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Sheridan Press, September 2001
By Pat Blair
Senior Staff reporter
Reprinted with permission

Snowmobiling is big in the Big Horns, and that's good news for Sheridan County.

"We are an end destination for snowmobilers," said Mona Hansen, a member of Sheridan's Convention & Visitors Bureau who also has worked with Big Horn Safari of Sheridan to schedule snowmobile tours.

The Big Horns are rated as one of the hot spots, especially for visitors from the Midwest.

"People come here for the thrill of riding in open spaces." Hansen said. "They like the big trails, they like the challenge, the mix of trails and meadows."

The Big Horns offer a range of riding experiences, she continued.

"We have one group that comes from Wisconsin every year - they're straight trail riders. They like to shop and take pictures.

"Photography is huge," she added. Many snowmobilers come to the Big Horns for the chance to take pictures of the Big Horns' wildlife and scenery.

At the other extreme, Hansen continued, are the 20-somethings and those in their "young 30s" who want the thrills of cornice jumps. "They're the 'no guts, no glory' group," Hansen said.

The Big Horns accommodate both groups, as well as those in-between, she added.

What that means for Sheridan County is a steady flow of visitors' dollars.

"These folks, whether local or out-of-state, have the money to spend, and they don't mind spending it," Hansen said.

Penny Becker, executive director or the CVB, said it's estimated an individual who comes from out-of-state will spend an average of approximately $300 a day while he's staying in a community. And 80-85 percent of the snowmobilers are from out-of-state, she said.

Debbie Disney, of Sheridan's Holiday Inn and a CVB board member, said snowmobilers accounted for 500 sleeping-room nights just at the Holiday Inn in 1999.

Lodging-tax collections exceeded $167,000 in fiscal 1999-00 and more than $172,000 last year, Becker said.

She said she cannot determine how much of that is due to the snowmobilers, but she believes it is significant.

"Many of the snowmobilers come with families," Disney said. "It's a huge part of our industry."

She added those in the association/convention business estimate snowmobiling accounts for 20 percent of sleeping-room nights between December and February.

Additionally, Hansen said, many of those who come in the winter to snowmobile return in the summer for other activities.

Becker confirmed, "People who visit the CVB Web site asking the snowmobiling information also ask for summer information."

Snowmobiling in the Big Horns slumped last winter. Hansen said. In part that was due to a lack of good snow in the Big Horns, but, she believes, it was also because of the threat to close Yellowstone National Park to snowmobiles.

"People went to Yellowstone last year for one last ride," she said, "If they do shut down Yellowstone, we'll be inundated by snowmobilers," she added.

The snowfall in the mountains in early September was a good sign for this year's business, Hansen said.

"If, and it is, admittedly, a big if - the snow holds, we're expecting an above-average year," she said.

That would make the lodging industry happy, Disney. said. "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

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