Last Bastion of the West Familiarization Tour

Wyoming continues to be a highly desired destination for the motor coach tour companies, and it is not just for our iconic National Parks either! Many companies are looking for that authentic Western experience, and they are looking at Wyoming as the perfect destination to provide it.

The last week of July, the Wyoming Office of Tourism hosted 4 companies that have expressed interest in providing new western themed itineraries or expanding current itineraries to include a rodeo. The familiarization tour started in Cheyenne with the “Daddy of ‘Em All”, Cheyenne Frontier Days, where the group experienced the rodeo, a concert, parade, a behind the chutes tour, and the western celebration that is CFD. From there they made their way up to Casper for stop at the iconic western store, Lou Taubert’s before enjoying a boat ride on Alcova Lake and seeing where the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo is held. Next stop was Johnson County with a stop in Kaycee at the Hoofprints of the Past Museum and Chris Ledoux Park. They then went to Buffalo and toured the Mountain Meadow Wool Mill and Jim Gatchell Museum before strolling through downtown Buffalo. The night ended at the site of the Johnson County War, with dinner and stories at the TA Guest Ranch. The final stop was in Sheridan, home to the WYO Rodeo, where they toured The Brinton Museum, King Ropes, got a taste of the Big Horn Mountains, a chance to see the iconic Mint Bar, and meet Tom Balding and see his bits and spurs. It was a packed few days, but they all came away in awe of just how deep our western heritage not only runs in our communities and stories, but in the individuals that call Wyoming home as well.

Each tour company has already reached out about adding components to future itineraries, with one company reworking their “western” itinerary to just be a Wyoming itinerary now. It generally takes about 2 or 3 years before a destination will be added to an itinerary as they are already selling 2024 and 2025 trips, but they are excited about these new offerings.