WYO musings

Wondrous Winter in Yellowstone

2011-12-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

Wyoming is blessed to be the home of one of the world's great wonders, especially in winter. Yellowstone National Park has opened for the winter season. For those who've not had the pleasure of visiting Yellowstone when it's blanketed in white, we offer for you now this Christmas treat courtesy of Yellowstone Park Lodges and the Wyoming Offfice of Tourism:

Yellowstone Winter .mp4

Our thanks to Rick Hoeninghausen of Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Mike McCrimmon of the state tourism office in Wyoming for bringing us those stunningingly surreal images of Yellowstone in winter. To plan your stay, go to: www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com

Merlin's Hide Out

2011-12-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

Mid-December through January is prime hide season for a small Thermopolis, Wyoming company that is making a big business out of buffalo:

Merlin's Hide Out.mp4

Merlin's Hideout offers public tours and there is a small retail operation on site next to the shop.

True West Picks ‘Best of the West’ for 2012

2011-12-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Billed as its tenth-annual guide to “everything western,” True West magazine has published the 2012 “Best of the West” issue with several Wyoming locations and businesses ranked at the top.

“We see a wide variety of Wyoming’s heritage represented in these findings and know that for every winning category there are dozens of other Wyoming locales worthy of recognition,” said Diane Shober, state tourism director.

Fort Bridger State Historic Site in southwestern Wyoming was chosen Best Preserved Fort. The magazine editors note recent upgrades to exhibits “help visitors understand the significance of this post that served overland emigrant travelers.”

Klondike Ranch near Buffalo, WY was deemed Best Guest Ranch of the West for inspiring guests to join in the chores on the working cattle ranch and keeping history alive.

There were two “Reader’s Choice” awards given to Wyoming businesses: Nagle-Warren Mansion in Cheyenne was named Best B&B and Cody’s Irma Hotel garnered recognition as the Best Historic 100 Years Business.

Western author and historian Candy Moulton of Encampment, WY served in a working group of contributing editors that assisted True West, based in Arizona, in making the 2012 compilations. “We write stories for the magazine throughout the year and they trust our judgment,” said Moulton who found the new additions at Fort Bridger “fascinating and fun.” Moulton nominated only the western U.S. locations she has visited.

The January 2012 issue of True West is also a source book for many western activities and attractions such as museums, events and adventures.

Media Contacts:

Candy Moulton, 307.329.8942

Diane Shober, 307.214.3741

Jackson Hole Garners National Attention

2011-12-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

Despite a slow start to the season, Jackson Hole's coverage in national media is likely to boost numbers in the coming weeks, even days.

Forbes just ranked Jackson Hole number one on their "Top 5 Ski Resorts in the United States" list. Forbes is one of the nation's top news magazines with a print circulation of 930,000 and over 10 million unique visitors to their website on a monthly basis.

Diane Shober, Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, said "We are very grateful to have a world-class resort that receives this type of recognition. It speaks volumes to the quality of product and branding efforts that Jackson Hole has achieved over the years."

The New York Times Travel section on December 11, 2011 was reserved for their annual Ski Issue, highlighting the best of the best across the United States. Jackson Hole was honored in a piece about women in the world of skiing, "Taking Women Way Beyond the Snowplow". Freeride World Tour competitor Jess McMillan teaches Ski the Line and Stretch the Limits clinics at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort which helps women break into the world of extreme skiing.

On the Skiing by the Numbers page, Burton Stash Terrain Park gets a shout out for having 20 feautres carved by a chainsaw. The New York Times has a print circulation of 950,000 with 16.5 million unique visitors per month to their website.

In addition to receiving accolades from top news outlets, Jackson Hole continues to receive press for their stellar deals this season. The Los Angeles Times featured a package deal in their article on Your Money: Making the ski slopes more affordable. The LA Times has a print circulation of 615,000 with over 7 million monthly unique visitors.

Shober is elated to see this type of exposure promoting Wyoming as a winter destination, "We simply could not afford to buy this type of coverage. Our paid winter marketing budget is $600,000 and although it is coupled with extensive communications, social media and promotional efforts, it does not come close to the roughly 2 million in advertising equivalency that these articles produced."

Media Contact:

Diane Shober, Director
Wyoming Office of Tourism
diane.shober@wyo.gov
Phone: 307-777-2808 Cell: 307-214-3741

Wyoming’s Call of the Wild to Premiere December 31

2011-12-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

Cheyenne—The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s newest TV series—Wyoming’s Call of the Wild—will premiere on the Sportsman Channel on December 31. This 13-episode series focuses on getting kids and their families into Wyoming’s great outdoors.

“Across the nation, we have been experiencing a decline in the number of people participating in hunting and fishing,” said WGFD Public Information Officer Eric Keszler. “This show is one way we’re working to get people excited about getting outdoors and enjoying Wyoming’s wildlife. People who hunt and fish contribute more to conservation and management of wildlife than anyone else. So getting people off the couch and into the outdoors is vitally important for our outdoor heritage and for the future of our wildlife resources.”

Each episode of Wyoming’s Call of the Wild features a different youth hunter or angler on an outdoor adventure somewhere in Wyoming. Kids from all over the United States applied to be on the show, at one of several “casting calls” hosted around the country or via the internet.

“We had hundreds of applications from youngsters all over the country,” said Keszler. “It was very difficult to choose a handful of kids to participate in the show. We eventually picked kids both from within Wyoming and from other states to participate. We looked for kids who had interesting stories and who we felt would benefit from an experience in Wyoming’s great outdoors.”

The first episode features a turkey hunt in northeastern Wyoming, hosted by WGFD Game Warden Matt Withroder and Biologist Joe Sandrini. The guest on this episode is Jake Bullock, a teenager from Colorado who lost his father to cancer. Jake recently won his own battle with cancer, and is looking to the outdoors to help heal some of the scars accumulated during his young life.

The host of this groundbreaking series is nationally known author, lecturer, and teacher Craig Conrad. Known for his inspiring presentation “The Unstoppable You,” Conrad has devoted his career to helping youth reach their full potential. Conrad’s innovative 26-year teaching career has earned him six nominations for the Who’s Who Best Teachers in America, the receipt of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from Colorado Governor Roy Romer, and the first-ever Tradition of Excellence Award.

The WGFD contracted with Orion Entertainment to produce this series. Orion is the country’s largest producer of outdoor adventure programming. “Wyoming is a state that clearly understands that to effectively manage fish and wildlife resources you must first have the support of conservation-minded anglers and hunters,” said Orion President Chris Dorsey. “And growing the ranks of sportsmen and women is vital to creating future conservation advocates.”

The Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. For specific episode times, check your local listings or go to http://www.thesportsmanchannel.com/.
For more information on the show, visit callofthewildtv.com or at Wyoming’s Call of the Wild on Facebook.

Media Contact: Eric Keszler
eric.keszler@wgp.state.wy.us307-777-4594
Download Wyoming Game & Fish Press Release: WCOW_news_release_12-11[1].pdf

Jackson Hole: Best Skiing in the Lower 48

2011-12-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

Forget early season. Forget kiddie chairs and little white strips of man-made snow.

Jackson Hole has the best skiing in the lower 48 thanks to La Nina – which is producing the kind of weather that deposits over 7 feet of snow by the start of December. The result is big: over 3600 vertical feet of skiing – the most skiing on natural snow and the most snow of any major resort in the lower 48.

KIDS FLY AND STAY FREE

Children 12 and under fly and stay FREE* with a fare-paying adult. Call 866.749.4072 to book now!

Learn More

FLY TO JACKSON HOLE FROM $399

Book a roundtrip airline ticket to Jackson Hole this winter for as low as $399*! Call 888.838.6602

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JACKSON HOLE

Book a roundtrip airline ticket to Jackson Hole this winter and save $125* on each airline ticket!Call 866.749.4078

Learn More

Team Wyoming Tenacious

2011-11-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

A good number of the lucky seven Wyoming professional rodeo contestants who will compete in the Super Bowl of their sport Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas got there the hard way. They would prefer not to have gambled on their last few chances during the playoffs but that’s what happened this 2011 season for steer wrestler Jason Miller from Lance Creek, Wheatland’s Seth Brockman – also a steer wrestler – and bull rider Bobby Welsh of Gillette.

Jason Miller

Miller, who won a world championship in 2007, was bitterly disappointed at his showing in the finals of Cheyenne Frontier Days this summer and decided it was time to go back to the practice pen. “I needed to slow down and concentrate, refocus,” he said. The extra work paid off. Miller’s final two outings at the September playoffs staged in Puyallup, Washington were timed at 3.3 and 3.4 seconds respectively giving Miller the championship and enough cash to move up to #4 in the world standings. The top fifteen positions in terms of money earned secure a berth at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Brockman was not in the top fifteen by late September when he qualified for the season playoff finale in Omaha. The 2005 “Rookie of the Year” remained calm and won a round in Omaha with a run of 3.8 seconds. The attending cash placed Brockman well within the coveted top fifteen and he will go to Las Vegas as the #13 steer wrestler. That’s the same spot Miller was in heading to Vegas in 2007. This is Brockman’s first appearance at the national finals (NFR).

Bobby Welsh

Gillette’s Bobby Welsh started 2011 by winning the $50,000 round at Rodeo Houston but those earnings are not applied to the world standings by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) because the Houston event is unsanctioned by PRCA. Welsh went on to have a very good year and was among the top ten bull riders until fall and the playoff finale in Omaha. It was then that a rule requiring bull riders to enter 40 rodeos a year bit Welsh. He was one short and therefore the money won at Xtreme Bulls events (a branch of the PRCA) was removed from his total. There was one rodeo event left to make up well over $15,000. Welsh maintained his composure and left Omaha with winnings of $18,800 insuring his seventh straight trip to the NFR. “Our math was a little off but it all worked out,” a relieved Welsh told us.

Welsh has been a member of the state-sanctioned “Team Wyoming”

since it was started in 2005 under the sponsorship of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “We’ve watched Bobby grow up and we could not be prouder of his accomplishments not only for his family but for the entire state,” said Diane Shober, director of the Wyoming tourism program.

Welsh will be joined by three other Wyoming bull riders who’ve qualified for the finals. They are first timer Tyler Willis of Wheatland along with Clayton Savage and Seth Glause who are both now living in Cheyenne.

Another “Team Wyoming” veteran, Jhett Johnson of Casper, will compete in the team roping event at the national finals with his partner Turtle Powell from Texas. Johnson finished 12th in the world standings.

Dusty Tuckness from Meeteetse has been voted in to share the bullfighting chores in Las Vegas. Tuckness was named “Bullfighter of the Year” in 2010.

The entire Las Vegas contingent gathered in southwest Wyoming during the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo in October. A photo shoot there resulted in a unique poster that will be the main giveaway the Wyoming Office of Tourism will share with everyone who stops to visit with the cowboys in Las Vegas. They’ll be signing autographs at the Wrangler Cowboy Christmas retail shop set up in the Las Vegas Convention Center throughout the national finals.

For more information and to follow Team Wyoming at the WNFR and throughout the year, go to: http://therodeohand.blogspot.com/

Film Production Program Offered at Central Wyoming College

2011-10-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

A new film production program at Central Wyoming College is the first of its kind for the state:

Film School.mp4

Officials at Central Wyoming College believe their new film component gives another group of students an opportunity to compete and learn some valuable skills.

The Paranormal State of Wyoming

2011-10-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Those who seek spooky experiences this Halloween season, or any time of year, can find numerous shivering options in Wyoming. Two of the more well-known locations are Buffalo’s historic Occidental Hotel and about a half-hour drive north to the Sheridan Inn:

Historic Sheridan Inn - Sheridan, WY

Historic Sheridan Inn, Sheridan WY - Buffalo Bill Cody auditioned acts for his Wild West Show from the huge, creaky porch around Sheridan Inn. Renovations, including electrical work, seem to have cured the flickering lights issue that led some to think ghosts roamed the gabled structure. There is still a persistent belief that a longtime resident and employee of the inn – Miss Kate – moves about the building. She had to leave in the 1960s when the inn closed down. Kate’s wish was to return before passing away. She died before that was possible but Miss Kate’s ashes were brought to the inn and placed in the wall of her favorite room. The most well-known encounter involves a late-night passerby who claims he saw the figure of a woman in a third-floor window. Several other people say they’ve viewed a woman walking around inside the building. Many Sheridan residents joined forces to see the inn restored to the point where it now hosts community gatherings and is home to a thriving steakhouse. Once you enter the inn’s lobby an instant transport back to the glory days of Buffalo Bill overcomes your senses. The Sheridan Heritage Center has completed restoration of two suites to show visitors what the completed hotel will be like but there is no overnight lodging currently available. Tours can be arranged by going here: http://www.sheridaninn.com/

Historic Occidental Hotel - Buffalo, WY

Historic Occidental Hotel, Buffalo, WY – Many of the most famous characters, real and fictitious, of the Old West either stayed in or got shot near the Occidental. According to owner Dawn Wexo some of the people who inhabited her beautifully restored buildings make their ghostly presences known regularly. Wexo has invited more than one ghost hunter to see what their meters tell them and hear voices from the other side. She and others at the Occidental are always pleased to regale visitors and guests with ghost stories as well as firsthand experiences. To get in touch, go to: http://www.occidentalwyoming.com/ PH: 307-684-0451; email: info@occidentalwyoming.com

Dare to take a look inside?Sheridan & Buffalo .mp4

Interstate 80 traverses all of southern Wyoming and a trek east-to-west supplies the ghost seeker with scare fare at nearly every stop:

Wyoming Territorial Prison - Laramie, WY

Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, Laramie, WY – Tickets to the annual Ghost Tour of Laramie City are on sale now for the eerie treks that start Saturday (Oct. 15) and continue through the end of the month. Staff and visitors to the prison have reported numerous odd encounters many related to Julius Greenwald, a cigar maker from Poland, who was incarcerated for murdering his wife. One of just two inmates to die while behind bars at the Laramie institution, Greenwald succumbed to heart failure in 1901. Strange occurrences of note include prison gates flying open despite being locked, cold spots or icy sensations and of course the smell of cigar smoke. The most famous case of paranormal activity in the facility came in 1991 when two people on a tour happened to notice someone wearing prison clothes standing in a doorway, arm outstretched with his palm facing up. The two men looked away briefly and when returning their glances toward the figure, that person had vanished. The tourists later looked through photographs of previous inmates and both men identified Julius Greenwald as the person they had seen. The 90-minute ghost tours also include a hayride through downtown Laramie to see and hear of its haunted history. Go to: http://www.wyomingterritorialprison.com/ or to get tour tickets call: 307-745-6161, ext. 12. If you are looking for a new means of flight, or to sweep, please allow time for a tour of the site’s functional broom factory.

The Virginian - Medicine Bow, WY

The Virginian Hotel, Medicine Bow, WY – Tour the building with its owners and you will feel their absolute need to keep the West alive here. From the décor in each room, to the “fancy meeting room” to the bar and restaurant The Virginian is replete with western hospitality. The author of the first western novel, Owen Wister, made Medicine Bow and its inhabitants focus of The Virginian. Wister’s first stop in the West was the train station across the road from where the hotel now stands. Ghostly manifestations in this lonely outpost along Highway 30 west of Laramie have been many.

Here are just a few:
• Many cold spots felt in various parts of the hotel.
• Apparitions of entities have appeared in front of the living and have been spotted out of the corner of the eye of some witnesses.
• Music from another era is sometimes heard in areas where there had been music played for guest entertainment long ago.

Virginian owners Vernon and Vickie Scott along with hundreds of former Medicine Bow residents celebrated the hotel’s 100th year in 2011. Medicine Bow requires a diversion from Interstate 80 north to Highway 30 at Laramie, Elk Mountain or Walcott Junction. The Scotts say one particular entity likes to visit the rooms and "help" in the restaurant - perhaps a former employee or owner. Current staff members report the phenomena of various items being moved from where they were last left and sometimes finding things in odd places.Visit: http://www.historicvirginianhotel.net/

Old Wyoming State Pen - Rawlins, WY

Old Wyoming State Penitentiary, Rawlins, WY - The "Old Pen", as it is affectionately called by citizens of Rawlins, was put out of use in the early 1980's. Now Wyoming Frontier Prison is a tourist attraction, a historical site, and the subject of many tales of paranormal activity. Members of tour groups often report hearing strange voices in cells, seeing people disappear around corners, and feeling hostile or tense presences. Employees have also seen apparitions and heard strange sounds. Not long after the pen was shut down it was used as the main shooting location for the 1988 movie Prison which has now attained cult status in the horror venue. The film was one of the first for actor Viggo Mortensen who would go on to become a star following a leading role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The very popular, and extremely scary, Halloween tours of Wyoming Frontier Prison are nightly Oct. 28, 29, and 31st and reservations can be made by calling: 307-324-4422. Not recommended for children under 12. http://www.wyomingfrontierprison.org/.

Fort Bridger State Historic Site, Ft. Bridger, WY - Ghosts of note have been spotted in almost every standing historic structure at this southwestern Wyoming location just a few miles south of Interstate 80. One or more animal apparitions have been reported, particularly that of a dog that was decorated for heroism for saving a young boy. Most ghosts seem to be rather harmless and appear to represent soldiers that died while stationed at the site in the mid to late 1800's. The site closes for the season Oct. 30. Visit Fort Bridger State Historic Site

Mysteries along I-80 await you:

I-80 .mp4

WY Bullfighter Featured in ESPN

2011-10-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

Professional rodeo bullfighter Dusty Tuckness from Meeteetse, WY is subject of a full-page feature in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine hitting newsstands across the country this week. More than two million subscribers got their copies last week and that’s when Tuckness started hearing from friends and family. “One person I haven’t spoken with in several years called and said when he opened his magazine and saw me he about fell out of his chair,” laughed Tuckness.

A writer first contacted Tuckness in June at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY. “He told me ESPN had an idea to do a story on a rodeo bullfighter and I continued to talk with him all that week about the lifestyle,” Tuckness said. They did not speak again until over the Fourth of July at the Cody Stampede and Xtreme Bulls. The magazine was interested, Tuckness was told, and there would be more contact. Toward the end of August an editor called to say they wanted to run the story.

ESPN The Magazine sent a photographer to the rodeo in Norco, CA in late August and hoped to show Dusty in action. “I did what I could but trying to tell a two-thousand pound bull what to do wasn’t easy. He wasn’t very cooperative,” Tuckness admitted. Tuckness said the ESPN people assigned to the photo shoot weren’t accustomed to being in such close proximity to rodeo livestock. “They got a new look at rodeo, that’s for sure.” The crew felt they had enough good pictures after about four hours of trying.

The article was meticulously researched. “They checked and double-checked everything and were very specific in their questioning. It’s pretty neat to be in a magazine of that caliber and there’s no telling what it could do for rodeo. It was an honor. I was proud to represent our sport, Wyoming, and my other sponsors,” Tuckness noted.

Dusty Tuckness is back in Meeteetse healing from recent injuries sustained at pro rodeo’s playoff finale in Omaha last month. He’ll be fighting bulls next at the Mountain States Circuit Finals in Rock Springs, Oct. 20-22. Tuckness won the 2010 “Bullfighter of the Year” award and has been nominated for that honor again this year.

View ESPN Article

Contact Dusty Tuckness: 307-272-9803

Mammoth Hot Springs Touts Eco-friendly Dining

2011-10-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone National Park’s headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs is now home to one of the most eco-friendly restaurants in the country:

Green .mp4

Xanterra Parks & Resorts says there are only 71 restaurants in the entire U.S. that have been three-star certified by the National Green Restaurant Association.

Emmy Champ ‘Family’ to Showcase Wyoming

2011-09-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Modern B-roll .mov
Click here to download this video

The primetime network television winner of five Emmy Awards last night is taking “Modern Family” on a Wyoming dude ranch vacation in its season premiere episode this week. Even before the national broadcast Wednesday, state tourism officials say a half-million dollars in publicity has been garnered by hosting the cast and crew of the ABC sitcom on Lost Creek Ranch in Teton County last month.

Jackson Hole residents along with town and county officials provided financial backing and other incentives to entice show producers to choose a Wyoming location. “It’s much more beautiful here than it would have been had we faked it in California,” noted Steve Levitan, executive producer of the hit comedy. The show is also hoping to qualify for a cash rebate from the Wyoming Film Office program known as “FIFI” – Film Industry Financial Incentive. That program was extended by the state legislature in the 20ll session.

Diane Shober, Wyoming tourism director, says a media evaluation service is collecting and assessing publicity values. So far more than 400 newspaper, magazine, and website feature stories have been published about the “Modern Family” premiere set in Wyoming. Shober says the coverage would have cost $492,000 if purchased as advertising. “Once the show is broadcast combined with the re-airings that follow the state will attain publicity on a scale we could never afford in our tourism marketing budget,” Shober added.

Shober’s office bought television time to run Wyoming tourism advertising during the “Modern Family” broadcast Wednesday night in key markets across the country including Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Portland and St. Louis. That purchase totaled $84,600.

The state tourism office has also built a new landing page on its website -www.wyomingtourism.org - that will move into play this week. Site visitors who show interest in “Modern Family” can be registered to win a free Wyoming vacation at the same ranch where the show was shot.

“We truly believe that not only the guest ranches but all of Wyoming’s tourism industry is poised to gain a major boost from this popular show,” Shober said.

Dude Wyo

Click here to download this video

For more information on “Modern Family,” visit ABC.com. Photography and video available at http://www.abcmedianet.com/.

Download on location images:

Modern Family

Wyoming Trails, Treks & Trumpets

2011-03-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

National Gathering of “Rut Nuts”

The Oregon-California Trail Association (OCTA) brings its 2011 national convention to Wyoming where hundreds of miles of historic western trails remain unchanged from their initial mapping in the mid-1800s. Bus tours will take tour participants to important areas of America’s western migration including South Pass. It was the one place where pioneers destined for California, Oregon or Salt Lake could most easily traverse the Rocky Mountains. A state historic site in nearby South Pass City features a number of well-kept, restored structures and the clean stream running through it offers visitors a chance to pan for nuggets of precious gold:

2011 trails
The OCTA national convention is August 8-13 in Rock Springs and Green River in southwest Wyoming. For more information contact Tom Rea, trea@tribsp.com

There is a wide variety of historic trail locales visitors can appreciate in Wyoming. Here is just a partial list with attendant website links for further details:

Fort Laramie National Historic Site: www.nps.gov/fola

Register Cliff/Oregon Trail Ruts; Independence Rock; South Pass City; Fort Bridger: http://www.wyomingheritage.org/

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (Casper, WY): www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/NHTIC.html

Trail enthusiasts can obtain a free map of Wyoming Oregon Trail Sites – Wagons Across Wyoming – by contacting the Wyoming Office of Tourism: mailto:info@wyomingtourism.org

Download High Resolution Images of Wyoming's Historic Trails:

Historic Trails

Certified Guides

The non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute (YAI) will begin offering a certification program for the first time this spring. People who want to become professional or volunteer guides can register for multi-day field seminars focused on topics such as wildlife, geology, and the history of Yellowstone. Most of the courses are being held at the institute’s Buffalo Ranch where log cabins can be rented for just $30 a night. The guide program runs April 3-22.

The spring, summer and fall programs at YAI have been expanded to include 25 new classes including spring wildlife viewing, beginning fly fishing for women, and the art of wildflower identification.

Several field seminars have been developed covering Yellowstone’s wolf population. Many programs are packaged with lodging and other options through park concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

yellowstone guids
Xanterra Parks & Resorts has just announced a special early-season package – Yellowstone Discovery – that is available April 30 through May 11 including two nights lodging at Old faithful Snow Lodge, breakfast for two each morning and a $50 store gift coupon for $199 a night per person. Go to: http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/ to find out more.

Download High Resolution Images of Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone Spring/Summer

New Look at Old Faithful

A new $27million visitor education center situated near Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone will be ready for its first full summer tourist season come spring. More than 14 years of planning and fund raising led to the center doors opening to the public late last August. More than half the money was obtained privately via the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Dynamic exhibits help visitors understand the world’s greatest array of geysers, hot springs and other thermal features. Many of the building materials contain high percentages of recycled materials:

Old Faithful
The park service website can help with more information: http://www.nps.gov/yell

NE Welcome Center Opens

Motorists entering Wyoming’s northeastern corner near Sundance now have a new center to feel welcomed and learn much more about what to see and do in the area. Most visitors are somewhat aware that the country’s first national monument, Devils Tower, is close. They most likely won’t know about such unique stops as Vore Buffalo Jump, the Aladdin Tipple and the town’s general store that immediately takes one back to the Old West:

Welcome Center
The new Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center is located at exit 199 from I-90 about 7 miles west of the South Dakota state line.

“The Virginian” Turns 100

The hardy folk of Medicine Bow, Wyoming have been through a lot and so has the town’s distinctive building – The Virginian Hotel. It was named after the most famous of all western novels. Writer Owen Wister’s words remain framed on the wall of the hotel’s formal dining area. The opening of Interstate 80 moved most cross-country traffic away from Medicine Bow drastically curtailing the business climate. The Virginian remains and is celebrating its 100th year this summer:

Virginian
James Drury, The actor who portrayed “The Virginian” on the popular television series in the 1960s, will be the special guest of Medicine Bow, June 24-25. A weekend of activities is to include a parade, melodrama, reenactments, games, music, dancing and a whole lot of smiling. Medicine Bow is located on Highway 30 aka The Lincoln Highway about an hour northwest of Laramie, WY.

For more information about The Virginian Hotel centennial weekend call: 307.379.2377 or email: historicvirginianhotel@gmail.com

50 is Grand

The Grand Teton Music Festival will celebrate fifty years of music making this summer. The orchestra is composed of many internationally renowned players who’ve been returning for several decades. Rehearsals are sometimes opened to the public offering a unique chance to become immersed:

Teton Music fest

The 50th season will open July 2 and run for seven weeks of festival friends reuniting throughout for musical tributes, historic chamber music concerts and star-studded events. The big finish is a world premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon. Her piece is being written especially for the festival and will honor the beautiful surroundings outside of the festival hall – most notably Grand Teton National Park. For complete details as they become available go to: http://www.gtmf.org/

Sheridan,Wyoming Named One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations

2011-02-15T12:17:00.000-08:00

Washington, D.C. (February 15, 2011)—Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Sheridan, Wyoming, one of its 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Sheridan, nominated by Sheridan Travel and Tourism, was selected for its vibrant Main Street commercial district, abundant recreational opportunities, and its authentic Western character, all set “in the shadow of the Big Horns.” From February 15 to March 15, Sheridan will be participating in a public online voting contest to select the 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations Fan Favorite.

For 11 years the National Trust for Historic Preservation has annually selected communities across America that offer cultural and recreational experiences different from those found at the typical vacation destination. From dynamic downtowns and stunning architecture to cultural diversity and a commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization, the selected destinations boast a richness of character and exude an authentic sense of place.

“Sheridan is a classic Western town, offering visitors a real taste of its ranching, farming and mining heritage, as well as contemporary theater, arts and dining opportunities,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs and shoppers alike will be amazed by Sheridan’s amenities, including hiking, hunting and fishing; archeological sites and public art; and top-notch purveyors of Western art and apparel.”

Sheridan, Wyoming Images

Downtown Sheridan boasts 46 late 18th-century/early 20th -century brick and iron-clad storefronts that house a wide variety of successful retailers, including shops that specialize in Western art, antiques and collectibles, leather crafts, ropes and horse tack, log furniture, jewelry and more. While experiencing Sheridan’s frontier culture, visitors and residents can also enjoy its modern amenities, including an extensive pathway system linking many of the city’s parks and points of interest, a fleet of replica trolleys that provide guided tours of the city, and a range of interesting dining and entertainment options. Its stunning National Historic Landmark Sheridan Inn—a place where Buffalo Bill lived and auditioned performers for his Western act—is now heated and cooled by an environmentally sustainable geothermal energy system.

Highlights:• Sheridan WYO Rodeo – part of the Million Dollar Tour of Professional Rodeos and a week-long, Western celebration in July that includes World Champion Indian Relay Races, street dances, bed and foot races, as well as a parade and a carnival.
• Don King’s Western Museum – a world-class collection of cowboy memorabilia and Indian artifact collections located with King’s Saddlery & Ropes, a complete Western tack store for outfitting cowboys, cowgirls and city-slickers (shot of whiskey across the street at Mint Bar’s century-old watering hole optional).
• Historic Sheridan Inn – home of Buffalo Bill, resident ghosts, and ongoing rehabilitation into 22 Buffalo Bill-character suites; a designated Save America’s Treasure site.
• Fort Phil Kearny, museum and battle sites – part of the Bloody Bozeman Trail, a National Historic Landmark; also visit the Battle of Little Bighorn site, just to the north of Sheridan.
• Wildlife Refuge – offers majestic views of elk and buffalo as they roam within their park home.
• The Big Horn Mountains – an adventurer’s playground for golfing, hiking, rock climbing, hang gliding, snowmobiling and skiing.
• Public Arts walking tour – featuring 28 bronze sculptures and other public art installations positioned along its downtown streets.

The public is invited to vote online to help determine which of the 12 destinations will be the 2011 Fan Favorite. From February 15 to March 15, any legal resident of the U.S., 18 years of age or older, can vote once per day for his or her favorite city or town on this year’s list. The winner of the popular vote will be announced on March 16, 2011. Voters are automatically entered to win a complimentary two night stay at any Historic Hotel of America. No purchase necessary. Offer void where prohibited. Visit www.PreservationNation.org/ddd for official rules, information about Historic Hotels of America, to learn more about this year’s destinations, and to begin voting!

To download high resolution images and video of this year’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, visit www.PreservationNation.org/press.

2011 marks the twelfth announcement of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations annual list. To date, there are 144 Distinctive Destinations located in 46 states throughout the country. To see a complete list and to vote for the 2011 Fan Favorite Destination, visit www.PreservationNation.org/ddd. The title of Distinctive Destination is presented to cities and towns that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization. In each community, residents have taken forceful action to protect their town’s character and sense of place.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.

Media Contact:
Penny Becker, Sheridan Travel & Tourism
307-673-7120
stt@sheridanwyoming.org

Stash & Cache

2011-02-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Burton Stash Parks made a debut this weekend during the Stash Gathering at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, Wyoming.

The Stash takes advantage of the natural terrain, local wood and all the creative elements the mountain has to offer. By using what's already around, the Stash has more impact on your riding and less impact on the environment.

The Stash and Cache package includes 4 nights of slopeside lodging, 3 days of skiing, 3 lunches and a half-day Stash Park lesson. For more info visit jacksonhole.com

Burton Stash Park

Media Contact:
Zahan Billimoria, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
mailto:mailto:zahan@jacksonhole.com
Phone: 307 739 2704 Cell: 208 709 0858
www.twitter.com/jhski
www.facebook.com/jacksonhole

Whoa!

2011-02-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Final Stage of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race

The biggest event of its kind in the continental U.S. came to a halt over the weekend after making stops in several western Wyoming communities. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was welcomed with open arms by the townsfolk in Evanston, Wyoming located at the southwestern edge of the state near the border shared with Utah:

DOGS
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The Wyoming sled dog race has run annually since 1996. You can obtain complete information and prepare for next year here: http://www.wyomingstagestop.org/

Media Contact: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, darla@wordenpr.com, 307.734.5335

Stage Stop Starts

2011-01-28T16:54:00.000-08:00

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race barks out of the town square in Jackson, WY today and makes a number of Wyoming stops over the next week. Several communities are hosting various small festivals and welcome ceremonies for the mushers and dogs.

There are 21 teams competing in the largest sled dog race in the Lower 48 states. Four-time Iditarod winner Lancy Mackey is among a host of big- name talent on the scene. Newton Marshall pilots the Jamaican team – the only such outfit in existence from Jamaica (sponsored by Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville).

Dogs

You can follow the race here: www.wyomingstagestop.org

Media Contact: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, darla@wordenpr.com, 307.734.5335

Yellowstone Opens for the Winter Season

2010-12-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

The winter season in Yellowstone is just underway and it’s the polar opposite of summer in the world’s first national park:

Winter Yellowstone

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Guided winter tours of Yellowstone are available by snowcoach and snowmobile.

Media Contact: Rick Hoeninghausen: 307-344-5265, RHoeninghausen@xanterra.com

Download high resolution images for this story:

Wyoming Winter

Sleeping Giant Awakens

2010-12-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

One of the oldest ski areas in the country is back in action after five years of dormancy and the drive to Sleeping Giant is often worth the price of admission:

Sleeping Giant

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A full day of skiing at Sleeping Giant costs less than 30 dollars per adult. It is about an hours’ drive west of Cody, Wyoming. You can get complete details via their website – http://www.skisg.com/

Media Contacts:
Operations Manager Mike Neff: 307.587.3125, mailto:ops@skisg.com
General Manager Jonathan Sheets: 307.587.3125, mailto:gm@skisg.com

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Sleeping Giant Ski Area

Gold Buckle Dreams

2010-12-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

Six Team WYO Members Pursue the 2010 World Championship Title at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas

Rodeo and Wyoming are synonymous with one another. Wyoming kids are on horses before they can walk and the western lifestyle is treasured in a place often referred to as the “Cowboy State.”

There is a rodeo every summer weekend in Wyoming whether a small town affair or the “Daddy of ‘Em All” - Cheyenne Frontier Days. There are no major league sports teams and while gifted athletes, such as Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel, were raised in Wyoming it is the homegrown pro rodeo cowboy and cowgirl that make residents most proud.

The concept of forming a team of these athletes began following the 2004 world championship bareback riding title victory by Kelly Timberman. He has matured to become widely regarded as one of rodeo’s leading spokesman. His passion, enthusiasm and warmth attract the attention of anyone who approaches Timberman whether it is for a national television interview or a talk with a small-town newspaper reporter.

Team Wyoming is sponsored by the Wyoming Office of Tourism. It is the only contractual agreement in the U.S. between a state entity and pro rodeo athletes. Membership is obtained by earning a berth to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Team members have worn the “WYO” brand while competing in each event at the national finals with the exception of tie-down roping.

Gene Bryan, Manager of the Cowboy Marketing Program and Team WYO said,” "Team Wyoming members, past and present, represent the very best Wyoming has to offer. Not only are they at the top of their game in their chosen profession, they represent their state with the same passion and dedication. Yes, they are superb professional athletes, but they are Wyoming to the core--proud, independent, respectful and polite to a fault ('Yes, Sir' and 'Good morning, Mam' are as natural as breathing). Every Wyomingite would be proud to call them 'son' or 'daughter.’”

This year three of the “Top 15” bull riders competing in Vegas are Team Wyoming stalwarts. One of them, Seth Glause, made the cut on the final weekend of the regular season by winning paychecks in three rodeos in three states. And two of those rides were after Glause was stepped on by a bull after an 82-point ride in the Playoff Finals in Omaha. Kanin Asay will be attempting to cart off his first world champions’ gold buckle. He won the WNFR bull riding competition last year in Las Vegas and his ride of 93 points was the highest score of the 10-day event. Bobby Welsh has punched a ticket to his sixth straight national finals. He won more than $14K in the Xtreme Bulls Finale in Ellensburg, WA late this summer and most of that money came in Welshs’ Championship Round ride on a Wyoming bull called “Kid Twist” – owned by Burns Rodeo Co. in Laramie

Kelly Timberman returns for his seventh straight WNFR in Las Vegas. Kelly Timberman is a three-time winner of the tribute rodeo staged every November in Casper in LeDoux’s honor. Kelly won the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo this summer in Casper and had the highest scored ride in the finals at Cheyenne Frontier Days. He recently began competing in two timed events – team roping and steer wrestling – the latter a rather impressive undertaking for a man who is just 5’ 8” inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Here is a rare look behind the scens at hard practice and new life in coaching:

kelly NFR pkg
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The newest Team Wyoming member for 2010 is Bobby Harris – a team roping heeler contestant. He first won a gold buckle in Las Vegas in 1991 and returns this year #5 in the world standings. Harris puts on popular roping schools across the country and has trained a good number of the young people now competing in the pro ranks. Bobby is 47 years old making him the elder statesman of this years’ national finals. He is of Native American ethnicity and a grandfather was chairman the Eastern Shoshone tribal council on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming for nearly a half-century.

Bobby H. pkg
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Bullfighter Dusty Tuckness is working his second consecutive WNFR. He is highly regarded by his peers and has no fear when it comes to placing himself in harm’s way to protect the safety of bull riders. Tuckness was recognized as the “2010 Bullfighter of the Year” at the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association banquet and has continued to show his amazing skills at this year's finals rodeo:

Dusty pkg
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The Wyoming Office of Tourism posts daily highlights and video from the WNFR on The Rodeo Hand blog and will continue to highlight Team WYO members throughout the 2011 rodeo season. You can follow or subscribe to the blog at http://therodoehand.blogspot.com.

To schedule an interview with one on the cowboys, please contact Chuck Coon, 307-630-4004 or Lori Hogan, 307-631-3948.

Observing Bighorn Sheep

2010-11-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

The prime viewing season for one of the West’s most unique animals is just beginning and we get a close-up here at the bighorn sheep herd near Dubois, WY:

Bighorn Sheep
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Tours of the Whiskey Basin bighorn sheep herd are arranged by the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center with 24 hours notice. You can also look for the animals on your own.

http://www.bighorn.org/

Media contact: Suzan Moulton 307-455-3429 info@bighorn.org

One Ride

2010-11-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

A Wyoming cowboy and musician who posthumously received the Country Music Association’s “Pioneer Award” five years ago is being paid tribute now in a new dance music show that premiered in New York last week:

One Ride
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Producers of the new show are hoping to bring “One Ride” to many cities in the West that host large pro rodeos and schedule the performances to coincide with those events.

Media contacts:

Robert Royston – PH: 917.972.7728, roroproductions@yahoo.com
Mark Sissel – PH: 615.477.8466; mark@tkoartistmanagement.com

The Journey Begins

2010-11-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

A Christmas tree that will be erected outside of the nation’s capitol is coming from Wyoming and the 67-foot Englemann Spruce begins its cross-country tour this week.

tree

Two LeDoux Tributes

2010-11-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

A Wyoming cowboy and musician, posthumously recognized with a “Pioneer” award by the Country Music Association, is at the heart of tributes being staged in Wyoming and New York this week. Chris LeDoux died in 2005 but he was forever memorialized in bronze by the dedication of a life-and-a-half size bronze in a downtown Kaycee, Wyoming park in June. LeDoux and his wife raised their family in Kaycee. He won the pro rodeo world championship in bareback riding prior to his success as a musician.

His music inspired New York-based choreographer Robert Royston from his childhood following of the pro rodeo circuit and Royston has now developed a new dance musical featuring Chris LeDoux songs, ten professional dancers along with live music performed by LeDoux’s band, Western Underground. The show is being performed in Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows, NY through Sunday. “I watched the dancers rehearsing to Chris’ music when we got here and it was very emotional,” said Mark Sissel, Western Underground lead guitarist. “The first night I stood on the stage with this show I was overcome with emotion. It’s like bringing Chris’ music to life,” he added.

“One Ride” tells the story of a young rodeo bull rider, his quest to win a world champion’s gold buckle and his struggles to succeed. Royston conceived the story based on LeDoux songs. He directs and choreographed the show that is in the workshop stage. Backers hope to eventually bring “One Ride” to theatres in cities that host major professional rodeos. “One Ride” opened last Friday and live performances continue through Sunday.

“A Tribute to Chris LeDoux” western art show, rodeo and concert will return for its sixth annual staging in Casper this weekend. “We’ve been able to provide several young people with scholarships to Casper College because of this event,” said Dona Vold Larsen, event organizer.

The art show opens Friday evening at Parkway Plaza in Casper and the pro rodeo/concert is Saturday night indoors at “The Arena” on Central Wyoming fairgrounds. More information is available at: www.ledouxtributerodeo.com

Media Contact: Contact: Mark Sissel–PH: 615.477.8466; Dona Vold Larsen- PH:307.259.1674

Photo cutline: “Good Ride Cowboy” was dedicated in Chris LeDoux Memorial Park, Kaycee, last summer. The bronze monument was created by Buffalo, WY artist/sculptor Mike Thomas. Credit: Wyoming Office of Tourism

WYO Bullfighter Makes National Finals

2010-10-22T13:21:00.001-07:00

by Chuck Coon

The top professional bull riders this year have voted to return Dusty Tuckness for his second consecutive run at helping protect them at the national finals. The Meeteetse, WY bull fighter felt he had a good chance to make it back to Vegas and his Wyoming partners were even more positive.

While signing autographs for fans in Omaha last month, bull riders Kanin Asay & Bobby Welsh both said they weren’t certain who’d make up the full complement of bullfighters at the 2010 WNFR in Las Vegas but they knew Dusty would be one of them.

Tuckness spoke with us yesterday. He said his winter rodeo season at the big events in Houston, Fort Worth and a few other Texas stops gave him over 100 performances in arenas where all of the top bull riders were entered:

Dusty NFR 10-18-2010

Dusty will be working the “Tribute to Chris LeDoux” rodeo, Nov. 6 in Casper. He is without question one of the most fearless bullfighters in recent history. Should you be interested in catching Dusty Tuckness in action and the efforts of many more of rodeos’ best in Casper you can get full details here: http://www.ledouxtributerodeo.com/

Green Bikes in Yellowstone

2010-10-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone National Park has become a little more environmentally friendly by increasing employee use of foot power:

green bike

Sanyo’s Eneloop Bike won a “Best of Innovations” award at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show. Beth Pratt is the Director of Environmental Affairs at Xanterra Parks & Resorts and can be reached at 307-344-5204 or bpratt@xanterra.com. For more information visit:
http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/Future-Generations-5655.html

Ornament Makers

2010-09-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree will be hauled to Washington D.C. from Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson Hole. Several hundred ornaments for the tree are being crafted by elementary school kids from the central Wyoming city of Riverton:

Riverton kids

A 65-foot conifer will be trucked cross-country in November. It’s the first time a Wyoming tree has been chosen for display on the U.S. Capitol grounds over the holiday season. Riverton art teacher Nancy Alley can be reached by calling: 307.856.2625

A new cultural facility in northern Wyoming has a mammoth addition

2010-09-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

mammoth

Cheryl Reichelt is director of the new Washakie Museum & Cultural Center in Worland. You can reach her here: creichelt@washakiemuseum.org

Chris Navarro has an interesting story to tell. He was a pro rodeo bull rider in his late teens and early 20s. He was not making any money and saw the future as being quite dim. One day Chris got a look at a small bronze called “Two Champs” by artist Harry Jackson (based in Cody, WY). Navarro liked the work and asked how much it cost? He was told $35,000 and decided that might not be a bad line of work. He went to a craft store in Casper and bought a kit. He labored over books at the library and worked, and worked and worked in a 10 by 55 trailer that was home. Chris Navarro and his wife now have homes in Casper and in Sedona, AZ.

He has sculpted more than a dozen large monuments that are exhibited out of doors in Wyoming including the poignant “Champion Lane Frost” viewed by thousands annually on the grounds of the Old West Museum in Cheyenne. It depicts the former world champion bull rider from Oklahoma who was killed by a bull at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1989. Frost’s life was recounted in the 1994 movie Eight Seconds.

Navarro can be reached at: 928.204.1144.928)-

The Big Siphon

2010-09-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

Star Valley is a lovely stretch of landscape on Wyoming’s western border north of Salt Lake City, Utah along Highway 89. The town of Afton is smack-dab in the middle of the valley and the downtown main drag is notable for a massive arch of elk antlers stretching over the street.

A short drive east of town in Bridger-Teton National Forest yields one of the rarest water phenomena in the world. Intermittent Spring is active by late August and continues well into the winter. Visitors have to do a little work to make it in but the dirt road is good and the sights along the way laudable:

inter. 9-15-10

Justin Visser is available for calling at (307) 885-2001.

We spent a little time in Star Valley this summer and found the local newspaper publisher, Dan Dockstader, to be a wealth of information concerning outdoor pursuits in the area. You can reach him by phone at: 307.885.5727 or go to the paper’s website: www.starvalleyindependent.com

If you have been, please share your experience.

WYO Fall Favorites

2010-09-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

A good number of Wyoming residents think of fall in terms of hunting seasons but for those not inclined toward those pursuits there are many options for outdoor exercise and unique sightseeing opportunities.

In Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks the bull elk are in their annual “rut” and are looking to establish themselves with a group of hoof-picked ladies. Leaves are changing color on the aspens and cooler air along with the start of the school year make for more breathing room.

Today we visit Grand Teton National Park with videographer Mike McCrimmon from the Wyoming Office of Tourism:

Fall Grand Teton HD

You can find all of the options for fall in Grand Teton National Park by going to: www.nps.gov/grte or by contacting Jackie Skaggs, 307-739-3393 or jackie_skaggs@nps.gov

There is still plenty of time to spend in Yellowstone before the annual shut down to prepare for winter. You can look up lodging options and packages here: http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/ or by contacting Rick Hoeninghausen, 307-344-5265 or RHoeninghausen@xanterra.com

Wyoming’s five national forests offer great fall driving tours and we’ll be highlighting a number of them in the coming days.

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