Scenic sites and appreciative sighs — Wyoming Black Hills Scenic Highway gains national recognition

In a recent survey of 3,005 couples conducted by Gunther Volkswagen of Coconut Creek, Florida, the Wyoming Black Hills Scenic Byway was named the “most romantic fall drive” in Wyoming, followed by Cloud Peak Skyway and Beartooth Scenic Highway.

The Weston County Travel Commission began the undertaking to establish the scenic byway in 2009. Debbie Douglas, who owns Arrow Service and Gas in Upton, was a member of the commission and was heavily involved in the application process.

“We thought about how scenic it is in Northeastern Wyoming, and that’s where we first got the idea,” she said.

Douglas said that despite the natural beauty of the area, the travel commissioners at the time felt that the area was underrepresented. She said that when the commission contacted the state about the scenic byway idea, the idea was enthusiastically received.

“They were really hoping that someone in Northeastern Wyoming would organize that,” she said.

A 2012 Wyoming Department of Transportation memorandum designates the exact 78-mile route: “Wyoming State Highway 585 from the Weston/Crook County line south to the Junction with US 85; continuing south on US 85 to the Junction with US 16 in Newcastle; then northwest on US 16 to the Weston/Crook County line; and including Wyoming State Highway 116 from Upton to the Weston/Crook County Line,” the memorandum says.

Norma Shelton is another former travel commissioner who was central to the project.

“We worked really hard to get the byway designated, and there’s places, you know, to pull over and take pictures. You can see Devil’s Tower in some of them. It was just an awesome project to work on, and it really made me feel good that we got it to happen, but it’s even more exciting to know that it’s No. 1 now,” she said.

To qualify for designation as a scenic byway, a road
must be shown to exhibit at least one of the following criteria: scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archaeological or natural. 

In its application, the travel commission covered all six criteria by listing no fewer than 15 sites. Among these are historic buildings, such as the Flying V Cambria Inn, and landforms, such as Inyan
Kara Mountain.

Former travel commissioner and history conservationist Linda Hunt recalled participating in the application process. She said that Shelton enlisted her to fill a vacated seat on the commission around the time that the project was taking place.

“Somebody quit their seat on the travel commission with, like, six months left to go, so Norma asked me to finish that term. She was so good at that,” Hunt said.

Hunt remembers taking photos of various sites to submit with the application and said this predated the popularity of using a cell phone to take pictures.

She laughed. “I had an actual old camera,” she said.

For Hunt, the scenic byway project was just one of many such efforts meant to preserve and draw attention to Weston County’s unique history. Among other such projects, Hunt is responsible for historic signs and statues on Stam-pede Street. She also placed historic signs at the Weston County Fairgrounds and the Flying V Trailhead.

Like her fellow former travel commissioners, Hunt is excited at the recognition of the scenic byway.

“I think it’s awesome. People always say there’s nothing to do in Weston County, but there’s a lot of things here,” she said.

When contacted about the survey results, Wyoming Department of Transporta-tion’s Cole Bostron, the local programs coordinator, expressed pride on behalf of the department.

“The Black Hills Scenic Byway offers travelers one of Wyoming’s most picturesque drives, particularly in the fall when the landscape comes alive with color. WYDOT is proud to help maintain and support byways that highlight the state’s natural beauty
and connect communities through a shared appre-ciation of Wyoming’s unique scenery,” he said.

Newcastle Mayor Tyrel Owens is also pleased with Weston County being highlighted in this way and the promise for economic activity that such attention carries.

“I would love for us to use it as a way to generate more tourism, to get people to stop here before they drive. You know, maybe get more business to our restaurants in town,” he said.

While fall officially ends on Dec. 21, motorists should not wait too long to enjoy the autumnal sights offered by
the scenic byway, considering the relative brevity of the scenery traditionally associated with the season.