a lot of informal camping and fishing access (don't forget to buy a license if you plan to fish). You will also probably see flocks of wild turkeys and groups of deer. Back a ways there is a little housing area, and past that, you come to Ranch A. A historic site owned by the State of Wyoming, it is now run by a foundation which allows use of the lodge and property for educational purposes for very reasonable prices. It was built by some Finnish men for Moses Annenberg in the early 1930s. It is perhaps a tad rustic, with bunk beds and shared bathrooms, but the location cannot be beat for privacy and retreat type experiences. If you keep driving down that road, you eventually come to Moskee, which doesn't exist anymore. It is currently fenced off, but rumor has it that this is a delicate and beautiful area that is very unusual and should also be protected. I recommend you turn back and exit the way you came, although you can get to South Dakota or turn north and come out near Sundance if you know what you are doing or are adventurous.
I spent some time--not enough, it never is--in Crook County this week. Aside from being home to the first national monument, Devil's Tower, and the western side of the Black Hills, it is, in my opinion, one of the most gorgeous sections of a beautiful state. It is raining like crazy up there and all the water is causing some problems because the ground and the creek beds can't handle it all. When ground is as dry as it gets in Wyo the water just doesn't soak in that easily. Anyway, the rain was coming down, a lot of it, and all the water ended up blowing out some culverts and bridges, resulting in people not being able to get home. It is starting to receed, but since it is still raining, it may take awhile.
I didn't get any pictures of this, but when it rains a lot, the grass gets to be a very bright green, nearly neon, and the red earth shows through in startling contrast. It was raining too much to get a lot of pictures, but here's one of a flooding area.
Crook County is a place of small towns. The biggest are Sundance, Moorcroft and Pine Haven, all on the western end. I prefer the eastern side of the county, where Hulett, Aladdin, Beulah and Alva are. Hulett is the only town of any size in this group and it is up near the northern area. It is the closest town to Devil's Tower, and possesses a new Best Western that is just fabulous. Super comfortable beds, large rooms, very quiet location, convenient to town, a nice breakfast, nice swimming area
, and friendly people. I recommend it highly. This image is from Alva, WY, a settlement of about 30 people. This was sitting on the side of the road near the post office. There are no other businesses (obvious businesses, I should say) in Alva, unless you count this lemonade stand. Aladdin, population 15, has a 110 year old store, a cafe with good food, and a small motel. Aladdin is also home to the Woolly Llama, the studio/gallery of Ila Miller, fiber artist extraordinaire. If you go by, it is a must see stop. She makes clothing, bags and hats from felted llama, and sometimes includes fur in her creations. She and her husband run an outfitting business from their ranch nearby. Aladdin was once a bustling mining town of 450 with a train spur from Belle Fouche, SD. There's also a nice B&B called The Bunkhouse a few miles down the road towards the freeway. Aladdin will be hosting its first art & craft fair in the town park on June 21, 2008.Beulah is the easternmost exit on I90 in Wyo. It is home to the Buffalo Jump Saloon and Steakhouse, which serves excellent food in a comfortable atmostphere. South of Beulah, if you come off the freeway and turn the other way, is the Sand Creek Canyon area. This section of Wyo really should be protected. Sand Creek is lovely. There's a lot of informal camping and fishing access (don't forget to buy a license if you plan to fish). You will also probably see flocks of wild turkeys and groups of deer. Back a ways there is a little housing area, and past that, you come to Ranch A. A historic site owned by the State of Wyoming, it is now run by a foundation which allows use of the lodge and property for educational purposes for very reasonable prices. It was built by some Finnish men for Moses Annenberg in the early 1930s. It is perhaps a tad rustic, with bunk beds and shared bathrooms, but the location cannot be beat for privacy and retreat type experiences. If you keep driving down that road, you eventually come to Moskee, which doesn't exist anymore. It is currently fenced off, but rumor has it that this is a delicate and beautiful area that is very unusual and should also be protected. I recommend you turn back and exit the way you came, although you can get to South Dakota or turn north and come out near Sundance if you know what you are doing or are adventurous.
Friday, May 02, 2008
from Thermop to Dubois
The river which runs along the highway as you leave Thermopolis is the Big Horn River. Going south the first thing you come to The Wedding of the Waters, just north of the entrance to Wind River Canyon. Apparently, this river had two names for a long time--the Crow and Absaroka Indians called it the Wind River, and the settlers to the north the Big Horn River. It was decided at some point to simply have a place where the name changes and that spot is called The Wedding of the Waters. Wind River Canyon is scenic enough to warrant driving slowly, although you will no doubt annoy the locals who speed through it. As you drive along, signs help you recognize various geologic eras which are visible in the canyon's rock walls. The Wind River which runs through it is wild and rocky and apparently a good one for rafting. There's nice camping along here as well. Trains run along the opposite bank and sometimes you can see people driving special trucks on the tracks.
At the south end, there's a dam and then the Boysen reservoir opens up on the plain. Boysen is a large lake in a state park. If this lake were natural, I am sure the pioneers would have been very excited!! The land around it could be considered boring as it rolls a little, is arid and dry with sagebrush. Prime rattlesnake land--and rumor has it that they swim, in balls, in Boysen. However! The lake is heavily used for fishing, boating, etc., in the summer. Lots of camping around here. For some reason, the desolate land appeals to me, just as the road from Shoshoni to Casper does. The fierceness of the weather and open space is delicious--and also formidable in the right circumstances.
The small town where the road comes to a T is Shoshoni. Shoshoni is famous for the Yellowstone Drug Store which makes malts. That's to the left, on the left side, in its new home. Shoshoni is a fun place to poke around if you like abandoned buildings.
Turning right takes you to Riverton. You can go to Riverton and turn west, or you can turn west part way along where the sign says Pavillion. This takes you into some back country through Pavillion and is a nice way to get a feel for the land. It also cuts off 7 miles and avoids the traffic of Riverton. Pavillion is a tiny place with a school, a bar and some houses. Rumor has it that the bar, Miss Ginny's Roost, has excellent food, but I haven't had the chance to try it for myself as of yet.
The road takes a sharp turn to the south after Pavillion (which most people might think is a blink and you'll miss it town, but wait--this is bigger than some coming up!) and comes out at Kinnear, also a small place. The next spot with a sign is Morton--truly a place where if you blink you'll miss it. It appears to be occupied by a ranch with an old house that is falling apart next to it.
I suggest stopping at the rest stop that comes after the turn to Ethete--it is the last place to go to the bathroom until Dubois. At this point, you enter the Wind River Reservation. This is tribal land, and is governed by the Shoshone and Arapahoe Tribes. Going off the road is not a good plan unless you have prior permission from the landowners, although there are points where you can access the river for fishing. There's also a couple of dams and lakes which I believe you can go to, but you do need a Tribal fishing license--not a Wyo Game and Fish license. Not sure where you get those. The land as you drive west through Crowheart is open valley between mountains. After you pass Crowheart (a long blink on the road) and Burris (a much smaller blink--I missed it and I was looking for it), watch to the right. The cliffs emerge, dramatically striped with a lot of iron created-red and grey and eroding, exposed rock. If you look, you can also find purples and blues in the cliffs. Behind the cliffs rise the Wind River Mountains, often snowy.
If you are driving this road in late afternoon or early morning, watch carefully for deer--a lot of them like the fields around here and they like to cross in front of cars. They are in no hurry whatsoever. Dubois, a sweet little town that bills itself as the gateway to Yellowstone, deserves its own post.
At the south end, there's a dam and then the Boysen reservoir opens up on the plain. Boysen is a large lake in a state park. If this lake were natural, I am sure the pioneers would have been very excited!! The land around it could be considered boring as it rolls a little, is arid and dry with sagebrush. Prime rattlesnake land--and rumor has it that they swim, in balls, in Boysen. However! The lake is heavily used for fishing, boating, etc., in the summer. Lots of camping around here. For some reason, the desolate land appeals to me, just as the road from Shoshoni to Casper does. The fierceness of the weather and open space is delicious--and also formidable in the right circumstances.
The small town where the road comes to a T is Shoshoni. Shoshoni is famous for the Yellowstone Drug Store which makes malts. That's to the left, on the left side, in its new home. Shoshoni is a fun place to poke around if you like abandoned buildings.
Turning right takes you to Riverton. You can go to Riverton and turn west, or you can turn west part way along where the sign says Pavillion. This takes you into some back country through Pavillion and is a nice way to get a feel for the land. It also cuts off 7 miles and avoids the traffic of Riverton. Pavillion is a tiny place with a school, a bar and some houses. Rumor has it that the bar, Miss Ginny's Roost, has excellent food, but I haven't had the chance to try it for myself as of yet.
The road takes a sharp turn to the south after Pavillion (which most people might think is a blink and you'll miss it town, but wait--this is bigger than some coming up!) and comes out at Kinnear, also a small place. The next spot with a sign is Morton--truly a place where if you blink you'll miss it. It appears to be occupied by a ranch with an old house that is falling apart next to it.
I suggest stopping at the rest stop that comes after the turn to Ethete--it is the last place to go to the bathroom until Dubois. At this point, you enter the Wind River Reservation. This is tribal land, and is governed by the Shoshone and Arapahoe Tribes. Going off the road is not a good plan unless you have prior permission from the landowners, although there are points where you can access the river for fishing. There's also a couple of dams and lakes which I believe you can go to, but you do need a Tribal fishing license--not a Wyo Game and Fish license. Not sure where you get those. The land as you drive west through Crowheart is open valley between mountains. After you pass Crowheart (a long blink on the road) and Burris (a much smaller blink--I missed it and I was looking for it), watch to the right. The cliffs emerge, dramatically striped with a lot of iron created-red and grey and eroding, exposed rock. If you look, you can also find purples and blues in the cliffs. Behind the cliffs rise the Wind River Mountains, often snowy.
If you are driving this road in late afternoon or early morning, watch carefully for deer--a lot of them like the fields around here and they like to cross in front of cars. They are in no hurry whatsoever. Dubois, a sweet little town that bills itself as the gateway to Yellowstone, deserves its own post.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Thermop...
is an affectionate nickname for Thermopolis, WY, a city in the center of the state. Thermopolis, which means city of heat in Greek, is home to the largest mineral hot springs in the world. The presence of these springs creates a microclimate unlike the rest of the state--somewhat warmer and slightly more humid. The city is home to Hot Springs State Park, which includes a recently refurbished free bath house with indoor and outdoor pools and comfortable dressing rooms. The mineral water creates all sorts of interesting colors with the deposits. This tendency of the water has been exploited in a couple of fountains where the water comes over the top and runs down over rock which then changes color as minerals are deposited on it. You can drink the water, and it is probably even good for you, but it sure doesn't taste too yummy!
Some information in here I have mentioned in an earlier post. You might check it out for some elaboration and repetition. A good, cheap place to stay that I just discovered is Roundtop Mountain Motel, just outside the park. They have scrupulously clean cabins with kitchenettes only 4 blocks away for much cheaper.
Thermop is also the home town of our current governor, Dave Freudenthal.
Downtown is quaint, although perhaps struggling a bit. There are some empty storefronts, and those who come here often know that businesses come and go. For instance, for a few years, there was a fabulous artist-owned gallery on Broadway. There's several antique shops/flea markets, as well, but they seem to shift about periodically. One constant on Broadway has been Keeping You in Stitches, the quilt shop. They have a lovely selection of fabric and quilting supplies, and also partner in hosting a quilting retreat each year. I noted today that there's a new yarn and needlecraft shop across the street from it which I am looking forward to checking out tomorrow.
Thermopolis is home to the Dinosaur museum, which I talked about in an earlier post. Another museum worth checking out is Dancing Bear Folk Center, in the Old West Wax Museum complex. Dancing Bear celebrates the many crafts people have done for centuries such as spinning, weaving, food preservation, tatting and much much more. It also, curiously, includes a large collection of teddy bears. The Old West Wax Museum is "a historic wax museum focusing on the American West frontier and folk history and culture" which has figures made in some very specific style I can't recall right now.
Thermop also has a strong drama program in its high school. If you happen to be in town on the rare occasion that they offer a play, I recommend attending. They have one of the nicest auditoriums in the state and take full advantage of it.
Some information in here I have mentioned in an earlier post. You might check it out for some elaboration and repetition. A good, cheap place to stay that I just discovered is Roundtop Mountain Motel, just outside the park. They have scrupulously clean cabins with kitchenettes only 4 blocks away for much cheaper.
Thermop is also the home town of our current governor, Dave Freudenthal.
Downtown is quaint, although perhaps struggling a bit. There are some empty storefronts, and those who come here often know that businesses come and go. For instance, for a few years, there was a fabulous artist-owned gallery on Broadway. There's several antique shops/flea markets, as well, but they seem to shift about periodically. One constant on Broadway has been Keeping You in Stitches, the quilt shop. They have a lovely selection of fabric and quilting supplies, and also partner in hosting a quilting retreat each year. I noted today that there's a new yarn and needlecraft shop across the street from it which I am looking forward to checking out tomorrow.
Thermopolis is home to the Dinosaur museum, which I talked about in an earlier post. Another museum worth checking out is Dancing Bear Folk Center, in the Old West Wax Museum complex. Dancing Bear celebrates the many crafts people have done for centuries such as spinning, weaving, food preservation, tatting and much much more. It also, curiously, includes a large collection of teddy bears. The Old West Wax Museum is "a historic wax museum focusing on the American West frontier and folk history and culture" which has figures made in some very specific style I can't recall right now.
Thermop also has a strong drama program in its high school. If you happen to be in town on the rare occasion that they offer a play, I recommend attending. They have one of the nicest auditoriums in the state and take full advantage of it.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Pictures of Jeffrey City
A street (looking north) slowly being reclaimed by the grass. Off to the left is a derelict tennis court. These are some images I took in Jeffrey City recently. Jeffrey City is the only town between between Muddy Gap and Lander on Highway 287. It was once a boom town--uranium mining--and currently has a very small population who work mostly on ranches. Rumor has it that it might boom again--can't remember what it is they think they'll mine there but surely something that will damage the landscape and people's health. Right now it is a sleepy place that the landscape are beginning to retake. I was there in April 2008, about 2 weeks after the last major snowfall, on a very windy day. The wind just sweeps through there.
A closed restaurant with snow piled up in front of it (north facing).
One of the buildings where they housed men who worked in the mines. Below is one of the old gas stations. On the back, which faces a road coming out from the Red Desert and the mines, it says "Flats Fixed."
The only signs of current life I saw are below, other than the post office's drop area (Jeffrey City doesn't have a post office anymore, just a stoutly built shelter on what must have been a town square idea. It houses locked mailboxes and a mail bin for sending things out. I am not sure where you purchase stamps.
Monday, April 21, 2008
WY High School Art Symposium
This is a must-see event if you happen to be in state at the right time. On the third week of April, a group of high school art teachers put on an exhibit of student work. This exhibit includes more than 75 high schools and over 4000 pieces of artwork of every description! It takes place in Casper and is open to the public all day Friday and Saturday morning of that weekend. It is free.
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