A very short lift line in the Hogadon Basin in Casper, Wyoming on a sunny Saturday. (Eileen Middleman Thomas/Denver Post Special)
Just over a four-hour drive or one-hour direct flight from Denver, I found a place that far exceeded my expectations. Fortunately, on a recent visit, I discovered that Casper, Wyoming is a fun, diverse, eventful, and sophisticated town with a Western feel.
From the moment I entered the airport (just one baggage merry-go-round!) and saw the life-sized bison sculpture, I felt that “cowboy” vibe and couldn’t help but take a selfie with it.
With approximately 90,000 residents in surrounding counties, Casper is the second largest city in Wyoming after Cheyenne, according to the Casper Official Guide 2024. It's small, sure, but big in terms of the metropolis' culinary, drinking scene, cultural locations, population diversity, and some pretty wild incongruities.
Perhaps the strangest thing was the large flock of wild turkeys I'd spotted on my front lawn many times, but most surprising of all was the Jeffree Star flagship store. The store is the only physical outlet where you can purchase the eclectic and controversial celebrity cosmetics line. and yak meat from his star yak farm. Yes, “Make Up and Meet” is his giant Barbie pink store line of products. Did anyone know? Casper is home to some very colorful stars.
Not surprisingly, Wyoming is home to some great traditional steakhouses. However, there are some less traditional enticing options, such as Capri-style salad, crab-crusted chicken, and duck Cajun gumbo.
The new Hokkaido Ramen is completely Japanese in menu and atmosphere, similar to what you'd find in a coastal metropolis. Oh, and a distillery in town? I was struck by his 2014 launch, Backwards Distillery Co., a very quirky, circus-themed restaurant with house-made spirits and a crazy cocktail menu. Flavored with rum, almonds, pistachio, lime, allspice, ginger beer, and cream, The Leaf was a treat on a frosty winter night.
The area is a four-season outdoor haven with blue ribbon fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding, water sports, mountain biking, llama trekking, and more. My trip was in winter. I had no plans to go downhill skiing until I arrived. I've been skiing all over Colorado since I was in middle school, but haven't been since the pandemic started. I was tired of the traffic on I-70, the crowds, and the fear that he would “forget” how to ski after six years. Yet here I was, just 20 minutes from downtown, on perfect snow with no lift lines, skiing as if I had never had a break and having the most fun day ever.
I was at Hogadon Basin Ski Area, 17 miles south of Casper. Never heard of it? Neither did I. We Coloradans may be a little picky about our state and its recreational glories, but the truth is, great skiing can be found in other states. Hogadon boasts 60 acres of groomed trails and 600 feet of elevation. The trails are not as long as in Colorado and there is only one lift. Still, it was a real treat to have no lines on a sunny, windless day, get to enjoy more actual skiing instead of waiting in lines, and the $60 per day lift ticket was a treat. Hogadon Basin has 28 green, blue and black trails, 40% of which are classified as expert, and also has a terrain park. I was intrigued by the unusual design of the resort, where the parking lot and lodge are located at the top rather than at the base, like most ski resorts.
Snowshoeing is also available in this area. There are few pine weevil kills and a well-maintained county-maintained trail up Casper Mountain. Mountain Sports rents snowshoes and all other sports equipment.
Downtown Casper is lively and has an old-world feel, but it's not that old. There are huge murals, trendy and artsy shops like Floral Rhino, as well as popular and continuing craft shops like Rootovert Ranch His Outfitters (since 1919). There I watched employees steaming cowboy hats and gazed curiously into the saddle and tack room. Nine floors of boots, hats, jeans, Wyoming souvenirs, and more created a museum-like atmosphere that I thoroughly explored. In the summer, concerts, festivals, and markets are held at the David Street Station Community Gathering Center downtown.
Casper College has two excellent museums worth visiting. Those interested in taxidermy should visit the Werner Wildlife Museum, which features hundreds of animals from around the world. My favorite is the Tate Geological Museum. It's free and features the country's oldest mammoth, as well as about 3,000 fossils and countless gems and minerals. And Willy Wonka-like, self-proclaimed “dinosaur nerd” Russell Hawley has got to be the world's most enthusiastic dinosaur and fossil guide. He enthusiastically told us about all the wonders and treasures that were so well displayed. Hawley's elaborate pen and ink depictions of prehistoric creatures are also on display throughout the Tate, attracting up to 300 visitors a day.
Art lovers will enjoy the Nicolaisen Museum (or “The Knick”), which displays masterpieces by Picasso, Calder, Wyeth, Toulouse-Lautrec, and more, as well as highly selective exhibits such as Wyoming Artists You can appreciate it. Admission is only $5, but this museum is a gem and another surprise in Casper. I was blown away by Irene Nissler's exquisite show of incredible flower paintings done in colored pencil.
Another great museum is the National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. The center is operated by the Bureau of Land Management as a public-private partnership between BLM, the National Historic Trail Center Foundation, and the City of Casper. The center focuses on Casper, which was home to Oregon, California, the Pony Express, Bozeman, and the Mormon Trail in the mid-1800s. This outstanding immersive museum commemorates the history of Native Americans, early explorers, and the pioneers mentioned above through hands-on, interactive exhibits, multimedia programs, and virtual educational opportunities. As we sat in a stagecoach replica, watching and listening to a Bison movie as we rocked around, the rutted road probably felt more like the “Wild West” than any other road I've experienced. It reminded me of the times. This free center can easily be visited within a few hours.
Many people who had never been to Casper visited Casper in 2017. At that time, the city experienced 100% solar eclipse. The eclipse was widely touted as putting Casper back on the map, with many new businesses and restaurants opening successfully and an explosion in tourism, some of whom moved in after their visit.
Listed as one of the top True Western Towns by True West Magazine, one of America's top 20 mountain towns by Men's Journal, and a top Big Fish Destination by American Angler, Casper has a lot to offer It is attracting attention as a small city.
if you go
Where to eat:
Wyoming Ale Works, 5900 E. Second St.: Lively pub atmosphere with great beer and gourmet food. Check out our 'Beef and Pork' sausage board.
Johnny J's Diner, 1705 E. Second St.: This 50's style diner is especially popular for breakfast. Incredibly delicious cinnamon roll french toast!
FireRock Steakhouse, 6100 E. Second St.: We offer elegant yet casual urban steakhouse fare and a menu for non-meat eaters.
Backwards Distilling Co., 214 S. Wolcott St.: This is the place to enjoy some of the most original cocktails made from hard liquor distilled on-site. It's also a place where your preconceived notions about Wyoming may be overturned. This place is hip, cool, trendy, and awesome.
Boulevard, 544 S. Center St.: Open for breakfast and lunch only, this funky, grandma's house-like place is cozy and welcoming. Don't miss the Monte Cristo Stuffed French Toast unless you are offered the Mountain Berry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast which I loved!
destination:
Holiday Inn Casper East, 721 Granite Peak Drive: Well-maintained, large and comfortable rooms, full-service restaurant, gym, and pool.
Best Western Downtown Casper Hotel, 123 West E. St.: Recently renovated, 2 blocks from the downtown area and shops.
For more information, visit VisitCasper.com, TravelWyoming.com, or Explorewy.com.
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