Cheyenne
Around Cheyenne
Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Wyoming · 101k people
Cheyenne
“Magic City of the Plains”, “Capital City”
A warm welcome on the high plains
Deep blue of the Wyoming skyGolden plains and sunshineRed sunsets and frontier spirit
Welcome to Cheyenne, where the spirit of the Old West meets the wide-open sky. Whether you're here for the rodeo or the quiet plains, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors and a good story. Come say howdy!
Clubs for Cheyenne
No clubs for Cheyenne yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Cheyenne. 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 Cheyenne. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Wyoming State Capitol Historic seat of state government with a gold-leaf dome.
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena Home of the world's largest outdoor rodeo.
- Cheyenne Depot Museum Restored Union Pacific depot with railroad history.
- Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Indoor tropical conservatory and outdoor gardens.
- Lions Park Large community park with lake, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
- Curt Gowdy State Park Reservoir and trails for hiking, fishing, and camping.
- Outdoors Hiking at Curt Gowdy State Park
- Outdoors Biking on the Greater Cheyenne Greenway
- With kids Cheyenne Botanic Gardens
- With kids Cheyenne Depot Museum
- Evenings Catch a show at the Cheyenne Civic Center
- Evenings Dance at a local country bar on a weekend
- Locals love rodeo arenas
- Locals love western saloons
Through the year
- Cheyenne Frontier Days July World's largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration.
- Cheyenne Farmers Market Summer Weekly local produce and crafts.
- Art in the Park Summer Arts and crafts fair at Lions Park.
- Cheyenne Brewfest Fall Local craft beer tasting.
- Cheyenne Christmas Parade December Holiday parade downtown.
Semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall when days are mild and sunny. Best: late spring through early fall
Getaways
- Fort Collins Brewery hopping and Old Town charm.
- Laramie Home of the University of Wyoming and nearby Snowy Range.
- Greeley Agricultural hub with a growing downtown.
- Scottsbluff Historic Oregon Trail landmarks.
Local flavour
Rooting for Wyoming Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche
Eat and drink
- Rocky Mountain oysters Calf fries, a western delicacy
- Bison burgers Local game meat
- Taco John's Fast food chain originated in Cheyenne
Where people go
- Rodeo arenas Home of Frontier Days
- Western saloons Historic and modern cowboy bars
- State capitol building Wyoming's seat of government
- Cowboy bars Local nightlife with a western twist
Heritage and traditions
Cheyenne is proud of its cowboy and railroad heritage, embodied by the world-famous Frontier Days and the spirit of the high plains. Locals take pride in the wide-open skies, the strong sense of community, and the city's role as the capital of Wyoming.
This time of year in Cheyenne
- Fall hunting season Fall Antelope and deer hunting are popular traditions.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to do something.
Festivals
- Cheyenne Greek Festival September Celebrates Greek heritage with food, dancing, and the Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church.
- Cheyenne Celtic Festival March Features Celtic music, dance, and cultural workshops.
- Cheyenne Blues and BBQ Festival August Live blues bands and barbecue cook-offs in the summer.
- Cheyenne Oktoberfest September German-style beer, food, and music at the local fairgrounds.
Landmarks with a story
- Wyoming State Museum State museum with exhibits on Wyoming's natural, cultural, and military history.
- Wyoming Governor's Mansion Historic home of Wyoming's governors, including Nellie Tayloe Ross, open for tours.
- Cathedral of St. Mary A historic Catholic cathedral with striking architecture, dating to the early 20th century.
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Showcases rodeo history and western artifacts, a tribute to the city's cowboy heritage.
- Cheyenne Depot Museum Restored Union Pacific depot, a centerpiece of the city's railroad history.
Food traditions
- Chuckwagon cooking Cowboy-style meals cooked over an open fire, often featuring beans, biscuits, and steak, served at rodeo events and ranch gatherings.
- Dutch oven cooking A pioneer tradition of slow-cooking stews, roasts, and cobblers in a cast-iron pot, still popular for outdoor gatherings.
- Cowboy coffee Strong, black coffee brewed over a campfire, a staple of ranch life and outdoor trips.
- Bison and elk dishes Game meats are common on local menus, from bison burgers to elk steaks, reflecting the region's wildlife heritage.
- Steakhouse tradition Cheyenne has a strong steakhouse culture, with prime rib and ribeye as staples, tied to the cattle ranching history.
Music and arts
- Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra The region's only professional orchestra, performing classical and pop concerts.
- Cowboy poetry A tradition of reciting and writing poems about ranch life, often featured at local gatherings.
- Cheyenne Little Theatre Players Community theater group staging plays and musicals throughout the year.
- Western art and bronze sculpture Local galleries and the Nelson Museum showcase western-themed art, including bronzes and paintings.
A little history
- 1867 Founded as a railroad town
- 1880s Cheyenne Club established as a social hub for cattle barons
- 1897 First Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo and celebration
- 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first female governor in the U.S., serving in Cheyenne
- 1888 Construction of the Wyoming State Capitol
Rivalries
- Wyoming Cowboys vs Colorado State Rams (college football) Wyoming Cowboys vs Colorado State Rams (college football)
- Cheyenne vs Laramie (state capital vs college town) Cheyenne vs Laramie (state capital vs college town)
- Cheyenne vs Fort Collins (border rivalry) Cheyenne vs Fort Collins (border rivalry)
- Cheyenne vs Greeley (agricultural rivalry) Cheyenne vs Greeley (agricultural rivalry)
- Game day Rodeo culture
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Watching the sunset over the high plains
- Outdoors Birdwatching at Lions Park lake
- With kids Wyoming State Museum
- With kids Lions Park playground and splash pad
People speak a Western American English with a relaxed, rural drawl. Cowboy slang and ranch terms are common, and the accent is similar to other Mountain West areas, with a slight nasal quality and dropped 'g's.
Only here
- The constant wind—locals joke it's the state's only natural resource.
- The world's largest outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, held every July.
- The city is named after the Cheyenne tribe, and the high plains landscape feels like the quintessential American West.
- The 'Cheyenne' name is also a nod to the railroad's role in taming the frontier.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for strong winds, especially in winter and spring; a windbreaker is essential.
- Acclimate to the altitude (6,000+ feet) by drinking extra water and taking it easy the first few days.
- Learn to pronounce 'Cheyenne' as 'shy-ANNE' and 'Laramie' as 'LAR-uh-mee'.
- Dress in layers; weather can swing from sunny to snowy in hours.
- Try a bison burger and a local craft beer at a cowboy bar.
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Nearby
Every areaFort Collins–LovelandColoradoWhere the Rockies meet your glassLaramieWyomingWhere the high plains meet the Snowy RangeGreeleyColoradoA welcoming heart on the high plains.Torrington–WheatlandWyomingBig skies, honest work, and the Oregon Trail’s footsteps.ScottsbluffNebraskaWhere the plains meet the bluff.BoulderColoradoWhere the mountains meet the mindsFort MorganColoradoHeart of the Colorado plainsSterlingColoradoHeart of the Golden Plains
Cheyenne, 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.