A blog dedicated to those necessary and anticipated features of travel in the West. . . the highway rest stop.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
State of Wyoming Rest Stop, Diversion Dam Rest Area.
Friday, April 21, 2023
State of Wyoming Rest Stop: Shirley Rim Rest Area.
I should really have started this blog with this entry, as more than any other Wyoming rest stop, it's the one I've stopped at the most.
It's a small, but typical, rest area of this type. The Wyoming Wildlife sign has suffered from the elements heavily over the years, and the weather in this area is frequently bad. Isolated when first built, and largely still pretty isolated, a small village now exists across the highway from it, housing Wyoming Department of Transportation crews who keep the highways open, or try to.
In that sense, this is one of the more rustic, in terms of atmosphere, Wyoming rest areas. It has picnic benches and the like, but I never see them actually used. It's old enough that I can recall it having a pay phone, and there was an area rancher who had never had a phone put in at his headquarters as late as the 1990s, who used the phone at the station if he needed to.
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
State of Wyoming Rest Stop, Sheridan Wyoming.
One of the nicest of the WTDOT rest stops, it has a great geologic and archeological display inside, and attendants who have tourist information. It's clean, and hte back side of it has a commanding view of the City of Sheridan.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
State of Wyoming Rest Stops, Interstate 80, between Wamsutter and Rock Springs, Wyoming.
This actually depicts two WYDOT rest stops, the two probably being the two busiest in the state. They're on a long stretch of Interstate 80. Offhand, I think these are the first rest stops, going west, since the one at Ft. Fred Steele.
That's a long ways.
This is two, not one, rest stops, as the highway is divided. The two rest stops are likely 1/4 mile distant from each other, on opposite sides of the highway.
They aren't in a scenic location, which no doubt is besides the point. Dedicated to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, they're on part of the path of the old Lincoln Highway and near the Union Pacific Railroad's location. In some ways, they're the closest thing a modern traveler will experience to the old stage stop. No food, of course, but a place to briefly stop in the middle, more or less, of Wyoming's Red Desert.
Indeed, on the day I took these photos, a traveler from out of state was taking his horses out of his horse trailer for a break.
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Reopening of the Rest Stops
Governor Gordon Authorizes Funding to Temporarily Reopen 9 Rest
Areas for the Summer Travel Season
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has
directed the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and Wyoming Office of
Tourism (WOT) to partner to temporarily reopen and operate nine previously
closed rest areas for at least the duration of the 2021 tourist season.
“With the summer season just around the corner, I’m glad we will
be able to reopen these facilities to travelers,” Governor Gordon said. “We are
glad to have this chance to find a temporary solution.”
WYDOT and WOT along with the Governor's office will work together
to secure a temporary federal funding source to allow the nine rest areas
throughout the state to reopen.
"WYDOT is extremely grateful to Governor Gordon and Director
Shober for identifying new federal funds to temporarily reopen our rest areas
for the tourist season," said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner.
Officials closed the rest areas in June 2020 as a cost-savings
measure due to budgetary shortfalls.
The nine rest areas include:
- Lusk on US 18
- Guernsey on US 26
- Greybull on US 16
- Moorcroft on I-90
- Star Valley on US 89
- Sundance on I-25
- Upton on US 16
- Orin Jct on I-25
- Chugwater on I-25
“Each of these nine rest areas are a valuable tourism tool, said
Diane Shober, executive director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “Certainly,
a clean facility is important to the visitor experience, but it is also a
powerful marketing platform to distribute travel guides and other trip-planning
resources. As travelers are stretching their legs, they are also gathering
information on local events, attractions, restaurants, campgrounds and lodging,
which all can lead to extended stays and increase visitor spending.”
The rest areas should reopen ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
-END-
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Lex Anteinternet: The Cruel Indignities
The Cruel Indignities
Lex Anteinternet: Steady Rain: We've had an entire series of these items recently: Lex Anteinternet: Heavier Rain : After just posting this, this morning: Lex Ante...And now this:
WYDOT to close 10 rest areas as a cost-saving measure
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will close 10 rest areas located throughout the state as a way to reduce the agency’s operational costs.
The closures are effective June 15 and were prompted by a need for WYDOT to reduce costs due to budgetary shortfalls. They were approved by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its recent special meeting.
“This is a painful reality but a necessary step given our state’s fiscal situation,” Governor Gordon said. “This will have real impacts, not only for travelers, but for the custodial staff contracted to provide services to these facilities. These workers are our friends and neighbors in Wyoming communities around the state.”
The rest areas that will close include Lusk on US 18; Guernsey on US 26; Greybull on US 14-16-20; Moorcroft on Interstate 90; Star Valley on US 89; Ft. Steele on Interstate 80; Sundance on Interstate 90; Upton on US 16; and Orin Junction and Chugwater, both located on Interstate 25.
“We took a hard look at all of our rest areas and came up with a list of those that we feel we can close with a minimal amount of impact to our travelers,” said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner. “It was a hard decision but one that we came to based on the needs of the public and to ensure we maintain a balanced budget.”
WYDOT officials sent letters to local community leaders and the contractors who work at the rest areas notifying them of the closures.
The rest area closures will result in a savings to WYDOT of approximately $197,453 from June 15 through Sept. 30, which is the end of the fiscal year. After that, the department will save about $789,812 per year.
“Although these rest areas will close, motorists will still have access to facilities in neighboring communities,” Reiner said. “Each of the rest areas that are closing are within a reasonable distance of a town that has facilities for the public.”
State of Wyoming Rest Stop, Diversion Dam Rest Area.
This much welcome and nicely maintained rest area is between Riverton and Dubois. It's large, in addition to having the regular WYDOT a...
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These are the facilities at Walker Jenkins Lake, a fishing hole that was, originally, an open pit Uranium Mine. We'll let you ponder tha...
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Lex Anteinternet: The Cruel Indignities : The Cruel Indignities Put up just this morning: Lex Anteinternet: Steady Rain : We'...
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Some Gave All: The Sundance, Wyoming Rest Stop Memorials. : The Sundance, Wyoming Rest Stop Memorials. Memorials at the Sundance Wyoming ...