The fort was initially set up to support the fur trade, offering goods and services to trappers, traders, and Native American tribes. Located at the confluence of the Laramie River and the North Platte River, it became a central hub for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The area around the fort saw interactions between various Native American tribes, such as the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho, and the European settlers or traders.

In 1849, Fort Laramie was officially designated as a U.S. Army post after the United States government took control of the fort. Its purpose then shifted to serving as a military outpost designed to protect settlers traveling along the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. Fort Laramie also became a key staging point for military campaigns during conflicts with Native American tribes, such as the Indian Wars. The fort was expanded significantly over time, with the construction of stone buildings, barracks, and fortifications. It became a focal point in the U.S. government’s efforts to enforce treaties with Native American tribes and maintain order as settlers moved westward.

Fort Laramie’s significance diminished after the 1870s, as the railroad expanded and the military focus shifted to other regions. The fort was officially abandoned in 1890, and its structures were either repurposed or left to deteriorate. Today, the site of Fort Laramie is a National Historic Site.

Just west of the fort is the town of Guernsey. There you will find two interesting sites related to the westward migration of settlers, pioneers, and travelers, specifically along the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.

The Guernsey Ruts are deep, weathered tracks created by the thousands of covered wagons that passed through the area during the 19th century. These ruts serve as a reminder of the difficult journey faced by those heading to Oregon, California, and Utah. They are located in an area where the wagon wheels cut into the soft sandstone, creating deep grooves in the landscape. The ruts are visible to this day, and they can be seen etched into the rock, often stretching several feet deep in some places. The ruts are a rare physical manifestation of the history of the westward migration. While similar wagon tracks are found in other parts of the country, the Guernsey Ruts are particularly well-preserved, making them an important site for historical study and education.

Register Cliff, also in the Guernsey area, is best known for its large, smooth sandstone cliffs that were used by these same pioneers as a place to carve their names, dates, and messages. These inscriptions, left by thousands of emigrants, are a testament to the trail’s importance during the westward expansion of the United States. Unfortunately, before the area became protected, many more recent visitors also carved their names and messages into the cliff.

This area was a great day trip from Wheatland Wyoming in June 2024.

Sheridan was founded in 1882 by John D. Loucks, a Civil War veteran and surveyor who named the town after his former commanding officer, General Philip Sheridan. Loucks recognized the area’s potential due to its fertile land, proximity to the Bighorn Mountains, and the growing cattle industry.

The town grew quickly, attracting settlers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs who were drawn to the opportunities in the West. By the late 19th century, Sheridan had established itself as a hub for cattle ranching, which became the backbone of its early economy. Cattle drives from Texas and other areas would pass through Sheridan, making it a key stop along the way.

The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1892 was a turning point for Sheridan. The railroad provided a critical link between Sheridan and the rest of the country, enabling the transportation of cattle, coal, and other goods. This connection helped the town grow and prosper, turning it into a regional center of commerce.

In addition to ranching, coal mining also became an important industry in Sheridan. The surrounding region was rich in coal deposits, and by the early 20th century, numerous coal mines were operating in the area. This brought an influx of workers and further boosted the local economy.

Sheridan also became known for its cultural significance, particularly in relation to the Old West. The town has a number of historic buildings and sites, including the Sheridan Inn, which was built in 1893 and hosted famous guests like Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody even auditioned performers for his Wild West Show at the inn.

Throughout the 20th century, Sheridan continued to grow and diversify its economy, with tourism becoming increasingly important. The town’s proximity to the Bighorn Mountains and its well-preserved historic sites have made it a popular destination for visitors interested in Western history and outdoor recreation.

Today, Sheridan maintains its historic charm while also serving as a modern community. It honors its past with events like the annual Sheridan WYO Rodeo, which celebrates the town’s cowboy heritage. The town is known for its blend of Western culture, natural beauty, and historic significance, making it a unique and vibrant part of Wyoming’s history.

Sheridan Inn

Mint Bar

The Mint Bar in Sheridan, Wyoming, is one of the most iconic and historic watering holes in the American West. Established in 1907, the Mint Bar has been a cornerstone of Sheridan’s social scene for over a century, attracting locals, cowboys, ranchers, and visitors alike.

The Mint Bar originally opened as a saloon, catering to cowboys and ranchers in the early 20th century. Like many establishments of its kind, it played a central role in the social life of the community, offering a place to relax, share stories, and enjoy a drink after a hard day’s work.

During Prohibition, the Mint Bar, like many others, operated as a speakeasy. After Prohibition ended in 1933, the Mint Bar returned to its full glory as a legal establishment and quickly regained its status as a popular hangout.

In the 1940s, the Mint Bar underwent significant renovations that gave it the distinctive Western-themed interior it is known for today. The bar is adorned with knotty pine, taxidermy, and other Western memorabilia, creating an authentic cowboy atmosphere. Its famous neon sign, featuring a bucking bronco, was installed during this period and has become a recognizable symbol of Sheridan.

Don King Museum and Store

Don King was a highly influential figure in Sheridan, Wyoming, and is best known for his contributions to the art of saddle making and Western leather craftsmanship. Born in 1923, Don King became a legend in the world of custom saddlery, helping to preserve and elevate traditional Western craftsmanship to an art form.

In 1961, Don King founded King’s Saddlery, a family-owned business in Sheridan that became renowned for its custom saddles, ropes, and other Western gear. King’s Saddlery is more than just a retail store; it’s a cultural institution in Sheridan. The business includes a museum that showcases a vast collection of Western memorabilia, antique saddles, and tools related to leather working and cowboy culture.

Trail End Historic Site

Trail End was built between 1908 and 1913 as the home of John B. Kendrick, a prominent cattleman, politician, and eventually a U.S. Senator and Governor of Wyoming. Born in Texas, Kendrick came to Wyoming in the late 1800s as a cowboy and worked his way up to become a successful rancher. His wealth and status were reflected in the grandeur of Trail End.

The mansion was designed by Glenn Charles McAlister, an architect from Billings, Montana, and constructed by local craftsmen using materials like brick and sandstone. It was equipped with modern amenities of the time, such as electricity, central heating, and indoor plumbing. The mansion stands as a testament to the opulence and elegance that characterized the lives of the American elite during that era.

The mansion includes several impressive rooms, such as the grand entry hall, formal dining room, and a ballroom on the third floor. The attention to detail in both design and craftsmanship makes Trail End a unique architectural landmark in Wyoming.

The Kendrick family lived in Trail End until the 1930s, when the house was passed down to John Kendrick’s son, Manville Kendrick. The family played a significant role in the political, economic, and social life of Wyoming, with John B. Kendrick serving as Governor from 1915 to 1917 and as a U.S. Senator from 1917 until his death in 1933.

In 1968, the State of Wyoming acquired Trail End, and it was opened to the public as a state historic site. The house has been carefully preserved and restored, with many of the original furnishings and decorations still in place. Today, visitors can tour the mansion and explore the rooms that tell the story of the Kendrick family and early 20th-century life in Wyoming.

The Brinton Museum

The Brinton Museum, located in nearby Big Horn, Wyoming, is a cultural and artistic gem that showcases the art, history, and culture of the American West. The museum is situated on the historic Quarter Circle A Ranch, which was once owned by Bradford Brinton, an art collector and rancher. Brinton amassed an impressive collection of Western and Native American art, artifacts, and historical documents, which form the core of the museum’s exhibits. The museum features works by famous Western artists like Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, and Edward Borein, as well as a significant collection of Native American artifacts, including beadwork, textiles, and pottery.

In 2015, The Brinton Museum expanded with the opening of the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Building, a state-of-the-art facility that houses additional exhibits and provides stunning views of the Bighorn Mountains. The building’s design integrates with the natural landscape, and its environmentally conscious architecture is a highlight in itself.

Park Review – Peter D’s RV Park

Rating: 
Location: Sheridan, WY
Type: Commercial Park
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads and pads are gravel. Each site has a picnic table.
Access: From Interstate 90, take exit 23 toward WY-336/5th St. then go west on 5th St (WY-336) toward town for 0.3 mi. Turn right onto Joe St. and the park will be on the right after 2 blocks.
Staff: Peter D’s is owned and run by a husband and wife team and they are both excellent hosts. At check-in we were offered lettuce and spinach from their on-site garden. Also, their sites are 60 feel long which is too short for us to park our rig and truck on (we need about 65′ at a minimum) and rather than having us park in their overflow parking they gave us the adjacent site for us to park on at no charge. Considering the park was nearly full every night, that was very generous.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon 4G LTE speeds were about 10 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. Starlink speeds were great at more than 200 Mbps download and 30 Mbps up. WiFi is available in the park but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants: Wyoming’s Rib and Chop House – Bring a business card from Peter D’s and you will get a free appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes topped with crab meat. That and their drinks were the best part of the meal. Steaks here are broiled on the plate they serve them on. It just wasn’t as good as grilled steaks. Anna got salmon and it was better. Las Delicias – Unexpectedly decent Mexican food, it wasn’t Tex Mex but it was good.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: Sheridan is a beautiful small city with a lot to see and do in the area. Compared to other parks we have stayed at in Wyoming, this is probably one of the best.
What we didn’t like: The sites were somewhat short for larger rigs. Although they accommodated us by giving us a neighboring site to park the truck on, we might have had to park in overflow parking otherwise.
Verdict: We would stay here again if in the area.

Rating:  1/2
Location: Wheatland, WY
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Sites are full hookup with 30/50A service an no other amenities. There are mens and womens bathrooms/showers and a laundry. There are also 6 small cabins available for rent.
Access: Easy access from Interstate 25 at the Fish Creek Rd. exit. The park is alongside the interstate on the west side.
Staff: Friendly and efficient. We had pre-booked and pre-paid so check in took all of about minute.
Cellular/WiFi: The park had WiFi but we didn’t use it. We were at the north end of the park and the WiFi was likely at the office near the south end so the signal was weak. We had 3-4 bars ob Verizon and the speeds were OK at about 25 Mbps down and 8 Mbps up.
Restaurants: We did not eat out during out stay.
Nearby parks: We did not look at any other parks during our stay and there aren’t a lot of options in this area.
What we liked: Easy access to the park and it was exactly half way to our next major stop. Nice view of the mountains to the west.
What we didn’t like: A small amount of noise was detectable from the Interstate. Not much of anything to do in the immediate area but this makes a good overnight stay.
Verdict: We would stay here again for a one night stop when travelling through the area.

Park Review – Prairie View Campground

Rating: 
Location:  Lusk, WY
Type: Commercial Park
Site Quality / Amenities: Roads and pads are gravel. There is a picnic table at each site and all sites are 50/30A with full hookups.
Access: Easy access from US-18 west of Lusk.
Staff: The owner checked us in and he was both helpful and talkative. He provided tips on getting gas and restaurants to try in town as well as a history of flooding in the area – they had been getting a lot of rain.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was decent at about 6 Mbps download and 13 Mbps upload. AT&T was also about 6 Mbps download and 3.5 Mbps upload.
Restaurants: We didn’t end up eating in town.
Nearby parks: We drove by BJ’s Campground in town and confirmed that the sites there would have been too short for us.
What we liked: We were not assigned a site so we were able to pick whatever site we chose.
What we didn’t like: The sites do not angle to the road inside the park so we had to go across the grass area which was a bit scary given all the rain they had been getting but we didn’t sink in. Many of the sites had trees that encroached into the site. Overall the sites were barely long enough for us and the truck and the park roads were a bit tight to navigate.
Verdict: We’d stay here again for an overnight. There’s not a lot to do in Lusk although they did have a museum in town. There were also several restaurants as well as options for fuel.

The story of Cheyenne and Wyoming in general begins with transportation. Long a route for settlers travelling west and later for the transcontinental railroads, both played a key role in the development of our country.

The depot building was completed in September of 1887 and finished with the addition of the clock in 1890. In 1922 it was expanded and in 2006 an additional building was added to provide elevator access to the second floor. Today it is a National Historic Landmark standing as a symbol to the resilience of both the building and of Cheyenne even as the era of steam trains declined.

Esther Hobart Morris

Esther Hobart Morris (August 8, 1814 – April 2, 1902) was the first woman justice of the peace in the United States and was an early advocate for women’s suffrage rights. There are several statues of her around Cheyenne.

Wyoming State Capitol

The Capitol was built in 1888 and expanded in 1890 and 1917. Work done in 1974-1980, concealed the character of historic rooms in the building and did not address infrastructure issues. In 2014, the Legislature authorized a project to resolve these issues and to restore the historic character of the building. On July 10, 2019 a grand opening was held to celebrate after the four-year restoration and rehabilitation project. The results are spectacular!

The Wyoming State Capitol is one of 20 state Capitols designated as a National Historic Landmark. That designation is largely due to the events that transpired in this Chamber in 1889. As Wyoming was seeking Statehood, the Constitutional Convention was held in this room. A large part of the Convention focused on women’s suffrage, a right Wyoming women had held since 1869. It was in this Chamber that representatives enshrined women’s suffrage within the Wyoming State Constitution, becoming the first state to do so and making this one of the most historically significant chambers in the country.

Historic Governors’ Mansion

Fourteen years after achieving statehood, Wyoming built its first governor’s mansion in 1904 in an established middle class neighborhood. The mansion was intended to be a home of the people, and was never enclosed by a fence or had on site security. From 1905 to 1976, the mansion was the residence of 19 Wyoming first families. The Carriage House for the mansion was used as a polling place for the neighborhood during the term of the first female governor of the state. It was said that Nellie Tayloe Ross would glance out the window and wonder if any constituents were voting for her. Two years later, she lost her bid for re-election to Frank Emerson.

The last family to occupy the mansion was Ed Herschler and his wife, Casey. The Herschlers have the distinction of being the last first family to live in the mansion and the first to live in the new Governor’s residence located near Frontier Park in Cheyenne.

Park Review – Cheyenne RV Resort by RJourney

Rating: 
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00PM/11:00PM
Site Quality / Amenities: Gravel roads and sites which are typical for this part of the country. Most sites have a picnic table. There is room to park the truck beside the rig but in general sites are pretty tightly packed in. At one point in time this was a KOA Journey park and the amenities are along that line.There is a small store, community fire pit, shower and laundry facilities. Propane is available on site as well and the price was decent.For activities, there is a pool, basketball hoop, playground, horseshoes and mini-golf.
Access: Easy access from I-80 east of Cheyenne off Campstool Rd. on Hutchins Dr.
Staff: Staff were friendly and helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: Like many places Verizon service tended to be inconsistent but when working well 4G download speeds were about 30 Mbps and upload about 15 Mbps while using our external antenna and amplifier. Upload speeds were slower without the amplifier. AT&T speeds via our Mobley device were very slow at less than 1 Mbps download and 2.5 Mbps upload.
Restaurants: T-Joe’s Steakhouse and Saloon – We got a decent chicken fried steak here. Maybe the steaks are better but we didn’t feel like the food was as good as the ratings indicated. Hacienda Guadalajara – Ok mexican food.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any nearby parks. In doing our research of the area we felt like this park was probably the best for a rig our size.
What we liked: Convenient access to downtown Cheyenne attractions.
What we didn’t like: We would prefer paved sites and roads but this is not typical for the area. The park felt a bit cramped especially when navigating with a larger rig.
Verdict: This park is typical of parks we have seen in this part of the country – all gravel. While here, we got rain every day and overall the park held up well with minimal standing water near the sites. We’d stay here again when travelling through the area. The park is good for an overnight stay up to a few days.

Long before white men came to settle our country, It was considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. Each tribe had their own oral history, and in many cases multiple histories exist from the same tribe. Many of the stories contain similar elements. They are preserved today by the the traditions of American Indian culture. Every year 5000-6000 people climb Devils Tower but they are asked to voluntarily forgo climbing in June to allow Indians today to celebrate their sacred traditions at the tower.  There have been six climbing fatalities since 1937 when climbing records started being kept. Three of these fatalities occurred while descending (rappelling) the Tower.

We enjoyed our couple of days at Devils Tower. We hiked the Tower Trail which circles Devils Tower on a wonderful clear day seeing two rock climbers on different sides of the tower. The views of the valley below were just gorgeous and thankfully the smoke from wildfires did not follow us here. On the KOA Trail Ride later that evening we toured the valley owned by Campstool Ranch which encompasses thousands of acres around Devils Tower.

Park Review – Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey

Rating: 1/2
Site Quality / Amenities: Gravel pads and roads. Picnic table at each site.
Type: Commercial
Access: About 25 to 30 miles north of Interstate 90 via US 14 from Moorcroft (from the west) or Sundance (from the east). The road into the park backs up later in the day and could create some delay getting into the park. Coffee Cup Fuel Stop at exit 154 in Moorcroft has truck lanes with diesel and it is much cheaper than the truck stops in Gillette further west.
Staff: Staff were friendly and offered tips for things to do around the park.
Cellular/Wi-Fi: Verizon was 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. AT&T was about 1/3 as fast. The park had Wi-Fi but we didn’t try it.
Restaurants: Red Rock Café, Hulett, WY – Hulett was a cute little town of less than 400 residents and on a Tuesday afternoon Red Rock was the only place we could find open. We were glad we took the 10 mile trip up from Devils Tower. We both got very good hamburgers and we also splurged for some pie afterward. The pie was good but not great. Definitely worth the short drive just to check out the town. Ponderosa Café is just across the street.
Nearby parks: The campground in the Devils Tower park looked nice if not a bit tight for larger rigs. It’s also dry camping only.
What we liked: Gorgeous views of red sandstone cliffs behind us and of the Devils Tower to the side of us. Site 100, next to us toward Devils Tower was always occupied but 2 out of 3 nights were short trailers that did not obstruct our view. The third night was a class A but they also parked toward the front end of their site and again we didn’t have anything blocking our view of Devils Tower. Onsite Store, gift shop and Café although hours were limited when we were there in mid-September. There is also a pool but it closes on Labor Day. Nightly they have an outdoor showing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind which was filmed at the Devils Tower and on the grounds of the KOA. Finally they offer a hayride through the historic Campstool Ranch which is adjacent to the KOA. This is not to be missed!
What we didn’t like: Sites 99 and 100 are among the best sites (100 would be preferred). The problem with 99 and many others is that they are very close together. Our site 99 just barely had the width of our picnic table between us and 100 and their hookups were halfway in between the sites.
Verdict: Good for at least a night or two to spend some time hanging around the Devils Tower. If you just want to hang out for a while longer and not do anything but enjoy the scenery you could spend a week or more here.

Of the two cities, Green River seemed like it might have been a place we should have spent more time in. It was a bit smaller and had less stores and restaurants but it felt a bit more homey. In addition to the towns and visiting museums and restaurants there is also a lot of geologic and historical sites to visit nearby.

Boar’s Tusk

Boar’s Tusk is the core of a long dormant volcanic eruption that rises 400′ above the valley floor. As the remainder of the volcano was reduced by erosion, the core was all that remained. The Lamporite material that makes up the feature dates back 2.5 million years. This feature is about 30 miles north of Rock Springs and about 17 miles out into the desert. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the dirt access road.

Immigrant Trails

Many of the trails used by immigrants during the late 1800’s to migrate west pass through this area. The Oregon, California, Mormon and Cherokee trails all passed through the area, most following highway 28 north of Rock Springs. The Overland Stagecoach trail and the Pony Express route also passed through the area. Finally, the Union Pacific Rail route followed the path now used by Interstate 80 which we followed west toward Utah. The path of some of these trails can still be seen going across the desert.

Flaming Gorge

The Flaming Gorge reservoir is created by the Flaming Gorge dam and it extends about 90 miles up the Red Canyon toward the city of Green River. It was named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 after seeing the red sandstone cliff seen in the second picture below. The dam itself is about 502′ high and 1285′ long. The scenery along the lake is gorgeous and becomes more green and lush the further south you go. The trip starts from the north in Wyoming and ends up in Utah on the southern end by the dam.

Swett Ranch

The Swett ranch (on the southern end of the lake) was one of the last claims in the Homesteading Act of 1862. Here you can see what was necessary to make a living in the early 1900’s in a remote and rugged part of the frontier west. This homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, was constructed by Oscar Swett in 1909 when he was just 16 years old, and contains two cabins, a five room house, a meat house, root cellar, sheds, granary and barn. Oscar worked this ranch with horse powered equipment even through the 40’s, noting that “horses don’t break down and require a mechanic.” His ‘modern’ bathroom, a late addition, was not connected to the inside of the ranch house because Oscar felt that was not proper! Oscar and Emma Swett raised 9 children on the ranch and lived on the ranch until 1968 when it was sold to a land developer. Eventually the Forest Service purchased the site and it was opened to visitors.

Sheep Creek Scenic Byway

The Sheep Creek Geologic Loop road follows Sheep Creek into the mountains west of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and was a great diversion along the Flaming Gorge Scenic Loop. It forks from Hwy 44 about five miles south of the town of Manila and follows the visually dramatic Uinta Fault then loops back to Hwy 44. An interesting display of unique rock formations can be seen along the fault, including towering monoliths along with rock that has been fractured, jumbled, and discombobulated. A sizable herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live in the Sheep Creek area and animals can often be seen from the road. Deer and elk are common here, along with other kinds of wildlife although we only saw a few bighorn sheep.

Flyby

On our return north from visiting the Flaming Gorge we encountered something we had never seen before. Our dash camera captured the action as an airplane flew by us very close (it was much closer than it appears in the picture). At first we though it was trying to make an emergency landing in front of us but in the end, it appeared he was just out having fun.

Park Review – Rock Springs / Green River KOA Journey

Rating: 
Site Quality: Picnic tables at each site, gravel pads.
Type: Commercial
Access: Easy access off I-80 (exit 99) on the west side of Rock Springs. The park is along the interstate but you have to take Foothill Blvd from exit 99 back to the east to get to the entrance.
Staff: We had minimal interaction but check-in was smooth and efficient and the staff was friendly. I filled one of our propane tanks and that also went smoothly.
Amenities: Laundry, restrooms and showers. General Store onsite with RV supplies, and camping goods. Dog park as well as a playground for kids. On-Site Propane.
Cellular/Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available in the park although we didn’t use it. AT&T and Verizon were decent.
Restaurants: Casa Chavez Mexican Restaurant was decent Mexican but wasn’t the TexMex we’re used to. We had trout at the Red Canyon Lodge along the Flaming Gorge scenic byway and it was good although a bit expensive for what we got.
Nearby parks: We didn’t investigate other parks nearby.
What we liked: Convenient access, right along the I-80. Even though there are major train tracks nearby there was minimal noise. There was some noise from the interstate however.
What we didn’t like: They alternated the direction of RV’s for each site resulting in two units sharing the same utility area (although there were separate connections, they weren’t shared). This also resulted in two units sharing the same narrow area for picnic tables. This area was barely wider than a picnic table. All this gave them more sites but left us feeling extremely crowded. In front of the park is a large petroleum storage area.
Verdict: Good place for a night maybe a few if you’re in the area and nothing else is available.

Our first excursion was to the Wyoming Territorial Prison less than a mile from our park. While in operation, the prison housed more than 1000 outlaws including the notorious Butch Cassidy. The building itself is one of Wyoming’s oldest stone buildings. Built in 1872, the site served as a federal and state prison until 1903 when a new penitentiary was built in Rawlins about 100 miles west of Laramie. At that time, the University of Wyoming was given the prison grounds to be repurposed as an experiment station for the College of Agriculture. In 1991, the site was opened to the public as a historic museum.

The Overland Trail passed through the Laramie area running roughly parallel to Interstate 80 today. The Overland Trail was famously used by the Overland Stage Company owned by Ben Holladay to run mail and passengers to Salt Lake City, Utah, via stagecoaches in the 1860’s.

We took a day trip along the Snowy Mountain Scenic Byway west of Laramie and enjoyed some gorgeous scenery. The byway is about 30 miles long and winds it’s way through the Snowy Mountain Range. The pictures below are some of the highlights of the trip. Notice there is still snow at and above the 10,000 foot level. The large area in one of the pictures is actually glacier ice.

On a more somber note, we found out that on October 6’th 1955 an United Airlines flight 409 crashed into Medicine Bow Peak killing 66 people. At the time that was the worst aviation disaster in the US. The peak is to the right of where the road points to below. Reports are that the plane was 25 to 50 feet below the rim when it impacted the mountain. There was a lot of speculation as the the cause but one thing is sure, the airplane was about 30 miles south of where it should have been.

On the way to the Scenic Byway we stopped at the Nici Self Historical Museum in Centennial, WY. The museum is maintained by the Centennial Valley Historical Association and includes buildings and other artifacts from the early days of the area.

Park Review – Laramie KOA (Now Laramie RV Resort by RJourney)

Rating: 
Site Quality: Fire pits and picnic tables at each site.
Type: Commercial
Access: Easy access off I-80 (exit 310) on the west side of Laramie. The park is along the interstate but you have to take local roads to get to the entrance.
Staff: We had minimal interaction but check-in was smooth and efficient.
Amenities: Laundry, restrooms and showers. General Store onsite with RV supplies, and camping goods. Dog park as well as a playground for kids. On-Site Propane.
Cellular/Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available in the park although we didn’t use it. AT&T and Verizon were decent at about 6 Mbps.
Restaurants:
Nearby parks: We didn’t investigate other parks nearby but in researching our stay the KOA was the best option for a big rig. You do need to pay extra for one of the gravel sites on the north side of the park however.
What we liked: Convenient access, right along the I-80. We paid for a semi-premium site which was expensive but that gave us the length we needed as well as a wider site. It included seating around the fire pit as well. Premium sites had concrete patios. Even though there are major train tracks nearby there was minimal noise.
What we didn’t like: The newer sites on the north side of the park are the only real options for bigger rigs. The sites south of the office (toward I-80) were dirt and tightly packed. They may have been occupied by mostly permanent residents. Utilities were awkward except sewer. We had to park as far back on the site to have room to park the truck which barely fit. By doing so we had to use an extension cord to get power connected. Water in our site was also at the front of the site so we needed a long hose. Although we had pretty good spacing between sites, the placement of the utilities was deep into the area which brought neighboring hoses and power cords in what should have been free space. Note the water faucet near our picnic table and the power pedestal near the fire pit in the picture below.
Verdict: Good place for a night or a few if you’re in the area.