Not just a game to her — Middle-schooler crafts a Newcastle-themed board game as school fund-raiser

What started as a simple idea between a father and daughter has grown into a community-backed board game, two successful fundraisers and a statewide historical award for Newcastle eighth-grader Ashlynn Mills.

Mills is the creator of “Newcastle-opoly,” a locally themed board game modeled after Monopoly that features local businesses in place of traditional properties. She began the project in March 2023 as a way to pay for her seventh-grade Close Up trip to Washington, D.C., and later expanded it into a historic edition that has earned recognition from the Wyoming State Historical Society.

“Me and my dad both came up with the idea together,” Ashlynn said, when asked how the project began. The inspiration came while cleaning out her great-grandfather’s house in Riverton. “He had one for Riverton; we thought it would be a good idea to do one for Newcastle.”

Her father, Tyler Mills, was willing to help Ashylnn with the project but wanted her to take the reins. 

“Little bit of both,” he said, referring to whether the idea was driven by need or interest. “I told her that growing up I had to pay for everything or fundraise for anything I did. My parents hardly ever had to put out any pocket for my ventures”

Knowing Ashlynn would have the opportunity to attend the Close Up program, the two began researching how custom Monopoly-style games were made. They found a company in Michigan that specializes in fund-raising board games. 

“You sell the advertising spot; they give you a cheat sheet for pricing,” Tyler Mills said.

They ultimately ordered 500 games for the first edition. Tyler Mills created a pricing chart that kept advertising affordable while still covering production and shipping costs. 

“The advertisements easily paid for the production and shipping,” he said. The games sold for $25 each, a price comparable to similar games sold at major retailers.

Ashlynn handled much of the outreach herself. 

“After I got the businesses on board, the money that paid for their advertisement went towards making the game,” she said. Each participating business received its own copy of the game. “Then I went around and started selling them to pay for my trip.”

The first run exceeded expectations. 

“The first game went really well — 450 sold!” Ashlynn said. “Most people really liked them. They liked that I went around to the businesses and advertised it.”

Local business owners noticed her charisma. Garrett Borton, owner of Renegade Paint & Pipes and one of the first sponsors, said Ashlynn personally visited his shop to explain the idea. 

“She came down to the shop,” Borton said. “At first she was telling us what she was putting together. Then she drew it out on a piece of paper. I thought, ‘Hey, that’s a good idea.’”

Borton was dazzled by her professionalism. 

“I was pretty impressed, she took it seriously,” he said. “She was professional, and excited about it. She presented herself as a young entrepreneur.”

From an economic standpoint, Borton said the investment made sense. 

“As a business owner, every time a family plays that game they see an advertisement for my business on the board,” he said. 

After the success of the first edition, conversations began about a second. They had received a couple of recommendations to start a historic version of the game. 

“She had current businesses sponsor an old business that is no longer here,” Tyler Mills said. “Most of them had childhood memories of one.”

Businesses were allowed to choose which historic property they wanted to sponsor. 

“Renegade did Crystal Park; Deckers did the Old Mill” Ashlynn said. Old photographs, including images of Main Street from 1948, were used on the box. 

The historic edition debuted around the time of the All School Reunion, but sales were slower. 

“Ordered 500, sold 125,” Ashlynn said. 

Tyler Mills believes timing played a role. 

“I think it was too close to the other one coming out,” he said. Even so, the project had already achieved its main goal. “We still have 350 historic boards, but her trip is paid for.”

The historic edition also caught the attention of the Weston County Historical Society. Dr. Mike Jording of the historical society said the board nominated Ashlynn for a student award. 

“As a historical society, one of our missions is to identify and support people and projects that deal with Wyoming and Weston County history,” he said. “We were really proud to nominate her.”

The game, he said, helps preserve local history in an accessible way. 

“She has identified a lot of the history of Newcastle and documented it on this game board,” Jording said.

Ashlynn received the award at a banquet in Upton. 

“It feels pretty good,” she said. “It makes me happy.”

Beyond the recognition, Tyler Mills said the project reflects the strength of the community. 

“If it wasn’t for the businesses and the tight-knit community that Newcastle is, this project never would have happened,” he said. “She would have never made D.C. and now Costa Rica.”

Ashlynn is now using proceeds from the second edition to help fund a science trip to Costa Rica in March. Games are still available for $25 each or $40 for a set and are being sold at community events or by reaching out to Tyler Mills.

Looking back, Ashlynn said the highlight of the project was the interaction. 

“My favorite part was getting the businesses advertisements and then getting them on board,” she said. 

She showed her appreciation for the businesses that supported her when she gave them their complimentary game board. Included with the box was a photo of Ashlynn and her classmates in D.C. with a thank you note on the back side. 

For a project that began as a way to pay for a class trip, “Newcastle-opoly” has become something more — a snapshot of a town’s past, present and support for its next generation. A copy of each game was gifted to the museum this week and should be up for display soon.