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Cheyenne. The name brings forth romantic images of the West: cowboys, rodeos, railroads and majestic plains. Recently named a “True Western Town” by True West Magazine for the second straight year, the town’s slogan, “Cheyenne—Live the Legend,” is a fitting invitation for travelers to come visit and take a step back into the Old West.
Located just 90 miles north of Denver, Cheyenne sits as the northern anchor of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is surrounded by some of the nation’s most beloved monuments. South Dakota’s Mt. Rushmore and Black Hills, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and Wyoming’s own Devils Tower, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are all within a day’s drive of the city. But within Cheyenne, travelers will find more than they ever expected: cowboys and cowgirls, rodeos, ranches, gunslingers, historic hotels, “Western High Style” cuisine, good old-fashioned Western entertainment, trolley cars, boots that are eight feet tall, the world’s largest steam engine, the Wyoming state capitol, history, Western art and artifacts and much more. As travelers will see, Cheyenne truly is home to all things Western.
What could have more of a Western feel than a herd of bison grazing on the high plains? Terry Bison Ranch, which is located seven miles south of Cheyenne, consists of nearly 30,000 acres of rolling hills and lush grasslands—and more than 2,300 grazing bison. Motorized tours take visitors right into the middle of the herd. The ranch is also home to horses, longhorn steer, camels, llamas and many other wild animals. In addition to the bison, the ranch features a lot of good old-fashioned Western fun, such as an Old West restaurant and saloon, Kid Corral, old-time photo studio, Trading Post, horseback riding, fishing, and overnight accommodations that include a historic bunkhouse with 13 rooms.
Want to take a step back in time? Then be sure to catch a show by the Cheyenne Gunslingers. The gunslingers perform gunfights, Western skits and other Wild West activities in Old Town Square in downtown Cheyenne during the summer. The Nelson Museum of the West is dedicated to the preservation of fine cowboy art and Native American objects, as well as fine Western art. Rodeo, cowboy and Native American objects comprise the largest part of the museum’s collection of more than 3,700 artifacts. Cowgirls of the West Museum highlights the substantial contributions cowgirls have made to the area’s history. The museum features trick riding saddles, rodeo outfits and other memorabilia, as well as a gift store. For a firsthand look at authentic Western displays, a carriage owned by Buffalo Bill Cody, saddles and pistols dating back to 1810, make a stop at the Messenger Museum.
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