Back in my favorite part of the state: Crook County. Eastern Crook County to be exact (and NE Weston too). It's been raining, so there's green and the dirt is red and it is so delicious! Seriously, I think this is my heart place, and I would move here if it was a reasonable thing to do, in terms of supporting myself.
Sundance has a new restaurant. Sadly, I won't get to try it on this trip. It's called Etta's Place (after the Sundance Kid's girlfriend), and it has a changing menu (daily!). It is definitely a step above in terms of ambiance and food style from your average small town restaurant. I hear the food is good too.
The Crook County Community Room is very nice. It's conveniently located, and it has a kitchen, and it is big. But don't have meetings there; it has only metal folding chairs. A word to the wise.
Make sure to stop by the Sundance Mercantile and buy your favorite baby a pair of jackalope slippers. It's a must-have present!
Sundance is working hard on Old Stony, a neat old building which they are raising money to renovate for a museum. In fact, on June 11, they are having a fundraiser art auction. $20 to get in, with good appetizers and wine, and lots of artwork to bid on. I'm going to try to go; it's always fun to see the artwork, and to support local efforts to preserve their history.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Newcastle
Newcastle is up in the northeastern corner of Wyoming, on the western side of the Black Hills. Like the English town it is named after, Newcastle is an energy town with many trains of coal going through daily, and a large refinery. In spite of this, the area is somewhat depressed. The first time I went to Newcastle was very memorable for the lack of restaurants and activity downtown. However! Newcastle is a cute little town and they are actively trying to revitalize their downtown. It's also a great area if you like mining history and gorgeous natural scenery. It's a good overnight stop, or access point for the Black Hills that's not so pricey. Here's a few suggestions in case you are passing through:
1) Stay at The Pines. It is near downtown, but up a hill from it in a residential neighborhood so it feels very secluded and quiet. There are pine trees everywhere. It is locally owned and very clean and reasonably priced. http://www.pinesmotel.org/
2) Eat at Isabella's Pizza, the Italian place. Everything I've tried has been good, including the non-Italian food they serve. It's a lively, busy place! Isabella's was the first restaurant that opened as they've started the revitalization and it is a breath of fresh air.
3) For breakfast or lunch, there's a sweet little diner on Main Street.
4) The Antlers is an old hotel on Main Street that some people have been renovating. Last time I was there they'd finished the main floor and had a bar and cafe open. I heard they left, so I don't know its current status, but if they are open, definitely go in to look at the building and try some food (the cafe was very good).
5) Newcastle has a museum of its own, the Anna Miller. They focus on local history (quite colorful) and nature.
6) There's several nice drives. Stop at the Chamber of Commerce http://newcastlewyo.com/newc/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 for a map of the Beaver Creek Loop tour that takes you into the beautiful back country by historical sites. It runs on a dirt road, so check with them about conditions. You'll go through Four Corners, as well, on that tour.
7) Don't forget to stroll main street and enjoy the architecture, and the shops that are locally owned.
8) Drive around town, and enjoy the old houses. There's some very pretty ones.
9) If you are into dirt road trips, ask around, as this is a good area for them. However, south of Newcastle the rumor is that the mud can be gumbo--so it isn't a place to go if it has been or is planning to rain.
10) There's a neat Arts Council-funded mural in the downtown. The Council was excited to give a grant in Newcastle, as not many request them there.
A few other thoughts about Newcastle: they have a great, active library. In addition, the schools have some good arts programs.
I have some friends who have a house up by Four Corners. They introduced me to some friends of theirs who live in Newcastle. Their house is something to see! It is on the hill above town, up a winding dirt road all by itself. No water to it--they have to haul all water in. This becomes particularly interesting when you realize the the previous owner had installed a swimming pool...! The previous owner was very colorful--a 1970s drug lord. He built this huge house which is geared towards entertainment (his, I guess). Aside from the pool, there's a black jet tub in a dark hallway room, a disco floor, more than one bar, a sunken living room, a balcony with excellent views of Newcastle and the land beyond. They are slowly renovating the place, which was decorated in true garish 70s style, and when he was busted, left to rot for quite some time. This is one of those neat details about place that I love to learn.
Leaving Newcastle, my favorite roads to Sundance are either Highway 85, turning on 585 and passing Inyan Kara, or taking 16 to Upton and then 116 to Sundance. I love that red earth! Highway 85 takes you to Lead/Deadwood, and is very pretty all the way there. South and west of Newcastle you are in prairie land. West, highway 450, takes you through part of Thunder Basin National Grassland.
1) Stay at The Pines. It is near downtown, but up a hill from it in a residential neighborhood so it feels very secluded and quiet. There are pine trees everywhere. It is locally owned and very clean and reasonably priced. http://www.pinesmotel.org/
2) Eat at Isabella's Pizza, the Italian place. Everything I've tried has been good, including the non-Italian food they serve. It's a lively, busy place! Isabella's was the first restaurant that opened as they've started the revitalization and it is a breath of fresh air.
3) For breakfast or lunch, there's a sweet little diner on Main Street.
4) The Antlers is an old hotel on Main Street that some people have been renovating. Last time I was there they'd finished the main floor and had a bar and cafe open. I heard they left, so I don't know its current status, but if they are open, definitely go in to look at the building and try some food (the cafe was very good).
5) Newcastle has a museum of its own, the Anna Miller. They focus on local history (quite colorful) and nature.
6) There's several nice drives. Stop at the Chamber of Commerce http://newcastlewyo.com/newc/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 for a map of the Beaver Creek Loop tour that takes you into the beautiful back country by historical sites. It runs on a dirt road, so check with them about conditions. You'll go through Four Corners, as well, on that tour.
7) Don't forget to stroll main street and enjoy the architecture, and the shops that are locally owned.
8) Drive around town, and enjoy the old houses. There's some very pretty ones.
9) If you are into dirt road trips, ask around, as this is a good area for them. However, south of Newcastle the rumor is that the mud can be gumbo--so it isn't a place to go if it has been or is planning to rain.
10) There's a neat Arts Council-funded mural in the downtown. The Council was excited to give a grant in Newcastle, as not many request them there.
A few other thoughts about Newcastle: they have a great, active library. In addition, the schools have some good arts programs.
I have some friends who have a house up by Four Corners. They introduced me to some friends of theirs who live in Newcastle. Their house is something to see! It is on the hill above town, up a winding dirt road all by itself. No water to it--they have to haul all water in. This becomes particularly interesting when you realize the the previous owner had installed a swimming pool...! The previous owner was very colorful--a 1970s drug lord. He built this huge house which is geared towards entertainment (his, I guess). Aside from the pool, there's a black jet tub in a dark hallway room, a disco floor, more than one bar, a sunken living room, a balcony with excellent views of Newcastle and the land beyond. They are slowly renovating the place, which was decorated in true garish 70s style, and when he was busted, left to rot for quite some time. This is one of those neat details about place that I love to learn.
Leaving Newcastle, my favorite roads to Sundance are either Highway 85, turning on 585 and passing Inyan Kara, or taking 16 to Upton and then 116 to Sundance. I love that red earth! Highway 85 takes you to Lead/Deadwood, and is very pretty all the way there. South and west of Newcastle you are in prairie land. West, highway 450, takes you through part of Thunder Basin National Grassland.
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