Unlike East Coast metropolises such as Boston, Washington, and New York, where the well-known Colonial past seems a far cry from the bustling centers of technology and finance they have each become, America’s Western cities still show living, breathing evidence of the rich, wild history that gave them birth.
Groups that visit Western towns needn’t visit a museum to experience this history firsthand: Walk into any local saloon — yes, they still have those — or even the local grocery store, and chances of sighting a real cowboy, spurs and all, are high. By timing a trip right, groups can even witness a stampede, a rodeo or a gunfight at one of the many festivals hosted across the West that celebrate this living heritage.
The following towns make compelling destinations for any group wanting the full experience of the iconic American West.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populous of all the American states, but about 10 percent of its total population lives in the capital, Cheyenne. That’s still only about 55,000 people. But despite its small size, Cheyenne has a rich history. During the 1870s, Cheyenne was the wealthiest city in the United States. “It was completely thanks to cattle ranching,” said Jill Pope, director of operations at Visit Cheyenne. Like many Western cities, cattle and the railroads that transported them were major drivers in the city’s growth.
Groups can explore the railroad side of Cheyenne’s history at the Cheyenne Depot and Depot Museum. The Depot is one of the last remaining 19th-century train stations from the transcontinental railroad and is considered one of the most beautiful stations in the United States. Afterward, they can board the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley for a narrated tour of the downtown area that includes several other prime historic sites.
Cheyenne also hosts a major rodeo in the summer, Cheyenne Frontier Days, one of the largest outdoor Western events in the world. Everyone from locals to tourists, cowboys and country music superstars turns out for this 10-day event.
Cheyenne locals will also encourage visitors to get a close look at the animals that have driven the town’s economy over the decades. One such excursion is available at the Terry Bison Ranch, where groups can take a train ride through the park and feed wild bison by hand. The ranch also provides the option to dine on the Cheyenne culinary staple of bison meat afterward at its signature restaurant, the Senator’s Steakhouse.
“It’s definitely worth trying at least once if you’ve never had it,” said Pope.
Dodge City, Kansas
Before holding her current position as publicist for the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sandie Masden worked for the local government. At one point, she had to interview the new police chief and asked him why he wanted the job. His response?
“I’ve always wanted a job where I could regularly tell people to ‘get out of Dodge.’”
It’s a phrase that gets repeated often in Dodge City, Kansas. Nobody knows exactly where the phrase “get out of Dodge” originated, and most locals are more than happy to stay in town.
Its location at the eastern terminus of the railroad east made Dodge City a one-time hub of the cattle industry. A distinctly Western flavor is still thoroughly evident in the town today.
“There’s still an annual cattle drive down Main Street,” said Masden. “It follows the same route that the cowboys would have used in the industry’s heyday.” Much of the town still relies heavily on the beef cattle industry, with between 10,000 and 12,000 head of cattle processed at meat yards and beef-packing plants in the city daily.
Groups visiting Dodge should take the time to enjoy a proper steak at one of the city’s many steakhouses. Before or after, they can catch a show at the historic Santa Fe Depot, where the Depot Theater Company performs re-enactments of Westerns and traditional theater pieces.
If groups want to do more than watch the theatrics, Dodge City offers the chance to take cancan lessons at the Boot Hill Museum. Groups can test their new Western know-how at the Long Branch Saloon, where it’s not uncommon to spot a real cowboy sipping on whiskey or sarsaparilla at the end of a long day.
Masden also recommends visiting during Dodge City Days at the end of July and beginning of August every summer, when rodeo riders and fans swoop into the city to celebrate in Western style. Soon, groups will have one more reason to visit Dodge City in the summer, thanks to a new Western-themed water park currently under construction — a $10 million project.
