Gillette, WY Road Trips

Gillette started as a tent city called Donkey Town in the 1890s, when a railroad line was built. For Edward Gillette's surveying work, the company who owned the line named the town after him. The early days of Gillette were rough, with over a dozen saloons and no church. There are stories of cowboys burning down the jail they were in to flee, a shootout downtown that killed a man, and outlaws in a showdown with officers. Despite all that, it never reached "Wild West" levels of violence and outlaws. After law and order took hold in Gillette, it became a quiet and small ranching town. Sometimes weeks happen in decades and decades happen in weeks. The sleepy cow town may had little in the way of happenings until the first hints of booms started with uranium in the 1950s. The nuclear programs of the United States made its influence felt slightly, then oil caused more growth in the 1960s. Coal mining was always present around Gillette, but it was the opening of major coal mines by huge corporations that caused the rough days and rowdiness to return. Fast money, trailers, drinking, drugs, fights, and all sorts of problems happened as the town swelled in size. The city was overwhelmed in every way possible. Jobs paying insanely high wages poured like manna from heaven requiring little more than a pulse until the late 1970s to early 1980s, when job requirements settled in. The energy industries influence was so prevalent the city stopped calling itself nicknames such as Razor City and called itself The Energy Capital of the Nation instead.

1 Festival of Lights, 2910 Doubletree Ln (inside CAM-PLEX Park). November-January. Feeling the holiday spirit? Then this massive drive-through Christmas lights display is for you. It has dozens of animated displays, a light tunnel, and many thousands of lights. A short range radio station is setup at the park that plays Christmas music so don't forget to tune in. Free. Gillette has over 110 sculptures across the city picked by the Mayor's Art Council and even more at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Several buildings have large murals including one downtown and another on one of the L&H buildings. On the outskirts of town two water towers in Sleepy Hollow have been painted based on the story Legend of Sleepy Hollow. 2 Avenues of Art, on Gillette Ave downtown and 4-J from Lakeway Rd to Boxelder Rd. While large sculptures and statues are spread across the city many pieces are concentrated on the Avenues of Art. The highest concentration is on 4-J and on Gillette Ave. The 4-J sculptures are best seen by using the bike and foot paths. The sculptures downtown are best seen by walking. Jane DeDecker, Gary Lee Price and Benjamin Victor are some of the notable artists that have had their work displayed. Quality varies from works of fine art made by truly skilled sculptures to school workshop projects of questionable value. Just as the statues are scattered, so is the subject matter. Free. 3 Heritage Center Art Gallery, 1635 Reata Dr (at the CAM-PLEX in the Heritage Center building; use the door near the Energy Hall; once inside go through the second door on the left). M-F 8AM-5PM.

A common complaint by some locals and many transplants is there is nothing to do. That depends on what you enjoy and are willing to try especially those from big cities. Generally speaking, Gillette only seems to have two seasons - summer and winter. Most of the events and tours occur in the summer because of bad weather during the winter. 1 CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities, 1635 Reata Dr, ☏ +1-307-682-0552, fax: +1-307-682-8418, [email protected]. CAM-PLEX hosts RV and motorcycle rallies, many rodeos including the National High School Finals, concerts, gun shows, car shows, flea markets, fireworks displays, conferences, and the county fair. 2 Campbell County Recreation Center (Rec Center), 250 Shoshone Ave, ☏ +1 307 682 8527, [email protected]. M--F 5AM--10PM Sa 8AM--6PM Su 11AM--6PM. The modern looking rec center has a pool, basketball courts, tracks, and so on; the same you would find at any recreation center or gym. The unique feature is the huge 42 foot tall climbing tower that mimics parts of Devils Tower. (updated Oct 2024) 3 Dalbey Memorial Park, 900 Edwards St, ☏ +1 307 686 5275. 7AM-11PM. Dalbey is the crown jewel of parks in the city. There are shelters, a mile-long walking path, a boardwalk, a scenic bridge, statues, memorials, information boards, a large disc golf course, baseball fields, football field, benches, and places for cornholing and horseshoes. At the center is the man-made Gillette Fishing Lake which is stocked with fish for year-round fishing and is a good spot for bird watching. Free, fishing $14/day nonresident.

1 Armando's Taco & Pasta Shop, 2700 S Douglas Hwy, ☏ +1 307 682 2922. (updated May 2024) 2 The Coop, 208 W Second St (The Coop is an easy find on W 2nd St. Look for the small building with a huge roof that looks like an old carhop on the North side of the road.), ☏ +1-307-257-7460. The Coop's rotisserie chicken is the big draw, but don't overlook the pot pie. Their homemade pot pies have about as much in common with a frozen pot pie as homemade mashed potatoes do with instant potatoes out of a box. It comes in a big enough portion enough to fill up anyone but the biggest eaters. (updated Sep 2023) 3 Humphrey's Bar & Grill, 408 W Juniper Ln, ☏ +1-307-682-0100. Humphrey's Bar & Grill has a wide selection of beer, big portions for lunch and dinner, and a few unique food creations. 4 Pizza Carrello, 601 S Douglas Hwy, ☏ +1 307 363 1743, [email protected]. Tu-Su 11AM-9PM. Homemade dough and a wood fired oven makes pizzas that are better than anywhere else in the city. Owners are friendly to those who walk a different path in life. Everything feels clean, spacious, and welcoming. Then they top it off with homemade desserts. $7-13 9in personal pizza. (updated Oct 2024) 5 Prime Rib Restaurant and Wine Cellar, 1205 S Douglas Hwy, ☏ +1-307-682-2944, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-10:30PM, Sa 4PM-10PM, Su 4PM-9:30PM. 6 Roberto's, 10698 S Douglas Hwy, ☏ +1-307-682-3850. 5AM-3PM. On Highway 59 just south of Gillette, this little cafe offers simple, cheap, delicious Mexican and American food. Alla Lala Cupcakes and Sweet Things, ☏ +1-480-205-9879.

1 Boot Hill, 910 N Gurley Ave, ☏ +1-307-686-6404. 2 Grinners, 5201 S Douglas Hwy (on the corner of the intersection of Hwy 59 and Southern Dr). 3 Rustic 13, 2009 S Douglas Hwy (Inside the Ramada Plaza.), ☏ +1-307-686-3000. 4 Sundance Lounge, 1020 E Hwy 14-16 (from I-90 take exit 128, go west ½ mile), ☏ +1-307-685-2231. 11AM-2AM.

Gillette has over 2,000 hotel rooms, many motels, and a few campgrounds one of which is in the middle of the city. There are usually plenty of rooms even during summer events. Prices go up and down in the same cycle as the boom and busts come and go. 1 Best Western Tower West Lodge, 109 N US Hwy 14-16, ☏ +1-307-686-2210, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234, fax: +1-307-682-5105. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 2 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 1908 Cliff Davis Dr (From I-90 take exit 126 and go south on Hwy 59. Turn left on E Boxelder Rd then left again on Cliff Davis Dr. It is a large hotel on the left side.), ☏ +1-307-686-9576, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Must be 21 or over to check in. 3 Home2 Suites by Hilton, 1120 Boxelder Rd, ☏ +1-307-257-7040, fax: +1-307-363-4980. 4 La Quinta Inns & Suites, 450 E Boxelder Rd, ☏ +1-307-686-6000, fax: +1-307-686-6001. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Completely nonsmoking, pool, and free wireless internet. $82-93. 5 National 9 Inn, 1020 E Hwy 14-16 (from I-90 take exit 128, go west ½ mile), ☏ +1-844-709-0799. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Amenities include large cable TV, daily newspaper, guest business center, room service, 24-hour coffee bar, outdoor heated pool (seasonal), high speed internet, in-room microwave, and refrigerator. Restaurant, lounge. $49.59, kids 12 and under free, pets $7 pet. 6 Arrowhead Motel, 202 S Emerson Ave (right off Hwy 14/16), ☏ +1-307-686-0909. Laundry, coffee, fax, WiFi, copy service, and small pets allowed.

Between the Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park, Gillette is an excellent place to stop if you are traveling I-90 East or West. Highway 59 connects the town with Montana to the north and Douglas, Wyoming, to the south. Watch out for deer on the road, especially at night and early in the morning. Sometimes there are carcasses on the side of the road from previous collisions. The saying about a deer in the headlights is real. They will stare at the lights and not move. The pronghorn, seen everywhere, usually don't stop and get out of the way. 1 Greyhound, 106 N Hwy 14-16 (outside Boondoggles (Shell Food Mart) convenience store). The bus stop is an outdoor stop, but there is no need to stand in the snow or sun. You can wait around for the bus at the sit down eating area inside the convenience store. (updated May 2024) Flying directly to Gillette is expensive. If you plan to rent a car or have a ride, a cheaper option is to fly to Casper, Wyoming or Rapid City, South Dakota. Casper and Rapid City are about 2 hr away by car. 1 Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport (GCC IATA), 2000 Airport Rd (Take US 14/16 and follow it North. Look on the left for the airport sign at the intersection of Old Hwy 59 right after the industrial park.), ☏ +1 307 686 1042. 4AM-last evening flight. Previously known as the Gillette-Campbell County Airport the Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport has non-stop service on United Airlines to Denver. All parking including long-term is free. It's immaculately clean, well maintained, and completely empty if a plane isn't coming.

Because of its age, Gillette was mostly built for personal cars and trucks. There is no public transportation. Urban sprawl makes using a bike or going on foot difficult. The main roads are 59 (South Douglas Highway or Highway 59) and 14/16 (US Routes 14 and 16 or 2nd Street). Lakeway, Boxelder, and 4-J are the major arteries inside the city. Skyline (Highway 50), Southern Drive, Northern Drive, and Garner Lake Road form a ring around the city. Business areas are on 59, Lakeway, and 14/16. Roads are called East or West depending on where they are in relation to Gillette Avenue - the middle of the city. Roads going East and West are often named streets. Those going North and South are often named avenues. A few of the numbered roads are split. It's not possible to travel all the way down a numbered road straight through. This applies to South Gillette Avenue also known as main street. Gillette is best navigated by car. Parking in the city is free and street parking outside the downtown area is usually plentiful. All the major business areas have parking lots. One-way streets are rare. Rentals are available at the airport and near the downtown area. While some bike lanes and paths do exist they are better used for recreation in the summer than as a main form of transportation. People often park RVs, trailers, cars, and trucks in some of the unused bike lanes. Sometimes snow plows push snow to the side blocking both bike lanes and sidewalks. The bike paths separate from the road are not always cleared during winter.

There is little to worry about in Gillette. Violent crime is rare and visitors are not targets. It is safe to go around the city without fear day or night. The only threat to visitors is the occasional theft. The best deterrent is to lock your car because thieves do handle checks to find things to steal. The police make their presence known at night, especially when the bars let out. During the day, the newly created traffic unit is cracking down on bad drivers. They won't hesitate to stop you. Out–of–state plates will find an extra set of eyes on them, because of previous drug runners caught passing through. Ignore the occasional beggars along Hwy 59 especially near Walmart. They aren't locals, but drifters passing through. They purposely stick to open private property such as shopping centers. Don't let them sucker you with their cute dogs. Though not perfect, Gillette has many social services including a food pantry, thrift store vouchers, food and rental assistance, job training and placement, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, and so on. If after seeing them you still feel compelled to give to charity, give to the local Council of Community Services or shop at the charity thrift store Seconds on the Avenue which uses its revenue to fund those programs. The police in Gillette are extremely quick. Expect them to show up within a few minutes; they are never far. Often the police will render medical assistance first since they are faster than an ambulance. The sheriff's department is as helpful as the police are fast.