Press Releases
August 24, 2010
ARTISTIC REFLECTION OF COMMUNITY'S HEART
Sheridan’s downtown in recent years has become as popular a draw for art lovers as it has traditionally been for shoppers.
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ARTISTIC REFLECTION OF COMMUNITY'S HEART
From a reflection of the city's historic roots to the purely whimsical — from the “Bozeman Trail Scout” at the corner of Main Street and Grinnell Plaza to the bronze rhino just a few blocks away — artwork abounds.And not just downtown. "Art on Display," a brochure published by the Sheridan Public Art Committee, provides a convenient guide to nearly 30 sites where visitors can view artwork ranging from sculpture to paintings to the stained-glass windows in several churches.
The brochure is available at the Fifth Street Visitors Center, local motels and restaurants, and downtown businesses.
Literature, art and culture have been part of Sheridan’s foundation from the days, more than a century ago, when an opera house flourished on the third floor of the Cady Building on the corner of Main Street and Alger Avenue.
The Cady’s third floor is gone, destroyed by a fire in the early 1900s, but the legacy remains. Art galleries may be found along Main Street and in Sheridan County's outlying communities.
In recent years, the city's wealth of sculpture and stained glass has gained attention thanks to the Sheridan Public Art Committee, an organization of volunteers whose goal is to promote the area’s visual arts.
Among works highlighted in the brochure are the pair of cast-iron Civil War cannons that guard the Grand Army of the Republic graves in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery and the pair of bronze lion-dogs that greet visitors to Kendrick Park.
Also included are the sculptures, both publicly and privately owned, that line Main Street and both sides of Grinnell Plaza just off downtown Main Street, the paintings and bronzes outside and inside Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library on Alger Avenue, the nine "Resurrection windows" at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, "Joyful" at the YMCA, and exceptional murals in several Sheridan banks and businesses.
Additional paintings and sculptures are found at Sheridan College and Sheridan High School, in Whitney Commons park, at the Sheridan County Historical Museum, in the small museum at the Visitors Center itself, and at the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center, 211 Smith St.All of the art is on display at no cost to the public, and the brochure, which includes a map for a self-guided tour of the locations, also is free.
By Janet Donoho, The Sheridan Press 2010 Tour Guide
August 17, 2010
EXCITING ATV TRAILS OR A STROLL THROUGH QUIET PINES?
The Big Horn Mountains extend from the plains and Great Basin area of Wyoming northward into south central Montana.
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EXCITING ATV TRAILS OR A STROLL THROUGH QUIET PINES?
The Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest are an outdoor paradise filled with recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, photography, snowmobiling, skiing, and sledding.The Bighorn National Forest, including the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, is unique and diverse.
Within the National Forest area, you can encounter grass prairies, evergreen forests, mountain meadows, rugged alpine peaks, dramatic canyons, arid desert lands and cascading waterfalls — all within a day's journey.
Whether you're looking for an exciting ATV trail or a stroll through quiet pines, the Bighorn National Forest offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails on the forest with a split between motorized and nonmotorized.
Most nonmotorized trails are shared by hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders. The Cloud Peak Wilderness has several rugged trails open to hiker and horse use only.
Motorized trails are open to vehicles 50 inches or less in width.
There are many locations open to camping as well as 32 campgrounds on the forest and thousands of miles of roads open to many types of use.
Winter brings 450 miles of groomed and ungroomed snowmobile trails and 50 miles of ski and snowshoe trails.
Trails on the Bighorn National Forest provide access to remote desert canyons, wide-open meadows, and high alpine vistas.
Please visit one of our offices in Sheridan, Lovell or Buffalo for current conditions, maps, lists of recreation opportunities, and specific forest rules and regulations.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Burgess Junction and Shell Falls visitor centers are open to the public.
Interested parties can also check the Bighorn National Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/bighorn/.
Note:
Bighorn National Forest maps are available at the Bighorn National Forest supervisor’s office and Tongue Ranger District in Sheridan.
The Cloud Peak Wilderness topographical map is available online at www.nationalgeographic.com/maps.
By Janet Donoho, The Sheridan Press 2010 Tour Guide
August 10, 2010
POLO & OLD WEST RODEO ALL IN ONE!
Each year Don King Days is considered by over a thousand spectators to be the grand finale of summer fun! This year marks the 22nd annual Don King Days at the Big Horn Equestrian Center, Sunday and Monday of Labor Day Weekend, September 5 & 6, 2010.
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POLO & OLD WEST RODEO ALL IN ONE!
Each year Don King Days is considered by over a thousand spectators to be the grand finale of summer fun! This year marks the 22nd annual Don King Days at the Big Horn Equestrian Center, Sunday and Monday of Labor Day Weekend, September 5 & 6, 2010.
Events feature classic equine events like polo, steer roping, bronc riding and wild cow milking, beginning both days at 11 a.m. The Big Horn Equestrian Center’s few fences and big fields put the crowd right in the middle of all the action. Sunday features polo, the first rounds of the Wyoming Steer Roping Finals and wild cow milking. Taking place on Monday are polo, steer roping and the matched bronc riding.
The clubhouse is rockin' and rollin' both days and into the evenings. Each day, following the events “on the grass”, there will be live music at the clubhouse and everyone is welcome. Additional information regarding performers is to be announced.
The Don King Days events began when local ranchers came up with this unique combination of equestrian events to be held in honor of the community’s rich equestrian heritage and those involved in it. Honoring our legendary cattleman and saddle maker, Don King.
Admission is $10.00 for adults and children under 12 are free. For more information, contact Micah Olsen at molsen@sheridan.edu or 307-684-8776.
| Schedule of Events | |
| (all times are approximate) | Monday, September 6, 2010 |
| Sunday, September 5, 2010 | 11:00 am Polo (Don King Days Cup) |
| 12:30 pm Wyo. Steer Roping Finals, Round 3 | |
| 11:00 am Polo (Henry Burgess Memorial Cup) | 1:30 pm Match Bronc Riding, First Go |
| 12:00 noon Calcutta (for all events) | 2:30 pm Wyo. Steer Roping Finals, Final Round |
| 1:00 pm Wyo. Steer Roping Finals, Rounds 1&2 | 3:30 pm Match Bronc Riding, Second Go |
| 4:00 pm Wild Cow Milking | 4:30 pm Awards Ceremony |
| 5:00 pm Live Music - tba | 5:00 pm Live Music - tba |
July 28, 2010
PRIEMER YOUTH RODEO OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
What draws young cowboys and girls to the eighteenth annual Elks Youth Rodeo in Sheridan Wyoming, at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds the weekend prior to Labor Day weekend?
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PRIEMER YOUTH RODEO OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
Major draws to competitors from all over the region are the opportunity to win a year lease on a new Ford F250 four-wheel drive XLT quadcab diesel pickup, which is awarded to the senior all-round champion. Megan Belus of Buffalo, Wyoming was the 2009 winner of the use of the pickup. And secondly, a trailer for the youth all-around winner, which in 2009 was Quincy Segelke of Snyder, Colorado. Juniors, intermediates and seniors are all eligible to win the trailer, which is determined by the total points each contestant earns.
Third, this event is the toughest youth (17 and under) competition with the best awards ($55,600 cash/awards), in 26 events attracting 750 entries daily. The rodeo runs in three arenas simultaneously, providing an amazing show of non-stop action for spectators! Come experience the best times of the season at this show, highlighting the unbelievable talents of youth competitors, beginning at 8:00 a.m. August 28th and 29th.
Peewee events, children as young as two and a half, are pole bending, barrel racing and goat tail tying. It is important to keep the peewees interested in rodeo so as not to run out of seniors competing someday. Junior events additionally include flag race and ribbon race, with intermediate events also featuring breakaway roping, daily team roping and steer stopping. And the senior events each of the forgoing, as well as tie down calf roping.
Following the rodeo on Sunday there is an exciting timed event jackpot featuring, “monkey on a rope”, enjoyed by all, especially the spectators!
No admission is charged to spectators. For more information please explore the web site at www.Sheridanelks.org
July 16, 2010
BIG WEST ARTS FESTIVAL TO DELIGHT YOUR SENSES
The Big West Arts Festival is a two-day outdoor celebration of the visual, culinary, and performing arts. The primary focus of the event is the juried exhibition of gallery quality fine art and crafts.
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BIG WEST ARTS FESTIVAL TO DELIGHT YOUR SENSES
This event gives people a rare opportunity to meet and interact with the artists, as well as view and purchase their original creations. Additionally, the Arts Festival offers artist demonstrations, educational art activities for children and adults, live performances, special curated exhibitions and high-quality outdoor food vending.August 7th and 8th the Sheridan College campus becomes a metropolis of culinary, visual and performing art as the fifth annual Big West Arts Festival unites artists to showcase their diverse and vibrant talent. This year’s entertainment shows the wide variety of talent in our region. Over 20 local and regional bands perform on a professional stage through out the day and into the evening.
On Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with live music lasting until 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with music continuing until 6 p.m. The work of 50 selected visual artists will be featured, along with six teams of welders in the welding rodeo, and over 20 live musical performances. There is something for everyone to enjoy. All shows are free and open to the public. Sheridan College hopes to expand on the entertainment for future events and is looking for performers in dance, theater and music.
In conjunction with the Big West Arts Festival, the Sheridan College Welding Technology Program will sponsor a creative Sculpture Competition on Saturday. The theme this year is "The West is Best" and features eight teams competing for cash and prizes. Watching these "creations" take form is amazing, considering they’r only allotted 8 hours to produce a finished product.
With its onset in 2006 the Big West Art Festival was rated among the Top 200 art fairs in the country with a ranking of #146 by Art Fair Source Book. Now in our fifth year, we have been ranked #54!
This is a major regional event and it's free to the public. Please keep in mind it's not a western art festival, but rather an Art Festival in the Big West.
Those who are interested in learning more about the event or artists interested in submitting an application for admission into the Big West Arts Festival, visit the Big West Arts Festival web site at: www.bigwestartsfestival.com or contact Rod Dugal at 674-6446, ext. 3508.
July 10, 2010
TWO WINNERS IMMERSED IN AUTHENTIC WEST!
First time ever – two winning sweepstakes packages awarded! Over $9,000 between the two special vacation packages will be embraced later this summer, by Ellen Lundquist from California and Keith Reese of Oklahoma!
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TWO WINNERS IMMERSED IN AUTHENTIC WEST!
These packages include many priceless items to allow each winner to fully immerse themselves into an authentic Western vacation, while still saving time to enjoy Wyoming's Golf Capital and fine cuisine. As 
well as to take time to shop the Historic Downtown Sheridan, and experience the flavor of a true western hometown with its warm hospitality.In July, the Reese’s will cowboy up and step back in time to feel the energy of Sheridan’s 80th rodeo community celebration. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo and Sheridan Travel and Tourism partnered to provide Keith and his family WYO Rodeo tickets, with VIP access for four to the members-only Gold Buckle Club both Friday and Saturday nights! He also is receiving:
- $500 gift voucher at the WYO Rodeo Retail store
- Hotel accommodations at the Holiday Inn (two rooms, three nights), including Breakfast each morning, a dozen Prairie Flowers, M&M Chocolate Candies and Pendleton Whisky
- 2 rounds of golf at the Powder Horn Golf Club
- $1000 flight vouchers with Brittain World Travel
- Avis Rental Car for 4 days
- Reserved VIP seating during the Sheridan WYO Rodeo Parade OR ride in the WYO Rodeo wagon during the parade
- Personal tour of King's Museum by a member of the King family
- Dinner at Remington's
- 3 nights lodging in the Honeymoon Suite, at the luxurious Wingate Inn with pool, scenic mountain views, located in historic Sheridan, while enjoying a dozen roses, sparkling champagne & chocolate-dipped strawberries, as well as complimentary hot deluxe breakfast daily
- 3 nights lodging in the Big Horns at Bear Lodge Resort, Arrowhead Lodge; or Elk View Inn with breakfast and dinner at any of the 3 lodges
- Round-trip airline tickets with Great Lakes Airlines from Denver to Sheridan
- Embrace western history via area battlesites and fort, Fort Phil Kearny, museums, Don King’s Western Museum, Bradford Brinton Memorial and Museum & Sheridan County Museum; and mansion, Trail End State Historic Site
June 24, 2010
SHERIDAN’S ROCKIN - ROCK CLIMBING, GOLF & HANG GLIDING
Celebrate a bit of the Old West meets New West in the heart of Wyoming’s cowboy country. Sheridan voted for the third consecutive year in the ‘Top Towns for Outdoorsmen’, is where recreation opportunities abound! And there’s not a better time to enjoy them . . .
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SHERIDAN’S ROCKIN - ROCK CLIMBING, GOLF & HANG GLIDING
Rock Climbing opportunities are stellar in this area with premier ops at Steamboat Rock on top of the Big Horn Mountains and Tongue River Canyon, both a short drive from town. Join other outdoor aficionados to challenge yourself in new locations around Sheridan. Golfers find Sheridan a paradise of opportunity for all levels of expertise. Dubbed Wyoming's Golf Capitol, Sheridan offers four championship courses within a 35-mile radius:
• The Powder Horn's 27-hole championship course rated in GolfWeek's top 100 • Kendrick’s 18 hole course rated in the top 5 courses in Wyoming by Golf Digest magazine
• Sheridan Country Club
• Buffalo Course
Hang gliding is popular as well, beginning in the spring all the way into late fall . . . when the weather and air drafts are just right, daredevils enjoy jumping into thin air off the face of the magnificent Big Horn Mountains. Spectators may watch and photograph hang gliders from across the nation as they soar above and beyond the Mountains at Sand Turn, west of Sheridan. The Hang Gliders Fly-In takes place again over Labor Day weekend to kick-off the Fall.
With many options in accommodations, entertainment, fine dining, shopping and galleries, visitors experience Sheridan as an authentic western destination.
Don’t forget to embrace the Old West to New West of Northeastern Wyoming. . . Explore multiple museums and nearby historic sites which celebrate Native Americans and the opening of the West to pioneers and settlers. This adding yet another dimension to your beautiful Wyoming experience.
Build your travel itinerary to track the desired activities, historic sites, western stores and events that you and your travel partners want to include during your stay in Sheridan. Also add to your itinerary, the hotel, motel, cottage, or RV Park that you are interested in and a selection of the restaurants you chose to dine at.
To explore Sheridan and upcoming activities, contact Sheridan Travel and Tourism at 307-673-7120 or 1-888-596-6787 or visit www.sheridanwyoming.org
June 17, 2010
COWBOY UP AT THE SHERIDAN WYO RODEO!
In 1931, the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming, was so quiet you could “shoot a shotgun down Main Street and have no fear of injuring anyone.” A group of local citizens wanted to do something about the situation and decided to put on a rodeo. They set their sights high and organized a first class professional rodeo.
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COWBOY UP AT THE SHERIDAN WYO RODEO!
After 80 years in the making, the WYO Rodeo has put Sheridan on the map. Voted the oirginal ‘#1 Western Town in America’, Sheridan has flourished into a Mecca of cowboy culture – and it’s not just about the rodeo anymore. During rodeo week, July 9 – 18, travelers can expect the streets to be filled with thousands gathering to get a real taste of the Old West. Yes, people come from all over the nation to see the best cowboys and cowgirls compete in events such as bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing, trick riding, bareback racing and the World Champion Indian Relay Races. The parade, barbecues, carnival and street dances also really brings life to one of Wyoming’s biggest celebrations.
Yeehaw" The low-down on the WYO Rodeo. . . One of the top ranked events by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Woman’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA).
The WYO Rodeo prize money won by contestants consistently makes the top tier of over 600 PRCA rodeos that pay out more than thirty million dollars each year. This year, the rodeo has added a day of events and will span across four nights, July 14 – 17.
New this year, the 80th Annual Sheridan WYO Rodeo will be one of 22 rodeos on the infamous Million Dollar Tour of the PRCA. The decision to join the tour brings with it additional opportunities for the contestants to win an even greater purse. The Million Dollar Tour participation allows PRCA contestants to count the money earned in tour rodeos toward two separate “playoff” rodeos. All money earned during the year at tour and playoff rodeos counts toward qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
Icing on top – all the fun ‘extras’. . . The week kicks off with the 4th Annual Chris LeDoux Spurs and Spikes Golf Tournament, July 9-10, at the ‘Top 100’ ranked Powder Horn Golf Club. The 2-day tournament, open to the public with a limited number of teams, includes a practice round, BBQ, auction and live entertainment Friday.
Visitors can kick off their boots… literally. Take the family out on the town for live music on the first weekend and see just how far you can kick off your boots for prizes and bragging rights.
New to 2010, Sheridan is hosting two big-name concerts. Music lovers can catch Molly Hatchet and the Marshall Tucker Band on the 9th or Rodney Atkins and Jake Owens on the 10th.
The WYO Rodeo parade has long since been at the heart of this week long extravaganza. Cowboys and Cowgirls can hit the street Friday morning, July 16, to the infamous Drum and Bugle Corp leading floats through the city center. After, families can catch an authentic Indian Pow-Wow from regional Native American tribes.
Wednesday through Saturday, visitors to Sheridan can have some good ole’ fashion fun at the WYO Rodeo Carnival. Ride the Ferris wheel, win an oversized stuffed animal, snack on a funnel cake – this hometown carnival is sure to make for a night of fun.
The last day of rodeo week would not be complete without the tailgate party and polo game. Sheridan makes a perfect venue for avid fans and first-time polo watchers alike as the historic playing field has been hosting competitions since the 1890’s.
The Sheridan WYO Rodeo has been virtually sold out the last four years and demand for tickets is at an all time high with a record setting attendance in 2009. Travelers wishing to saddle up and visit this epic Wyoming hoe-down would be wise to book early. Sheridan offers numerous accommodations from economical to luxury. For more information on booking and the WYO Rodeo visit www.sheridanwyoming.org or contact Penny Becker at (307) 673-7120.
June 09, 2010
DOVES, DENTISTS, DOGIES & DUDES
A new exhibit on local businesses entitled Doves, Dentists, Dogies & Dudes highlights the colorful commerce of Sheridan county since 1882, with interesting artifacts, photos, and dioramas. Visitors can see unique items related to Sheridan’s historic and unusual commerce and contribute to the exhibit by adding their own memories of favorite businesses through the years. Two dioramas help illustrate the very early commerce that flourished about the time Sheridan became a county in 1888.
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DOVES, DENTISTS, DOGIES & DUDES
Some of the most dramatic events in western history happened in and around Sheridan County, located on the emigrant route of the old Bozeman Trail. Other exhibits include Crazy Horse, Crook, and the Battle on Rosebud Creek and Brewing up History: The Story of the Sheridan Brewing Company. Also returning this season are Black Diamonds and Monarch the King of Mines in Sheridan County, The Tongue River Tie Flume: The Original Log Ride, The Railroad: Sheridan’s Ticket to Prosperity, and Elsa, Her Life, Family, & Fotokraft.
“Crazy Horse, Crook, and the Battle on Rosebud Creek” explores the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17, 1876, in detail with a new interactive touch screen kiosk filled with photos, narration, animated maps, lists of participants, and accounts of the battle and Crook’s activities at “Camp Cloud Peak” in Sheridan and Big Horn. Two life-sized and very life-like museum figures illustrate a typical Lakota warrior and one of Crook’s old sergeants.
Bernard Thomas’ studio and historical art is featured, along with new illustrations of the Crook campaign by Robert C. Wilson. Mark Badgett’s Bozeman Trail collection highlights the trail’s use by the military and local Indians. Find out about the battle that was practically in our own backyard, and how it has been overshadowed ever since Custer’s defeat on the Little Bighorn eight days later.The season’s other exhibit, “Brewing up History,” explores the colorful story of the Sheridan Brewing Company. Established in 1887, the brewery spanned 68 years of Sheridan area history. From surviving prohibition to becoming the first company in the United States to can soda in a flat top can, the Brewery proved itself to be a valuable community asset. Although the buildings are gone, memories of the Sheridan Brewing Company live on through a number of great artifacts that are on display in the new exhibit. In addition to the artifacts, visitors will be able to share their memories of the Sheridan Brewing Company through a memoir book that will be in the exhibit area.
The interactive touch screen kiosk containing images from the Sheridan County Memory Book project has proved popular, and new material is added on a regular basis.
Children and families are encouraged to explore the Museum through the Junior Curator program, a free children’s Museum guide and activity book. The program offers children a unique opportunity to visit the Museum’s exhibits and complete a variety of fun activities. Children who participate in the program become a Sheridan County Museum Junior Curator and receive their choice of either a Junior Curator patch or bookmark. A museum store, theater, and information on area sites, businesses, and events are available at the museum, located in a fabulous log building overlooking the Big Horn Mountains on East 5th Street, directly off exit 23 from I-90. Enjoy the views and activities on the deck as well! The Sheridan County Museum summer hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission fees are: $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors (60 and over), $2.00 for students, while children twelve and under are admitted free.
For more information, visit the Museum’s website at www.SheridanCountyHistory.org or phone the Sheridan County Museum at 307-675-1150
June 03, 2010
THOUSEND POUND ATHLETES PERFORMING!
If Mother Nature wanted to take a vacation, relax and enjoy her good works, she would sit on Sand Mountain, just off the end of Little Goose Canyon and watch a polo game. She would see the best efforts of man and beast in a sport developed centuries ago. She could look down on the Big Horn Equestrian Center, home of the 110 year old Big Horn Polo Club. Just south of Sheridan, Wyoming where the Big Horns touch the sun, polo is played every Sunday throughout the summer. For some, it is a hobby, for some it is a profession, but for everybody, it is a blast.
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THOUSEND POUND ATHLETES PERFORMING!
Between the two Sheridan area clubs and nine playing fields, polo is played somewhere in the county at least three days a week in June and from July through Labor Day, 5 days each week with the additional games of high-goal polo at the Flying H Polo fields. As a sport, polo brings together teamwork between 4 players and a more important connection between 4 horses and their riders. Think of hockey on horseback and you will understand the basic premise of the game. The puck is the ball, the sticks are the mallets, and the players each have a man to mark. Now, put a thousand pound, fit, well-trained athlete into the picture and get out of the way. Sit on the sidelines, right on the field, and you will feel the vibrations of the horses galloping. You will see the malletwork and understand why the horse is 90% of the game.
The best part is not the thundering hooves; you can hear those at a racetrack, with a hefty gate fee and a $7.00 beer. The best part is to be within 15 feet of the play and have a little thoroughbred mare stop, spin & set her rider at a ball 6 inches from her shoulder, right in front of you. The next split second she jumps forward to take her rider into a crowd of players, sensing she has the right of way, because he hit the ball last & it’s her job to finish the play. You are right there, within earshot as she bumps another horse off the ball in a legal maneuver to gain possession. You can watch these horses come on to the field with ears up & shoulders squared. When a goal is scored, they do the polo equivalent of a high-five by blasting around the goal posts & back to center line. After a chukker a polo pony walks to a trailer knowing a bath and a rubdown are next on the agenda.
T
he polo games are free to the public. The Sunday games are professionally announced and spectators are encouraged to stomp divots at half time. The games usually last about 2 hours. You can walk by the trailers and see the horses, meet the players and have a good lunch. You can join us after the game at our clubhouse and have a beer that won’t cost you $7.00. Sunday games at the Big Horn Equestrian Center are played at 2 p.m. beginning June 6th and usually at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in July and August. At the Flying H, starting July 8th through August 28th games are played at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.
May 26, 2010
BE "INN" AT THE HISTORIC SHERIDAN INN
At the corner of Fifth and Broadway streets, three-stories high, with 69 gables and huge covered veranda, stands the “Inn” place to eat; the “Inn” place to meet; the “Inn” place to greet; the “Inn” place to see and be seen.
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BE "INN" AT THE HISTORIC SHERIDAN INN
When constructed in 1893 the Sheridan Inn provided the largest ballroom in the entire region. Ranchers would drive by buggy or sleigh, depending on the time of year, to spend a gala weekend at “the Inn”. These ranchers, cowboys, soldiers, mine owners, horseman and local businessmen gathered to “eat” in the dining room; to “meet and greet” in the lobby or saloon; and to “see” and “be seen”. They would dance to the music provided by locals and always the military band from “the Fort”. The “Fort” of course, was Fort Mackenzie, now fondly referred to as the “VA”. Mysteriously, as some things change they stay remarkably the same. A century and more has passed and yet the social and cultural climate stays much the same. The renovated/restored Grand Ballroom, saloon, lobby and restaurant draw “the Inn” crowd.
Walking up the steps of the Historic Sheridan Inn, crossing the wide veranda and opening the big double doors to enter the lobby, one steps back in time, yet feels they are in one of the most up-to-date facilities in the entire region. Hand painted murals, period art and artifacts, rockers by the fireplace, photos of a by-gone era, mounted animal heads and original artwork provide a sense of belonging and touch of home.Yet passing through the swinging doors to the restaurant and saloon, or the double doors to the Grand Ballroom or into the intimate Ladies Parlor or the Wyoming Room, one appreciates that no amenity has been ignored to make your visit memorable and as relevant as the high tech devices common in today’s world.
You might, as in times gone by, be seated in the dining room next to a European traveler, a heritage tourism visitor or someone from the Sheridan area, be it rancher, businessman, ladies out for lunch, construction worker or miner.
The complete restoration and renovation of the Sheridan Inn, a National Historic Landmark, is nearing completion. Work on the re-adaptive use of the second and third floors continues with each donation, gift and grant for that purpose. The Sheridan Heritage Center, owners of the Inn, are in the “re-adaptive use, final phase” of the renovation and restoration enabling the Inn to be self-sustaining. Building on the rescue efforts, investment and work of the last few decades by notables such as Neltje Kings, a Joint Powers Board, the City and County of Sheridan, corporate donors, foundations, and hundreds of volunteers, donors, large and small, this project is moving full-steam ahead.
At the moment applications are pending to foundations, and private and public entities to ensure the remaining needed $1.3M to complete this final phase. To date well over $4.5 M has been raised and invested into this unbelievably awesome undertaking.
Thanks to this generosity the two fully renovated and restored prototype guest rooms, elevator landing and hallway reflect the theme, the quality and the integrity that are the hallmark of each step taken toward making the Grand Ole’ Girl the “Inn” place to stay. by Norma J. Nichols, Director of Development, SHC
May 11, 2010
TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME. . .
Visit the Bradford Brinton Memorial & Museum and Take A Trip Back in Time to Enjoy Original Art in An Ideal Setting
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TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME. . .
What was it like to live on a 1920s gentleman’s working ranch surrounded by art produced by many of the finest Western artists including Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington and Edward Borein? Join us for a guided tour of the Quarter Circle A Ranch House and enjoy the genteel surroundings complete with meticulously tended grounds and flower gardens featuring heirloom plants and massive old cottonwoods. Take time for a walk around the outbuildings (Milk House, Carriage Barn, Saddle Barn, etc.) and Little Goose Creek Lodge. 
Don’t miss the Reception Gallery with Bradford Brinton’s Native American Collection on permanent display.
New for 2010: Two excellent photography exhibitions in the Main Gallery:
“Ranching on Tongue River 1979-1981” shot by Margot Liberty during the production of
the PBS documentary “On the Cowboy Trail” which aired nationally in 1981 (May–July) and
“The Photography of Arthur A. Dailey.” (July–Sept.).
Patio Room Gallery: Local artists Connie Robinson (June-July) & David McDougall (Aug.-Sept.).
Sept.11 – Oct. 31: The 6th Brinton Biennial, featuring a wide variety of artists and media.
The Museum, located at 239 Brinton Road, about three miles from the town of Big Horn, WY, is open to the public from May 29 to Sept. 6, Mon. – Sat. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun. from noon to 4 p.m., and Sept. 11 – Oct. 31, Thurs., Fri. & Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4 p.m. For more information, please check out our website at www.BBMandM.org or call 307-672-3173.
April 10, 2010
TRAIL END'S
History lovers traveling to northern Wyoming are in luck, as Sheridan is home to Wyoming’s premier historic house museum, the Trail End State Historic Site. Since its completion in 1913 – and its designation as a state historic site in 1982 – Trail End has greeted thousands of visitors, from family and friends to school children and international tourists. Built by cowboy-turned-politician John B. Kendrick, Trail End displays an elegantly different aspect of both Wyoming’s colorful ranching history and Sheridan’s rich western heritage.
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TRAIL END'S
For modern day visitors, Trail End offers a fun and educational experience. Its many exhibits and displays examine life in Sheridan during the years 1913 to 1933, mostly through the eyes of its original owners, the Kendrick family. New at Trail End this year is a whole-house exhibit entitled No Time for Boredom: Making the Most of Leisure Time in a “Screenless” Society. According to Site Superintendent Cynde Georgen, the exhibit came out of questions asked during elementary school tours. “Kids are fascinated with what the Kendricks were like, particularly what they did for entertainment. When we tell kids that computers, televisions, radios and iPods didn’t exist at the time the house was occupied, they are amazed. They immediately want to know what people did instead. So we decided to answer the question with an exhibit.”
“We’ve become a nation of ‘screen watchers,’” says Georgen, “who get the bulk of our information via electronic media. Statistics show that today’s average American spends nearly five hours a day watching television, with additional time spent on the computer, cell phone and other information devices.” From sports, recreation and hobbies to art, literature and music, No Time for Boredom examines how people spent their free time before the introduction of all these screens. “Using artifacts, family photographs and period publications,” Georgen concludes, “the exhibit proves that life before screens was definitely not boring!”
No Time for Boredom will be on display at Trail End throughout the 2010 season, which continues through Tuesday, December 14th. The Trail End State Historic Site is located at 400 Clarendon Avenue in Sheridan, just minutes from the historic Main Street District, Kendrick Park, the Sheridan County Rodeo grounds, and the Historic Sheridan Inn.
Trail End opened for the 2010 season on April first. Spring and fall hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily, seven days a week. Summer hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. begin June first and continue through the end of August. The site will be open the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as all day on the Fourth of July.
Admission is $4.00 for adults ($2.00 discount for Wyoming residents), with children seventeen and under admitted free (when accompanied by an adult). The site is nearly one hundred percent handicapped accessible. Trail End is a component of the Division of State Parks & Historic Sites, Wyoming Department of Parks and Cultural Resources. For more information, phone Trail End at 307-674-4589, or visit the Trail End website, www.trailend.org.March 25, 2010
BOONDOCK BIG HORN'S FOOT OF NEW POWDER
The Big Horn Mountains received up to a foot of new powder over the past week. Off Trail Snow Base has a wide range of six inches up to four feet, with a 60% chance of snow again this week!
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BOONDOCK BIG HORN'S FOOT OF NEW POWDER
Come ride this boondocker heaven in vast open meadows and on 300 miles of groomed and 50 miles of ungroomed trails just awaitingyou . . .
"Never seen so many vast open play areas for such diverse experience levels!" excitedly comments Blake and Meg Allen, 'Sledding the West' film producers. "We have NEVER been on such beautiful, scenic off-trailing, with the combination of evergreen trees, beautiful tumbling waters and the peaceful serenity of the snow."
SnoWest Magazine also praises the Big Horns as "one of the West's best-kept secrets - offering solitude, scenery and GREAT SNOW!" The Big Horn Trail System is perpetually rated in the Top 15, with the nearest trailhead just 15 miles southwest of Sheridan at Red Grade Road. With 100% 'real', dry powder, challenges and excitement continue into April!
In addition, the mountain in our backyard offers enthusiasts a variety of outdoor adventures, including snow shoeing and snow boarding, alpine and cross-country skiing, as well as wildlife viewing as abundant as the snow. To explore area adventures, access trail maps, Snow Reports and forecast conditions for Northern WY - North Bighorns visit.
Sheridan, voted #3 Town for Outdoorsmen in America, is conveniently located adjacent to Interstate 90 in north central Wyoming, midway between Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Monument. Sheridan is calling to you before and after your fun on the mountain . . . enjoy the nightlife in historic downtown, comfortable/reasonable lodging, fine dining, and warm western hospitality!
From Old West to Snow West - Boondocking the Big Horn's Near
Sheridan, Wyoming - voted #3 Town for Outdoorsmen in America!
- Sledders reporting new snow
- Abundant scenic vistas and exciting off-trail opportunities
- Hundreds of miles of trails on over 1 million acres of Big Horn National Forest
- Challenging and endless riding in vast open meadows on countless miles of cross-country trails
- Easy access to fresh untracked powder
- If you have short skis, you will want to leave them at home
- Limited crowds both on and off the trails
January 28, 2010
BIG HORNS' WINTER WONDERLAND
Come winter, play in Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains. Sheridan, WY was voted the #3 in Top Towns for Outdoorsmen in America! Name your winter sport in Sheridan where the majestic Big Horn Mountains set the scene and offer a winter wonderland of trails and vast open meadows.
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BIG HORNS' WINTER WONDERLAND
Here winter sports enthusiasts find an abundance of opportunities for invigorating outdoor recreation including boon docking, alpine and cross-country skiing, and snowboarding in an ideal mountain setting. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy snow sports and activities, as well as to revel in the magnificent scenery. Sheridan, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Big Horn Mountains, is home base, while the Big Horns provide the winter wonderland! Sled heads ride the range by snowmobile on 218 miles of Top 15 rated trails in the Big Horn Mountain Trail System. Springtime provides excellent snow conditions with fresh powder, deep snow, warm days, and riding into April. The nearest trailhead is located just 15 miles south of Sheridan, with 100% "real" dry powdery snow. Cross-country trails are abundant in wide-open meadows and on telemark hillsides.
Deep snows, spectacular scenery and the vastness of the West are why people ride the Big Horns. Riding opportunities are both challenging and endless in these rugged and inviting mountains, offering some of the most enticing snowmobiling in the world. During the winter it's easy to find fresh untracked powder and steep rolling hills to explore, with a diverse trail system that provides easy access.
Within nearly one million acres of national forest, the Big Horns also provide almost 50 miles of ungroomed trails, countless miles of cross-country exploring, and exciting off-trail opportunities. Limited commercial development keeps the crowds down both on and off the trails, while first-class lodging is available just a short drive away in Sheridan. In the historic downtown, dining runs the gamut from down-home to gourmet, and specialty shopping ranges from antiques and cowboy memorabilia to intriguing boutiques and galleries.
For cross country enthusiasts, the area offers fantastic skiing with untouched powder. Groomed and ungroomed trails criss-cross the Big Horns. Here skiers may hit the trails and escape into the inviting quiet of the forest.
In addition, Sheridan and the Big Horn Mountains offer a bevy of outdoor recreation opportunities including ice-skating and snowshoeing. Children and adults both enjoy skating at Whitney Community Ice Rink. The area also offers other winter outdoor activities including ice fishing and wildlife viewing. Wildlife is as abundant as the snow, with large animals such as moose, elk, and deer viewed throughout the winter months.
While in Sheridan, enjoy the evening entertainment, at fun restaurants, specialty shops, a movie, or a live performance at the WYO Theater – all in the original #1 Western Town in America! Embrace the West with a Downtown Walking Tour or at the legendary Mint Bar. Lodging options offering value and comfort at affordable prices are available to groups of any size. If in need, just ask, while experiencing the friendly hospitality here in Sheridan, Wyoming - The West at its Best!Conveniently adjacent to Interstate 90 in north central Wyoming, Sheridan is 203 miles east of Yellowstone National Park, 240 miles west of Mt. Rushmore National Monument, and 125 miles southeast of Billings, Montana. Explore winter sports, adventures, snow reports, trail maps and lodging.
