All Articles In "Travel Plans"

EXCITING and NEW is the name of our game! The tourism game, that is, as we head into a promising summer tourism season . . . .

With all the great promotions in place for our successful season, we are excited with each feature of our seasonal events, activities, historic sites, and attractions! Kicking off work with our oldest and biggest annual tourism event, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo (as if I had to tell you), has an enhanced presence with their NEW display at the Information Center on East 5th Street! This means the nearly 100,000 visitors coming though the Center annually have yet one more reason to stay in Sheridan longer, or to come back on their return trip.

In our highest May visitation since 2007, our Center’s team served nearly 10,000 visitors! And for this very purpose, we continue to enhance our customer services and displays to showcase each.

We also now have a NEW B&B within the city limits – the Residence Hill B&B! For overnight travelers, this lovely, historic lodging property, adds to our unique and varied options – quaint local inns and cottages, chain hotels, mountain lodges and authentic ranches. We anxiously await future progress for the Sheridan Inn’s NEW Buffalo Bill character suites.

Sheridan Travel and Tourism’s (STT) work with the Wyoming Film Office and Rosie Berger showcased Sheridan to major film company scouts seeking NEW set locations again this past week. The Los Angeles scouts, with cameras in hand, explored Eatons’ Ranch, Kendrick Mansion, our polo facilities, and mountains. And following our French TV programming two years ago, Director Girard called recently to continue promotions of Sheridan and our western culture!

Speaking of filming, we are blessed with Craig Johnson’s brand NEW “Longmire” episodes weekly debut on A&E, and in the Wall Street Journal, and on billboards across the East Coast! For years he has taken Wyoming and Sheridan to a whole new level with his books’ features of the fictitious Absaroka County (a lot like Sheridan County), and now his ten TV episodes! I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, and you will want to tune in with me at 8 PM for Sunday’s third episode.

Surrounded by these positive energies and projects, STT continues to enhance our outreach to over 19 million through our aggressive marketing endeavors – coordinating all with our NEW ‘Blaze Trails’ theme. Our EXCITING, and NEW $300,000 advertising campaign covers broadcasting, web, electronic, print and billboards – all driving perspective visitors to our website, via multiple QR codes over the last few years, and then naturally to the Sheridan area!

STT’s marketing, revealed in the 3-state, 15-billboard campaign, draws those traveling the ‘rubber-tire market’ between Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills – with Sheridan’s convenient location midway between these two national icons.

In the last 2 weeks we have distributed 73,000 brochures regionally! The NEW ‘Blaze Trails’ brochures and postcards also showcase our area offerings and are available to you and your guests, compliments of STT. Just call us for your supply at 307-673-7120.

Although the ‘project’ is not so new, NEW efforts are certainly on an exciting cutting edge of opportunities to improve our air service. We all know how key this is to our area’s economics and health! And with this week’s assistance and direction from heavy hitters in the Wyoming Aeronautics Division and Senator Hank Coe’s interactions, a core group of the area’s concerned and involved citizens, organizations and businesses is growing. With Sheridan’s current 70% leakage to the Billings airport, it is crucial we unite commitment to enhanced air service with a serious commitment and plan of action for the future of our tourism and business travelers – focusing on price, schedule and reliability!

Sheridan can be proud of our cohesive teams and team-building skills! I know my small team of seven STT Board of Commissioners makes me proud as they work year-round, year after year and they deserve kudos for their proactive dedication to tourism, economics and Sheridan! Thanks Steve Jacobson, Sharie Prout, Ryan Franklin, Dave Youngren, Gary Small, Ryan Mulholland and Rich Bridger!

by Penny Becker
Executive Director
Sheridan Travel and Tourism

“From the first boot kicked off, ‘til the last tailgate shuts, the most fun you’ll have anywhere.”

Do you love the excitement of rodeo…then you will want to visit beautiful Sheridan, Wyoming during WYO Rodeo week  Friday, July 6th to Sunday, July 15th.

You’ll be in for a treat as the 82nd Annual Sheridan WYO Rodeo, a member of the Million Dollar Tour of Professional Rodeos, is one of the best professional rodeos in the country.

Each of four nightly, Wednesday through Saturday, performances starts off with the traditional roar of the cannon signaling the start of the show!

The Championship Indian Relay Races are the very first event and an event you will not see anywhere else. You’ll be left breathless with excitement – and that’s only the beginning.

Bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie down roping, bull riding, single steer roping and women’s barrel racing follow, each exciting in their own regard. You will watch the very best of the professional rodeo contestants compete at the WYO Rodeo on world championship quality stock provided by Sankey Pro Rodeo.

In addition to the evening performances, slack performances are held every morning from Tuesday through Saturday in order to give all of the 500+ competitors a chance to compete in their respective events. Admission to slack performances is free.

Wednesday is when the WYO carnival opens for business. It’s a large carnival and features the best rides and all the carnival delicacies like cotton candy and funnel cakes. The carnival is open each night of the rodeo performances and is located next to the rodeo arena at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.  Wednesday is also designated as Kid’s Night at the rodeo. Admission is reduced for Kid’s 12 years old and younger!

If you’re a golfer, the 6th Annual Chris LeDoux Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on July 6th and 7th at the Top 100-ranked Powder Horn Golf Course. This two-day tournament is open to the public, with a limited number of teams, and includes a practice round, BBQ, auction and live entertainment Friday.

The events surrounding rodeo week are plentiful! The Boot Kick Off on Saturday, July 7th is a favorite. Visitors literally “kick off” the festivities by actually kicking off a boot in a contest designed to see who can fling their boot the furthest.  (Hint:  Wear a loose boot!) Winners get braggin’ rights and prizes. It’s a family affair with lots of vendors and good music for your dancing and listening enjoyment. The celebration will be held on the Sheridan College campus and is free and open to the public.

Sheridan, Wyoming was recently honored as the #1 Small Town for Cowboy Charm by Western Horseman Magazine. This historic town was plotted in the early 1880s and remains an authentic cowboy destination.

Sheridan has always been proud of its western traditions and frontier heritage. In recent years, the town has received a number of honors and distinctions highlighting its work in historic preservation, small-town hospitality, and adventurous offerings.  In 2011, Sheridan was named a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Top Place to Live in the West by American Cowboy, and a Top Town for Sportsmen by Outdoor Life.

“History and cowboy collide in this northern Wyoming town where rough riders and legendary craftsmen share the main street with modern-day cuisine and historic saloons” writes Western Horseman staff.  “The West’s best cowboy destinations often are not along the Interstate or near a major airport . . .” Sheridan is one of “10 small towns that continue to honor their horse, cattle and cowboy heritage.”

Hidden away in the Big Horn Mountains, Sheridan shares her modern and historic charms with visitors.  A central destination in Sheridan, the Historic Main Street District, displays 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mint Bar remains a favorite cowboy watering hole, and the King’s Museum draws attention for its namesake, internationally-recognized leather craftsman and saddle maker Don King. Sheridan’s most famous cowboy resident, Buffalo Bill, once co-owned the Sheridan Inn and held auditions for his traveling show. Just outside of town, forts and battle sites display the challenges of early frontier life. Reenactments and interpretive centers explain how cowboys fought and survived when the west was still being tamed.

While history is preserved in Sheridan, the new west can be seen here as well. Modern parks, downtown sculptures, summer street festivals and concerts, and championship golf courses are just a few new west additions. In recent years, hang gliding and snowmobiling have joined hunting and fishing as favorite outdoor pursuits in the area.  In its 82nd year, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is a perfect example of classic cowboy traditions combining with creative new events like bed races and the boot kick-off.

Western Horseman Magazine was established in 1936 and is one of the oldest horse publications in the world.

Yeehaw! Come and visit the King of  Cowboy Towns – #1 Small Town for Cowboy Charm by Western Horseman magazine!  Sheridan was just honored by one of the oldest horse publications in the world, Western Horseman,established in 1936.

“Sheridan, Wyoming – King of Cowboy Towns – History and cowboy collide in this northern Wyoming town where rough riders and legendary craftsmen share the main street with modern-day cuisine and historic saloons” writes Western Horseman staff.  “The West’s best cowboy destinations often are not along the Interstate or near a major airport . . .  10 small towns that  continue to honor their horse, cattle and cowboy  heritage.”

When visiting, you will realize why this jewel was added to Sheridan’s tourism  crown, or perhaps more appropriately to our cowgirl and cowboy hats! Check out the feature article and  historic downtown rodeo parade photo, that leads into the other exceptional cowboy  towns featured in the Western Horseman Special Travel February issue, hot off the press, or on STT’s website at www.sheridanwyoming.org/news/awards/

A foot of new powder in the Bighorn Mountains! Off Trail Snow Base has a wide range of six inches up to nearly four feet and it is still early in the season…

Come ride the majestic Bighorns’ boondocker heaven in vast open meadows and on 300 miles of groomed and 50 miles of ungroomed trails just awaiting you!

As announced by “SnoWest” magazine the Bighorn Trail System came in at #7 “The majestic Bighorn Mountains set the scene and offer a winter wonderland of trails and vast open meadows. Here, visitors will find an abundance of opportunities for invigorating outdoor recreation including snowmobiling, alpine and cross country skiing and snowboarding in an ideal mountain setting.”

SnoWest Magazine also praises the Bighorns as “one of the West’s best-kept secrets – offering solitude, scenery and GREAT SNOW!” The Bighorn 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!

Sheridan, voted several years into the Top Towns 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 Bighorn’s near Sheridan, Wyoming

•     Sledders reporting new snow
•     Abundant scenic vistas and exciting off-trail opportunities
•     Over 1 million acres of Bighorn National Forest with hundreds of miles of trails
•     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

Couples searching for romance and adventure will find both in the Old West style of Sheridan, Wyoming!
Nestled beneath the Bighorn Mountains, this historic town offers couples a blend of wild western history with modern adventure.
Here is a sampling of the possibilities for you as couples.

* Learn about the Old West during a historic trolley tour of the historic Main Street District and have a drink with the ghost of Buffalo Bill  at the 118 year old  Sheridan Inn.
* Get the adrenaline pumping while riding snowmobiles or horses along trails and across alpine meadows in the majestic Bighorn  Mountains.
* Glimpse true cowboy culture at Kings Saddlery & Museum with its cowboy and Indian memorabilia year-round or during the huge, week-long 82nd Sheridan WYO Rodeo in July.
* Embark on life’s big adventure and get married amidst fields of Poppies, Forget-me-nots, and Indian paintbrush in summer or below gold and terracotta leaves in  autumn.

A number of packages currently featured in Sheridan include a “Wine and Roses” or honeymoon package through the Wingate by Wyndham and a “Special Occasion” package with the Holiday Inn and snowmobiling the Bighorns through the Best Western Sheridan Center. Other accommodation options from B & B’s and cottages to campgrounds are available as well.

No matter the season, Sheridan is ready for romance and adventures.

“We love Sheridan!” says Darron Campbell when he stopped
in to visit during his ‘Sheridan Stay’ winnings. Darron enjoyed 3-nights lodging at
the luxurious Wingate Inn overlooking Sheridan and 3-nights lodging at Bear Lodge Resort
in the majestic Bighorn Mountains.

The warm and friendly locals will welcome you too, into our historic community where spectacular, snow-capped peaks of the Bighorns backdrop Sheridan’s rolling hills.  Visitors enjoy embracing The West at its Best…  where cowboys work and play!

Darron,our latest winner from Henderson, CO and Sonya, STT staff

Win this fabulous Sheridan vacation, worth $1,023, which may be enjoyed between
February –May 1, 2012, and includes:

• 2 nights lodging at the Sheridan Cottages  decorated with a combination of charm and elegance, while enjoying the #2 Distinctive Destination in the Nation
• 2 nights lodging at Bear Lodge , with many amenities including restaurant, lounge and pool located in the Bighorns
  *  Breakfast buffet both mornings
  *  Snowmobile the Big Horns with 20% discount for 4 sleds

Register now to win and come to Sheridan Wyoming and our majestic Big Horn Mountains – Voted #1 Western Town and #3 Town for Outdoorsmen in America!

EXCITING times in SHERIDAN, Wyo. with being selected into the Top Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation!

And now the outstading honor of Sheridan being voted #2 Distinctive Destination in the NATION!  Thanks’ to so many of you who were voting for Sheridan from the 12 destinations.

“I am extreamly proud of our authentic western tourism offerings and our community” stated Penny Becker, Director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism. “As well as being selected into American Cowboy’s Top 20 Best Places to Live the West in the March/April issue!  These designations really speak to our cultural heritage offerings!  Encounter Sheridan’s rich western history – Buffalo Bill, Crazy Horse and Custer . . .  Where you can experience western museums, Indian battle and historic sites, rodeo, and polo all in the foothills of the majestic Big Horn Mountains.”

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.”   And Sheridan Travel and Tourism, along with area and state-wide partners, are already gearing up to use this designation well . . .

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.”     

Downtown Sheridan boasts 46 late 19th-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, 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.