Is Wyoming that bad? (Gillette, Sheridan: transplants, how much, motel)

[j1n]

hey elkhunter (or anyone else with answers!)...
Sorry if it sounds ignorant, but I'm reading and trying to understand more of how day-to-day life in WY works...these ups and downs of mountain economy. What do you guys consider the definition of a "boom" area/town or a "boom" to be? What causes it, and how long (generally) does the "boom" last? What are some of the areas that are currently "booming"? And what areas have "boomed" and now are in a "post-boom" slump? What is gearing up to be the next "boom"? Where does a town like Buffalo fall into the above equations?

[ElkHunter]

When you say outlying areas they are "Out" lying areas. haha From Gillette going East, there's Moorcroft. About 28 miles on Interstate and it's only a town of 800 or so. Not likely to find much there to rent.

Going West, you come to Buffalo, it's 69 miles on Interstate, but it's a town of about 4,000. You can find rentals there, but they are costly.

Going South, you come to Wright, it's 40 miles. Population, 1300 and some change. Almost zero housing available there. last year, they were almost wiped off the map by a tornado, so they are rebuilding.

Go North and you come to, well, nothing. haha

Gillette is a boom town. It's located on the High Prairie. So wind is a factor, but not as bad as some places in the state. Within an hours drive there is Keyhole Reserviour (http://www.wyomingtourism.org/cms/d/keyhole_state_park.php - broken link). Beautiful lake area surrounded by tree covered hills. Lots of skiing, camping, swimming, fishing and hiking.

Moorcroft is also on High Prairie. Located almost straight South of Keyhole.

Buffalo is a quaint little town. Most heavy duty shopping is done in Sheridan, 32 miles away. but Buffalo is nestled up against the Big Horn Mountains. Camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, all available real close. Buffalo is not really a boom town, but it has become a way station for those in the boom industry. By that, I mean there's a lot of folks that commute from Buffalo to Gillette, or Buffalo to Sheridan. So yeah, it's kind of a boom town. But the jobs aren't right there, they're down the road a piece.

From Buffalo to Sheridan is 32 miles. There are Story,
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Big Horn located on the way. (Small towns) They have some rentals available but not a lot. Very costly. But again, located right up against the mountains.

Sheridan is also a boom town, rentals are really hard to come by. It's a town of 15,804.

Beyond Sheridan is Ranchester and Dayton. Ranchester usually has a couple of rentals, Dayton occasionally has a rental.

But Buffalo, Story, Banner, Big Horn, Sheridan, Ranchester, and Dayton are all up against the Big Horn Mountains and are pretty protected as far as weather goes. Very little wind if any at all.

[snowman0u812]

i know rentals are far and few between but are there mobile home parks there, but if so i'm sure they're full too right?

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by snowman0u812

i know rentals are far and few between but are there mobile home parks there, but if so i'm sure they're full too right?

Sheridan has several Mobile home parks. Some of them have empty spaces. The one on the East side of town is currently adding about 20 spaces and should be ready by this summer.

If that is your train of thought, most all the mobile home parks have trailers that are currently for sale. Because people know that it's easier to by an existing trailer that's already on a lot. My son just bought one in that manner.

Can't vouche for the other towns. I've seen parks there, but never paid any attention to whether they are full or not.

[snowman0u812]

thanks for all the help Elkhunter, you've been very informative. i'm sure i'll have more questions down the road.

[CaliGirlAllTheWay]

I would not move back to Wyoming if my life depended on it. 8 months of winter. The weather is just terrible, and the winters last too long. Nice people, though.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by CaliGirlAllTheWay

I would not move back to Wyoming if my life depended on it. 8 months of winter. The weather is just terrible, and the winters last too long. Nice people, though.

So you necropost not one but two, two year old threads just so you can make offensive comments to the "nice people" of Wyoming?

The harshness of the winter climate has its positive side. All the whimpy, whiney people move some place else.

[daisy1924]

Lol!!

[OurNextAdventure]

Wow CaliGrrrrrrrrrl-way to bring it back from the dead! I aint never been to Wyoming, but I soon will, come spring time. Chris LeDoux wrote and sang quite a bit of songs about how great Wyoming is. Why don't you stay over there in the California section where are the limp wrists and city folk hang out, if you don't have anything nice to say.

Apparently somewhere inside you, you still want to be in Wyoming, otherwise you wouldn't have come over here.

[ddb_wy]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Contractors complain they can't get carpenters enough. They're working every day, even through the winter and can't catch up.

Interesting......in another thread where Floridians are wanting to move to a WY mtn town, sunsprit is arguing nowhere in WY can the OP get a carpentry job. Might want to post this there, cuz he's just sure he knows the entire job landscape in WY.