307
SPRING/SUMMER
REASONS WE
Love
SHERIDAN F E AT U R E S : 10
307 reasons we love Sheridan
14 18
Cloud Peak Wilderness
22
Big mountains, big adventures
24 40 46 58
Our ability to fly
66 75 82 84 88 92
Go downtown
The Bighorn Mountains: Beauty with impact
Making trails This land is our land Eatons’ Ranch: Making a mark
We love to rodeo Free summer activities
2016 S heridan Area
DESTINATIONS
20 Bighorn Mountains
38 Town of Dayton
52 WYO Theater
29 Fishing opportunities
44 Parks
53 Sagebrush Community Art Center
30 Churches
45 Golf courses
54 Area battlefields
32 Community of Big Horn
48 Brinton Museum
56 Kendrick Pool
50 Historic Sheridan Inn
57 A brewing economy
51 Trail End Museum
80 Antelope Butte Ski Area
51 Sheridan County Museum
114 Wyoming Information Center
70 Bighorn Mountain Bluegrass Festival
74 Sheridan WYO Rodeo
34 Community of Story 35 Town of Clearmont 36 Town of Ranchester
Local
EVENTS
62 Chamber Brewfest 63 Sheridan Farmers Markets
72 Don King Days
64 Third Thursday Street Festivals
73 Big Horn polo clubs
65 Taste of Sheridan
73 Sheridan County Fair
Additional
102 Medical Resources
115 Directory of Services
A railroad town
114 Sheridan County census information
120 Advertising directory
81 FAB Conference 112 Wyoming Theater Festival 116 2016 calendar of events
Rural schools: rich in history An artist’s paradise Artist, philanthropist Neltje
Welcome!
www.DestinationSheridan.com
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78 Bighorn Wild and Scenic Trail Run
FEATURES
Author Craig Johnson
104 110
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A PUBLICATION OF
DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Jon Cates A R T
D I R E C T O R
Welcome to
Sheridan!
From the mayor I’m excited to be a part of the team at the city of Sheridan. The quality of life here is second to none. We will continue to protect and enhance our quality of life while working to diversify our economy. Agriculture, tourism and energy will always be our mainstays, but we’re working to bring in other businesses that will be a good fit for the community. We want our kids to be able to stay here and prosper if they so desire. We value our senior citizens and a healthy local economy is critical to providing the services to make those golden years enjoyable and comfortable. Sheridan is a fun place to live and visit. We want to keep it that way. Parks and pathways, street festivals, the world famous WYO Rodeo, First People’s Powwow, the Suds and Spurs Brewfest, the Best of the West Barbecue Festival — the list goes on and on. We are the midpoint between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. Building upon these events will keep folks here for a couple days and keep them coming back. Sheridan has a true pioneering spirit, and the people of this community are generous in nature. I feel blessed to live here in such a beautiful area surrounded by so many wonderful people. My door is always open and I welcome your ideas and suggestions. Building a better tomorrow,
DESTINATION
SHERIDAN VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 Published May 2016 Destination Sheridan is a lifestyle and tourism magazine dedicated to serving the greater Sheridan area. Its circulation reach is into visitor centers, places of hospitality, motels, local businesses and other establishments in the greater northern Wyoming area, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado, and home delivery customers of The Sheridan Press. It is also available online at thesheridanpress.com and DestinationSheridan.com. Stephen Woody Publisher
John Heath, Mayor
Jon Cates Art director
www.SheridanCounty.com
www.SheridanWY.net
From the county commissioners The Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners welcomes you to Sheridan County, which was established in 1888. We are justifiably proud of our Western heritage and culture embodied in the fine people who choose to live, work and raise their families in Sheridan County. They make the area the special place that it is. Area residents are known for their hospitality, community spirit, volunteerism and generosity. They are the county’s greatest resource. The main role of Sheridan County government is to ensure that Sheridan County continues to be a wonderful place to live and that conditions and services maintain pace with public need. Foremost among these efforts is comprehensive land use planning that strives to maintain the existing quality of life for current and future generations balanced by a healthy respect for individual property rights. This planning process depends on public input and participation. Sheridan County is fortunate to have so many stakeholders willing to participate in the planning process. Sheridan County as a destination, whether for recreation, vacation or relocation of your home or business, has much to offer — its people, its landscape, its diversity, its quality of life. We are protective of what we have, but we are willing to share it with others and welcome new people, new businesses, new ideas and a shared interest in our wonderful heritage. Come and see us. You’ll be more than welcome.
Sheridan County commissioners
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Phil Ashley Marketing director Kristen Czaban Managing editor
CONTRIBUTORS Janea LaMeres, Sales Lisa Marosok, Sales Maureen Legerski, Sales Chad Riegler, Operations Becky Martini, Office manager Justin Sheely, Photojournalist Mike Pruden, Journalist Phoebe Tollefson, Journalist Mike Dunn, Journalist All photos in Destination Sheridan are by Justin Sheely or are file photos from The Sheridan Press archives unless otherwise noted. Copyright Sheridan Newspapers, Inc.
ON THE COVER The milkyway hangs in the sky above a camper in the 4-H Campgrounds near Highway 14A in the Bighorn Mountains Sept. 1, 2013. Photo by Justin Sheely. All uncredited stories are from Sheridan Press staff reports.
PICTURED from left are Bob Rolston, Steve Maier, Terry Cram, Mike Nickel and Tom Ringley. Spring/Summer 2016
From the Chamber of Commerce
Experience S heridan...
Dixie Johnson, CEO Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to Sheridan and the surrounding area. While here, we invite you to discover Sheridan. Explore Sheridan’s rich heritage along with its varied activities and cultural offerings, such as museums and battle sites, concerts and festivals, rodeo and polo performances, as well as world-renowned hiking, fishing and golf. Escape to the solitude of the Bighorn Mountains to see for yourself why Sheridan County is an outdoor lover’s dream. Stroll the streets in our historic downtown and bedroom communities to discover our quaint shops, restaurants and art. Mix and mingle with locals and visitors, while relaxing in our beautiful town. Sheridan has it all, from quality schools and medical facilities to safe streets and friendly neighbors. Businesses here enjoy a tax-friendly business climate, low property taxes and no state income tax, as well as access to a well-trained and ready workforce. In fact, the Sheridan area is the perfect place to start and grow your business. I invite you to stop by the Chamber of Commerce, located on our Historic Main Street, to learn more about the tremendous opportunities awaiting you in Sheridan and the surrounding area. We will connect you to the resources that will certainly enhance your stay in Sheridan. It is our pleasure to welcome you for a day, a week or a lifetime!
www.SheridanWyomingChamber.org
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TA L E N T E D
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Contributors
KRISTEN czaban
STEPHEN woody
Kristen Czaban has been with The Sheridan Press since June 2008 and has covered the entire gamut of beats including government, crime, business and the outdoors. Before heading west, she graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s in journalism.
Stephen Woody first began visiting Sheridan and the Bighorns in 1976. Over time, with children along for the ride and now with grandchildren, he’s visited mountain lakes and streams, city parks and most often, golf courses.
MIKE pruden
PHOEBE tollefson
Mike Pruden moved to Sheridan by way of Indiana to begin working as sports editor at the Sheridan Press in June 2014. He holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State University and an unhealthy obsession for sports.
Phoebe Tollefson joined The Sheridan Press in the fall of 2015 and currently covers cops, courts and city hall. Born and raised in Billings, Phoebe has loved her time in northern Wyoming but maintains that Montana is still her favorite state.
MIKE dunn
JUSTIN sheely
Mike Dunn has been with The Sheridan Press since January 2015 and covers general news and sports. A native of eastern Washington, he moved to the Equality State to attend the University of Wyoming, where he graduated in December 2013. When he is not watching Wyoming Cowboy football or Seattle Mariners baseball, he enjoys taking walks with his dogs on the many paths throughout Sheridan.
Justin Sheely came to Sheridan from his hometown of Billings, Montana, in 2008 and later joined The Sheridan Press in 2012 as a full-time photojournalist. He is involved with his local church and supports a photography club in Sheridan.
DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Spring/Summer 2016
www.TheSheridanPress.com
307 REASONS WE
Love S H E R I D A N One of the best questions to ask any Wyoming resident is, “How did you end up here?” Some will tell tales of generations past that settled in the West, setting up ranches or working in the coal mines. Others will say they visited once, maybe when they were kids en route to Yellowstone National Park or Mount Rushmore, and decided they had to come back. Still, others will say they moved out here for work or school and never turned back. No matter what got them to Wyoming, and more specifically Sheridan County, they all have reasons for settling in the area. Recently, the Wyoming Office of Tourism launched a creative strategy for the state’s 2016 marketing campaign. The tagline, “That’s WY,” encompasses so many things, but is designed to connect audiences on an emotional level and capture what makes Wyoming so special. Just as the state has its perks, so does Sheridan County. So, this issue is dedicated to the reasons we love where we live, work and play. While the list could have been longer, we chose 307 reasons — a nod to our area code and to show the boundless opportunities and activities the area offers. We’ll start here with an initial list, but throughout the magazine (all the way through page 121), you’ll see lists of reasons attached to some of the articles. These are all reasons we love our community. Let’s get started.
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REASON
1
One of the best things about Sheridan is its new tagline — “Naturally.” It sums up who we are so well. “Naturally” is meant both as an adjective describing the natural surroundings, the community personality surrounding activities, and as an adverb as in “of course, Sheridan.” Sheridan is not just one thing. It is naturally beautiful, simple, diverse, Western, friendly, educated, mountainous, vibrant, tough and so much more.
REASONS 2-13
We have a lot of nonprofits working to make our community a better place. They include: • Forward Sheridan • Sheridan County YMCA • The Sheridan Senior Center and its Goose Creek Transportation System • Sheridan Travel & Tourism • The Center for a Vital Community • The Food Group • Children, Horses and Adults in PartnerShip Equine Assisted Therapy • Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter • Habitat for Humanity • Sheridan Jaycees • Big Horn Equestrian Center • Advocacy and Resource Center and many, many more.
REASONS 14-15
We also have a bunch of foundations that help fund the nonprofits and a variety of projects around our community. • Homer A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation and • Whitney Benefits, just to name two. Projects that foundations and philanthropists have supported include the newly enclosed Whitney Rink at the M&M’s Center.
REASONS
16-18
Plus, foundations help support the world-class education system (16) we have here in Sheridan that includes Sheridan College (17) and ties to the University of Wyoming (18). The energy industry, primarily coal and natural gas, also help fund Wyoming’s public education system. BELOW: Carroll Furniture Warehouse mural on Brooks Street across from the public library.
REASONS 19-22
A number of businesses also promote our community and some, like Vacutech (19), moved their operations to the Sheridan area. Others, like The Sheridan Press (20), Legerski Sausage (21) and Sheridan Memorial Hospital (22) have roots that run deep.
REASON 25
Our history also gives the area its unique vibe. Cowboys and Indians are common in local tales. One landmark right in the middle of town is the Mandel Cabin (25), located in Whitney Commons. The structure was used as a post office in the late 1880s and Edward A. Whitney established Sheridan’s first bank in the building. He also lived upstairs for awhile. LEFT: Mandel Cabin
REASON REASON 23
Businessmen and women are used to a certain level of comfort when traveling for work. That’s where Fly Sheridan (23) comes into play. The classy service that takes travelers between Sheridan and Denver offers comfort, snacks and a quick ride to the big city, where anyone can grab a connecting flight with no trouble.
REASON
24
The Sheridan arts community is also well-known in the region. It boasts artist residencies, museums, guilds, theaters and classes. Some artists are famous, others known primarily in our town, like David Peterson (24). He used his chainsaw to create sculptures from old tree trunks in Kendrick Park. His work includes an ice cream cone, a fish, musical instruments and a number of other figures. Artists like are another reason Sheridan is so special.
26
Wyoming is one of a few states that maintains a citizen legislature (26), meaning politicians serve part-time and make low pay for their efforts — as well as, often, working other jobs. Wyoming is one of only a handful of mostly Western, rural states that uses a citizen legislature rather than professional, full-time legislative bodies. Founders took this path by design. The first Wyoming Legislatures met before statehood during the territorial period, according to University of Wyoming history professor Phil Roberts. In September 1889, lawmakers convened for a 25-day Constitutional Convention to design state laws and practices leading up to officially joining the union in 1890. Delegates lived in the Gilded Age, a time when political machines, railroads and corruption ran roughshod over many states and controlled legislators. This, Roberts said, made Wyoming lawmakers hesitant to institute more than a part-time system.
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Cloud Peak
While there are hundreds of wilderness areas across the U.S. — including 14 in Wyoming — few communities have as easy access to the remote landscapes as those in Sheridan and Johnson counties. Wilderness can mean different things to different people. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “a wild and natural area in which few people live.” Some would call any area without cellphone service or running water wilderness. Others would say areas of forests and wildlife would constitute wilderness. But the law creating the wilderness areas are a little more specific. In 1964, the Wilderness Act was signed into law, creating the National Wilderness Preservation System. The law recognized wilderness as “an area where the earth and
WILDERNESS by Kristen Czaban
ABOVE: The Cloud Peak Wilderness.
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REASONS
27-44 its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” It went on to describe the areas as “undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions.” In total, there are 765 wilderness areas in the U.S that cover more than 109 million acres of land. One such wilderness area is right in Sheridan’s backyard — the Cloud Peak Wilderness. It was established in 1984 and was managed as the Cloud Peak Primitive Area as far back as 1932, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It encompasses 189,039 acres of land, all within the Bighorn National Forest.
Things to know about the Cloud Peak Wilderness:
1 2
ABOVE: Cloud Peak, center, and Bomber Mountain, right, dominate the view from the south shore of Lake Helen in the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
It’s named for the tallest mountain in the Bighorn National Forest, Cloud Peak, which stands at 13,167 feet. Many hikers and climbers take to the Bighorns in the summer months, when snow melts off the higher elevations, to summit the peak. While some take a couple days to make the trek, others do it in just one day.
Wilderness regulations apply within the Cloud Peak Wilderness area. This means that no motorized equipment of any kind or any equipment used for mechanical transport is permitted. This includes motor vehicles, motorboats, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, etc. Brian Boden, district recreation specialist and wilderness manager said the lack of motorized equipment adds to the solitude one can find in the wilderness. “The Bighorns are wellknown for motorized vehicles, but this area is quiet. You can really feel the solitude,” he said.
• Cloud Peak Wilderness • Wilderness Act • Cloud Peak (which stands at 13,167 feet) • Peace and quiet • Vast ‘untrammeled’ spaces • Starry skies • Campfires • Summiting local peaks • U.S. 16 • U.S. 14 • Red Grade Road • Leave No Trace principles • Hikes in the Bighorns like: Sherd Lake Loop, Solitude Trail, Mistymoon Lake, Battle Park, Edelman Pass, Sawmill Lakes, Geneva Pass, Highland Park, Walker Prairie, etc. (For more, pick up a USFS map or “Hiking Wyoming’s Cloud Peak Wilderness” by Erik Molvar). • Other landmarks in the Bighorns like: Black Mountain fire lookout, Sheep Mountain fire lookout, Bucking Mule Falls, Porcupine Falls, Steamboat Point, etc. • Sheridan College Learn Outdoors program — which encourages community members to get outside • Spear-O-Wigwam Mountain Campus — in the Bighorns, serves as an outdoor classroom, jumping off point for adventures • No people for miles • The sound of the wind in the trees
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Leave
NO TRACE In order to guarantee future generations will be able to enjoy the vast open areas and the wilderness in the future, outdoor recreationists are taught the Leave No Trace principles, essentially the golden rules of outdoor fun.
1.
PLAN AND PREPARE Carry a map and know where you’re going. Know the regulations for the area you plan to visit; be prepared for weather changes, emergencies, etc.
2.
TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams and remember that good campsites are found, not made.
3.
DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY The basic thing to remember is pack it in, pack it out. Take all trash out with you; deposit all solid human waste in catholes 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
4.
LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND Preserve the past and protect the future by leaving artifacts, structures, etc. where they are. Leave rocks, plants and other objects as you find them.
5.
MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS Use established campfire rings where fires are permitted and keep fires small. Ensure your campfire is completely out before you leave.
6.
RESPECT WILDLIFE Observe those gorgeous critters from a distance. Don’t feed them and don’t let your pet harass them.
7.
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS Be courteous; step aside when encountering pack stock; take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors; avoid making or creating loud noises. For more information, see
www.lnt.org
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You don’t need a permit to access the Cloud Peak Wilderness, but you are required to register. Boden said the registration is primarily used in case a need of search and rescue arises. In addition, he said, it helps officials track which areas of the wilderness are most heavily used. “It helps us to track where we may have resource concerns if 90 percent of visitors are accessing the area from one spot,” he said.
Access to the Cloud Peak Wilderness is relatively easy. Boden said many access the area from the south with the help of a paved highway, U.S. 16. From U.S. 16 you head north and several trailheads — like West Tensleep Lake — will get you into the wilderness. From the north, those seeking solitude can trek up Red Grade Road then head south to areas like Coffeen Park to access the wilderness.
The U.S. Forest Service recorded 34,582 visitor days registered in the Cloud Peak Wilderness in 2015. A recreation visitor day is the number of people multiplied by the number of days spent in the wilderness. So, 10 people hiking into the area for five days would total 50 recreation visitor days. According to USFS statistics, about 12,000 individuals registered to use the wilderness in 2015.
Managers of the Cloud Peak Wilderness encourage the use of Leave No Trace principles. If you’ve never heard of Leave No Trace, they are commonsense ways to maintain outdoor recreation areas and minimize the impact we have on our surrounds. There are seven principles: plan ahead and prepare; travel and camp on durable surfaces; dispose of waste properly; leave what you find; minimize campfire impacts; respect wildlife; and be considerate of other visitors. (See sidebar for more on Leave No Trace.)
The
Bighorns Beauty with impact For anyone spending any amount of time in Sheridan County, the Bighorns are a can’t miss. Rising more than 13,000 feet into the Wyoming sky, Black Tooth Mountain and the Bighorns offer some of the most stunning vistas in the state and the region. A young range, the Bighorns were formed approximately 70 million years ago and consist of steep cliffs and jagged rocks. Its formation creates endless opportunities for hikers, climbers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. But for those that live in the Sheridan area, the range is more than just a beautiful sight. In many ways, Sheridan’s economy is driven by the massive peaks. The mountains, which are still revered as sacred by the Crow Indians, have also become a sacred ground for others. For many locals, a move to Sheridan is an opportunity to live near one of the most spectacular sights in the state. “They draw people into the area,” said Dixie Johnson, Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce CEO. “People move here because they want to be near the mountains.” Around 30,000 people choose to live beside the Bighorn Mountains in Sheridan County, making it the seventh-largest county in the state and, along with it, one of the major economies in northeast Wyoming. Communities like Dayton, Big Horn and Story sit at the base of the Bighorns.
ABOVE: Lupines bloom at Highland Park in the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
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by Mike Dunn
But aside from the locals who choose to live near the mountains, thousands of tourists choose to flock there too. Tourism is one of Wyoming’s largest industries. In 2015, the Wyoming Office of Tourism reported that 10.5 million travelers made their way through Wyoming — a record for the state. Sheridan was a significant part of those numbers. The Bighorns are situated between two of the country’s most visited destinations: Yellowstone National Park to the west and Mt. Rushmore to the east. Last year, thousands of visitors either stopped in the Bighorns on their way to those destinations or decided to make the mountain range and Sheridan their end destination. The latter has been a goal of the local travel and tourism office for the past couple of years. “Really the Bighorns are one of the biggest draws that Sheridan has,” said Shawn Parker, executive director of Sheridan Travel and Tourism. In 2015, Sheridan saw its second best summer tourism season on record. Around $700,000 was funneled into Sheridan via lodging tax revenues. Just short of $300,000 in revenue came into Sheridan from June to August alone. Annual tax revenues have increased 2 percent over the past five years. Whether tourists come in the spring, summer, fall or winter there is always something to do in the Bighorns, according to Parker. High elevations keep the winter snow pack for a few months longer, meaning winter enthusiasts can cross-country ski or ride their snowmobiles well into
March or April. “The Bighorns are just a terrific place for snowmobilers,” Parker said. “Businesses around here make a lot of money off of the people that come in to use the mountains for snowmobiling.” In the summer, the Bighorns are an outdoor paradise — fishermen have the pick of streams and lakes to catch trout; hikers can explore the trails across the peaks of the Cloud Peak Wilderness area; and four-wheelers can race through the Bighorn National Forest. One of the most popular reasons for residents and tourists alike to trek into the Bighorns is the fall hunting season. Bud Stewart with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said that hunting in the Bighorn Mountains is a huge moneymaker for the Sheridan area. It’s the diversity of game, he said, that brings in the hunters from far and wide. In the Bighorns and the foothills, hunters can find white tail and mule deer, elk and moose, along with a vast numbers of game birds. Based on statistics from the WGFD, hunters spent a combined 61,374 days hunting big game in the Sheridan area in 2015. Many of those hunters came to the Sheridan area from out of town. Statistics also indicate that the average hunter will contribute around $92 per hunting day to the economy via lodging, equipment and other amenities. That means hunting can bring more than $5.6 million into the local economy each year. “It’s a good chunk of change,” Stewart said. “A lot of people probably don’t realize that … it’s quite a boost to the economy in the Sheridan area.”
REASONS
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• Bighorn Mountains • Sheridan Travel and Tourism • Shawn Parker • Snowmobiling • Wyoming Game and Fish Department • Bud Stewart • Snowshoeing • Four-wheeling • Wildlife
REASON
54
Economic drivers like the Bighorn Mountains
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S heridan Area
DESTINATIONS
BIGHORN MOUNTAINS The opportunities in the Bighorn Mountains for enjoyable day hikes are endless – whether adventurers choose to follow established trails or blaze their own. The following is a list of some well-loved hiking trails in the area. A complete list of trails and a map of the Bighorn National Forest is available from the U.S. Forest Service Office located at 2013 East Second St. in Sheridan. TONGUE RIVER CANYON
To reach this trailhead, head west on U.S. Highway 14 to county Road 92 just before Dayton. The trailhead begins at the end of County Road 92 and continues 11.2 miles to Forest Service Road 196. It is not necessary to hike the entire distance, however. Many locals make Tongue River Canyon a short day-trip to put their feet in the cool rapids of the Tongue River and enjoy the beauty of high canyon walls towering above. Those willing to trek up the canyon are rewarded with an open meadow filled with wildflowers in the spring. SIBLEY LAKE
This oft-traveled trail boasts two picnic areas, a campground and the lake with fishing and boating access. The trail system in the area provides hiking options in the summer and Nordic ski and snowshoe trails in the winter. The trail includes several miles for exploration around the man-made lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and also winds into mountain meadows and back to a warming hut west of the lake. To reach Sibley Lake, travel west on U.S. Highway 14 past Steamboat Point and Black Mountain Road, following signs to Sibley Lake. BLACK MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
This trail will take you to the historic Black Mountain fire lookout built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The elevation of the lookout is 9,500 feet, and it provides spectacular views south toward Black Tooth Mountain and east toward Steamboat Point. Black Mountain lookout is a rewarding but relatively short and easy day hike, clocking in at approximately 2 miles from the camping area off of Black Mountain Road. There is a two-seater outhouse at the top before the last rocky jaunt to the lookout. To reach the trailhead, travel west on Highway 14, turn onto Forest Road 16 (Black Mountain Road) and then head east on Forest Service Road 222. MEDICINE WHEEL NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
While the drive from Sheridan to this historic landmark takes time, the impact of the site on visitors is significant. Constructed approximately 700 years ago, the Bighorn Medicine Wheel is believed to have been built by a member of the Crow Tribe before the tribes that now occupy the area arrived. The landmark is made of rocks gathered in the area and arranged into a “wheel” with 28 spokes about 8 feet long that radiate from a center pile of stones. The piles of rocks at the end of each spoke line up with stars to mark important dates in Crow culture. The walk to the landmark from the parking area is approximately 2 miles. To find this important piece of Wyoming history, follow Highway 14 west and turn onto Highway 14A. Turn onto Forest Service Road 12 and travel 2 miles to find the parking area, which also offers restroom facilities. 20
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• Bighorn National Forest • Black Tooth Mountain • Hunting • Fishing • Hiking • Bear Lodge • Arrowhead Lodge • Elk Lodge • U.S. Forest Service • Tongue River Canyon • Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark • Bucking Mule Falls • Steamboat Point
AREA DESTINATIONS
BUCKING MULE FALLS
Trekkers have two options on this trail. An easy, fairly flat 3-mile trail to an overlook of the falls provides a short jaunt primarily in the shade of towering evergreens. This hike to the overlook takes just a few hours roundtrip. The second option is a more strenuous 11-mile trail that drops down into and out of Devil Canyon. The U.S. Forest Service also recommends this trail for backpacking and horse trips. The trailhead for this trek has facilities for horses and camping is allowed. To get to the trailhead, take U.S. Highway 14 west and get on Highway 14A at Burgess Junction. Head west then turn north on Forest Service Road 14, following signage to the trailhead. STEAMBOAT POINT
A breathtaking landmark in the Bighorn Mountains, Steamboat Point is visible from U.S. Highway 14 and resembles the bow of a steamboat, especially during a fogfilled morning. Hikers can make the trek to the top of Steamboat Point for 360-degree views of the Bighorns and surrounding valleys. The hike is just under 1 mile but is a steep climb. Parking is available at the base of Steamboat Point, approximately 19 miles up Highway 14 from the town of Dayton.
ACCOMMODATIONS Recreationists have long known the attraction of the Bighorn Mountains and lodges in the mountains as well as the local economy are reaping the benefits. Bear Lodge, Elk View Lodge and Arrowhead Lodge are located on the north end of the Bighorn National Forest and operate year-round. In the wintertime snowmobilers not only find a place to stay and buy food, they also purchase decals, which are required to ride on trails in Wyoming. They can also buy fuel at Bear Lodge Resort. While wintertime is the busiest time for these three lodges, summer and fall can also bring in its share of business. Hunters tracking big game often stay at the lodges. Summer brings bus tours, weddings, family reunions and of course motorcyclists who are headed to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Other lodges in the Bighorns include the Paradise Guest Ranch, located 16 miles from Buffalo. ELK VIEW LODGE The guest ranch offers horseback riding, hiking, fishing and kids activities. Wyoming High Country Lodge — located 30 miles west of Lovell — is another active lodge in the Bighorns. Owners have estimated that between Dec. 1 and March 13 the lodge sees 670 guests with another 1,000 stopping through for food or gas. Many of the visitors come from Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. The year-round lodge offers horseback riding, hunting, fishing, ATV riding, biking and pack trips during the spring, summer and fall months. In the winter, the lodge is a starting point for many snowmobilers, crosscountry skiers and snowkiters. The area lodges, whether year-round or summer focused, have one primary goal — to welcome people to the Bighorns.
BEAR LODGE
ARROWHEAD LODGE
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BIG
MOUNTAINS
REASONS
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BIG
• Ten Sleep Canyon • Terry Twomey • Nick Flores • The climbing community • Bighorn Climbers’ Coalition • Jody Sanborn • Steep cliff walls made for climbing
ADVENTURES by Mike Pruden The Bighorn Mountains are the biggest attraction in Sheridan County — figuratively and literally. Whether you’re peering out the window as you fly in from Denver or taking in panoramic views through your windshield on Interstate 90, it’s hard to not get entranced by the beauty of the Bighorns. While there’s somewhat of a rugged elegance portrayed on the outside of the mountains, it’s the happenings deep within the protruding rocks that bring wanderers — and wonderers — to Sheridan from all over the globe. Hiking, fishing, hunting, you name it. The Bighorn Mountains probably have a little nook or cranny carved out for your favorite outdoor hobby. Oftentimes that cranny is a pretty big one. More recently, though, the Bighorns have made a name for themselves as an enticing destination for rock climbers.
REASON
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“Rock Climbs of the Eastern Big Horns” by Trevor Bowman
ROCK CLIMBING Ten Sleep Canyon nestled itself right along the highway on the west side of the mountains — or more accurately, the highway nestled itself along the canyon. If you’re driving through the canyon during the spring, summer and fall, you may ponder over the line of cars, trucks and campers along the highway. Just look up. Ten Sleep Canyon has become one of the most popular climbing destinations in the state. The slabs and slabs of rock along the canyon are constantly spattered with climbers like bugs on a windshield. Local climbers, American climbers, international climbers, they all make their way to the most popular stretch of climbing the Bighorn Mountains have to offer. Terry Twomey has spent a fair share of time as one of those Ten Sleep windshield bugs. Twomey has been climbing for 16 years and has been a Sheri-
LEFT: Jason Rahn, of Chicago, Illinois, makes his way up a limestone wall at the South Piney Creek Trail in Story. 22
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dan resident for the last three years. And even though Ten Sleep might be the most popular climbing destination in the Bighorns, he’s shifted his focus to the side of the mountain he now calls home. Climbing on the east side of the mountains — the Sheridan side — is far less popular. In fact, climbing in general in Sheridan isn’t as popular. Twomey, with the help of some other local climbers, has taken it upon himself to change that. “(Trevor Bowman) is the author of the book ‘Rock Climbs of the Eastern Big Horns,’” Twomey said. “He started the development down in Piney Creek. There was some new school type of rock and type of climbing found in the upper walls, and that’s what we’ve been developing lately.” One of Twomey’s climbing chums, Nick Flores, is just trying to get the word out about climbing. Talking with either Flores or Twomey — or both — it’s easy to get sucked into the enthusiasm the two have for the sport. And that’s exactly what they want. Flores is happy to rummage through his gear to find an old pair of climbing shoes to hand out to a new climber. He has guide books and harnesses he’ll gladly toss your way. “That’s the cool thing. Across the Bighorns, there are just so many different styles of climbing,” Flores said. “Your tiny little monopockets, big deep pockets, some sort of crack climbing, slab climbing, the overhung stuff.” It’s hard for something to pull Twomey away from the mountain. If he’s not at work, the veteran climber will hang from the side of the Bighorn Mountains drilling bolts for new routes until the sun goes down. Flores and Twomey are addicted, the constant pressure of testing their personal limits pumping through their veins like nature’s purest drug. But it’s also more than that. Physical strength, mental strength, stamina, even hanging out with friends — there are plenty of perks to climbing. The biggest, though, is just soaking in the outdoors and taking advantage of everything Sheridan has to offer. “We’re lucky here in the Bighorns, because we have a real concentration of different types of rock that you don’t find in a lot of other places,” Twomey said. “And it’s fairly easy access, too.” Twomey’s goal, though, is to expose younger kids to climbing in a positive way. Keeping it casual, fun and most importantly, safe, is his way of changing an overall stigma of climbers that they’re “rebellious, stinky bums that sleep in their cars.” Flores is actually part of a group, the Bighorn Climbers’ Coalition, whose objective is to preserve, protect and promote the Bighorn Mountains. Jody Sanborn, president of the BCC, emphasized the importance of taking care of the mountains that take care of us. “We’re really dedicated to making sure we are preserving and promoting ethical outdoor conservation,” Sanborn said. “We’re like the local voice for climbers and making sure our playground — in this case the Bighorns — is protected. The land managers that we work with, like the U.S. Forest Service, they allow us to climb, so we want to be ethical and responsible users. We want to make sure that the thousands of people that come from all over the world to climb in this area are also doing the same thing.” Sanborn, Flores and Twomey are all trying to promote the abundance of climbing opportunities the Bighorns have to offer. It’s all about ex-
We’re lucky here in the Bighorns, because we have a real concentration of different types of rock that you don’t find in a lot of other places. And it’s fairly easy access, too.
– Terry Twomey
posure, and it’s about positive exposure. By teaching safety and working as a cohesive unit to leave the smallest footprint possible, local climbers feel the Bighorns can become one of the most popular and respected climbing destinations in the region. Flores and Twomey love climbing. They just want to share that joy with others. “It’s not like Boulder (Colorado); it’s not like Bozeman (Montana), where you drive to a trailhead and there are just so many cars there, you’re parking a line down the road,” Flores said. “I want somewhere where I can go and hang out, I can climb, I can trail run, I can hike. But what we want to see is more traffic, just so we can meet other climbers and network with other climbers.” You can visit bighornclimbers.org or the Bighorn Climbers’ Coalition on Facebook to learn more about climbing or preserving the Bighorn Mountains.
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REASONS
76-82
• Hang gliding • Johann Nield • Winds sweeping through the Bighorns • High-flying adventures • Aerial views • Sand Turn • Man-made wings
HANG GLIDING Look up in the sky. It’s a bird; it’s a plane. Nope, it’s part thrill-seeker, part madman Johann Nield with a synthetic sailcloth strapped to his back. Memorial Day weekend kicks off the annual Hang Gliders Fly-In, an event more than 35 years in existence that draws thrill-seekers and spectators galore. These winged humans leap off the side of the Bighorn Mountains and soar about the clear Dayton sky like the baldheaded symbol of the United States. It’s a unique event, but the beauty of the Bighorns draws in hang-gliders much more than once a year. Nield called his childhood an abundance of “jumping off things trying to fly.” So when a family reunion and brother-in-law Jim Bowman introduced the former Florida resident to hang gliding in 1974, his boyhood dream became a reality. With his polyester wings attached, he’s been soaring around the Bighorns — and beyond — ever since. While the Memorial Day Fly-In amplifies the fascination in the sport, it’s still a relatively mysterious hobby. So how did Nield get started? Why does he fly in the Bighorns? And what on earth makes him take the leap of faith over and over again? We picked his brain to get a better understanding of the terrifyingly unique sport. 24
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ABOVE: Everett Atherly of Red Lodge, Montana, watches another hang glider approach the landing zone on Highway 14 west of Dayton. Atherly is a relatively new hang glider pilot with six years of flying experience.
Q &A
with Johann Nield
How did you become interested in hang gliding? NIELD: It seems like the gods had this life in store for me, because in 1978, I resigned from American Express Corporation and headed back to Wyoming. Well, at the same time my brotherin-law quit his job, and as we were staying at his house for a few days, I asked him if he could help me get into hang gliding. His response was positive, and that would be the beginning of a flying career with Jim and I that still is strong today.
Interest is one thing, but how does one first get involved in actually participating in hang gliding? NIELD: Training is the key to fly true and straight. A typical training day goes somewhat like this: Day one, we sit in a meadow and talk about flying. Then, we assemble a glider and learn all the parts of the wing as it takes shape. When the wing is complete our next step would be to touch it as an airplane and a friend. Running with it, allowing it to fly above our heads as we try to control its path, into the wind. Our next step would be to put on a harness and strap ourselves to this wing and run. Then, you realize that you are the motor and you have to run this new wing into the sky. It’s easy if you commit.
continued on page 28...
So is it a thrill-seeking thing or the opposite? Is there therapy in hang gliding?
Why do you think casual passers-by peel off on Sand Turn to observe you guys soaring the Wyoming sky?
NIELD: It is all of that. Yes, I know I could die every time I run off a mountain or step off a cliff to fly. But flying is about the only sport where you are in a four-dimension world. I can go up, down sideways, etc. and fly. When you get on launch and you look at the mountain below and the sky above, your mind goes into tunnel vision. All the pressures and bullshit you endure has to leave your mind when you take that first step. And after you have taken that first step and a few more into the sky all that negative energy has been left on launch and somehow it never gets back into your mind. It’s like a cleansing of some sorts. Then the whole experience of being above the ground and in a sky that is unknown because each flight is different, no two are the same and that’s why we do it.
NIELD: Everyone wants to see and maybe experience the thrill of adventure. We have tourists that have seen us fly in their youth and bring back their families to experience the emotion again. Death sports always bring the curious and wanting from all of us. During the 36 years I have been flying Sand Turn, we have always asked the crowd if they would like to join us in retrieval or slipping the slurry bounds of gravity. Many do, and many just want to have a small experience of being a part of it.
So it’s easy once you commit. But what are the biggest challenges you faced in the early going, and what challenges do you face now that you’re more experienced? NIELD: The challenge to go higher and farther in the beginning was the goal. As equipment and skills were getting better, so were the inside feelings. The dreaded intermediate syndrome would rear its ugly head and make you think you were better than your skills really were. As in all highadrenaline sports, we must keep this feeling at bay. Now that I have 36 years under my wing, my biggest challenge is to keep physically fit so I still can run with a 60-pound wing on my back.
Why the Bighorns? NIELD: The Bighorn flying is strictly beauty. Yes, you can get up to 15,000 feet some days, but the beauty of launching and flying around such a beautiful sky is mind blowing. Sand Turn launch is a training launch in morning and a wildcat in the afternoon. We are on the leeside of the mountain and therefore we have to fly a leeside rotor. Thermals are our only ticket to the sky.
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Where else have your wings taken you? NIELD: I’ve flown many different places throughout the U.S. Each has its own place in my heart, from the super high launch at 6,000 feet above the valley floor to the condominium soaring in Florida. But the Bighorns are my home.
You say no two flights are the same. What are some unique experiences you’ve had — maybe scary or exhilarating? NIELD: Watching the ground disappear is cool, but to fly with an eagle next to your wing and watching him watch you is amazing. But there are times I’m in the sky and it’s so rough that I wished I had never gone flying. Remember, there are old pilots and bold pilots but few old bold pilots. I always try to remember I’m just as good as my memory skills are. Memorial Day weekend is a great time to catch these pilots in action, but Nield and his companions take the skies much more often than one weekend throughout the summer. They’ll typically gather at Sand Turn as you head up the mountains from Dayton. Or, if your childhood desires matched those of Nield, he and Bowman offer lessons in the art of hang gliding and paragliding every weekend throughout the summer. You can contact Nield at 307-751-1138 or wyomingwings@wyoming.com. May the wind be always at your back; may the sun shine warm upon your face.
Spring/Summer 2016
ABOVE: William Snyder takes off over the Tongue River valley from Sandturn on Highway 14 west of Dayton. Hang gliders from the region come to the Bighorn Mountains to fly every Labor Day and Memorial Day. The eastern face of the Bighorns are known for ideal gliding conditions.
Fishing OPPORTUNITIES
Some fine fishing opportunities can be found in a variety of lakes, streams and rivers around Sheridan. Fishermen from novice to expert will find everything from walleye, crappie and perch to rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout in the waters of northern Wyoming and southern Montana. In town, youth and adults will find good fishing at Sam Mavrakis Pond and in the Big Goose, Little Goose and Goose creeks that wind through town and can be accessed in several parks like Kendrick Park and South Park. Kleenburn Recreation Area near Acme approximately 12 miles north of Sheridan offers two ponds that are stocked with fish by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Connor Battlefield Park in Ranchester and Scott Bicentennial Park in Dayton both offer access to the Tongue River and some good fishing. South of Sheridan near Buffalo, Lake DeSmet offers a good population of rainbow and brown trout. North of Sheridan in Montana’s Tongue River Reservoir, fishermen will find walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike, not to mention some of the best spring crappie fishing in the west, according to Sheridan fishing guide and professional fishing guide Gordon Rose. Both reservoirs are also popular ice fishing destinations in the winter. Lake fishermen looking for mountain scenery will enjoy Sibley Lake, Twin Lakes and Park Reservoir in the Bighorn National Forest. All three lakes are within an hour’s drive of Sheridan and contain rainbow, brook and lake trout for the catching. Those looking for a little more adventure and fewer people can find high-mountain lake and stream fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains, accessible only by foot or horseback. Trips can range from a day hike to a multi-day 15-mile trek into lakes beneath 12,000- and 13,000-foot peaks like Cloud Peak and Black Tooth Mountain. “You could almost visit a different mountain stream in the forest every weekend and still not fish them all over the course of one summer,” Rose said. He said one of the most popular streams is the “catch and release” section of the North REASONS Tongue River above Burgess Junction on U.S. Highway 14. There, fly fishermen have been known to catch cutthroat trout 10-20 inches in • Tongue River length. • Sam Mavrakis Other favorites are the Little Big Horn River, Pond the South Tongue River and the headwaters of • Lake DeSmet Shell Creek. Montana’s famous Big Horn River, • Tongue River considered one of the best trout rivers in the Reservoir country, is only 90 miles north of Sheridan.
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Check out the outdoor page on
www.TheSheridanPress.com for local outdoor and fishing suggestions. The Bighorn National Forest website also offers maps and information. WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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SHERIDAN COUNTY
1959 E. Brundage Ln. 1/4 mile east of I-90 on Highway 14 P.O Box 6522 gracebaptistsheridan.org
Independent • Fundamental Stephen R. Anderson, Pastor Office 672-7391 Home 672-7189 Sunday: 10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Worship • 6 PM Service Wednesday: 7:00 PM Service
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
First Church of the Nazarene 907 Bellevue 672-2505
Corner of W. Loucks and Tschirgi St.
Pastor Jody Hampton
9:45 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship
Sunday Service Times 7:30 am & 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist
Phone: 674-7655 E-mail: office@sheridannaz.org 30
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1 South Tschirgi St. • Sheridan, WY
Spring/Summer 2016
Come worship with us at
Grace Chapel
in beautiful Story, WY. (Independent Bible Preaching) Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11 AM Everyone Welcome Pastor Bill Dill 674-7505 Downtown Story, WY 82842
Sunrise Assembly of God 570 Marion Street Sheridan, WY 82801 • 674-8424
PASTOR JOHN D. JACKSON, JR. 10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Evening Worship Wednesday 7 PM Bible Study
Church Directory Share the Spirit at
First Christian Church Visit our memorial gardens, stained glass windows and thrift store (Tues/Sat), three blocks east of Main St.
Sunday Worship 102 S. Connor 8 am & 10 am 307.674.6795 www.sheridandisciples.org
Tongue River Baptist Church 305 Coffeen Street Ranchester, WY Phone 307-752-0415
Pastor
Granger Logan
Sunday School Worship Evening Worship
9:45 am 11:00 am 6:30 pm
WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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AREA DESTINATIONS
REASONS
S heridan County
TOWNS
87-94
• Big Horn • Canyon Ranch • Wyoming Bird Farm • Bozeman Trail Museum • Big Horn Smokehouse • Big Horn Mercantile • Big Horn Heritage Days • Former resident, rancher and three-term U.S. Sen. Malcom Wallop, who died in 2011.
BIG HORN
BIG HORN COMMUNITY • 490 total residents • Male: 244 • Female: 246 • Under 18: 144 • Largest age group: 50-64: 117
Located on the eastern slopes of the Bighorn Mountains alongside Little Goose Creek, Big Horn has more than doubled in size since 2000. The population of Big Horn in 2000 was 190 people. By the 2010 census, the small town had grown to 490 residents. While this represents phenomenal growth in just 10 years, it is by no means the largest the town has ever been. At one time, Big Horn had as many as 1,000 residents and sported a college, a brick factory, saloons, churches, a hotel, a livery barn and a mercantile. The town shrank when it lost the bid to be the county seat to neighboring Sheridan. More people left when it was discovered that three railroads were surveying Sheridan. When the railroads arrived in 1893,
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Big Horn quickly became a satellite community of Sheridan. Wealthy cattle and sheep ranchers founded Big Horn in 1882. Big Horn boasts two polo clubs — Big Horn Polo and Flying H Polo Club — that offer a more laid back atmosphere compared to their eastern and European counterparts. The town also offers breathtaking views of the Bighorn Mountains; easy access to fishing and backcountry camping up Red Grade Road; is home to The Brinton Museum, a renowned site for the preservation of history and promotion of the arts; and hosts several events with small-town charm like the Big Horn Heritage Days chuckwagon cook-off over Labor Day weekend.
AREA DESTINATIONS
STORY REASONS
95-99
• Story • Fort Phil Kearny • Story Fish Hatchery • Story Days • Rotary Park
STORY COMMUNITY • 828 total residents • Male: 423 • Female: 405 • Under 18: 118 • Largest age group: 50-64: 280
Tucked below the Bighorn Mountains in thick pines, Story is shady and cool in the summer and fairy-tale white and snowy in the winter, offering a quick getaway from Sheridan or a weekend adventure for anyone looking for a quiet escape. The unincorporated community lies approximately 20 miles south of Sheridan on State Highway 87. It rests on the banks of Piney Creek and was first platted by horse trader Marshal Wolf, who was going to
name the town after himself until he found out — with dismay — that Wolf, Wyoming, already existed. The town was instead named after Charles B. Story, a rancher who was instrumental in getting a post office established — the first building in what had until then been a town made up of only tent structures. Today, Story acts as a gateway to several trails used for hiking, snowshoeing, ATV riding and as access to rock-climbing adventures. South Piney Creek Trail and Penrose Trail are community favorites. The town also features the Story Fish Hatchery. With $2.6 million in funding from the Wyoming Legislature, the hatchery celebrated a grand reopening in September 2011 after being renovated. The remodeling included improvements in water delivery systems, fish rearing areas and egg incubation facilities. Many features
were designed specifically to house the additional brood stocks and for spawning activities and egg incubation. The hatchery is open daily yearround from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Story also features an art center, a coffee shop that does its own roasting, a library and several artisan gift stores. Each year, the community celebrates the end of summer with Story Days, a townwide celebration that features food — including pies from the Story Woman’s Club — vendors, a parade and other fun and cultural activities for all ages. Another fun event is the Thanksgiving meal served by the Story Woman’s Club each year. It has turkey and all the fixings and those sought-after Story Woman’s Club pies. It’s a must-do event — but get there early because the line often stretches out the door and down the block.
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CLEARMONT TOWN OF CLEARMONT • 142 total residents • Male: 64 • Female: 78 • Under 18: 43 • Largest age group: 50-64: 40
REASON
100 Clearmont
Nestled in the rolling hills approximately 40 miles southeast of Sheridan, the tiny town of Clearmont should not be overlooked. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau marked the population at 142 people, many who work in agriculture or education. While it is not a booming population or bustling shopping center that inspires visitors to take the quintessential Sunday drive to Clearmont, the drive is still worth it. Clearmont is ripe with history and small-town charm. Clearmont was founded in 1892 as a railroad town servicing the Burlington-Missouri Railroad (currently known as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad). When railroad officials arrived, the town site was moved 1.5 miles and renamed to Clearmont in honor of Clear Creek flowing through town and the view of the Bighorn Mountains to the west. In the early 1900s, Clearmont was a major shipping point for cattle and became a terminal point in 1914. The old jail in the town park was built in 1922 for $827 and is open for visitors. The jail is currently listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Just off Main Street sits Arvada-Clearmont High School. Next to it is the Old Rock School, which is a one-room schoolhouse that offers a glimpse at days past. Visitors to Clearmont can enjoy a picnic in the town's park, which is also located on Main Street. World War II enthusiasts will be interested to know that Clearmont once housed a German prisoner of war camp. Prisoners were allowed to work in the fields growing and harvesting beets. Today, Clearmont boasts several small businesses that provide the basics and a few surprises. Nearby in Ucross is the Ucross Foundation, a renowned artist residency program and art gallery. WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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AREA DESTINATIONS
RANCHESTER TOWN OF RANCHESTER • 855 total residents • Male: 432 • Female: 423 • Largest age group: 50-64: 160
REASONS
101-102 • Ranchester • Ranchester Mercantile
History and prehistory come alive in the town of Ranchester, the first stop off Interstate 90 on U.S. Highway 14. While many people pass through the towns of Ranchester and Dayton on their way to Yellowstone National Park, they are worth a stop of their own. They invite people to slow down and enjoy a little small-town charm. Ranchester is home to the Connor Battlefield State Historic Site, Tyrannosaurus Rex Museum, Rotary Park and beautiful mountain views. Connor Battlefield State Historic Site was where the U.S. Army and the Arapahoe tribe met in the Battle of Tongue River, which ended in Connor's troops being forced out of the area. The battle is considered the most important engagement of the Powder River Expedition of 1865. It caused the Arapahoe to ally with the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes at the Fetterman Fight just a year later. Local diorama artist Tom Warnke recently completed a diorama to cap-
ture the battle and place it in the Ranchester Information Center for all to see. The town park at the Connor Battlefield site also provides playground equipment for children and a monument in honor of the site. For visitors and locals who want to go back a little further in time, the T-Rex Natural History Museum on U.S. Highway 14 offers a life-size cast skull of the female Tyrannosaurus Rex known as Sue and also a cast of a Triceratops skull known as “Mikey” in honor of the museum’s owner, Mike Dawson. The museum also features a collection of minerals and crystals, a model of an F-86 fighter jet next door to a scale dinosaur skeleton and a gift shop. Rotary Park in Ranchester offers visitors a place to relax and enjoy paved walking trails, fishing and picnic facilities. The town holds a festive Fourth of July celebration each year and also offers a small library and the recently completed Ranchester Mercantile that is expected to house businesses and an open-air farmers market.
For more information on the town, see:
www.RanchesterWyoming.com
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AREA DESTINATIONS
DAYTON REASONS
103-110 • Dayton • Hans Kleiber Studio • Tongue River Canyon • Dayton Days • Padlock Ranch • Scott Bicentennial Park • Double Rafter Ranch • First female mayor
TOWN OF DAYTON • 757 total residents • Male: 376 • Female: 381 • Under 18: 192 • Largest age group: 50-64: 197
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Nestled at the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, Dayton is home to the first rodeo in Wyoming, the first female mayor and the famous artist Hans Kleiber. Dayton was founded in 1882. Its name is derived from one of the founding members, Joe Dayton Thorne. The first mayor of the town was Cornelius “Nea” H. Ketchum. His successor, Susan Wissler, has the distinction of being the first female mayor in Wyoming — possibly in the United States. Dayton was incorporated in 1906 and saw some growth as mining and agriculture took its hold. Its current population is 780. German born artist Hans Kleiber came to the Dayton area when he worked as a ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. He soon gave up his career to capture the beauty of nature in art, becoming known as the Etcher Laureate of the Bighorns for his depictions of wildlife, Dayton, historical figures and life on the prairie. Kleiber’s cabin studio is open for tourists and sits just a few hundred feet from its original location. It’s a must see for anyone passing through Dayton. After checking out the Kleiber studio, travelers can stretch their legs at Scott Bicentennial Park. The park fea-
DESTINATION SHERIDAN
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tures volleyball pits, picnic areas, trails for biking, walking and running and access to the Tongue River, a popular fishing area. Dayton is also a great starting point for outdoor enthusiasts heading into the Tongue River Canyon, which offers hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking, or up the Bighorn Mountains for any number of adventures. In June, Dayton plays host to the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run, a popular race for ultrarunners with its 30K, 50K, 50-mile and 100-mile options. The downtown area straddles U.S. Highway 14 and is easy to pass by, but it offers plenty to stop for including several unique small-town boutiques, the Art Badgett Pool for summer fun and more. Each year in July, the town hosts Dayton Days, a celebration complete with the “Cow Pie Classic” golf tournament played in a cow pasture, a nighttime movie in the park, a pancake breakfast and parade and a larger-than-life water fight that involves a large barrel suspended in the air on a wire that is “pushed” back and forth by teams wielding fire hoses.
www.DaytonWyoming.org
CORNER GROCERY
ATM • Groceries • Hunting & Fishing Licenses Gas • Diesel • Propane • Beer • Wine • Liquor
415 Main in Dayton 307 • 655 • 2534
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Making trails by Mike Dunn
ABOVE: A sunset highlights wildflowers on Soldier Ridge Trail in 2015. The trail is located at the end of West Fifth Street. The trail offers views of the Bighorn Mountains and is open to foot and bicycle traffic only.
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On the west end of Fifth Street, the bustling city of Sheridan transforms into a picturesque vision of rural life. The road turns to dirt; you are surrounded by rolling fields of grass where cattle graze. The Bighorn Mountains rise into the sky. Near the top of one of those ridges is a trail that spans 4.2 miles across the Sheridan County countryside, providing stunning views of vistas across thousands of acres. It’s called Soldier Ridge, and it’s one of the most used trails in Sheridan County. Along with Red Grade Trail, Soldier Ridge is one of two trails constructed by the Sheridan Community Land Trust in the past decade that has improved the quality of life for residents and tourists alike.
Colin Betzler, executive director of the SCLT, calls this trail a unique community-connecting location of sorts. “There is a good chance that if you meet someone out there on these trails, you are going to have a lot in common with these people,” Betzler said. “You are going to have some kind words to exchange with each other.” The trails were created through a community effort. The SCLT was founded in 2006 as a solution to concerns community members expressed about conservation and land preservation. In the past decade, the nonprofit’s projects have included preservation of ranches, historic preservation and access to recreational opportunities, including Soldier Ridge Trail. The SCLT has 3,000 acres of conservation easement projects and two historic preservation easement projects. In the mid-2000s, ERA Carroll Realty had bought the land that Soldier Ridge rests on today with the intention of building a housing development. But Betzler approached the company with the idea of protecting that land instead. “We asked them if they got to the end of their subdivision and they had a few more lots to sell, they should con-
sider maybe putting a conservation easement,” Betzler said. A few years later, ERA did them one better. In March 2012, ERA Carroll Realty completed a conservation easement for the remainder of the acreage available. At that time, the real estate company also gave a trail easement to Sheridan County to expand the trail system over the Soldier Creek Ranch ridge. This allowed the public to use the trail system for non-motorized traffic. “It was a really good deal for everyone involved,” Betzler said. “We were able to create something in line with the community while protecting big chunks of open spaces to protect key wildlife corridors and provide public recreation.” Longtime ERA Carroll Reality Owner Dixie See said it was a positive for the company as well. “Carroll Realty has always been a supporter of the community needs,” See said. “With the expansion of the trail system over this ridge the public will have years of enjoyment viewing the Bighorn Mountains.” But there was one more step before the process could be completed. At the west end of Fifth Street is private property owned by Don Roberts
REASONS
111-118
• Soldier Ridge Trail • Colin Betzler • Sheridan Community Land Trust • ERA Carroll Realty • Conservation easements • Don Roberts Jr. • Red Grade Trail System • Public trails, pathways
REASON
119
Donors and board members who support SCLT and other organizations that work on preserving and maintaining public lands
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bit of Wyoming flavor for anyone making their way along the trails. You often see cattle grazing in the area. When Soldier Ridge was completed, the SCLT began to work on its next trail system. The organization, Betzler said, was looking for a trail to service the south end of town that was more remote than the Solider Ridge Trail. They found the perfect location on the base of the Bighorn Mountains south of Big Horn on Red Grade Road. It has been a long and arduous process, but through partnerships with the state of Wyoming, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, the SCLT was granted a 25-year Special Use Lease for 160 acres of state land to build the first phase of the trail. While only a few miles have been completed, the trail system could include dozens of miles consisting of several different trails each with their own levels of difficulty. But that process could take more than five years to complete. “When you are working with this many agencies, it can sometimes be a long process,” Betzler said. The trails are a privilege, as the many signs will tell you along the way. Soldier Ridge Trail is still private property, and should be treated with respect and courtesy. “It’s really a great investment for the community to make,” Betlzer said. “It really attracts the people who are in Sheridan, the people who want to be in Sheridan.”
ABOVE: Members of the Penrose Pacers, from left, Sadie Clarendon and Kelli Anderson, run last year at Soldier Ridge Trail in Sheridan. The Penrose Pacers is a running club that meets twice a week.
“
There is a good chance that if you meet someone out there on these trails, you are going to have a lot in common with these people. You are going to have some kind words to exchange with each other.
– Colin Betzler
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Jr. Access to the land donated by Carroll Realty would be almost impossible for recreationalists to reach. But his generosity helped make the trail happen. He allowed the trail to be built on his property in order to connect it from one end to the other. Now, hikers are only minutes away from a trail that is normally available only miles outside of town. “He was really the reason that this was allowed to happen. Without his generosity we would have been really stuck,” Betzler said about Roberts. “He did that out of his own goodwill and we really like to thank him anytime we can.” Roberts still uses the property, which adds a little
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REASONS
120-127
• Lions Club Park • South Park • North Park • Thorne-Rider Park • Whitney Commons • Kendrick Pool • Dog parks • Buffalo pasture
Sheridan Parks
With several miles of city pathways stretching the length of Sheridan, two large parks and a multitude of neighborhood parks, recreationists and leisure seekers need not look far in Sheridan. For a complete list of city parks and a map of city pathways, see:
www.SheridanWY.net
KENDRICK PARK
NORTH PARK
From West Loucks Street, head north onto Badger Street. Located near the western border of Sheridan just blocks from downtown, the 56-acre park was once home to a city zoo and retains a wildlife refuge that supports several elk and bison. The animals can often be seen from the park or the sidewalks surrounding the refuge. In addition to the wildlife, Kendrick also boasts picnic pavilions, playgrounds, a swimming pool and ice cream stand. On summer evenings, the park's bandshell is often used for outdoor concerts or movie showings.
This mostly undeveloped park boasts a pathway connection that makes a loop through some of the city’s marshy woods. The park is one of the newest additions to the city’s repertoire. To access the park, head north on Decker Highway. Turn left on Industrial Road and you’ll see the parking area on your left.
SOUTH PARK
To reach this natural park, head south on Coffeen Avenue, turn right on Brundage Lane, then turn right to enter the parking area. South Park is one of the more recent additions to the city's park properties. Work has been done to clear noxious weeds, pave a pathway through the area and restore the creek that runs through the property. This park boasts natural wildlife including pheasants, deer and prime access to the creek for fishing.
SHERIDAN LIONS CLUB PARK
Much work has been done on this park over the last few years, including the installation of fences to provide a dog park for Sheridan residents and visitors. The park is located at the corner of Sheridan Avenue and First Street. The dog park portion of the property includes water fountains, benches and tables for pet owners and paved areas for handicap accessibility. Here, dogs are allowed to be dogs, running off leash and playing. Outside of this exercise area, the park also features playground areas for children and picnic tables. THORNE-RIDER PARK
To reach this opportunity-filled park, head north on Main Street to 11th Street, turn left, then make a right turn at Spaulding Street to enter the park. Thorne-Rider boasts two baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and playground equipment. It also boasts a BMX bicycle track, horseshoe pits and walking paths. The park includes picnic shelters and a skateboard facility as well.
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REASONS
128-130 • Kendrick Golf Course • The Powder Horn • Hidden Bridge Golf Club
Local Golf
If you like golf, you’ll love the Sheridan area. Between Sheridan and Buffalo, the area offers four diverse golf courses, each with views of the Bighorn Mountains, so be sure to toss your golf clubs in with your rodeo tickets, your fly rod and your cowboy hat when you visit.
HIDDEN BRIDGE GOLF CLUB Hidden Bridge Golf Club is one of Wyoming’s newest courses. It features a challenging but fair layout that can be enjoyed by all level of players. The par-72, 18-hole course includes five sets of tees and 23 bunkers along rolling terrain. The course seeks to offer a comfortable environment to socialize, relax and enjoy great golf. It also features an outdoor patio with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains and a wide selection of food and beverages. Hidden Bridge Golf Course is located minutes from downtown Sheridan, along the town’s extensive bike and walking pathway system. Hidden Bridge Gold Club is located at 550 Mydland Road in Sheridan. Call 307-752-6625 for tee times, or for more information visit:
www.HiddenBridgeGolf.com KENDRICK MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE This 18-hole, par 70 golf course is located three miles west of Sheridan off of Big Goose Road, also known as Loucks Street. It is owned and operated by the city of Sheridan and sits on land donated by former Wyoming Governor and U.S. Senator John B. Kendrick. The golf course plays host to a number of summer tournaments and is a favorite afterwork or Saturday destination for Sheridan’s many avid golfers. It has a driving range, practice areas, a clubhouse grill and pro shop. Kendrick Golf Course is located at 65 Golf Course Road in Sheridan. Call 307-674-8148 for tee times and details.
THE POWDER HORN The Powder Horn is often rated as the number one course in the state. It was named Golf Digest’s #1 Best Wyoming Golf Courses to Play in 2006 and has made Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses list and Top 100 Modern Golf Courses list for nearly 10 years in a row. In 2011, it was the host course and facility for one of the top amateur tournaments for women, the Women’s Trans National Championship. Top players from around the world competed in the tournament. The Powder Horn’s three distinct nine-hole courses, 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, award-winning pro shop, convention facilities, tennis courts, fitness facilities, pool, nature trails, trout ponds and fine food at The Powder Horn Grill and the Cowboy Bar. The Powder Horn has also been designated a National Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and attracts a variety of wildlife. The Powder Horn was developed by Homer Scott Jr., in the mid-1990s after he fell in love with the 900 acres of pristine land below his beloved Bighorn Mountains. The master planned community also includes a variety of real estate options. Scott has lived most his life in Wyoming and is a friendly presence on the course and in the clubhouse. The club recently became private. The Powder Horn is located at 161 Highway 335 near Big Horn. Call 307-672-5353 for tee times, or for more information visit:
www.ThePowderHorn.com BUFFALO GOLF CLUB Located just 34 miles south of Sheridan on Hart Street in Buffalo, the Buffalo Golf Club is also a nationally recognized course. In 2009, Golf Digest named the Buffalo Golf Club Wyoming’s “Best Municipal Golf Club.” The club holds a variety of scrambles and tournaments and is a favorite stop for any golf enthusiast living in town or just passing through. The traditional layout, which opened in 1980 and was designed by PGA professional Bill Poirot, is a par-71 course. It has a clubhouse, practice areas and a bar and grill. The Buffalo Golf Club is located at 500 W. Hart St. in Buffalo. Call 307-752-6625 for tee times, or for more information visit:
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This land is OUR land.
The Bighorn Mountains out beyond The Wagon Box Fight State Historic Site in Story. | Photo by Jon Cates
by Phoebe Tollefson
It’s nigh impossible to live in Sheridan County and not love the than many other parts of Wyoming — and its ability to be irrigated for great outdoors. From fishing to hiking, hunting to snowmobiling, farming and ranching, thanks to the Tongue River and other waterways. “’Prove up’” is what they called it,” Cassiday said, talking about the rethere’s just about something for everyone. Oddly enough, however, this nature-rich, recreation-loving section of quirements for homesteaders to secure their plot of land under the terms the state is relatively poor in public lands. That’s not a commentary on the of the U.S. government. “And you’d see it where families would get together, adult children and whatnot, everyone could file on a piece of land, quality of public lands in Sheridan County. It’s about the quantity. and so you’d file on this one and your brother on the neighboring one.” Look at a state map long enough and you’ll see what we mean. This built up large family tracts, and as the U.S. government continued While the northwest corner of the state is blanketed in purple and green for federally owned Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National wresting land from Native tribes in the West, individual families continued Park, and yellow Bureau of Land Management plots cover much of the to show up and stake their claims. central and southern portions of Wyoming, Sheridan County is different. Most of the public land in Sheridan County is packed in to the Bighorn STEWARDSHIP The fact that most land in Sheridan County is privately owned doesn’t National Forest on the county’s western edge. Some state and BLM lands seem to be slowing down the locals, however. This area of northern are scattered to the east of Sheridan. But, like other eastern Wyoming counties, white — which indicates pri- Wyoming is still a top destination for outdoor recreation, making use of vate land — is the backdrop to it all. And there’s so much of it in Sheridan both public and private lands, especially through Wyoming Game and Fish County that it almost looks as if the cartograDepartment programs that coordinate pubpher forgot to color the map in properly. lic hunting and fishing access on private [You can be] doing what Andrew Cassiday said this is a vestige of the lands. homesteader days. Cassiday, district conservaIf you live in Sheridan County, you can fish you want to do, viewing tionist at the Natural Resources Conservation in the summer. You can fish in the winter. wildlife, harvesting wildlife, Service, a division of the U.S. Department of The area is a prime spot for elk, deer and Agriculture, said this area of the state was atother game hunting. Bird-watchers stay enjoying the outdoors. tractive to settlers due to its relatively mild clibusy, tracking everything from meadowlarks mate — with less wind and more precipitation to quail. – Brian Kir ven
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1360 SUGARLAND DR. (Behind Perkins) PH: 307-674-6799 www.sheridanmartinizing.com 46
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BELOW: National Forest Service Trail Maintenance Crew members, from left, Zannon Stands, Ben Freimund and Trail Boss Spencer Otto trek up the Wolf Creek Trail.
REASONS
131-139
Anyone who wants so get their heart pumping and lungs working can drive less than an hour in the winter, click into skis and explore one of the groomed cross-country ski trails local ski groups manage in the Bighorns. For those who like speed, snowmobiling is always a popular pastime in the area during winter, and dirt-bikers and four-wheelers can head to any number of trails in the summer to stay active. Heading into the Bighorns on Thanksgiving weekend is a family tradition for many in the area, marking the first seasonally appropriate day to hunt down the best Christmas tree. So what exactly can you do for fun in Sheridan County, and where? In the Bighorns, people are free to camp for up to 14 days at a time in one location during the summer. Hunting, fishing and all-terrain vehicle use are also permitted, on sanctioned trails or with the proper license. The same camping, hunting and fishing rules generally apply to BLM plots, although the rules can differ depending on the specific site. ATV use is somewhat more restricted. To learn more about what is permitted on BLM lands, members of the public can contact Outdoor Recreation Planner Rachel Woita at the BLM Buffalo Field Office at 307-684-1116. On state lands, the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners generally allows for hunting, fishing and day-use recreation, but off-road motorized vehicles, overnight camping and fires are prohibited. In Sheridan County, it’s not only that there are plenty of individuals who love doing fun things outdoors. It’s also the case that there is a slew of civic organizations devoted to promoting outdoor recreation and environmental conservation.
Sheridan Community Land Trust, Wyoming Public Land Users Committee and the Sheridan County Conservation District are just a few names that come to mind. These organizations raise funds and donate their time and expertise to help preserve the outdoors in Sheridan County, to make it easier for people to enjoy nature and to teach the community about environmental stewardship and what all is available to them as members of the public. Brian Kirven, lifelong Sheridan resident and former president of Pheasants Forever, said the access to outdoors that Sheridan County provides is “one of the best privileges” he can think of. “I mean face it, in 15 minutes you can be almost to the national forest if you wanted to, or on a quiet drainage somewhere walking the hills,” he said. “Doing what you want to do, viewing wildlife, harvesting wildlife, enjoying the outdoors.” Kirven contrasted the amenities of Sheridan with what you get when you live in a major metro area, like Denver. “It’s kind of nice when you look on the foothills and you don’t see too much development,” he said. But accessing public lands isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Ted Lapis, president of the Wyoming Public Lands User Committee, said he has run into several roadblocks over the years when trying to identify and access public lands, including on what is now known as The 3 Poles Recreation Area. More needs to be done to promote access to public lands, Lapis said, because the opportunities for physical, mental and spiritual health that the outdoors offers are rich. “We have too often taken it for granted,” he said.
• Public lands • National monuments • National forests • Bird watching • Wyoming Public Land Users Committee • Sheridan County Conservation District • Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners • U.S. Forest Service • Bureau of Land Management
REASON
140 Stewards of the land of all kinds
TO OBTAIN COPIES OF DESTINATION SHERIDAN, CONTACT THE SHERIDAN PRESS AT 307-672-2431
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Brinton Museum THE
The Brinton Museum offers “exquisite art in an ideal setting” that became even more ideal last year. In June 2015, the Forrest E. Mars Jr. Building opened, and has made The Brinton a destination museum much like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Director and Chief Curator Ken Schuster has said. The 24,000-square-foot addition features gallery and education space, a gift shop and a rooftop bistro with views of the Bighorn Mountains. The expanded gallery space exhibits pieces of the Bradford collection not currently displayed in the Brinton Ranch House. It also has three new galleries dedicated to artists integral to the development of Sheridan County as a haven for the arts: Hans Kleiber, Bill Gollings and Ed Borein. The addition to The Brinton Museum includes three floors. The first and second floor are buried underground to prevent light degradation. The 6,000 square feet of gallery space — triple what The Brinton used to have — are climate controlled, and preservation of artwork is front and center, Associate Curator Barbara Schuster said. The building also features educational space for groups like Sheridan College, Science Kids and local school districts. The museum was built into the hillside in order to preserve the landscape in the area, which was important to its namesake Bradford Brinton and to the Schusters, who have run the museum for more than 25 years. It features a rammed earth wall — the tallest in North America. The wall’s purpose is three-fold — to strengthen the structure, ensure its longevity and symbolically define the space by bringing together the
geographical and spiritual nature of its Western and American Indian art collections. Next, the museum board will launch a campaign to renovate the former museum building to house classroom space, a printmaking studio, a leatherworking shop and more. Lest all the attention be put on the new addition, though, The Brinton Museum already offered visitors plenty to enjoy. Opened to the public in 1961, the museum, formerly the Bradford Brinton Memorial and Museum, features a historic ranch house and cabin built in the late 1800s, abundant flower gardens that replicate the original gardens kept by Helen Brinton, a vast expanse of artwork in the ranch house and exhibits from local and national artists in the main gallery. Schuster has said he hopes The Brinton Museum will not only preserve historical arts but also preserve the work of contemporary artists and inspire local art collectors. “On the one hand, we can say art is the least important thing we need to be alive,” Schuster said. “On the other hand, art transforms us from just existence into the next level of being. It makes us human beings and not just one step above animals.” Climate controlled galleries display works from Frederic Remington to Charles Russell and Edward Borein to Winold Reiss, along with the largest Hans Kleiber collection in the world and the returning Gallatin Collection: more than 100 historic treasures of American Indian art and artifacts. Recently gifted to The Brinton Museum, the Gallatin Collection has been on loan to the Art Institute of Chicago for the last 40 years. More frequent and extensive contemporary exhibits also now have a home on the third floor of the new building, near the bistro.
www.TheBrintonMuseum.org
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REASON
141 The Brinton Museum
MORE INFO: Location: 239 Brinton Road in Big Horn
Phone: 307-672-3173 Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults: $10 Seniors 62+: $8 Students 13 and older: $8 Bus tours: $5/person Free for: Members, Sheridan and Johnson County students, children 12 and younger, school groups, NARM and ROAM members, active duty and retired military and their families, Indian Tribal members* *All groups need valid ID
AREA DESTINATIONS
THE HISTORIC
Sheridan Inn
Once deemed the finest hotel between Chicago and San Francisco, the Sheridan Inn opened its doors May 27, 1893. It was located next to the train tracks and became a favorite stop for passersby who found comfort in its running water and electricity — it was one of the first western hotels to feature such amenities — and excitement in watching William “Buffalo Bill” Cody conduct auditions for his Wild West Show from the
front porch of the inn. Today, visitors can walk that same famed porch, allowing history to come alive in their imaginations. Notable among the hotel’s guests in its heyday was Ernest Hemingway who labored over “A Farewell to Arms” in the area in the late 1920s. As passenger trains became a less popular mode of travel, the inn’s business began to dwindle. By 1965, it was bankrupt. However, the inn was given new hope when Neltje, a local artist and philanthropist, began a campaign to save the historic building in 1967. The inn went through 50 years of openings and closings, experiencing partial renovations under the nonprofit Sheridan Heritage Center, Inc. from 1990 to 2012. However, the downturn of the economy led to the eventual foreclosure of the inn. In 2013, Bob and Dana Townsend, an Oklahoma couple with family ties in Sheridan, purchased the inn. The Townsends remodeled 22 rooms on the second and third floors that are now available for guest rental. The Open Range Bar and Grill, a restaurant with Western fare and flair, opened in a previous restaurant location on the north end of the inn.
REASONS
142-148
• Miss Kate • History with old west shows • Connections to Ernest Hemingway • The Kendricks • Sheridan Inn • Trail End State Historic Site • County Museum
MORE INFO: Sheridan Inn Location: 856 Broadway St. in Sheridan Phone: 307-674-2178
Trail End Location:
www.SheridanInn.com
400 Clarendon Ave. in Sheridan Phone: 307-674-4589
Courtesy photo (left)
Hours of operation, entrance fees and information on events and exhibits can be found on the website.
County Museum Location: 850 Sibley Circle in Sheridan Phone: 307-675-1150 Hours: January-April, gift shop only, 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. May, 1-5 p.m. daily. June through Labor Day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Admission: Adults $4, seniors 60 and over $3, students $2, children 12 and under, veterans and active military free 50
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Trail End Museum Courtesy photo Built in the Flemish Revival style, the 13,748-square-foot Kendrick mansion that is the site of the Trail End State Historic Site provides a realistic glimpse into life in Sheridan in the early 1900s.
Exhibits and displays feature original artifacts from the time and provide information on daily life, entertainment, interior decorations, cleaning habits, changing technology and 20th century ranching on the Northern Plains. The permanent exhibit pieces — furniture, clothing, the house itself — don’t change from year to year but the themes do. One year featured how kids might have lived in the mansion. Other years focused on entertainment and how advertising influenced what was bought for the home. Construction began on the Kendrick mansion in 1908. After it was finished in 1913, the
Kendrick family only had a short time to enjoy it, as John Kendrick was elected governor of Wyoming in 1914 and the family moved to Cheyenne. Two years later, Kendrick was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. Until his death in 1933, the home was used as a summer home for the family. John Kendrick’s widow, Eula Kendrick, lived in the home from 1934-1961. It was purchased by the Sheridan County Historical Society in 1968 and transferred to state ownership in 1982.
www.TrailEnd.com
S heridan County Museum The Sheridan County Museum gives visitors the chance to explore the history of the American West through the eyes of the men and women who settled Sheridan County. It features a variety of permanent and featured exhibits that include topics ranging from the mines that contributed to the rise and fall of several small towns in the county to the railroad to the role of sports and recreation in the development of the social culture in the area. Starting in 1991, the Sheridan County Historical Society maintained an exhibit in the basement of the Historic Sheridan Inn. In 2002, the society began a project to improve the care of its artifact collections, moving into a small building on Alger Avenue in 2004. In 2005, the society received an offer to purchase a former restaurant on East Fifth Street near the Interstate 90 interchange. After a yearlong campaign, the society had raised more than $1.5 million to purchase and remodel the building into the current Sheridan County Museum. The new museum opened in July 2006 and remains a crucial part of preserving Sheridan County’s past as it moves into the future.
www.SheridanMuseum.org
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WYO Theater MORE INFO: WYO Theater Location: 42 N. Main St. in Sheridan
Phone: 307-672-9084
Box office hours: Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday when there is a performance, noon to 4 p.m.
With its classic neon sign and light-up marquee, the WYO Theater is an anchor in Sheridan’s Main Street scene. What goes on inside the theater makes the WYO a staple in a city known for its culture. The venue hosts a variety of live entertainment and performance art from local, national and international performing groups One night may feature area children in a Stars of Tomorrow talent contest while the next Saturday morning will bring world-class opera to Sheridan audiences via a live broadcast of a show at the Metropolitan Opera. Live concerts, film festivals, classic movies and local and national stage productions all grace the theater throughout the year. With a nod to Sheridan’s growing emphasis on the arts, the old Perkins Building located south of the theater
was recently renovated to create the Mars Theater — a black box theater and performing arts laboratory — offices for Sheridan College theater faculty and a 9,380-square-foot costume support area. The lobby and restroom areas were also improved and wing capacity was expanded. The expansion was a collaboration between the WYO Theater and Sheridan College. The WYO Theater opened in 1923 as the Lotus, a vaudeville theater. The venue was renamed in 1941 during a major renovation and continued to show live performances and films until it went bankrupt in 1982. The dedication and generosity of a large group of community members helped the theater re-open its doors in 1989. It is owned by the city and serves as a cornerstone for the arts in Sheridan.
www.WyoTheater.com
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Sagebrush
AREA DESTINATIONS
COMMUNITY ART CENTER
MORE INFO: Sagebrush Location: 201 E. Fifth St. in Sheridan
Phone: 307-674-1970 Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Van Gogh, Poe and Greco get it: being an artist can be lonely, depressing and hard on the pocket book. Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe and El Greco are famed for their creations now, but they lived awkward lives with little recognition and even scorn for being too “out there” when they were working as artists. Perhaps life would have been better if they’d joined an artist guild and gotten a little artist love. Perhaps they should have lived in Sheridan where artists of all types seek each other out to share the joy of creating. The largest arts group in the area is the Sheridan Artists’ Guild, Et al, with more than 250 members. SAGE is housed in the Sagebrush Community Art Center in the old train depot on East Fifth Street. The art center bustles day and night with workshops for children and adults and visits to the member’s gallery and the front gallery that features local and national artists in monthly rotations. Sagebrush Community Art Center sees more than 7,000 visitors across the globe. More than 60 artists
displayed work in the sales gallery and 1,000 students took art classes, including a popular monthly workshop called “Uncorked” that allows beginning painters to produce a finalized work in one night while enjoying fellowship and a beverage of choice. The Sagebrush Community Art Center also offers a variety of art classes and camps for children and youth, utilizing partnerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Brinton Museum. SAGE began 40 years ago as a loose-knit club and steadily added painters, photographers, potters and a variety of textile artists to its ranks. In 2006, it became an official nonprofit organization and began the search for a permanent space in which to meet and create and promote the arts. Although methods and programs have changed over the years, SAGE seeks to “become the vehicle for a strong creative economy in the community” by offering training in art technique and marketing and opportunities to make, display and sell art.
www.ArtInSheridan.com
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MORE INFO: CONNOR BATTLEFIELD
Location: Two blocks off of U.S. Highway 14 in Ranchester
Phone: 307-684-7629 Website: www.wyoparks.state.wy.us/ Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=15
Camping: There are 20 camping sites operated on a first come, first served basis. The park closes for camping on Oct. 31.
Battlefields SITES Battlefields are reminders of our past and Sheridan is no exception. These battles shaped the area in ways that still impact the community today. Local artist Tom Warnke has been memorializing the battles in dioramas for years. His work can be seen throughout Sheridan.
BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD
Location: Take Wyoming 338 (also known as Decker Road) into Montana. Follow the road until you reach the entrance to Rosebud State Park near Busby, Montana. Phone: 406-757-2298
Website: www.stateparks.mt. gov/rosebud-battlefield/ BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN
Location: Museum – Off of Interstate 90 at Garryowen at exit 514. Battle Site – Crow Agency off exit 510 on Battlefield Tour Road 756. Phone: Custer Battlefield Museum 406-638-1876
Websites: www.custermuseum.org or www.nps.gov/libi/
WAGON BOX FIGHT
Location: Take exit 44 off of Interstate 90 to find Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site. The Wagon Box Fight State Historic Site can be located from here off of Wagon Box Road. Phone: 307-684-7629
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CONNOR BATTLEFIELD RANCHESTER — Located in Ranchester off of Interstate 90, Connor Battlefield State Historic Site was where the U.S. Army and the Arapahoe tribe met in the Battle of Tongue River. The battle is considered the most important engagement of the Powder River Expedition of 1865. It caused the Arapahoe to ally with the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes at the Fetterman Fight just a year later. The park has picnic areas, a playground, overnight camping facilities, fishing access and historic interpretations. Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the battle that occurred on Aug. 29, 1865. Several people, including town historian Kim Fuka and
Sheridan diorama artist Tom Warnke, teamed up to commemorate the anniversary. A diorama created by Warnke and several area residents was dedicated to the town last year as part of the anniversary commemoration. It took more than 500 hours of work to complete and includes more than 500 miniscule pieces including 91 cavalrymen, 30 Arapahoe scouts and 99 villagers as well as teepees, trees and a model of the Tongue River.
BELOW: The Fort Phil Kearny Frontier Regulars prepare to fire a replica cannon during a tour of the fort and the Fetterman Battlefield.
BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD
BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN
WAGON BOX FIGHT
BUSBY, Mont. — Rosebud Battlefield is associated with the lead up to the Battle of Little Big Horn. The battle represents the proactive position of the 1,500 Sioux and Northern Cheyenne as they forced the withdrawal of Brigadier General George Crook's 1,000 troops at Rosebud Creek. The presence of thousands of warriors and soldiers on the field on June 17, 1876, made the day one of the largest battles of the Indian wars. Just eight days later, because Crook's troops were withdrawn from the war zone to resupply, they were not available to support Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
CROW AGENCY, Mont. — Located over the border in Montana, the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument and battle site is a good day trip to take from Sheridan. On June 25, 1876, without authorization from his superior officer, Col. George Armstrong Custer led his men into an ambush that killed more than 250 men, including Custer himself. The battle was a crucial engagement because it was the last major Indian victory in North America. The site includes a museum and historic interpretation of the battle.
STORY — The Wagon Box Fight is known as one of the most unusual battles in the history of the West. Fought on Aug. 2, 1867, about 5 miles west of Fort Phil Kearny near the town of Story, the battle pitted an estimated 1,000 Indians under Chief Red Cloud’s command against a handful of soldiers and civilians under the command of Capt. James Powell. Powell and 26 soldiers and six civilian woodcutters were camped about 5 miles from Fort Phil Kearny when the Indian forces attacked. They took cover inside an oval of wagon boxes used as a stock corral. They were able to hold off the Indian warriors from behind the 14 wagon boxes with their new rapid-fire rifles until a relief force arrived from the fort. Three men were killed and two wounded inside the wagon box corral. Indian casualties were estimated between five to 60 killed and five to 125 wounded.
REASONS
149-153
• Little Bighorn National Monument • Connor Battlefield • Fort Mackenzie/ Veterans Affairs Medical Center • Rosebud Battlefield • Wagon Box Fight
WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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Kendrick POOL
ABOVE:Mathew Ketner blasts out of the waterslide at Kendrick Pool.
When the Kendrick Park pool celebrates its 80th birthday in 2017, it will be in dire need of a makeover. When Associated Pool Builders (North Dakota) inspected the pool in 2012, they gave the pool another five years of life expectancy. Now, as doomsday quickly approaches, the city of Sheridan finds itself in a bind. What’s next for the historic pool? The story may be less about the impending renovations to the pool and rather the history that led to those fixes. The fact that the pool is approaching the big eight-o justifies the pool’s significance to the city. Before the pool, though, came the plot of land where that cement pond now sits. According to Sheridan Recreation District Executive Director Richard Wright, Kendrick Park dates back to the late 1800s. Years later, Sheridan has grown, changed, evolved and improved.
Kendrick Park has been there through it all. There have been some changes along the way, sure. After all, the park was home to a zoo in the middle of the 20th century. There were bears, ostrich, coyotes and handfuls of other animals. Eventually, though, the cost to run the zoo, along with some irritation from the public, meant its demise. Many residents didn’t like seeing the animals locked up in small
cages. But the end of the zoo didn’t mean an end to the park. Kendrick Park, less than a mile from Sheridan’s Main Street, provides a wealth of activities for its visitors. Almost as old as the park itself, Kendrick Pool has been passed down and maintained by a number of people over its 78-year lifespan. Kendrick Pool was built in 1937 by Evelyn and Edward Moore, who presented the pool to the city of Sheridan. Much as it is today, the pool was used as a service to the community rather than a way to make money. The city funded the utilities and the chemicals, but the Kiwanis Club managed the pool. That meant they staffed and maintained the pool throughout the years. Eventually, as the Kiwanis Club diminished in size and revenue, the city assigned the Sheridan Recreation District the responsibility of running the pool. The organization has been doing that since the mid-1980s. The pool offers swim lessons, private parties and regular old swimming fun from the first of June to the end of August. The pool sees more than 20,000 swimmers each summer. There’s also Concerts in the Park. Every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in July and August, Kendrick Park hosts a free concert at the bandshell in the park. Bands from all around the country come in to play for Sheridan residents and tourists. Wright said each concert draws between 700 and 900 spectators. There are tennis courts, a recently renovated playground, walking paths and of course the Kendrick Park ice cream stand, one of the summer’s most popular stops in Sheridan. So, while murmurs of a new pool or even moving the pool out of the park continue, and that 2017 date approaches, it’s important to Wright that people understand how all of the park’s attractions work together to make Kendrick so special. “With the bandshell there and the ice cream stand there, I think they all work together in the same light,” Wright said. “Wherever you move the pool, you’re going to have to have those things. If that pool shuts down, I think you’d hear an outcry of people, like, ‘What do we do now?’” The pool is one piece of the larger puzzle that is Kendrick Park, a park that has been a place of recreation for the Sheridan community for more than 100 years. BELOW: Lexie Reimers takes a ride down the water slide at Kendrick Pool.
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A Brewing
AREA DESTINATIONS
ECONOMY
While Sheridan County boasts a population of just over 30,000, it also boasts two local breweries that serve some of the best beers in the region. The Black Tooth Brewing Company opened in Sheridan a little more than five years ago and has since expanded to market its product more regionally. Recently, co-founders Tim Barnes and Travis Zeilstra worked with investors and contractors to expand the brewery facility from 5,400 square feet to 13,000 square feet. The expansion allows the brewery to produce up to 50,000 barrels. Owners said the expansion would create 20 new jobs over the next five years as Black Tooth Brewing Company beer is distributed statewide and in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Black Tooth Brewing Company has earned numerous awards since its inception. Luminous Brewhouse joined the brewery scene in Sheridan in 2013. The brewery began its business venture sharing a building with Warehouse 201, which closed in 2014. Now, the brewery shares space with Wyoming Cattle and Creek Company, which opened in late April 2015. But, plans are in the works to open a tap room farther north on Broadway Street.
The roots of the brewery began after home brewer and Luminous co-founder Cooley Butler purchased a pilot system and started experimenting with recipes at head brewer Seth Orr’s house in Oregon more than three years ago. The pilot system was a bridge to bring the home brewers into the professional brewing market. Orr credits several friends and experienced brewers for helping him and Butler refine the brewing art. Luminous also plays host to the local homebrew club. Both breweries’ beers can be found at various restaurants and bars in the Sheridan area. In addition to the suds, Sheridan is home to Weston Wineries, which uses its labels and wines to promote Western heritage. The wines include the blends “Chris LeDoux It,” a Buck Brannaman pinot grigio and a “Longmire for Sheriff” chardonnay. The wines are available at Wyoming Cattle and Creek Company or on the company’s website.
REASONS
154-156 • Black Tooth Brewery • Luminous Brewhouse • Weston Wineries
www.LuminousBrewhouse.com www.WestonWineries.com www.BlackToothBrewingCompany.com
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Making a mark by Phoebe Tollefson
Eatons’ Ranch has made locals feel proud and city folk feel like cowboys for more than a century. The dude ranch, located in nearby Wolf, is the oldest in the country. Some will try to split hairs, pointing out that other ranches opened in the area before the Eatons relocated to Wyoming in 1904. But Eatons’ owns the record. It’s been family-owned and run since 1879, when three of the nine Eaton children started the dude ranch in Dakota Territory.
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REASONS
157-162 • Cowboys • Open spaces • Dude ranches • Wolf Creek • Wolf, Wyoming • Eatons’ Horse Drive
REASON
163
Howard, Willis and Alden Eaton (along with the whole Eaton family)
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Eatons’ is famous for its early pack trips through Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, when dudes, or ranch guests, would take the train into the park, saddle up and ride through a high altitude natural beauty that was known to few in the East, where most of the dudes lived. Grainy black and white photos of the trips show lines some 50 people long on horses walking nose to tail. The dude ranch is also known for its sustained tourism campaign, carried out over the first several decades of the ranch’s existence using meticulously crafted pamphlets mailed out to East Coasters wealthy enough to make the trek out. Eatons’ is one of just a handful of dude ranches in the country large enough to accommodate 100 guests or more, according to the Dude
Ranchers’ Association. While there are more than 100 dude ranches in the country and more than two dozen in Wyoming, Eatons’ stands out for its history. The appeal of the ranch has reached as far as Hollywood. Cary Grant, Carroll Baker and Felicity Huffman have all spent time at Eatons’, but the ranch staff try to ensure that if stars want time to themselves when they’re in Wyoming, they get it.
Frank Eaton
If Howard, Willis and Alden Eaton could have traveled forward in time and met their great-grandson and great-nephew, Frank, they would probably be quite pleased. The fourth generation Eaton now at the helm of the company has spent the majority of his life in the shadow of the Bighorns. He grew up on the ranch, started wrangling at 12 and made it onto the payroll by age 14. That’s one thing he’d like to impress upon the younger members of the Eaton clan: You have to earn your keep. As the family grows and more young people express interest in ranch jobs, there isn’t as much room on the payroll as there once was and young would-be ranch hands have to prove their worth. School was somewhat scattered for Frank Eaton. His younger years were spent at a small schoolhouse in Wolf that has since shut its doors. He started high school in Big Horn, did a stint at a public high school outside of Philadelphia where he had family, and finally finished his senior year at Sheridan High School. After completing general studies at Sheridan College and enlisting in the Army Reserves, Eaton had his eye on a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. But Eaton’s grandfather needed help running the ranch so he headed home. Eaton has worked on the ranch ever since, running the corral and later the maintenance office. Spending his whole life in the hospitality business on family land that doubles as other peoples’ vacation stomping grounds, Eaton has picked up a thing or two along the way. “I sure learned how to get along with people, you know. Whether you like ‘em or not, you’re supposed to be nice to them when you’re running a business like this,” he said with a laugh. LEFT: A promotional pamphlet from 1916 that Eatons’ Ranch mailed out to East Coast residents in hopes of luring them out for a summer. The Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library houses a collection of pamphlets and other Eaton-related material. BELOW: Horses and wranglers move up Fifth Street during the Eatons’ Horse Drive. The famous dude ranch runs its horses on a 100-mile journey from Eatons’ Bar 11 Ranch to Eatons’ Ranch at the Wolf Creek Canyon under the Bighorn Mountains.
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From 1879 to now
ABOVE: Frank, a fourth-generation Eaton, pauses in the ranch office one March morning to chat with employees. Frank grew up on the ranch and has worked and lived on it most of his life.
Demand has changed over the 137 years that Eatons’ has been in operation. Guests stay for shorter periods of time. While it wasn’t uncommon for people to spend the entire summer at the ranch in the past, many now book stays of just a week or two. The ranch is now only open from June to September and it employs fewer people. There are no more epic group trail rides through Yellowstone or Glacier like there were in the past. The ranch has recently dipped into the wedding market and occasionally hosts conferences, too. And the task of “keeping dudes happy” has changed, Eaton thinks. “They want fancier things,” he said. “You know it used to be you could throw them in any sort of thing.” Now it’s standard that beds be queen- or king-sized. They’ve added a small gym, swimming pool and hot tub. Guests spend time in Sheridan golfing or shopping, and they can get a professional massage without leaving the ranch. “Back then they were happy just to ride and watch maybe the ropings or something,” Eaton said. Adults liked to fish and still do, “but not like they used to.” “And the kids used to have fun just mainly riding or playing softball or anything like that,” he said. “Now the kids want soccer summer camps and all that.” But Eatons’ still provides the same hospitality, beautiful views and experience in Western culture that it did back in 1879. And it’s still as much a part of the local community as it ever was. Eatons’ annual horse drive through the streets of Sheridan is a prime example, as is the web of locals who’ve spent time on the ranch. “Oh at one point I think half of Sheridan County worked for Eatons’ Ranch,” Eaton said.
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LOCAL EVENTS REASON
164:
Chamber
Brewfest Sheridan’s first ever Chamber of Commerce Brewfest was held in 2012 and was met with resounding support. It provided a showcase for 16 brewers from Wyoming and surrounding states — as well as three regional beer distributors — to showcase their finest creations. This year’s event is set for Aug. 27. While the country’s largest brewers likely aren’t going away anytime soon, there’s reason to believe that craft brews are the future of American beer. According to the nonprofit Brewers Association — a trade group that claims to represent more than 70 percent of the national brewing industry — craft beer sales have seen explosive growth in the last decade. The demand for craft beers has driven the success of
microbreweries from big cities to small towns, and beer festivals have become an essential marketing tool for the people who run them. Most of the brewers slated to attend the Sheridan Brewfest are based in Wyoming, but several regional breweries have also joined the event in recent years. Whether you’re there for the beer or just to mix and mingle, the Chamber of Commerce hopes there will be plenty to keep people entertained. In addition to beer tastings, patrons will have the opportunity to vote for best overall brewery. A panel of judges will also present an award. Additionally, the festival will feature live music and a barbecue competition. Check the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce website for details as the event date nears.
wwww.SheridanWyomingChamber.org
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SHERIDAN
Farmers Market MORE INFO: Location: Grinnell Plaza in Sheridan and Landon’s Greenhouse, located at 505 College Meadows Drive in Sheridan.
Days: The Sheridan Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. June through early October. The Landon’s Greenhouse farmers market is held each Saturday from 9-11 a.m.
While northern Wyoming may not automatically be associated with fresh produce, a variety of efforts to support local farmers, agricultural producers and other crafters of homemade goods are alive and well in Sheridan and surrounding communities. For instance, one of the local school districts ditched the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school lunch program in favor of more locally grown foods, and the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill in 2015 that will allow the sale of home-grown food products and raw milk in the state. Some of the most visible — and fun — efforts to support the local food movement are the weekly farmers markets held in several locations in the area. The Sheridan Farmers Market, sponsored by the Downtown Sheridan Association, is held every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. on Grinnell Plaza in historic downtown Sheridan from June through early October, with a Fall Festival finale to cap the growing season. Local growers and artisans display and sell fresh produce, breads, baked goodies, jams, honeys and arts and crafts. Each week, artists provide festive music and a variety of children’s activities and demonstrations also keep the evening entertaining. The goals of the market are to: increase farm and ranch profitability to preserve the region’s
agricultural lifestyle, to offer a low-cost marketing opportunity for small producers and artisans to encourage the local entrepreneurial spirit and to create a direct connection between vendor and consumer to encourage the mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and knowledge. The events draw a large crowd and foster social interaction in the community. Landon’s Greenhouse and Nursery also hosts a farmers market each Saturday. From 9-11 a.m., all are invited to enjoy and purchase fresh produce and artisan items. The towns of Dayton and Ranchester also hold farmers markets. Residents in both towns are currently working toward providing more permanent farmers market spaces and events.
www.sheridanfarmersmarket.org www.landonsgreenhouse.com
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LOCAL EVENTS
Third Thursday STREET FESTIVALS
A shopping extravaganza with a festive flair, Sheridan’s Third Thursday Street Festivals are a beloved summer tradition. Beginning in June, from 5-9 p.m. on the third Thursday of each summer month through September, Grinnell Plaza and Main Street from Loucks Street to Alger Avenue are closed to car traffic and become a walking mall that features local artisans, food vendors, social organizations, live music and activities for kids and adults alike. The smells of fresh-cooked, food cart ABOVE: Emily Jenkins shows her new face painting at Third Thursday on Main Street.
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goodies mingle with the sounds of music and conversation as locals and tourists interact on the warm summer evenings and enjoy some outdoor shopping. Sponsored by the Downtown Sheridan Association, Third Thursday includes special highlights for each month’s festival. A few favorites have included a watermelon eating contest for kids and a Blue Ribbon Steak Cook-off that made mouths water for anyone within smelling distance. There is no admission charge, and it is estimated that 2,500-3,000 people gather to partake in each month’s event.
www.DowntownSheridan.org
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TASTE of
Sheridan
The Taste of Sheridan has taken August by storm. In 2011, more than 1,000 people attended the tasting held at Thorne-Rider Park, smacking their lips on a variety of local foods and cold beverages from area restaurants and catering businesses. In 2014, nearly 20 local vendors fought for the “Best Taste” award given out by a panel of local judges. The competition — and lip smacking — is sure to be even more fierce this summer. The competition energizes local businesses to cook the best food possible, but it is the attendees who get to reap the benABOVE: Thomas Crittenden hands out samples of ginger chicken lettuce wraps during a past Taste of Sheridan in Thorne Rider Park.
efits as they eat “taste” portions of each dish. While tasting to their stomach’s content, attendees also get to judge the dishes for the “People’s Choice” award. The North Main Association hosts the event each year as a way to raise money for the nonprofit organization’s mission of revitalizing North Main Street and surrounding neighborhoods. The event also features live music, games for kids, food demonstrations and plenty of mingling with tourists and locals on a summer evening. This year’s event is set for Sept. 11.
www.TasteOfSheridan.org
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Go downtown. Things are great when you’re........
ABOVE: A bird’s eye view of Main St. in Sheridan during the summer of 2015.
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by Mike Dunn
Some call it the social center of Sheridan — a place for neighbors and strangers to get together. It is place where a person can find almost everything they need. It’s downtown Sheridan; a half-mile stretch of bustling shops and services. While almost every town has a downtown and Main Street, when you combine downtown Sheridan’s past, present and future, Sheridan’s Main Street is one of a kind. When the Burlington Northern Railway made its way through Sheridan in 1892, the population of Sheridan expanded. As more people found their way into Sheridan via railroad, downtown grew from a small collection of houses to a booming town. Sheridan’s downtown included the fire department, brothels, saloons and a slew of other businesses. Along the numerous storefronts in downtown Sheridan, people can buy everything from books, antiques, kitchenware, clothing or sit down for a burger and a beer. The famous Mint Bar illuminates downtown as the worldfamous King’s Saddlery, King Ropes and the Don King Museum, sit across the street. While many main streets around the nation continue to fall into disrepair as development moves ahead, Sheridan’s downtown and Main Street is as strong as ever — which is why it is so special for residents and tourist alike. Of the estimated 120 storefronts from Dow Street to Coffeen Avenue, all but three of those buildings were filled as of March 2016. Even those that were vacant were expected to be occupied in the coming years, according to Beth Holsinger, executive director of the Downtown Sheridan Association. Downtown’s success today didn’t happen by accident. Around 30 years ago, downtown Sheridan was outdated. Buildings were in need of repair and often sat vacant with no prospects to fill them. “It was pretty rough downtown for a while,” John Smith, owner of Sheridan Stationery, Books and Gallery and longtime DSA board member said. With the hope of improving downtown in mind, business owners and stakeholders established the Downtown Sheridan Association. The nonprofit, now celebrating its 30th year, aims its efforts toward enhancing downtown Sheridan to ensure future prosperity. Another huge help to downtown Sheridan’s revitalization was the establishment of the Wyoming Business Council’s Main Street Program, which is a state-level coordinating entity that assists Wyoming communities by delivering technical services and training to help communities, such as Sheridan, revitalize their main streets. With the establishment of the DSA, and grants from the Main Street Program, downtown started to slowly get a facelift. For the first several years, the DSA worked behind the scenes, but that
REASONS
165-173
• Downtown Sheridan • Historic Main Street • Mint Bar • King’s Ropes and Saddlery • Don King Museum • Downtown Sheridan Association • Beth Holsinger • Sheridan Stationery, Books and Gallery • Big Goose, Little Goose and Goose creeks • Grinnell Plaza
REASON
174
Historic Main Street District
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“
“
We have a bunch of great events downtown. It really just adds to what this area has to offer.
– Beth Holsinger
quickly changed. Board members and staff began taking on projects such as the Goose Creek enhancement project, revitalizing Grinnell Plaza and placing benches and flowers along Main Street. “(Grinnell Plaza) was the first big placemaking project, if you ask me,” Holsinger said. “We wanted it to be the centerpiece of downtown … where we could hold events.” Once the aesthetic improvements to downtown were made, the businesses followed. Today, it’s become the event center of Sheridan. There are a plethora of events that take place downtown annually, Third Thursday Street Festivals and Farmers Markets among them. The Christmas Stroll is one of the biggest events of the holiday season in Sheridan. Locals pack downtown the day after Thanksgiving to celebrate and to kick off of the Christmas shopping season. But when the days get warmer, downtown events heat up. Starting in July, the DSA hosts a weekly farmers market on Grinnell Plaza featuring some of the fresh foods from local farm producers. The Third Thursday Street Festivals take place (you guessed it) every third Thursday of the month over the summer and are an opportunity for people to meet their neighbors and choose wares from the wide variety of vendors while enjoying live music, food and beverages. Holsinger said all of these events have helped not only businesses, but have made downtown into the vibrant social scene that it is today. “We have a bunch of great events downtown. It really just adds to what this area has to offer,” Holsinger said.
TOP: Sheridan residents Grace Mather, from left, Cassie Johnston and Allison Arndt sit on a bench together to enjoy ice cream from the Sugar Boot store on Main Street. ABOVE: Car enthusiasts walk by a 1933 Ford Coupe during the Karz Rod Run that is held each year on Main Street. LEFT: Shoppers walk up Main Street during rodeo week in 2015.
REASONS
175-181
• Christmas Stoll • Third Thursday Street Festivals • Farmers markets • Local restaurants • Local store owners • Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce • Dixie Johnson 68
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LOCAL EVENTS
BIG HORN MOUNTAIN
Bluegrass Festival
It's a weekend of bluegrass and folk music as the lights come up on the annual Big Horn Mountain Bluegrass Festival July 810. The festival showcases folk, bluegrass, Americana old-time and acoustic music. For a lineup of performers, see the event website (listed below). The festival is hosted at the Johnson County fairgrounds. Those attending the festival will be able to pitch a tent or park a camper and enjoy the entire weekend. If you happen to have a musical instrument with you, pull it out and join with other music enthusiasts throughout the festival camping area. Making a return to the festival is the Bluegrass Camp for Kids. The camp provides an opportunity for children ages 9 to 18 to learn or per-
fect their skills with the guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin or to improve their vocal skills. Campers will also get to participate in daily jams, square dances, art, and, if interested, private lessons. The cost for the festival is $95 for weekend passes, $45 for Friday, $60 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in Sheridan at the WYO Theater or in Buffalo at the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce or the Sports Lure. Tickets can also be purchased at Hansen Music in Billings and Haggerty’s Music in Gillette. Those interested in camping at the fairgrounds should remember that it is $15 per day for tent camping and $30 per day for electricity. Limited spacing is available for those needing electric hook-ups and will be handled on a first come first served basis.
www.BigHornMountainFestival.com LEFT: Bluegrass instructor Lynn Young plays the violin during a bluegrass jam session at the Sheridan Senior Center.
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LOCAL EVENTS
REASONS
Don King
182-186 • Don King Days • Sheridan County Fair • Big Horn Equestrian Center • “Sheridan style” • World Championship Blacksmiths Horseshoing Contest
DAYS
www.DonKingDays.com
RIGHT: A rider ropes a steer at Don King Days in 2013.
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Each year over Labor Day weekend hundreds of spectators flock to the Big Horn Equestrian Center in Big Horn in search of a piece of the past at Don King Days. Named for the late, world-renowned saddlemaker Don King, the annual event provides a fitting finale to the summer’s action-packed festivities. Don King Days, a two-day event, features classic rodeo events — though some have a unique twist. For example, cowboys compete in bronc riding, but they mount the animal without the aid of a chute or helpers, and those with shins of steel compete in wild cow milking. Another favorite is the World Championship Blacksmiths Horseshoeing Contest. Steer roping, polo and other traditional rodeo events are also featured. The Big Horn Equestrian Center provides an ideal location for Don King Days with its breathtaking views of the Bighorn Mountains and no fences or arenas to separate the audience from the action. The annual event began in 1989 when local ranchers wanted to honor King, owner of King’s Saddlery and King Ropes and developer of “Sheridan style” tooled leather.
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Big Horn It’s an opportunity for tourists and locals alike to put on their sun hats and polo shirts and enjoy a genteel afternoon cheering on a sport that has thrived below the Bighorn Mountains for more than 120 years. Polo began in Sheridan on July 4, 1893, at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in a game witnessed by more than 1,000 spectators. Today, the sport is played by the Big Horn Polo Club at the Big Horn Equestrian Center and at the Flying H Polo Club located just west of the Big Horn Equestrian Center at the Flying H Ranch, which is also a working cattle ranch and polo pony breeding and training ground. Some of the best players in the world spend their summers in Sheridan County and play polo at a variety of levels. The Big Horn Polo Club is comprised of local players from around the region. From the first week in June through Labor Day weekend, teams play tournament games on Sundays and host practice games on Wednesdays and Fridays. Spectators are encouraged to come enjoy an af-
POLO CLUBS ternoon of tailgating and polo each Sunday throughout the summer. Admission is free, the games are announced and concessions are available. Following the last match, the clubhouse is open for drinks and continued conversation. The Flying H Polo Club, located west of the Big Horn Equestrian Center on Bird Farm Road, became one of only three clubs in the United States to offer high-goal polo in 2005. High-goal polo is played when a team’s handicap totals 17 or more. The club features four tournament fields and one practice field. Barns on the grounds can hold more than 100 horses. Games are held on Thursdays and Saturdays from early July through August. Players come to the Flying H Polo Club from around the world, many of them making Big Horn a summer stop in their travels to play professional polo. Admission to Flying H Polo games is also free, and any and all are invited to come for an afternoon of fun — and, of course, the half-time divot stomp.
www.TheBigHornPoloClub.com www.FlyingHPolo.com
SHERIDAN
County Fair
Sheridan County 4-H participants, family and friends — and a host of people from around the region — always have fun at the annual Sheridan County Fair. Held at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, the fair offers livestock and animal shows for cows, rabbits, dogs, cats and more. Animals are shown by 4-H participants ranging in age from 8 to 18 in market, breeding, show and obedience categories. Recently organizers added a “fitting contest” in which teams have 30 minutes to take a steer calf from being wet to being ready to show. There will also be Pee Wee Showmanship events with pigs, goats, lambs and chickens and a “Bucket Calf” project in which a Cloverbud or 4-H member
ABOVE: Wayne Garrison passes the ball for team Jan Pamela during the Gallatin Cup at the Flying H Polo Club. BELOW: Athena Stanton exercises her showmanship before the judge in the 4-H Rabbit Show during the Sheridan County Fair.
raises an orphaned calf to show at the fair. Outside the animal show arenas, 4-Hers will also exhibit in more than 50 categories including aerospace, cake decorating, fabric and fashion, robots, photography, vegetable judging and veterinary science. The Sheridan County Fair also features the wildly popular pig wrestling event that draws enthusiastic crowds cheering on even more enthusiastic teams that work together to wrestle a muddy pig into a barrel inside a mud-covered arena. This annual favorite night out always includes plenty of squealing, shouting and mud-soaked fun. This year’s fair is set for Aug. 1-8.
www.SherFair.com WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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REASONS
LOCAL EVENTS
187-188
• Million Dollar Tour of Professional Rodeos • First Peoples Indian Powwow
LEFT: Kaycee Field, from Payson, Arizona rides Out Cast during bareback riding at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo in the Sheridan Fairgrounds.
MORE INFO: Location: Rodeo events are held at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, 1753 Victoria St. in Sheridan. Other events are held throughout Sheridan.
Phone: 307-672-9715 Tickets: Sold at the WYO Theater box office at 42 N. Main St., on the phone at 307-672-9084, or online at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo website (listed below). Website: Check the website for a complete listing of Sheridan WYO Rodeo week events at:
www.SheridanWyoRodeo.com
SHERIDAN WYO RODEO From bucking broncs to the antics of rodeo clowns to cowgirls racing the clock in barrel racing, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is sure to provide entertainment and excitement for the entire family. Sheridan’s premiere event, held each July at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, is a staple of summer in this Wyoming town. The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. For several years, it has been an elite Million Dollar Tour Silver Rodeo, making it one of the top 30 rodeos in the nation. This year will mark the 85th year of a rodeo that has become a major stop on the rodeo trail for some of the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls. From July 11-16, locals and visitors will be able to enjoy four action-packed rodeo performances, highlighted by the heart-pounding and wildly popular World Championship Indian Relay Races. The fun doesn’t stop in the arena, though. Rodeo week, scheduled for July 11-17, lights up the town with events sure to delight young and old alike. Make sure to take part in the boot kick-off competition, a parade down Main Street, a pancake breakfast that feeds hundreds, a golf tournament, bed races, duck races, street dances, live concerts, a powwow, carnival rides and games and more. Tickets are on sale now for the 2016 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. They sell fast so don’t delay.
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We love to
Rodeo
REASONS
189-195
• World Champion Indian Relay Races • Rodeo parade • Rodeo Pancake Breakfast • Street dances • Boot Kick-offs • Beds along the Bighorns • Sneakers and Spurs Run
by Mike Pruden
BELOW: Landry Haugen picks up the flag as she competes in the Junior Flag Race during the Elks Youth Rodeo at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.
Grab a rope, grab a horse and grab a saddle — or don’t, if you’d rather bareback it. It’s rodeo season, and Sheridan has plenty to offer. Sheridan loves its rodeo. Just swing through during the week of July 11. The entire town pretty much shuts down during the aptly dubbed Rodeo Week. Adjusts might be a better term, as the town definitely isn’t shuttered. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo is the most popular event of the year in Sheridan. It’s in its 86th year, so that should clarify just how big rodeo is in this town. The entire week features performances, banquets, contests and a parade leading up to four action-packed days of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo performances. The best riders from all over the globe make their way to this town of 18,000 and showcase what it looks
like to be a true cowboy. It’s tough to get a ticket to the generally-sold-out event. But what if you’re not here during that one week in July? What if you can’t get your hands on a ticket or two? Have no fear. Sheridan knows how to rodeo, and it knows how to do it all year long. The Elks Youth Rodeo, Little Britches Rodeo, Sheridan County Rodeo, Cowgirls Rodeo, the newly introduced Elite Rodeo Athletes rodeo and junior high, high school and col-
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• Sheridan WYO Rodeo • Rodeo tradition • Sheridan College rodeo team • High school rodeo teams • Sheridan WYO Rodeo Week • Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association • Sheridan County Fairgrounds • Elks Youth Rodeo • Little Britches Rodeo • Sheridan County Rodeo • Cowgirls Rodeo • Elite Rodeo Athletes rodeo • Zane Garstad and the Sheridan WYO Rodeo board and volunteers • Bob Strauser • Cowboy Boots, like the ones you find in shops on Main Street
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REASONS
lege rodeos give plenty of opportunities to watch or even compete in the old sport right here in Sheridan. WYO Rodeo president Zane Garstad credits the identity Sheridan created for itself and has maintained for so many years as the main reason rodeo is so beloved in this area. “It is our connection to the old west,” he said. “It’s something that a lot of people have done starting when they were kids. And it’s fun; it’s a blast. It’s a way to continue something that we really enjoy.” Garstad compared some rodeo events to other popular sports, such as team roping and golf. And just like golf is popular in certain parts of the world — like Florida and other warm climates — rodeo is popular around Sheridan and Wyoming. And it’s popular for a reason. Ranches cover the Wyoming countryside, and those same skills used on the ranch are used in the rodeo arena, just in a sportier form. Folks can relate to cowboys and cowgirls in rodeos. And outsiders can’t relate, which provides a whole different appeal. Watching a peer straddle a bucking beast the size of a Toyota Prius? Sign me up. The appeal is there for outsiders, and it’s there for locals. But it’s deeper than that, at least in Sheridan. Sheridan tries to provide opportunities for all kinds of subgroups: male, female, young and old. That’s why Bob Strauser started the Elks Youth Rodeo in 1993. “From my perspective, if you don’t keep kids busy doing something constructive, they’ll find something to do, and it may not be constructive,” Strauser said. The Elks youth rodeo is only available for children 17 and younger. It uses a unique point system that allows older kids to battle younger kids. Other than keeping kids active and out of trouble, Strauser said the rodeo was created as a possible supplement for families who can’t travel all over the place to compete in more costly events. And if you’re still questioning the support Sheridan has for rodeo, ask Strauser to show you his sponsorship list or his list of volunteers. He’s adamant that the rodeo wouldn’t exist without all the local support, including a truck from Fremont Toyota for the overall champion each year. Whether it’s the attraction of the prizes — they also offer scholarships, Strauser’s favorite prize — the affordable entry fees or the unique format of the event, the Elks Youth Rodeo has reached a point where Strauser doesn’t think they can get any bigger without
It is our connection to the old west. It’s something that a lot of people have done starting when they were kids. And it’s fun; it’s a blast. It’s a way to continue something that we really enjoy.
– Zane Garstad
BELOW: Contestants stir up dust as they warm up their horses for the Elks Youth Rodeo at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds arena.
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Spurs — like the ones from Tom Balding Bits and Spurs
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Cowboy hats — like the one’s from King’s Ropes
sacrificing their original goals. It averaged 994 entries each day last year. And the success of youth rodeos isn’t just important for each individual organization. Garstad said the only way to keep rodeo thriving in Sheridan is to keep the youth involved. “We’ve got to get kids hooked, get them passionate about it,” he said. “And then that carries on, and we groom them, for lack of a better term, so they get to the WYO Rodeo. If we don’t take care of that, we won’t have a WYO Rodeo. “We need that for our sport to grow and to continue that tradition,” he added. “It’s critical that we continue to groom our young kids all the way up to the professional ranks. We have that ability in our town.” Garstad credits his unofficial coalition of rodeo super fans in keeping the popularity up within the community’s budding cowboys and cowgirls. He mentioned the junior high and high school rodeo teams have increased in size recently, and the addition of the new indoor rodeo arena at Sheridan College provides an opportunity that most rodeo communities don’t have. And once again, he brought it all back to the community. The heaping pile of donations to expand rodeo in Sheridan, along with full-on community support during the traditionrich week of WYO Rodeo makes Garstad think that rodeo isn’t leaving Sheridan for a long, long time. And with the continued involvement of local youth, he’s probably right. Sheridan loves its rodeo.
WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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BIGHORN MOUNTAIN
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Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run
RIGHT: Tim Cahhal sprints down the path in the 50 Mile race during the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run in Tongue River Canyon.
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Wild and Scenic Trail Run There’s a reason the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run is one of the summer’s most popular events in Sheridan County. It’s all in the name. Ultrarunning has become one of the nation’s fastestgrowing sports. According to UltraRunning Magazine, the number of races in the U.S. and Canada jumped from 293 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2014. The sport, which considers any race longer than a traditional 26.2-mile marathon an ultramarathon, forces competitors to test the limits of the human body against the elements. As ultrarunning becomes more and more popular, the creators of the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run were ahead of the curve. This summer will mark the 24rd year of the event and the 15th anniversary of the 100-mile race. Last year’s race featured more than 1,000 competitors in four different races: a 30K, a 50K, a 50-mile and the everpopular 100-mile. Nearly every state and more than a dozen different countries were represented in the event.
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But what attracts these runners to Dayton every summer? It’s scenic. Beginning at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Tongue River Canyon, the 100-mile and 50-mile races take competitors up and down the Bighorns, reaching elevations higher than 9,000 feet. The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop while simultaneously creating a rugged terrain and sometimes treacherous running conditions. It’s wild. In a 2009 race, Karl Meltzer hit an unexpected roadblock at the halfway point. A disturbed moose chased Meltzer down the trail, kicking him in the hand and shin along the way. Luckily, Meltzer avoided any serious injuries and shook the moose on his way to a first-place finish. As ultrarunning steadily gains popularity, the already attractive Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run will only tighten its grasp as one of the highest rated races in the country. This year’s race will start on June 17.
www.BigHornTrailRun.com
Antelope Butte ON PATH TO RENOVATION
The Antelope Butte Foundation announced in February it had secured all funding needed to complete its purchase of the ski area at Antelope Butte, several months ahead of schedule. The foundation will take ownership of the lodge, chairlifts and outbuildings that are currently possessed by the U.S. Forest Service. “Ullr has smiled on Antelope Butte,” said ABF President Mark Weitz, referencing the Norse god of skiing, in February. “We are very appreciative to the numerous donors who stepped up to support us in this early phase and look forward to celebrating with the community at our event this Thursday.” The next step for the Antelope Butte Foundation is the restoration of the ski area and acquisition of equipment to operate it. To meet these goals, the foundation launched a legacy sponsorship campaign that allows donors to name their favorite ski slope or to sponsor one of the chairs on a chairlift in perpetuity. There are also opportunities for donors to name ski area amenities inside the lodge, or the lodge itself. “This is our greatest achievement yet in our efforts to open the Antelope
Butte Mountain Recreation Area,” ABF Executive Director Andrew Gast said. “We can now mobilize our volunteers and utilize our in-kind pledges to begin restoration, and move ahead on permitting the winter and summer operations with the U.S. Forest Service.” Gast said the milestone was reached with the help of gifts from organizations like the Napier Foundation, Nickerson Family Foundation, MDU Resources Foundation and a couple of anonymous gifts. The Antelope Butte Foundation will host a number of events this summer. The Antelope Butte Summer Festival will repeat for its third year on July 22-24. New this summer is the Bighorn Mountains Brewfest, a craft beer festival that will be held at Antelope Butte on July 2. Also, Black Tooth Brewing Company will host a Pint Night for Antelope Butte on June 28 at the brewery in Sheridan. “These events are a great way to showcase Antelope Butte as a summer hub in the Bighorns,” Gast said. “Our communities have traditionally known Antelope Butte for its winter offerings — skiing and snowboarding — and as we restore the ski area over the next year and a half we are integrating a variety of summer activities to the facility as well.” The Antelope Butte Summer Festival will highlight the summer opportunities at the facility, including mountain bike races and trail runs, hiking, camping and children’s activities. The festival will include live musical acts as well as a traditional ceremony by the Crow Nation. Other activities include a pancake breakfast, food and beverage vendors, disc golf and a bike toss competition. New in 2016, the Bighorn Mountains Brewfest is aimed at creating an organized, family-friendly event in the mountains over Independence Day weekend. This year’s brewfest will include at least five Wyoming craft breweries. Tickets and information for the Antelope Butte Summer Festival and the Bighorn Mountains Brewfest are available at the organization’s website, or at the Antelope Butte Foundation office at 201 E. Fifth St. in Sheridan.
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REASONS
214-219 • Volunteer boards • Ski lodges • Antelope Butte Summer Festival • Bighorn Mountain Brewfest • Bike races • Bike toss competition
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Local efforts to get the Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area going
Local Events
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In its fourth year and its second spring date, the FAB (For. About. By.) Women’s Conference packed the Edward A. Whitney Academic Center Atrium April 29. The conference featured keynote speaker Brenda Adbilla — an educator, speaker and facilitator. Each year, while a keynote speaker is brought into the community, the remainder of the sessions are presented by Sheridan area experts. Topics have included resume building, negotiating, volunteerism, running for office, rethinking the personal mission statement, networking, journaling, flower arranging, nutrition and how-tos for home projects. The committee of women who organize the event are always eager to receive workshop suggestions. While the format of the conference has varied since its inception, the 2016 conference was a half-day event capped off in the evening with the Woman of the Year banquet. Those who nominated local women for the award took the time to tell attendees of the event why those women deserved recognition. Nominees this year were Zoila Perry, Michelle
Conference & Woman of the Year Banquet Underwood, Kay Wallick, Kara Bateson, Katie Taylor, Michelle Edwards and Jill Moriarty. Edwards was awarded the Woman of the Year recognition. Edwards is the president of the Wyoming Jaycees and volunteers with a number of local events. Past winners have included Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation Director Ada Kirven, Sheridan Senior Center Executive Director Carmen Rideout and Tongue River Valley Community Center Executive Director Erin Kilbride. Plans are already in the works for the 2017 event. For additional details, see the FAB Women’s Conference website.
RIGHT: The 2015 conference featured Karen McNenny’s keynote address “Wonder Woman Wants a Day Off.”
www.thesheridanpress.com/fab/
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There’s no excuse to miss it...
It’s free!
by Mike Pruden
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• Free things to do • Concerts in the park • Kendrick Park • Downtown walking tours • Flying H Polo Club • Big Horn Polo Club • American Legion Baseball • Calendars of events
Free summer activities in Sheridan It’s sort of ironic, this little cowboy town of Sheridan, Wyoming. Its attraction lies in its quaintness, its close-knit community, small-town feel. Yet, this close-knit community welcomes visitors and tourists with open arms. Maybe that’s the attraction. “The thing I hear over and over from tourists is, they can feel the culture; they can feel the character,” said Janet Shepherd, information specialist for the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce. “Time after time they say how friendly everybody is. And they also contrast it to where they live. This is a town with its own personality.” Truth is, Sheridan has plenty of attraction to outsiders. The people are friendly, sure. That’s a big bonus. But there are endless forms of entertainment in this old Western town. Some of the main attractions — the WYO Rodeo, the WYO Theater, shopping on Main Street — require folks to dig into their wallets. That’s not to say those aren’t worth a little spending money, but Sheridan has numerous opportunities for folks on tighter budgets, as well. Sheridan Travel and Tourism director Shawn Parker thinks it’s crucial for Sheridan to balance out the revenue-earning events with the cost-efficient or free options. The latter make people more willing to splurge on the former, and vice versa. “It’s the scope of attractions we have to do here,” Parker said of 82
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what makes Sheridan unique to visitors. “We have everything on the high end, but you need everything on the other side, too. You need that stuff to cater to the entire traveler market.” Having those options, he added, opens the town to as wide array of visitors as possible. Whether you’re retired and spending a month relaxing in a cabin in the Bighorn Mountains or a budding young couple with a few rugrats in the back of the Clark Griswold family wagon, Sheridan has something to offer. And it’s those cost-friendly options that open things up when it is time to splurge. Here are some of the free things to do in the Sheridan summertime: CONCERTS IN THE PARK Throughout July and August, Kendrick Park plays host to free concerts every Tuesday evening. Visitors prop up lawn chairs or lay out blankets in front of the band shell and take in performances from all types of genres. From jazz to blues to light rock, some of Sheridan’s most popular local bands give listeners a chance to enjoy free music under the clear summer sky. FARMERS MARKET AND THIRD THURSDAYS Every Thursday through the summer months, the Sheridan farmers market closes off Grinnell Plaza and allows local growers to show off their crops. Spring/Summer 2016
TOP: Camdin Miles plays with a bat and softball found in the dugout during Women’s League Softball in the Softball Complex at Sheridan College.
ABOVE: Community residents pitch their lawn chairs before the band shell for a Concert in the Park featuring the Sheridan Concert Band at Kendrick Park.
RIGHT: Gabbie Bujan plays with one of the hula hoops that her family is selling during the Third Thursday street festival on Main Street in Sheridan.
BOTTOM: Adam Snow, left, watches the ball as Jason Crowder approaches with his mallet for a game-winning goal during a game at the Flying H Polo Club.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Probably the most popular destination and the main draw to Sheridan was handcrafted by Mother Nature herself: the Bighorn Mountains. Fishing and hunting have a bit of a licensing fee, but there’s still plenty of free stuff to do up in the mountains. You can hike, photograph, rock climb or even just take a nice long drive. Red Grade Road is a bumpy yet breathtaking drive only open during the snowfree months of the year (not very many!) DOWNTOWN SHERIDAN Even if it’s not a Thursday, Main Street has plenty to offer. There’s plenty of shopping to go around, but if you’re looking to keep the credit card tucked away, most shops welcome visitors to come and look around. King’s Saddlery is a popular shop for cowboys and cowgirls and provides a unique look at the making of saddles. You can also check out the Don King Museum, home
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to more than three decades of cowboy memorabilia. The museum is free, although its owners do accept donations. There are plenty of other unique shops downtown, and there’s plenty of history in the buildings that house them. The Downtown Walking Tour features 70 historic Sheridan buildings, and you can even use newly added QR codes to learn the history behind specific buildings. SPORTS If you’ve never seen a polo match before, summertime in Sheridan is a great opportunity. They’re free to watch, and the Flying H Polo Club and Big Horn Polo Club feature games just about every day of the week. Both clubs allow guests to pull up their cars or trucks, set up some lawn chairs and bring food and drinks. It’s like tailgating at your favorite football stadium, but you get to watch some of the world’s best players in a sport not many towns offer. In the evenings, Sheridan’s American Legion baseball teams, the Troopers and Jets, give Sheridan a taste of America’s pastime. Games are free, and most nights feature a doubleheader against the region’s top teams. The full schedule can be found on the Sheridan Troopers Facebook page. There are plenty of free options in Sheridan, especially when the warm western sun shines over the mountains. “It really has everything we need,” Shepherd said. Check out a full list of upcoming Sheridan events at thesheridanpress.com or visit the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce or Sheridan Travel and Tourism.
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With the abundance of land and fresh open air in Sheridan, there is plenty of fresh produce to go around, and the Farmers Market provides the best of the best. And if it happens to be the Third Thursday of the month, the event overflows from Grinnell Plaza to historic Main Street. Third Thursdays allow a number of local businesses to promote their happenings, whether it be food, clothing, crafts or something that doesn’t quite fit into a specific category. There’s also live music and, of course, another chance to soak in everything Main Street has to offer.
It’s the scope of attractions we have to do here. We have everything on the high end, but you need everything on the other side, too. You need that stuff to cater to the entire traveler market.
– Shawn Parker
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Wild
landscapes, stories inspire local author
Q &A
with Craig Johnson
by Kristen Czaban Craig Johnson came to the Ucross area decades ago to hand off some horses to guys from Oklahoma. When he got word the guys were delayed, he helped do some work in the area bucking bales of hay. While he waited and worked, he never paid for a meal or bought a beer, thanks to the kindness of strangers. He was convinced this was where he wanted to be. About a dozen years later, Johnson moved to the Ucross area. Recently, The Sheridan Press had a chance to talk to the author of the popular “Walt Longmire” series — which is now a Netflix series — about why he loves the Sheridan County area. Below are excerpts from the interview, edited for length.
So you visited here then came back years later to live. Why? JOHNSON: This is the kind of place that speaks to you. It provides a focus for my writing. It is a place of extremes and a constant source of inspiration for the books and show.
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230-242
• Craig Johnson • Walt Longmire • “Longmire” television show • Ucross • Harsh weather • Friendly people • Sheridan County Library System • Local authors • Endless sources of inspiration • Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum • Rough justice • Small-town sheriffs and law enforcement • Longmire Days
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“Cold Dish” was the first in the Longmire series. Where did that book come from? JOHNSON: I finally found a story I wanted to tell. It is different than a lot of other stuff. It isn’t like most Westerns. A lot of people want to rewrite classics; I wanted to find another direction.
You said it took you about six months to write. How did the rest come about? JOHNSON: I was really fortunate — a Cinderella story. It got picked up quickly and then they asked if I would write more of these. I told them I’d write more books, but they wanted more of these — these characters and places. I said I’d think about it. I wrote the first draft and it was 650 pages. It reinforced that I had more stories to tell.
So why Ucross? JOHNSON: I can’t go anywhere else and do what I do. Wyoming is my sensory apparatus. The stories here and the things that happen here, they aren’t like everywhere else.
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ABOVE: A publicity photo of Craig Johnson.
Do you use real people as characters or real stories? JOHNSON: Oh yeah. It’s nice for Wyoming readers because they know all the inside jokes. A lot of the stories come from newspaper articles, too. I have them all stacked next to my writing desk.
Speaking of your writing desk, I noticed it is a high stool, no cushion and very serious looking. JOHNSON: I bought the stool in Sheridan. It’s my Charles Dickens stool. It is very blue collar-esque. But that’s how I approach writing. I love it, but it’s a job.
Do you ever start another book in the Longmire series and think, “I wish I would have included X, Y or Z in the other books so I could refer to it now”? JOHNSON: You can’t. Those are pipe dreams. It’s done. I do go back and pull kernels though. I’ve been asked before if I wished I had made Walt younger, but then it would have robbed him of all of the Vietnam underpinnings that made him who he is — a sadder but wiser sheriff.
Do you think living out here and having a ranch makes your writing more realistic? JOHNSON: Sure. It informs Walt Longmire’s world and adds another sense of detail. It’s important to understand the culture and how things work. So many books use vague descriptions to get around things an author doesn’t know. This let’s me be more precise. I’ll go scout locations before I write about them so that it seems more real in the writing.
Outside of writing, what do you like to do out here? JOHNSON: I’m outdoors a lot. I’ve climbed Cloud Peak. I fly fish. I like the cultural aspects, like the WYO Theater and the libraries, which I work with a great deal.
How would you describe Ucross? JOHNSON: Underrated. It is a hidden jewel, a lot like the other outlying areas in the county — the smokehouse in Big Horn, the Tunnel Inn, the Jim Gatchell Museum. There are all these little things in the communities that make them spectacular.
What do you love most about the area? JOHNSON: I now it sounds trite, but the people. They are remarkably open and friendly and everyone comments on that. It is a double-edged sword. People love the epic American West, but if you ask them where Wyoming is, they often misplace us on a map. People wonder who we are. We’re not Montana. We’re not Colorado. The things that we love so much — the open spaces, the lack of people, the harsh weather — can be disadvantages to us in terms of recruiting industries like film. The things that hold us back are the same things we love.
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REASONS
243-248
• Sheridan Railroad District • Master plans (like the one for the railroad district) to preserve our history • Economic drivers like the railroad industry • Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway • Railroads • Helen Laumann — local historian
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Historic buildings like the old train depots
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A RAILROAD TOWN by Mike Dunn
Sheridan is many things: a mountain town, a tourist town and a great place to live. But before it was any of that, it was a railroad town. And, in some ways, it still is. When the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company built the Burlington Northern line through northeast Wyoming, the company didn’t just build a way into the untapped livestock markets of Wyoming, it essentially built the town of Sheridan itself. Everywhere you step, you can find the remnants of the railroads. Take a stroll through downtown Sheridan and you will see former trading posts and saloons used as modern-day establishments.
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Sheridan’s love affair with the railroad began when the West was wild. Just years after federal troops lessened the threat from Native Americans, settlers began to pour into the Sheridan area, establishing homesteads and setting up ranches. But Sheridan wasn’t the big city in the region. The town of Big Horn, located 6 miles south of Sheridan, had approximately 1,000 residents in the 1880s. Those numbers quickly reversed with the announcement that the Burlington Northern line would pass through Sheridan. The terrain was too rough to go through Big Horn, plus Sheridan had recently been named the county seat of Sheridan County. The rail line started in Alliance, Nebraska, and traveled through Montana, giving birth to many cities along the way. On Nov. 5, 1892, a steam engine stopped in front of the Sheridan Inn as a welcoming crowd of around 300 gathered to meet the train. “With bands of steel: Sheridan is connected with the outside world,” a November
1892 newspaper article stated. Sheridan was still fairly secluded from other parts of the state, which had boomed after the Transcontinental Railroad passed through around 30 years prior. But it was Sheridan’s turn. Businesses grew. Downtown Sheridan went from a collection of houses to a full-fledged Wyoming city. Land values skyrocketed and the ranchers became richer than ever according to wyohistory.org. “Businesses grew significantly,” local historian Helen Laumann said. “Everything boomed.” In 1890, the population of the town was estimated at 290 people. After the railroad came through, it grew to more than 8,400 residents over the next 20 years. The Sheridan Inn, a fixture of Sheridan, was constructed by the railroad company as a place for people to lay their heads after a long train ride. It even hosted Buffalo Bill Cody. “It became the social center of Sheridan,” Laumann said. “People called it the finest hotel between Omaha and San Francisco.”
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While it has had a tumultuous past, it is again in use as a hotel and a restaurant. Sheridan eventually became the main service point for railcars in the region, as more than 150 mechanics and workers were employed by the railroad. Sugar beats were farmed in the area and shipped off to other parts of the country. Tourists came in droves from the east to get an authentic cowboy experience at the Sheridan-area dude ranches. There was a dire need for coal to power the engines, so trains brought immigrants to the area by the thousands. Many workers, mainly of Polish decent, were recruited to work in coal mines throughout the county during the 1920s. Beyond new settlers, the rails also carried church trains, campaign trains for politicians, freedom trains transporting World War II troops, livestock trains and sugar beat trains. The railroad business began to slow down after the introduction of the interstate system. The last passenger car passed through Sheridan in the 1960s. “Today as I drive down the highway, I often ponder, is it possible for iron horses to be reincarnated? I wonder,” Sheridan resident Owen B. Williams said in a Jan. 3, 1983, letter to the editor in The Sheridan Press. Trains continue to play a large part in the Sheridan economy as trains haul tons of coal to be shipped overseas. Today many of the buildings located near the railroad continue to be used in a variety of ways. Those buying a drink at Rails Brews and Cues, grabbing a bite to eat at Wyoming Cattle and Creek Co., buying tools at the The Sheridan Commercial Company or staying a night at the Mill Inn are utilizing infrastructure that was used to profit off of the railroad, Laumann said. Today, the original 1892-built Sheridan Railroad Depot hosts the Sheridan Artists’ Guild Et. al, an organization that uses the building for educational purposes and as a work environment for burgeoning artists. According to the Sheridan Railroad Historic District master plan, the layout
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of Sheridan was based upon the railroad. Like many railroad towns, streets were laid out perpendicular to the railroad tracks. Many houses near the railroad district were built to house the railroad workers. In 2004 the National Parks Service added Sheridan’s historic railroad district to the National Register of Historic Places. “Sheridan would have existed if the railroad didn’t come through,” Laumann said. “It just would have been much different.”
Photo provided by the Sheridan County Historical Society and Museum
SPONSORED CONTENT
Find Throttle 2 Bottle on
by Amy Mestas
For those of us who have chosen so wisely to work and live in Wyoming, we have the opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors in a way that others have only dreamed of. Whether you are riding your ATV’s in the Bighorn Mountains, snowmobiling the trails of The Grand Teton’s, motorcycling through Yellowstone National Park, or flying your King Katmai 182 above Devil’s Tower, the chosen state of Wyoming has so many enticing outdoor adventures to experience. Having the freedom to throttle up your engines to go, see, and do is a blessing we should all revel in and respect. Frank and Kirstin Maestri have taken on an additional Wyoming adventure by producing a Canadian Whisky label for their fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Their idea for this project began right here in the foot of the Bighorns. They have teamed with other local companies including 3 Willow Design, Alpha Graphics, and The Sheridan Press. Their straight Canadian Whisky is imported through a Texan company on its way to our great state. The brand is Throttle 2 Bottle. The sentiment behind the name is that “When we are DONE with the Throttle, we REACH for the Bottle.” T2B was created as a celebration of our freedoms, not just in Wyoming, but of our freedom’s as Americans. The Maestri’s wish to recognize the servicemen and women of the past, present and future that have and will strive to provide the very freedom we all enjoy. Frank and Kirstin take these freedoms to heart. To that end, they have made a commitment that T2B will hand deliver a portion of its proceeds to a veteran, military family or military cause right here in Wyoming. The flavor of adventure you will taste in every bottle comes from great influences in both of their families. Kirstin grew up flying around the bush of Alaska in her father’s float plane and seeing the drive, determination and "follow your dreams" mentality of her mother, who was a US Olympic gymnast. Frank tagged along with his “papa” as a young child watching and listening to his grandparents build Frank-Lin Distillers from the ground to the company it is
Frank & Lindley Maestri
Michael Maestri
Kirstin, Frankie and Frank Maestri today. Frank has watched his father Michael and his step-mother Celia grow a Tequila distillery and make an award winning spirit called Casa Maestri Tequila. Frank is a father, rancher and pilot first, but branding a distilled spirit just might run in his blood. Frank and Kirstin strive to pass along the stories of their adventures which builds character and perseverance in their 10 year old son Frankie, who is a Bighorn Ram. Frankie plans to be a pilot like his parents. He would like to play football and baseball for the Wyoming Cowboys and be drafted by the MLB. When When we are Frankie brings those adventures to a
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DONE with the Throttle, we REACH for the Bottle.
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– Frank Maestri
close, he plans to run the family ranch. Perhaps branding a distilled spirit will run is his blood too… So when you are DONE with the Throttle, the Maestri’s ask you to reach for their Bottle. Pour yourself a glass of T2B, relax, and reflect on the great freedoms we have that quench our adventurous spirit. Cheers to Adventure. Cheers to Family. Cheers to the 2nd Amendment. God Bless America. Throttle 2 Bottle we be available in Wyoming this Spring/Summer.
Walt & Dale Kephart
SPONSORED CONTENT
WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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REASONS
250-256
• The Wyoming Room • Sheridan County School Districts 1, 2, 3 • Rural schools • Tom Ringley — Sheridan County commissioner and local historian • Billie Little — local history enthusiast • The Rock School • Slack School
REASON
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Kim Ostermyer — employee in The Wyoming Room
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Rural schools: rich in history by Phoebe Tollefson
From the stories of the Crow tribe to the Bozeman Trail to the railways, history buffs have plenty in Sheridan County to keep them busy. But the story of the area’s rural schools is one that some people think simply can’t be told enough. Kim Ostermyer is one such person. Steeped in the tradition of rural schools, the librarian in Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library’s The Wyoming Room spent his first four years at Kearny Elementary outside of Buffalo. Ostermyer and his few classmates got along well. As he remembers it, there were just 15 students at the school when he attended, and seven of them were in his grade level. His class was the “bumper crop” class.
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BELOW: Students Madison Troll, left, and Tristin Hall walk past the old Rock School on their way to class at Arvada-Clearmont School in the town of Clearmont.
“I certainly consider my time in the country school to be the best years in my schooling,” Ostermyer said recently. “You know we all got along, we were all friends.” Ostermyer’s family has deep roots in the area and his relatives were active in rural schools. His great-great-grandfather was a treasurer for the Lower Tongue River School District board. His mother and aunt, who attended the Ash Creek School near Monarch, rode horses to school — even during the 1950s. Listening to them talk about their days as young students, Ostermyer said the sentiment was similar to the one he remembers from Kearny. “I don’t hear stories of kids getting teased. They all had to get along,” he said. “There’s more of a sense of unity I suppose.” And it was life in the country, so everyone had a job. Ostermyer remembers how one of the kids riding the school bus would help the driver spot the road during heavy snow, pointing her in the right direction. It wasn’t that the driver had poor eyesight — the conditions were just bad enough that she needed an extra set of eyes. Ostermyer, who has likely read every book on schools in Sheridan County that the Fulmer library owns, said his era of schooling came toward the end of a period of mass change.
RIGHT: A student walks inside the Slack School building at Slack School near Parkman. The school grounds include a one-room school house, a teacherage, flag pole, storage shed and playground. The teacherage has been converted for storage, a lunch room, cooking are, and an area for arts and crafts. The Slack School building was built in 1894. The building is 6 miles west of Parkman and less than a mile south of the Montana border where it is currently being operated under Sheridan County School District 1.
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At one point, there were 47 school districts in Sheridan County (while now there aren’t even 47 schools). Often, a school was based on a family ranch and attended by the children of the parents who owned the ranch, as well as some neighbors, perhaps. The teacher probably lived on site, as might a few students whose families lived too far to commute on a daily basis. Clara Works Moeller, dubbed “Sheridan’s first school teacher,” ran a school in Sheridan beginning in 1882. In a paper she wrote recording her memories of the job — a paper that is kept at the Fulmer Public Library — Moeller described the school as a 12-by-15 foot “log hut” with a dirt floor, situated on Big Goose Creek. “For recreation, the whole school would take the benches and coast on them down the little hill across the creek,” she wrote. “This served a double purpose, the joy of coasting and the wearing to smoothness and nonpitchness those slivery benches.” Ostermyer noted that in these early school days, families did their own maintenance work and often paid for it, too. Roads were so undeveloped back then that it would have been impossible to travel the distances today’s students do each day to attend class. Tom Ringley, a Sheridan County commissioner and student of local history, has documented the grassroots efforts made to improve roads during this time. He said that between about 1880 and 1920, locals organized themselves into clubs to promote roads work, volunteering their own time, labor, horses and materials for “Good Roads Days.” “It was a typical community response for those days when people had to be self-reliant,” Ringley wrote in an article for The Sheridan Press, “and if they needed better roads it was up to them to ‘neighbor up’ to get the job done.” As infrastructure improved and Model Ts and other cars hit the market in greater numbers, things changed. It became feasible to travel greater distances safely, reliably and more quickly. Parents began sending their children to school in neighboring towns more often, if they could afford it. Ostermyer said another factor in school consolidation was simply the headache the old system had caused state officials. With so many school districts and so little coordination among them, there was a vast range in the quality of education provided and the standards for student knowledge at the various schools. Consolidation, for them, helped clean up the messy system. PRESERVATION Billie Little, who runs an antique shop near Buffalo, probably loves history as much as Ostermyer and Ringley do, and she sees value in it, too. When Little arrived in Wyoming almost 60 years ago as a teacher, her new superintendent told her to read up on the local history. She did, and for the past quarter century, she’s been dedicated to preserving it, zeroing in on
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had later moved to Tongue River Elementary, is now back teaching at the a one-room schoolhouse in Clearmont called the Rock School. rural school. Kerns is in charge of everything — art, physical education, The Rock School is shuttered but intact. Little is spearheading a commath, you name it. mittee working to raise money for building repairs and additions. Over In addition to providing an education to local families’ kids, the school the years she’s collected old student and teacher desks to furnish the anchors the ranching community, hosting Halloween and Christmas gathbuilding, and she even went so far as to secure erings. stones used in the construction of a nearby Funding for schools has fluctuated greatly over the years, to no one’s schoolhouse that had been abandoned to surprise, and the thought that the school could close due to revenue downuse as replacement materials when a wall turns has long been a concern for some in the area. in the Rock School needed work. But Principal Deb Hofmeier said that even though the school serves just For her, using original materials is just a handful of students, the district reone way to pay tribute to the past. mains committed to keeping it open. “I think it’s very important that we keep I certainly consider my time in the If not, those kids would face long these things alive so that young children, escountry school to be the best years in days of travel to and from pecially, can appreciate what others have done for school. And while students them,” she said. my schooling. You know we all got from the Parkman area along, we were all friends. commute to Ranchester THE SLACK SCHOOL and Dayton once they The Slack Elementary School, which belongs to reach middle and high Sheridan County School District 1, is a 100-yearschool, Hofmeier said this old, one-room schoolhouse still in operation. long daily drive could be The school, which sits at the foot of the tough on young students. Bighorns near Parkman, just south of the Montana-Wyoming border, So today, 100 years after opening, the Slack School is still in business. currently serves six students. “It’s our little tiny bit of paradise out there,” Hofmeier said. Alice Kerns, who started her career teaching at the Slack school and
– Kim Ostermyer
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ABOVE: An old desk and storage bins are seen inside the old Rock School at Arvada-Clearmont School in the town of Clearmont. The future of the historic Rock School remains uncertain after several board meetings at Sheridan County School District 3. The dilapidated building is crumbling at the foundation, but the school district does not have the funds to preserve it. SCSD3 is looking at options for the building, including tearing it down and installing a memorial. The building has a lot of sentimental and historic value to the community. The school board is seeking input to make sure that what the school district does will reflect what the community wants. 98
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ED P IP D D EAM N H A CR I CE VO R S LA F 6 1
Tr i es u f f l e s a ha n nd ma d d in s to e re
Open Monday – Saturday O l d Fa s h i o n C a n dy, C o l d D r i n k s , F r e s h F u d g e , Toy s , a n d C o l l e c t a bl e s ! !
198 N. Main Downtown Sheridan
208 N. Main Downtown Sheridan
Open Mon – Sat Your Headquarters for Climbing & Outdoor Gear & Apparel
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DIRECTORY 206 N. Brooks St. Sheridan, WY 82801 Phone: 307.672.8941 Fax: 307.672.7461 www.robbinsdermatology.com
Amber Robbins, M.D., F.A.A.D. Board Certified Dermatologist
Amy Herring, P.A.-C
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Excellent medical care right here in Sheridan, with no need to drive out of town!
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• Annie Proulx’s “The Shipping News” • Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat Pray Love” • Ucross artist residency • The Brinton Museum’s collection of Western art including that of Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Edward Borein, Winold Reiss and Frank Tenney Johnson • The Brinton’s collection of American Indian Art • WYO Theater • Carriage House Theater • Sheridan College • Whitney Center for the Arts • Jentel artist residency • Civic Theatre Guild
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An artist’s paradise by Phoebe Tollefson
Sheridan County is home to art. It’s home to artists. And with its mountains, wildlife, beauty and quiet, it continues to inspire newcomers and longtime residents alike — fueling their creative bent. There is no shortage of examples. Annie Proulx's “The Shipping News” and Elizabeth Gilbert's “Eat Pray Love” both trace their roots to artist residencies the authors did at Ucross. Craig Johnson, creator of the Longmire sheriff novels, BELOW: Neltje, left, offers some advice to Darlene Reiter on how to use a piece of fabric at a collage workshop at the Sagebrush Community Art Center in the historic Sheridan Train Depot.
Sagebrush Community Art Center
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gathers with actors starring in the Longmire television series each summer to share his work with local fans. Lyle Lovett made a stop in town recently. But Kate Harrington, executive director of the Sagebrush Community Art Center, said the great thing about arts in Sheridan County is that it runs deeper than just a few big-name individuals. For instance, Sonja Caywood, a treasured local artist most recently in the spotlight for her colorful cow paintings, teaches novices how to put brush to canvas in her two-hour “Uncorked� classes at Sagebrush. Quilters, pottery-makers and photographers exhibit their work at outlets around town, at the Sagebrush gallery or even at the public library. In February, the work of seasoned artists that was on display at The Brinton Museum shared a roof with an entire roomful of sketches and watercolors made by area fifth-graders. Actors and actresses of all ages flock to auditions at the WYO Theater, the Carriage House Theater and school plays, spurred by the opportunity to stand on stage and charm the audience. Sheridan College has been expanding its fine arts programming and has many in the community counting down the days until its new Whitney Center for the Arts opens, allowing the school to expand its ceramics, painting, printmaking and other programs and host
ABOVE: Instructor Micah Trampe demonstrates the subtraction process during a wipeout class for the Sagebrush Junior High/High School Art Camp at the Sagebrush Community Art Center. The students exercised a reductive painting method, which involves removing paint from the board to create the art.
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events in the new concert hall. Harrington, who hails from New York, said there is something special about the arts scene in the Sheridan area. “Frankly I’d had such a busy life for so long with regard to my work that coming here was just so perfect,” she said, “and I loved the lack of hustle bustle, the authenticity of the people and how friendly everybody was. And the art community made me feel like I could settle here.” Harrington is no stranger to the arts world. She spent the earlier days of her career designing clothes for photo shoots, working with Vanity Fair, Andy Warhol and others. But the artists in Sheridan County have impressed her. “We all sort of support one another,” she noted. And the local scene has only grown since she arrived in the area 17 years ago. “We often have receptions here lately that have 200 people — which, you wouldn’t think that for a little gallery,” she said. Not only does the area cultivate art among its residents. It also attracts the creatively inclined from outside of northern Wyoming. Lynn Reeves, who manages the artist residency program at Jentel, near Banner, said the reason the area is so ripe for art is “a no-brainer.” “There’s two sandhill cranes flying by, there’s pheasants, there’s cows, there’s deer,” she said. “It’s kind of lovely out here.” Reeves noted that staying put in a country home with limited Internet connectivity forces the residents who visit Jentel to disconnect. This, she said, 106
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REASONS
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• Local and famous artists — Adam Jahiel, Kim Fuka, Sonja Cawood, Neltje, Teka Brock, The Craft Brothers, Dave Munsick, The Instagators, The Two Tracks, The Melissa B. Band, Craig Johnson, etc. • Community murals and public sculptures • Big Horn Mountain Bluegrass Festival • Sheridan Artists Guild, Et al. • Ernest Hemingway (who worked on “A Farewell to Arms” here) • Hans Kleiber • George Ostrom — best known for quick-draw sketches • Sheridan Public Arts Committee • Elaine Olafson Henry — ceramic artist and publisher of ceramic magazines • Concerts in the park • Davis Gallery • The Paint Post • Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show
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ABOVE: Roger St.Clair, left, and Laura Lehan visit during the “Love on Your Art” fundraiser dinner at the Historic Sheridan Inn. Guests were encouraged to dress in a 1920s vintage theme. The event supports the Sagebrush Community Art Center, which is operated by the Sheridan Artists Guild Et Al – a nonprofit organization that promotes art and local artists.
that doesn’t offer the clarity of air” that Sheridan County does. Like Harrington, Reeves appreciates the full scope of artistic talent found in the area. She said writers and poets who have spent time at Jentel became more in tune with the natural world during their stay in the Lower Piney Creek Valley, mentally cataloguing the sounds of frogs in the springtime and images of snow stuck to individual pine needles for later material. A month of “unfettered time” in the area, Reeves thinks, can inject a whole new passion into an artist’s work. “And that,” she said, “is inspirational.”
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allows them to get away from the noise and distractions of their home studios and focus on their work. Reeves also said spending a month doing art in Wyoming can have a delayed-release sort of effect. She has received letters from visiting artists as late as five years after their Jentel residency, telling her that changes in their artwork that were sparked during their time here have finally started to show. This could mean a renewed self-confidence or it could be as simple as adoption of a different color palette. “Sometimes those mountains really are purple,” Reeves said. “Sometimes that sky is so incredibly blue that you would not believe it if you lived in a place
I loved the lack of hustle bustle, the authenticity of the people and how friendly everybody was. And the art community made me feel like I could settle here.
– Kate Harrington
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Neltje by Kristen Czaban Neltje’s name is well known in the Sheridan area. She is an artist, philanthropist and an active voice in the arts community. While born in New York City, Neltje moved to a ranch in Wyoming in June 1966. She often tells the story of how when she first arrived in Wyoming, she spent time putting together her home and soaking in the Western landscapes. Then, she got to work creating and helping to build up the community. For 18 years, she owned and operated the Sheridan Inn, a building she is often credited with saving. She has donated land and financing for a number of projects in the Sheridan area and she has been an active voice for the arts. Recently, we caught up with Neltje for a cup of coffee in downtown Sheridan to talk about what drew her to Wyoming in the first place and what has kept her here all this time. Below are excerpts from that interview, edited for length.
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• Neltje • Collaboration • Rivers and valleys • Artists • Paintings • Abstract art • Community members active in Sheridan College • “Enlightenment” groups • The freedom to have and do what you want • Living with art • Living museums • Things you can see, touch and feel • Landscapes that make you feel things
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Q &A with Neltje
Photo by Dennis Jacobs, Sheridan College
What did you first encounter when you moved to the area? NELTJE: The feeling was neighborly, of a ranching community. I knew I was safe. I was aware that if a child was badly hurt, I could call somebody else to help. I didn’t have that in New York. That kind of country feeling, of belonging, captured me.
Was your purchase of the Sheridan Inn your first step into community projects? NELTJE: I thought I was so smart. I got a call saying they were going to knock it down. So I made an offer. I just did it. That’s how I live life. I tried to give it to the historical society. But, I ended up redoing the saloon and opened an art gallery later. I learned to cook for 500 people. I met people every day.
What happened after you divested from the inn? NELTJE: I disappeared. I went back to the ranch. I went where I didn’t have to cook. I’d go back to New York (for short periods) to paint and see my children.
You’ve worked in a variety of art mediums, but you’re most known for your paintings, right? NELTJE: I painted originally, then I started sculpting. But, I couldn’t feel the back of anything. If I drew a body I wanted to know what the back felt like. At that point, abstract painting in Sheridan, Wyoming, was like… uhh. Of course it’s like that a little bit, in any small town. People want something that represents something they’ve seen before, that has touched them, and they want to see it that way. Really my answer to them is take a very good picture.
Living in a small town, why did you decide to pursue abstract art anyway? NELTJE: I don’t like to be told what to do. I can express my emotions through abstract art. I was not interested in translating something that my eye could see. I was interested in translating how I felt about the view of the mountains or the Piney Creek going by or a thunderstorm. The huge space and light made a difference. I wasn’t just interested in painting the space, but how it made me feel. Spring/Summer 2016
Did you get involved in the community again?
The artist residency program?
NELTJE: I got involved at the college, supporting the art programs out there. But originally, I became part of an “enlightenment group.” We talked about trying to bring in some people who think differently about solving problems. That was really, I felt a thirst to think about something to think about other than eating. So we did a series of three lectures and workshops.
NELTJE: Yes. We bring in 66 artists every year. Mary Jane Edwards helped me with that. She told me, “You know you can have whatever you want.” I knew I didn’t want to have to be responsible for meals (after so many years of cooking at the Sheridan Inn). The basis for the program — I really love that valley where I live, the mountains, the distance. I thought, who would enjoy them after I die. So I wanted to get it (Jentel) done before that happened.
You were involved in other ways at the college too, right? NELTJE: I got interested in the development of the college and what was going on, how they were changing — the design of the hallways and classrooms for the arts department.
You also donated your home as part of your estate to the University of Wyoming.
Why did that interest you?
NELTJE: It will be a living museum of art. I want people to think about living with art, a program with kids where they can touch anything. It’s important because so often you can’t touch things. That isn’t a problem in my home. I have a lot of art, so many pieces packed with emotion and representative of every day life.
NELTJE: I’ve always felt isolated as a kid. I never felt I belonged. I think the necessity of providing a way for young people to be able to talk, however it is — through song, dance, creating art or writing — and giving them a basket of support is fundamental as a responsibility of a community.
You’ve been very generous to this community. Why? NELTJE: There are so many opportunities to enliven others’ lives and broaden spectrums so why not do it. I’m so lucky to have the ability to see different areas of interest and develop and grow those. That’s how Jentel happened.
What’s something most wouldn’t know about you?
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Local philanthropists
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NELTJE: I cook my own dinner. Not that much, but I use a lot of herbs and I hope it comes out. I use wine and let it simmer. I also love dogs. I have six.
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LOCAL EVENTS
WYOMING
Theater Festival
They don’t know exactly what she looks like. As far as researchers can tell, there are no photos of her. But soon, the life and story of former Sheridan resident Cora Reed will be immortalized on stage. Earlier this year, New York playwright Edward Allan Baker was in Sheridan researching Reed’s past with the plan to turn it into a play called “East of Heart Mountain”to be performed at the 2016 Wyoming Theater Festival, set for July 18-31. Reed’s story is one worth telling — and one we’ve told before. In a 2012 interview, Sheridan resident and historian Val Burgess explained how she came to know Reed. A suitcase full of letters was found in a Sheridan home. The homeowner wasn’t sure what to do with the piece of history, but knew it wasn’t something to throw away. Eventually, the homeowner gave the suitcase full of letters to Burgess. “I feel it is a real gift,” Burgess said in 2012. “She could have given them to anyone. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this woman’s life and I want to find out more and more about her.” Burgess has spent years learning about Reed, who would listen to shortwave radio broadcasts at night during World War II and copy down messages that were sent by the Japanese military. The messages listed the names of soldiers who were being held as prisoners of war. Reed then would write to the families of the POWs, letting the family members know that the soldiers were alive, but believed to be in enemy hands. The suitcase contained approximately 150 letters from those families. “The phrase that you saw over and over again in those letters was, ‘words cannot express,’” Baker said in an interview with The Sheridan Press. “You could feel the magnitude of what Cora did in those letters. She gave them hope.” That story, the one of Cora Reed, will be featured in a play to be performed at the Wyoming Theater Festival, which had its first public iteration last summer. Baker said he’s still in the early stages of piecing the play together, but noted that the play will do more than immortalize the former Sheridan resident. It will explore why she did what she did and how she coped with the pressures of the task. Baker noted that his process will include trying to write Reed’s dialogue, hearing her voice. He’ll write a draft to be circulated among others helping with the creation of the play, including Sheridan College theater instructor and WyoTF organizer DannyLee Hodnett. From there, those involved will conduct readings of the play and stage it, making tweaks along the way. The play will be produced in association with Infinite Variety Produc-
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tions, a New York City-based nonprofit with the mission of promoting, producing or helping to produce plays based on historical events involving women. The nonprofit also seeks to increase awareness of those women and educate individuals about the role of women in historical, current and possible events. Baker noted that he has always been drawn to, and has often written, plays with dominant female characters. He added that there are too few productions that truely allow female stage actors to challenge themselves in lead roles. Hodnett agreed. “That is the state of the field,” Hodnett said of the theater industry. “Most work is written by men for men. It has only been in the last couple of decades that more plays have been written for women, with female characters. We need more good plays with women leads.” Baker’s efforts to bring Reed’s story to life will help to change that and help to tell the story of World War II POWs from the perspective of those on the homefront. Baker has a long history in theater. His one-act plays are produced throughout the world. One of his most well-known plays, “Dolores,” tells the story of a woman who escapes an abusive husband and seeks help from a sister who doesn’t want to get involved. Ellen DeGeneres did a reading of the play at a fundraiser for victims of domestic violence. For more on the Wyoming Theater Festival, see:
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www.WyomingTheaterFestival.com
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This year’s plays will also include:
“Ring of Fire — The Music of Johnny Cash” “Alice Formerly of Wonderland” It’s about Alice. Yes, THAT Alice — Alice Liddell, who, as a child, was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s immortal story. Now Alice is in her teen years, living at Oxford where her father serves as a dean. This romantic comedy tells the tale of the Prince’s courtship of Alice and the Queen’s furious objections. All is accompanied by well-known songs of the era and a few glimpses of the creatures of Alice’s Wonderland.
“Cast of Thousands — The Songs of Craig Carnelia” The cast of this show may not number in four figures, but all of the characters are remarkably brought to musical life by one single performer: Eric Michael Gillett. With songs heartfelt, comic and passionate, Gillett evokes a variety of people from many walks of life — a cowboy, a not-so-average housewife, a spouse in a dissolving marriage, another rejoicing in a newlywed nest. Young boys dream of snow days off from school while a retiree scrambles to fill his day.
“Lucky Stiff” When Sheridan’s Emma Hall graduated from Brown University, she didn’t forget her roots. Leaving the Ivy League, Hall came back to Wyoming and in 2014 established a theater troupe for young people, called Funny Face Productions. This summer, Hall and the members of Funny Face are excited to present the off-Broadway hit, “Lucky Stiff,” the first show written by the team of Ahrens and Flaherty, who would later create “Ragtime” and “Seussical.” This award-winning, hilarious, musical comedy is set in that Riviera playground of the rich and famous, Monte Carlo, where a struggling shoe salesman has the chance to make off with millions – if he can complete one simple, yet bizarre, task.
LEFT: Jacob Claytor, as Faulkland, pretends to be in distress while he is held by Hannah Varney, as Julia, during “The Rivals” dress rehearsal at the WYO Theater.
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Sheridan County
CENSUS DATA
According to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data, Sheridan County is home to 29,116 residents. The city of Sheridan has 17,444 residents. More recent estimates from 2015 indicate Sheridan County has surpassed 30,000 residents.
• 29,116 total residents • Median household income 2006-2010: $48,141 • Percent of people 18 years and older with a high school diploma: 92.7 percent • Percent of people 25 years or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.1 percent
CITY OF SHERIDAN • 17,698 total residents • Female: 50.4 percent • Under 18: 22 percent • Persons 65 and older: 15.8 percent
• Persons below poverty level: 11.2 percent • Mean travel time to work: 17.9 minutes
Wyoming
INFORMATION CENTER Looking for some face-to-face information on local hotels, restaurants and entertainment? Visit the Wyoming Information Center located on the east side of Interstate 90 at the Fifth Street exit. The center offers friendly specialists to aide with any travel needs, as well as 24-hour public restrooms inside the building, a kiosk where you can check out the area's different points of interest, a children's playground, a mini-museum and a picnic area with panoramic views of Sheridan and the Bighorn Mountains. The information center and museum are owned by the state and operated by Sheridan Travel and Tourism. It is equipped with a flatscreen TV, computers with Internet service and wireless Internet access. Parking at the facility is ample and able to accommodate vehicles of all sizes. There is also an RV waste disposal site.
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What you’ll find there: • Sheridan’s Travel and Tourism offices • 24-hour public restrooms • One-on-one assistance from travel specialists • Brochures on the area’s points of interest • Information kiosk • Dog-walking area • Picnic area • RV waste disposal site • Parking • Panoramic view of the Bighorn Mountains • Wyoming Game and Fish regional offices nearby
DIRECTORYof Services
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The variety of services available throughout Sheridan County
Open to the Public 24 Hours a Day!
NOW OPEN Automatic Car Wash Soft Gloss Touch Technology
cleans better than touch less systems Behind Fremont Motors on Coffeen
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2016 Calendar of
MAY 14-15 SNICKERS BIG HORN SOCCER CUP — 12th anniversary - 22 fields of soccer competition in action with more than 120 youth soccer teams (ages 8-14) from Colorado, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Held at the Big Horn Equestrian Center (south of Sheridan). Youth play area and activities. More than a dozen concessionaires. Admission $5 per car. For more information, see www.sheridansoccer.org or contact Jimmy Legerski at 307-7518249 or jcl@wbaccess.net. MAY 20-22 23rd ANNUAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN LEATHER TRADE SHOW — All your leather shop needs under one roof. Held at the Sheridan Holiday Inn. More than 60 leather-related suppliers, manufacturers and dealers. Great for hobbyists, artists and professionals. Free admission. International event with how-to workshops starting May 17. For more information, see www.leathercraftersjournal.com or call The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal at 715-362-5393.
MAY 22 EATONS’ HORSE DRIVE — Stake out a viewing spot and watch up to 100 horses cowboy-driven through Sheridan, passing the Wyoming Information Center at approximately 9 a.m., down Fifth Street past the Historic Sheridan Inn, where Buffalo Bill auditioned Wild West Show acts, out to Eatons’ Ranch, the oldest dude ranch in the nation! For more information, call 307-655-9285 or email info@eatonsranch.com. MAY 26-28 WYOMING 3A AND 4A STATE HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS — 16 boys teams and 16 girls teams vying for the state championship titles, at the Big Horn Equestrian Center (south of Sheridan). For more information, visit www.whsaa.org or contact Don Julian at 307-672-2495, ext. 3106 or don.julian@scsd2.com. MAY 28-30 (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND) HANG GLIDERS FLY-IN — Enjoy watching and photographing hang gliders from across the nation soaring above the Bighorn Mountains’ Sand Turn, west of Sheridan. For more information, contact Johann Nield at 307-751-1138 or wyomingwings@wyoming.com. JUNE 4-5 HOOP JAM — 16th annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament providing wholesome family entertainment with 18 courts and 800 participants. Registration and welcome barbecue held the Friday evening prior. For more information and location, see www.hoopjamwyo.org or call Wyoming Rehab at 307-674-1632. JUNE 5 START OF POLO SEASON — First day of polo for the 2016 season - polo practices, games and tournaments happening up to four days a week through Labor Day weekend, at the Big Horn Equestrian Center or the Flying H Polo Club, in Big Horn. For the Big Horn Polo Club (playing at the Equestrian Center), call 307-674-4928 or see www.thebighornpoloclub.com. For the Flying H Polo Club (high goal polo), call 307-674-9447 or see www.flyinghpolo.com. JUNE 15 - JULY 1 WILDFLOWERS PEAK SEASON — Meander through the majestic Bighorn Mountains on Scenic Byways 14 or 14A experiencing wildflowers and wildlife, such as moose, elk, deer, bear, lions and marmot. 116
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JUNE 16-18 BIG HORN COUNTRY USA — A three-day outdoor festival of country music and campers from all over! For more information, see www.bighorncountryusa.com or call 307-675-1027.
JUNE 16 THIRD THURSDAY STREET FESTIVAL — Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors on the Third Thursday of each summer month, 5-9 p.m., on Sheridan’s Historic Main Street. Free admission. For more information and vendor inquiries, call the Downtown Sheridan Association at 307-672-8881. JUNE 17-19 BIGHORN MOUNTAIN WILD AND SCENIC TRAIL RUNS — Hundreds of runners from across the U.S., Australia and Europe compete in 100-mile, 52-mile, 32-mile and 18-mile races in the Bighorn Mountains west of Sheridan. For more information, see www.bighorntrailrun.com, call 307-673-7500 or email race director at bighorntrailrun@yahoo.com. JULY 2 KARZ ROD RUN — 150 hot rods, muscle, classic cars and trucks on historic downtown Main Street (Dow to Alger), with vendors on Sheridan’s Grinnell Plaza. Awards presented to winners as judged by the public in kids, women’s and men’s categories. Car cruisin’ and picnic July 1. For more information, see www.karzclub.org or contact Bob Gates at 307-672-2473 or bob@karzclub.org. JULY 4 JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION — Spectacular fireworks displays at dusk at the Big Horn Equestrian Center (south of Sheridan). For more information, call the Equestrian Center at 307-673-0454. JULY 13-16 86TH SHERIDAN WYO RODEO (during SHERIDAN WYO RODEO WEEK, July 11-17) — On the Million Dollar Tour of Professional Rodeos with the world's top cowgirls and cowboys! Join in the WYO Rodeo fun all week long! In addition to four nightly PRCA rodeos and morning slack (preliminary elimination) performances, this week includes the First Peoples Indian Powwow, World Champion Indian Relay Races, parade, street dances, boot kickoff and barbecue, carnival, pancake breakfast, Beds Along the Big Horns races, Sneakers & Spurs Run and more. From the first boot kicked off 'til the last tailgate shuts, the Sheridan WYO is the most fun you'll have ANYWHERE! For event details, tickets and schedules, see www.sheridanwyorodeo.com or contact Rodeo Central at 307-7511832. JULY 18-30 WYOMING THEATER FESTIVAL — A two-week theater festival with a free family-friendly “Green Show” every day at noon, four new plays rotating in the afternoons and evenings, along with workshops, tours, readings, etc. from morning to night! For more information, see www.wyomingtheaterfestival.com, call DannyLee Hodnett at 307-674-6446 ext. 3001, or email info@wyomingtheaterfestival.com. JULY 21 THIRD THURSDAY STREET FESTIVAL — Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors on the Third Thursday of each summer month, 5-9 p.m., on Sheridan’s historic Main Street. Free admission. For more information and vendor inquiries, call the Downtown Sheridan Association at 307-672-8881.
Events JULY 22-24 ANTELOPE BUTTE SUMMER FESTIVAL — Third annual festival in the Bighorn Mountains, including morning yoga, trail runs, mountain bike races, live music, vendors, kids activities. The event kicks off on Friday night and goes through Sunday, with plenty of on-site camping available. For more information, see www.antelopebuttesummerfestival.org or call Andrew Gast at 307763-0203. AUGUST 1-8 SHERIDAN COUNTY FAIR — Family fun focused on livestock and crafts competitions and special events. Free admission. For more information, call Liz Shaffer at 307-674-2980. AUGUST 3-6 WYOMING SENIOR OLYMPICS — Statewide Olympics competition for ages 50-100! Opening and closing ceremony, in true Olympics style, with 25 different events happening in between at venues all over Sheridan. For more information, see www.wyomingseniorolympics.com or call Roger Wilson at 307674-8027. AUGUST 13-14 BIKE MS: WYOMING’S BIGHORN COUNTRY CLASSIC — Two-day, 150-mile adventure bicycling ride through Sheridan and Johnson counties, with an optional ride in the Bighorn Mountains. More than 300 participants expected. Raising funds for the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Association. For more information, see www.bikemswyoming.org or call Heather Roe Day at 307-433-9559. AUGUST 18 THIRD THURSDAY STREET FESTIVAL — Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors on the Third Thursday of each summer month, 5-9 pm, on Sheridan’s historic Main Street. Free admission. For more information and vendor inquiries, call the Downtown Sheridan Association at 307-672-8881. AUGUST 26-27 BEST OF THE WEST BBQ FEST — Fourth annual KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition, for all you barbecue aficionados! For the schedule and more information, see www.bestofthewestbbqfest.com or email info@bestofthewestbbqfest.com. AUGUST 27 SHERIDAN BREWFEST — Brewers from all over the region come to Sheridan for you to taste their fine brews and vote for your favorite in a People’s Choice category. Enjoy unlimited beer sampling, live music and food at this great event. For information, call the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at 307-672-2485. AUGUST 27-28 SHERIDAN ELKS YOUTH RODEO — Toughest youth (17 and younger) competition with the best awards (up to $67,000 cash/awards), in 26 events having attracted almost 1,000 entries daily, from the multi-state region. Great fun for the whole family! Held at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in Sheridan. Free admission. For more information, see www.sheridanelks.org or call the Sheridan Elks at 307-674-7297. SEPTEMBER 3-5 (LABOR DAY WEEKEND) HANG GLIDERS FLY-IN — Enjoy watching and photographing hang gliders from across the nation as they soar above and beyond the Bighorn Mountains at Sand Turn, west of Sheridan. For more information, contact Johann Nield at 307-751-1138 or wyomingwings@wyoming.com.
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SEPTEMBER 3 (LABOR DAY WEEKEND) ELITE RODEO ATHLETES (ERA) RODEO — ERA, with the top 80 professional rodeo athletes in the world, will make its first-ever national rodeo tour to eight U.S. cities including Sheridan. Twelve competitors in each event – the top 10 cowboys in the world and the top two finishers from the 2016 Sheridan WYO Rodeo – for bareback, steer wrestling, tie down roping, saddle bronc, team roping, bull riding and barrel racing. High-stakes rodeo action. Sheridan event also televised nationwide on Sept. 7. For more information about ERA and the 2016 tour, visit www.eliteprorodeo.com. Locally, contact Jamie Ringley, Sheridan County Fair Association, at 307-672-2079. SEPTEMBER 4-5 (LABOR DAY WEEKEND) DON KING DAYS — 28th anniversary - “Old West” rodeo events, featuring match bronc riding, steer roping and end-of-season polo cups. The Big Horn Equestrian Center provides open space and a no-fence setting in the majestic mountain foothills south of Sheridan. The family-oriented celebration honors renowned saddle maker Don King. Also included: World Championship Blacksmiths Horseshoeing Contest, starting Sept. 3. For more information, see www.donkingdays.com or contact Cecile Pattison at 307-751-5454 or pattison@wavecom.net or Vicki Kane at 307-752-0567 or vicki@kemperodell.com.
MORE INFO: See the community calendar at:
SEPTEMBER 9-11 FLYING COWBOYS ANNUAL FLY-IN — Pilots from five states with 200 remote-powered planes for display and flight from dawn to dusk! See all types of planes - from small electric powered flyers, up to 10-foot wingspan giants powered by large gasoline engines. Free admission. For information, contact John Steir at 307-674-7342. SEPTEMBER 11 TASTE OF SHERIDAN — Food tasting festival at Thorne-Rider Park, with our local restaurants and other food vendors, each offering taste samples of their fare. Beer, wine, soda as well. Buy tickets in advance or at the gate. For more information, see www.tasteofsheridan.org or call Nancy Silla at 307-752-3992. SEPTEMBER 15 THIRD THURSDAY STREET FESTIVAL — Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors on the Third Thursday of each summer month, 5-9 p.m., on Sheridan’s historic Main Street. Free admission. For more information and vendor inquiries, call the Downtown Sheridan Association at 307-672-8881. NOVEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS STROLL — Regionally acclaimed kickoff to the Christmas season in historic downtown Sheridan, encompassing hay wagon and mini-train rides, giveaways, live entertainment, lighting contest, refreshments, Santa and Mrs. Claus visits, holiday shopping and fireworks, 4-8 p.m. Free admission. For more information, call the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at 307672-2485. NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 18 THE BRINTON MUSEUM ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW — Four high-level galleries of exquisite art in an ideal and scenic foothills setting. This year’s Holiday Show, in the Jacomien Mars Reception Gallery, features contemporary artist Mark McKenna’s landscape and wildlife oils and sculptor Jeff Burham Rudolph’s impressionistic stone, bronze and wood sculptures. For more information, see www.brintonmuseum.org or call 307-6723173. DECEMBER 2-4 TRAIL END STATE HISTORIC SITE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE — Sheridan's popular historic museum (Kendrick Mansion), located at 400 Clarendon Ave., comes alive with the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas in the early 1900s - all rolled into one three-day event. Featuring live musical performances by local musicians. Free admission. For more information, visit www.trailend.org or call 307-674-4589.
An updated community calendar is also avalible at:
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AD DIRECTORY
ACT
Accents of Wyoming Affordable Autos Alpha Graphics
97
Brinton Museum
74
Century 21/BHJ Realty 87
119 52
Atters Furniture
35
Balanced Living
53
Champions Funeral Home
49
114
Christiansen Enterprises 36 City of Sheridan
75
Concept Z
123
Best Western Sheridan Center
41
Corner Grocery
39
Bighorn Airways
83
Cosner Construction
21
Bighorn Design
86
Cow Tran, Inc.
39
Big Horn Mountain Bluegrass Festival
71
Cowboy State Bank
37
Crazy Woman Saloon
39 47
Big Horn Smokehouse 33 Big Horn Tire
112
Crowley Fleck
Billings Airport
119
Cummins Concrete Countertops D&J Coins
Black Tooth Brewery
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DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Spring/Summer 2016
23 28
Fort Phil Kearny
109
Fremont Ford
43
Gina’s Beauty Bar
39
Golden Rule Grocers
63
64
Good Health Emporium
98
Eatons’ Ranch
61
H&R Block
72
ERA Carroll Realty
12
Heritage Woodworks
19
Holiday Inn
121
Kendrick Golf Course
44
Kilpatrick Creations
97
Kosma Heating & AC
96
5 & 122
Little Goose Liquors
72
First Interstate Bank
100
Little Willow Traders
106
Fly Shop of the Bighorns
29
Martinizing Dry Cleaning
46
Days Inn
7
Devils Tower Trading Post
25
Dog Paw Pottery
39
Downtown Sheridan Association
Excalibur Construction 46 Farmer’s COOP
95
Farmer’s Insurance Gary McCoy
52
First Federal Bank & Trust
McDonald’s
86
Prevention Management
93
Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County
103
Rahimi’s Taxidermy
36
Motel 6
3
Riverside Paint
56
Mountain Inn Bar
39
Rocky Mountain Exteriors
78
65
Rocky Mountain Spray Foam
29
Northern Wyoming Mental Health
53
Roosters
96
OK Corral
62
Pack & Mail
90
Sagebrush Community Art Center 53
Paisley ‘n’ Pearls
106
Pella Windos and Doors
77
Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce 69
Perkins Family Restaurant
119
Sheridan Co. Historical Society Museum 51
Pioneer Realty
70
Northeast Wyoming Pediatric Associates
81
Sheridan Motor
9
Sheridan Stationery
53
55
28
Valley Motor Honda
114
Visit Billings
83
Westview Health Care Center
43
State Farm – Jon Oman 2 Story Pines Inn
34
Summit Realty Goup
108
Swan Land Company
79
Wyoming Audiology & Hearing
119
97
Wyoming Life Flight
117
Wyoming Rib & Chop House
118
WyoVision
80
The Clothing Company & Baby Too 69 The Nest
97
The Powder Horn
26
The Sheridan Press 8 & 99 The Sport Stop
52
Trufinish Concrete
SSR Construction
17
Sheridan Floor to Ceiling
39
111
Sheridan College
PO News & Flagstaff Café
Town of Dayton
Turned Antiques
Tegeler and Associates
Plaza Gallery & Frame 105
36
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Tongue River Valley Community Center
Sheridan Travel & Tourism
Security State Bank
Sheridan County Implement
52
Sheridan Homes
101
Thompson–Master Masons, Inc.
112
Throttle 2 Bottle
91
REASON
307
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