Tag Archive for: cheyenne

Without the Railroad, We Wouldn’t Have Cheyenne

When it comes to history in Cheyenne, there is a lot of it. But if you were to narrow things down to the most important, thrilling and significant, it would be hard to miss the reason Cheyenne even exists today: the railroad.

Without the railroad, Cheyenne wouldn’t be here. Starting as a Hell on Wheels town, Cheyenne was platted back in the 1860s as a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad as it was being built. The town boomed and bloomed, becoming one of the wealthiest places in the world by the 1880s. The railroad led to Cheyenne’s wild, lawless history in the Wild West, the establishment of a military presence at Fort D.A. Russell and, of course, the cattle trade.

The Wild West is celebrated every year in Cheyenne through its cowboy spirit and various events like Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Hell on Wheels Rodeo. The cattle trade continues at local ranches to this very day, and Fort D.A. Russell has since become F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home of the 90th Missile Wing.  If you’re visiting Cheyenne, drop by the Cheyenne Depot Museum to learn more about this fascinating and incredible history.

Starting as a Hell on Wheels town, Cheyenne was platted back in the 1860s as a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad as it was being built. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Cheyenne & CFD Big Topics in Country Western Music

When it comes to who made what famous, one could say Cheyenne, Wyoming, was made famous by the many songwriters who put the capital of Equality State in their songs. On the flip side, one could argue some of those songs were famous because of Cheyenne’s pre-existing fame, especially pertaining to rodeo.

For starters, two of the most beloved country artists of all time, Garth Brooks and George Strait, had hit country songs within a year of one another – “The Beaches of Cheyenne” by Brooks and “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” by Straight were both Top 5 hits in 1995-96. Both refer to rodeo in Cheyenne, most likely Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Wyoming country music legend Chris LeDoux released two hit songs, “Photo Finish” (1973) and “It Ain’t The Years, It’s the Miles,” (1983) that mention both Cheyenne and the rodeo there (most definitely CFD). Several other artists, from Eric Church to Aaron Watson, have given shoutouts to Cheyenne, with most of them referring to the legendary rodeo, or at least its Western roots.

Cheyenne and its most famous rodeo have been name-checked in songs by artists Garth Brooks, George Strait, Chris LeDoux and more. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Get Your Cowboy (And Your Foodie) On In Cheyenne

Cheyenne Restaurant Week | April 2-8

Cheyenne’s favorite restaurants, breweries and food trucks all offer a special menu at a special price. Come to Cheyenne in April and get your foodie on! https://www.cheyenne.org/restaurantweek/

Wyoming Brewers Festival | June 16-17

A fun, energetic event and vital fundraiser all in one. The Wyoming Brewers Festival is the party of the summer, bringing brewers from around the region together in one spot to give beer-lovers a one-of-a-kind experience. https://www.wyobrewfest.com/

Cheyenne Frontier Days | July 21-30

The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and the ultimate Western experience. Cheyenne Frontier Days is a chance to cowboy up, have the time of your life, and find out why Cheyenne is the Daddy of ‘Em All when it comes to the Wild West. https://cfdrodeo.com/

Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuckwagon Dinner | June 9 and 30; July 7 and 14; August 25; September 8

Taking place throughout the summer, the Hell of Wheels Rodeo and Chuckwagon Dinner is one of the fastest growing outdoor rodeo experiences around. Food, fun, and rough-and-tumble rodeo excitement all in one place! https://www.cheyenne.org/hellonwheelsrodeo/

Cheyenne’s favorite restaurants, breweries and food trucks all offer a special menu at a special price during Restaurant Week (April 2-8, 2023). Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Enjoy Beers and Bikes Year-Round in Cheyenne

Winter is a fun time to explore Cheyenne and the surrounding areas. Just like in the summertime, bikes and brews combine to give you a chance to get outside and exercise, and then kick back and relax after a hard ride. The biggest difference is the trails are wide open to explore with fewer riders, your own little piece of paradise.

Load up your fat bike and check into a cozy Airbnb in our downtown to prepare for an epic riding experience. Curt Gowdy State Park has more than 35 miles of trails to shred during the day. When you get back to town, download the Daddy of the Malt pass from Visit Cheyenne to explore the breweries and distilleries with buy-one-get-one deals.

Work up a sweat on a fat bike and then cool off with a refreshing brew in Cheyenne. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Get That Perfect Shot of Cheyenne’s Nature and Art

Cheyenne has no shortage of photo opportunities, but here’s the inside scoop to get THE shot you were hoping for:

  1. Sloan’s Lake Sunsets: Cheyenne’s largest urban greenspace perfectly frames the Wyoming sunsets that fill the sky with color all year round.
  2. Middle Crow Creek Inlet at Curt Gowdy State Park: Popular with standup paddleboarders and kayakers for calm water dwarfed under granite rock towers. Hiking the first quarter-mile of the Crow Creek Trail offers a different but equally beautiful perspective of the water.
  3. Chalk Bluff Road: Magical summer evenings provide showstopping images when thunderstorms move east and the golden sun shines from the west over the rolling hills of the plains.
  4. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens: Botany photographers find heaven among the tropical oasis of green in the Grand Conservatory, whimsical land of imagination in the Paul Smith Children’s Village and meandering paths through the outdoor gardens.
  5. Mural Alley: Tucked away in the heart of downtown, this alley is full of building-sized art including a rocking three-story blue bison and art deco-inspired flowers popping with reds and oranges.

Botany photographers find heaven among the tropical oasis of green in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens’ Grand Conservatory, whimsical land of imagination in the Paul Smith Children’s Village and meandering paths through the outdoor gardens. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Food, Movies and Rodeo on Tap This Summer in Wyoming

Cheyenne Frontier Days ­– Cheyenne

This one-of-a-kind celebration has been a Wyoming staple since 1897. Nicknamed the “Daddy of ‘Em all,” Cheyenne Frontier Days is the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. The event takes place during the last full week of July and features rodeos, night shows, carnival rides, food and much more.

Annual Eastern Shoshone Indian Days – Wind River Reservation

The Annual Eastern Shoshone Indian Days happens in June. This three-day celebration highlights Native American culture and is open to all. Enjoy the beautiful powwows, drums and vendors.

Fort Bridger Rendezvous ­– Fort Bridger

The first weekend in September celebrates Fort Bridger Rendezvous. Learn about the fur trade era while exploring Fort Bridger Historic Site. One of the largest rendezvous in the nation, you will find great food, historical demonstrations and more.

Chugwater Chili Cookoff – Chugwater

Join in the fun of this chili cookoff in Chugwater every June. Come enjoy all types and levels of spice in this cooking competition, plus kids’ games, a car show, a rodeo, live entertainment and more.

Wyo Film Festival – Sheridan

This film festival takes place the last weekend of September. Immerse yourself in this amazing community while enjoying films.

Cheyenne Frontier Days is the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. This one-of-a-kind event takes place during the last full week of July and features rodeos, night shows, carnival rides, food and much more. Photo courtesy of Wyoming Tourism

For more information on Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com.

There’s A Ton To Do Year-Round In Cheyenne

April: Cheyenne Restaurant Week shows off the city’s favorite restaurants, breweries, specialty shops and food trucks.

May: Celebrating the railroad heritage of Cheyenne, Depot Days indulges “trainiacs” from around the world inside one of the last Grand Union Pacific depots on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Summertime: The Hell on Wheels Chuck Wagon Dinner & Rodeo delivers authentic Western experiences with cowboy cooking and home-grown Friday night rodeos.

June: The Wyoming Brewers Festival shares a passion for craft beer and live music, all while raising money for preservation of the Union Pacific Depot.

July: The arts scene goes wild when the Paint Slingers mural painting event, 4-Ever West Tattoo Fest and Wyoming International Film Festival all arrive in town. Then Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration, brings 10 days of rodeos, concerts, parades and more!

September: Become a kid again with high-flying kites, live entertainment, and kite design and flying workshops in Pine Bluffs’ End of the Trail Kite Festival.

October: Harvest Feast serves handcrafted cuisine by local culinary experts featuring 100% Laramie County-sourced ingredients.

November/December: Old West Holiday brings a Western twist featuring Cowboy Santa’s favorite stops – like the Pony Express wish-list delivery ­– on Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

See Cowboy Santa on Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

A busy summer is planned in Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

Cheyenne has lots of activities on the docket this year; read on for five can’t-miss experiences:

  1. Cheyenne Frontier Days (July 22-31, 2022): The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration is 10 jam-packed days of rodeo, concerts, parades, Native American dancing, pancake breakfasts and everything “Old West” you can imagine.
  2. Hell on Wheels Chuck Wagon Dinner & Rodeo (June 10 & 24, July 1 & 15, August 19 & 26, 2022): Dinner with award-winning chuck wagon competitors 3LazyR and a homegrown rodeo under a Wyoming sunset.
  3. Fridays on the Plaza (Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day): FREE concerts in the heart of downtown Cheyenne every Friday evening in the summer. Food trucks and a beer tent offer goodies available for purchase.
  4. Wyoming Brewer Festival (June 17-18, 2022): Sample the region’s best craft beers in the Depot Plaza, with proceeds supporting the preservation of the historic Union Pacific Depot Building.
  5. 4-Ever West Tattoo Fest & Paint Slingers (July 14-17, 2022): Urban art takes over downtown Cheyenne with building-sized murals painted in real time and world-class tattoo artists showing off their skills in the Depot and on the Depot Plaza all weekend long.

At the Wyoming Brewer Festival, you can sample the region’s best craft beers in Cheyenne’s historic Depot Plaza, with proceeds supporting the preservation of the historic Union Pacific Depot Building. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Beyond the beef: Can you guess Cheyenne’s real favorite fare?

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While thousands of people flock to Wyoming for a taste of the freshest steak in ranchland, the locals in Cheyenne will tip you off to a much different and perhaps unexpected culinary experience: green chile. Very few foods spark such an intense debate as this unique sauce. Nearly every restaurant has their own version of the gravy – and people are fiercely loyal to their favorite!

Poured generously over everything from burritos to fries to omelets, the gravy varies widely in consistency, spiciness and ingredients. The roux base is flavored with one or more of the seven varieties of green chile peppers, which determine the “heat” (spiciness) of the sauce. Many incorporate ground sausage or shredded meat, some are spoon-worthily creamy and others absorb into the food quickly, but all of them are a unique taste of Cheyenne.

Many establishments lay claim to the best green chile in town, so a sampling of the variations should be on your Cheyenne vacation to-do list. If you want to eat like a local, incorporating a breakfast burrito with the good stuff is a must. Keep an eye out for burgers, traditional Mexican dishes and a variety of side dishes, too. You really can’t go wrong!

Green chile-smothered breakfast burrito at the Luxury Diner in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne / Whitney James

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Cheyenne has full summer of rodeos, festivals and concerts

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Cheyenne, Wyoming, is open for business and ready to welcome you back when you’re ready to visit us! We have a full slate of events this summer to enjoy.

The 125th Daddy of ’em All, Cheyenne Frontier Days, returns after a one-year hiatus. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and celebration of Western history and culture features nine PRCA rodeos and nine nights of musical and professional bull riding entertainment, along with an Indian Village, pancake breakfasts and parades. This year’s celebration is July 23-August 1.

The Wyoming Brewers Festival takes place every year on Father’s Day weekend. The 25th edition of the festival this summer features 25 craft breweries, live music and fun in the Cheyenne Depot Plaza.

The Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuck Wagon Dinner series is back for its second year, featuring an intimate rodeo setting and an authentic chuckwagon dinner to provide a true Western experience.

And the live music scene in Cheyenne is on fire! Several venues are open with concerts throughout the summer. With genres from Americana to punk to rock and country, a show for every taste can be found in Cheyenne this year.

The 125th Daddy of ’em All, Cheyenne Frontier Days, returns after a one-year hiatus July 23-August 1. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and celebration of Western history and culture features nine PRCA rodeos and nine nights of musical and professional bull riding entertainment, along with an Indian Village, pancake breakfasts and parades.. Photo courtesy Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.