Casper
Around Casper
Photo: Milonica · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Wyoming · 80k people
Casper
“Oil City”, “The Hub”
Where the prairie meets the mountain.
Wyoming Cowboys goldWyoming Cowboys brown
Welcome to Casper, where the mountain meets the prairie and the North Platte runs right through town. Get ready for wide-open skies, friendly faces, and plenty of outdoor adventures.
Clubs for Casper
No clubs for Casper yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Casper. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Casper. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- National Historic Trails Interpretive Center Interactive exhibits on the Oregon, Mormon, and California trails
- Tate Geological Museum Fossils and geology displays, including a T. rex
- Fort Caspar Reconstructed 1860s military post
- Edness K. Wilkins State Park Riverside park with trails and picnic areas
- Casper Planetarium Dome theater for astronomy shows
- Nicolaysen Art Museum Contemporary art museum in a historic building
- Outdoors Hiking on Casper Mountain
- Outdoors Fishing on the North Platte
- With kids Visit the Tate Geological Museum
- With kids Explore the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
- Evenings Catch a concert at the Ford Wyoming Center
- Evenings Watch a Casper Coyotes hockey game
- Locals love Mountain trails
- Locals love Fishing spots on the North Platte
Through the year
- College National Finals Rodeo June Top collegiate rodeo in the country
- Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo July County fair with rodeo, carnival, and exhibits
- Casper Marathon June Scenic road race through town and along the river
- Beartrap Summer Festival August Outdoor music festival on Casper Mountain
- Oil City Brewfest September Craft beer tasting event downtown
Casper has a semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. The wind is a constant companion, especially in spring. The best time to be out is from June to September when the weather is mild. Best: June through September
Talk like a local
- “Oil City”
- Nickname for Casper, referencing its oil industry history
- “The Mountain”
- Refers to Casper Mountain
- “The Platte”
- The North Platte River
- “Windy”
- Describes the frequent strong winds
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Casper Spuds Pioneer League (independent)
- Casper Coyotes NAHL
Also rooting for University of Wyoming Cowboys (NCAA Division I), University of Wyoming Cowgirls (NCAA Division I)
Eat and drink
- Bison burger A staple of Wyoming's beef and game cuisine
- Chokecherry jam A regional wild fruit preserve
- Taco John's Fast-food chain originating in Wyoming, popular locally
Where people go
- Mountain trails Casper Mountain offers hiking, skiing, and scenic overlooks
- River recreation on the North Platte Fishing, rafting, and tubing along the North Platte River
- Rodeo grounds Central Wyoming Fairgrounds host rodeos and events
- National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Heritage and traditions
Casper is proud of its Wild West heritage, oil-boom history, and the wide-open outdoor playground of Casper Mountain and the North Platte River.
This time of year in Casper
- Fall hunting season Fall Elk, deer, and antelope hunting bring hunters to the surrounding mountains.
Say it like a local: “Much obliged” — Thank you.
Festivals
- Casper Greek Festival Summer A celebration of Greek heritage with traditional food, music, and dancing, hosted by the local Greek Orthodox church.
- Casper Pride June An annual LGBTQ+ community celebration with a parade, vendors, and family-friendly events.
- Casper Mountain Arts and Crafts Fair August Local artists and crafters gather on the mountain for a weekend of handmade goods and live demonstrations.
Landmarks with a story
- Bishop Home A restored 1904 Victorian house that offers a glimpse into Casper's early days as a railroad and ranching town.
- Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum Honors Wyoming's military veterans with exhibits on state military history, including the Wyoming National Guard.
- Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church A beautiful example of Byzantine-style architecture, serving the Greek community since the early 20th century.
Food traditions
- Chokecherry picking and jam-making Late summer, families head to the riverbanks to pick wild chokecherries, a frontier tradition of preserving the harvest.
- Dutch oven cooking At outdoor gatherings and rodeos, cowboys and campers cook stews, breads, and cobblers in cast-iron Dutch ovens over coals.
- Bison burgers A lean, local alternative to beef, often served at diners and at the fair, harking back to the plains' original herds.
- Elk and venison stew In the fall, after hunting season, families slow-cook game meat with root vegetables—a hearty mountain tradition.
- Sourdough pancakes A pioneer-era staple, still made at local breakfast spots and campouts, using a starter that's been passed down.
Music and arts
- Casper Symphony Orchestra Performs classical and pops concerts throughout the year, a cultural anchor for the city.
- Country and western music Live country bands are a staple at local bars, the fair, and rodeo events.
- Cowboy poetry gatherings Recitations of verse about ranch life and the West, often held at community centers and festivals.
- Western art at the Nicolaysen Art Museum The museum features contemporary Western art, including paintings, sculpture, and photography.
A little history
- 1888 Casper founded as a railroad town
- 1860s Fort Caspar guarded the Oregon Trail
- 1890s Oil discovered in the Salt Creek field, sparking the oil boom
- 1920s Casper becomes known as the 'Oil City'
- 1950s Alcova Dam and reservoir completed, boosting irrigation and recreation
Rivalries
- Casper vs. Gillette Friendly high school sports rivalry
- Casper vs. Cheyenne State rivalry in various sports
- University of Wyoming Cowboys vs. Colorado State Rams Border War in college football
- Game day High school football on Friday nights
- Game day Casper College basketball
- Outdoors Hiking to the top of Casper Mountain
- Outdoors Fishing for trout in the North Platte
- With kids The Nicolaysen Art Museum's family days
- With kids The Werner Wildlife Museum's touch tank
A relaxed Western American accent, with a tendency to drop the 'g' in words like 'fishin' and 'huntin'. Locals typically say 'pop' for soda, 'crick' for creek, and use 'you guys' for groups. Cowboy slang like 'rodeo' and 'chuck wagon' are common, and the tone is friendly and direct.
Only here
- The College National Finals Rodeo is held here every June, bringing top collegiate cowboys and cowgirls to town.
- Casper Mountain offers year-round recreation, from skiing in winter to hiking in summer, just minutes from downtown.
- The North Platte River runs through the city, providing world-class fly fishing and scenic river trails.
- Oil derricks and pumpjacks dot the landscape, a reminder of the city's 'Oil City' nickname.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for cold, windy winters and dry summers; layers are key.
- Learn to drive on ice—snow and slick roads are common from November through March.
- Try a bison burger at a local diner—it's a taste of the range.
- Visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center to understand the area's Oregon Trail history.
- Get a fishing license and try the North Platte for trout—it's a local passion.
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Nearby
Every areaDouglasWyomingWhere the prairie meets the sky and the jackalope roams.RawlinsWyomingRed earth, big sky, and warm springs.BuffaloWyomingRanch country under the Bighorn skyRivertonWyomingBig skies, warm hearts.GilletteWyomingBig skies, deep mines, and open hearts.LaramieWyomingWhere the high plains meet the Snowy RangeSheridanWyomingWhere the West is still wild and the mountains meet the plains.CheyenneWyomingA warm welcome on the high plains
Casper, WY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.