Casper/Natrona County

[cofen380]

Born in Waynesville/Haywood County. Grew up in Leicester/Buncombe County. Family is all from further west, Cherokee, Swain, and Macon Counties.

We’ve managed, but it’s not always been easy. We’re also not the typical Jacksonites. Not rich, not liberal, and don’t ski. Hunt, hike, and snowshoe hike a lot. We got priced out of owning horses. I’ve been here long enough to have known some Jackson Hole old timers whose parents homesteaded in Jackson Hole. I fit in with them better. But they’re gone now.

Just been through it a lot over the years and have friends there.

To some native-born Wyomingites, I’ll always be an immigrant, even though my wife is from Riverton and I’ve lived in Wyoming longer than some of them have been alive. Having lived and worked in Jackson for so long doesn’t help that reputation.

Gotcha, I don’t have as much experience with those places as I do the Wilmington, Boone and Greensboro areas. Yeah my wife and her entire family are from Montana, but I still expect some of the gatekeeping and negativity that seems to come with moving here. It’s all good though. We’re trying to do everything we can to make an informed decision


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[manitou1]

Where did you guys end up?


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Sent P.M.

 

[WY SkunkApe]

I appreciate you going into more detail on that. Reading the Cowboy state articles is a great idea. I can’t lie though it’s funny to hear you say traffic is awful there. Compared to the city we’re closest to in NC the traffic seemed very mild, and crime rates per 1,000 people are much much lower in Casper than back home.

You mentioned the idealistic life we’re looking for isn’t in any of the bigger wy towns. What did you have in mind when you refer to the idealistic life we’re looking for?


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You’re looking for the stereotypical mountain lifestyle and conservative values with ample access to outdoor rec. “You're looking to get something up here you couldn’t get down below, but the mountain has its own way, pilgrim.”

Joke is on you, so has every other asshole that’s packed in here, Idaho and Montana the past few years.

If you can’t land in and assimilate into Laramie, Saratoga, Buffalo, Sheridan, Bighorn Basin, Star Valley or upper Green River Valley then you’re wasting your time, energy and capital.

I’ve realized our gentrification is and will continue to disallow new entrants. On top of the capital investment issue to move here, we’re structurally capped at roughly 800k people (last estimate I saw) due to water limitations.

And IF you’re moving here for qualitative reasons other than what I articulated above, then you’re wasting your time and money.

It’s not what you think it is. It’s not some bullshit Taylor Sheridan movie/TV show, and it’s not Jeremiah Johnson.

 

[cofen380]

You’re looking for the stereotypical mountain lifestyle and conservative values with ample access to outdoor rec. “You're looking to get something up here you couldn’t get down below, but the mountain has its own way, pilgrim.”

Joke is on you, so has every other asshole that’s packed in here, Idaho and Montana the past few years.

If you can land in and assimilate into Laramie, Saratoga, Buffalo, Sheridan, Bighorn Basin, Star Valley or upper Green River Valley then you’re wasting your time, energy and capital.

I’ve realized our gentrification is and will continue to disallow new entrants. On top of the capital investment issue to move here, we’re structurally capped at roughly 800k people (last estimate I saw) due to water limitations.

And IF you’re moving here for qualitative reasons other than what I articulated above, then you’re wasting your time and money.

It’s not what you think it is. It’s not some bullshit Taylor Sheridan movie/TV show, and it’s not Jeremiah Johnson.

I won’t lie man, you seem like you’re grasping at whatever you can to get people to not move here. I can’t blame you, but why don’t you just be honest and tell me you don’t want us here instead of reaching for anything you can to dissuade us from coming? Is there a scenario where someone says they want to move here and you actually support them? You sound pretty dissatisfied living here yourself.


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[WY SkunkApe]

I won’t lie man, you seem like you’re grasping at whatever you can to get people to not move here. I can’t blame you, but why don’t you just be honest and tell me you don’t want us here instead of reaching for anything you can to dissuade us from coming? Is there a scenario where someone says they want to move here and you actually support them? You sound pretty dissatisfied living here yourself.


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Lol.

Bud, do what you want. You’re the one asking and I’m the one living in a VERY desirable part of the state where I have family, friends, the lifestyle I want and an incredible career- after doing an 18mo stint in the crap hole town I warned you against.

You say your wife has family in MT? Move there and don’t ask about taking a risk on Natrona County. Montana has the same problem, though- lots of gentrification and if you’re going to do it, you better do it quickly before the CAPEX for a move becomes for arduous. (Came back to edit and add this: if you could or would do MT you would’ve done it already instead of asking about Meth County WY and proving my point)

Crap, go back and read the prior post you responded to from the guy with the wife from Riverton where they’re caught in Jackson and what it’s like. It’s a thing and it will continue to be a problem. Just go look at what someone’s crappy real estate will cost you and at 7% on a 30yr. Something nice is even more astronomical, and you better be prepared if you want to have a nice piece of land and build.

CFO in Park County WY with acreage by Heart Mt hates it here…..LOL! Yeah right, bud.

 

[SDHNTR]

You’re looking for the stereotypical mountain lifestyle and conservative values with ample access to outdoor rec. “You're looking to get something up here you couldn’t get down below, but the mountain has its own way, pilgrim.”

Joke is on you, so has every other asshole that’s packed in here, Idaho and Montana the past few years.

If you can land in and assimilate into Laramie, Saratoga, Buffalo, Sheridan, Bighorn Basin, Star Valley or upper Green River Valley then you’re wasting your time, energy and capital.

I’ve realized our gentrification is and will continue to disallow new entrants. On top of the capital investment issue to move here, we’re structurally capped at roughly 800k people (last estimate I saw) due to water limitations.

And IF you’re moving here for qualitative reasons other than what I articulated above, then you’re wasting your time and money.

It’s not what you think it is. It’s not some bullshit Taylor Sheridan movie/TV show, and it’s not Jeremiah Johnson.

So being able to afford a particular community of choice and being able to assimilate there as a newcomer is a bad thing?

One of the lamer posts I’ve read here in a long while!

 

[WY SkunkApe]

So being able to afford a particular community of choice and being able to assimilate there as a newcomer is a bad thing?

One of the lamer posts I’ve read here in a long while!

No, not at all.

Achieving residency in those desirable communities AND assimilating are challenges as I’ve articulated. If you can, you can. Otherwise you’ll try to assimilate in a place that reads differently from its cover: i.e. Natrona County.

Edit: I saw what you were referring to. I missed the “ ‘t ” and it reads “can” in your quote instead of “can’t” in the paragraph about the other communities. It’s corrected.

 

[BrBa]

My family lived in Casper when I was young, from 1st to 9th grade. This was back in the late 70s to late 80s though, and I haven't been back since. I thought the schools were quite good, and I enjoyed growing up there for the most part. Summers were awesome, enjoyed the long winters as well. Spent many a days (and some nights) skiing at Hogadon. It is certainly windy, and you may have to go to Salt Lake or Denver for anything other than routine medical care. At least that's what I remember.

I would probably consider Laramie/Cheyenne, or even Sheridan/Buffalo over Casper but I have no interest in moving to the state when I retire.

 

[HOT ROD]

We have been in Casper for over 10 years and we like it here the wind blows sum time we got use to it. We have no kids in school but from what I here the schools are good here... We have the airport to fly home to visit or if friends or family fly in its convenient to pick them up... A good friend lives in Cody and likes it there but summer is full of tourist from what he says Sheridan is becoming the Jackson 1.0 its always been really cliquey... Winters here are not as bad as NW Pa with the lake effect snow we get there Casper has only had one bad winter in 10 years since I have been here.

 

[cofen380]

My family lived in Casper when I was young, from 1st to 9th grade. This was back in the late 70s to late 80s though, and I haven't been back since. I thought the schools were quite good, and I enjoyed growing up there for the most part. Summers were awesome, enjoyed the long winters as well. Spent many a days (and some nights) skiing at Hogadon. It is certainly windy, and you may have to go to Salt Lake or Denver for anything other than routine medical care. At least that's what I remember.

I would probably consider Laramie/Cheyenne, or even Sheridan/Buffalo over Casper but I have no interest in moving to the state when I retire.

Thanks for your input. Fortunately we’re young and healthy and won’t require much more than routine medical services. Hopefully it will stay that way for a while. Where do you move to after leaving Wyoming?


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[cofen380]

We have been in Casper for over 10 years and we like it here the wind blows sum time we got use to it. We have no kids in school but from what I here the schools are good here... We have the airport to fly home to visit or if friends or family fly in its convenient to pick them up... A good friend lives in Cody and likes it there but summer is full of tourist from what he says Sheridan is becoming the Jackson 1.0 its always been really cliquey... Winters here are not as bad as NW Pa with the lake effect snow we get there Casper has only had one bad winter in 10 years since I have been here.

That’s great to hear thank you. I do like that there’s an airport right there. We’re in Sheridan right now and it feels really similar to a town called Boone back in NC. Obviously it’s summer and there’s a lot of tourists, but it has that mountain recreation/ rich retired feeling so far. Beautiful here though. What do you do for work in Casper?


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[wytx]

Been in Laramie for 37 years now and fit right in from the get go.
Yes we have wind, good grief, and winter for about 6 months or so.
Nice smallish town lifestyle and with the university just enough fun stuff going on.
Travel for some shopping and medical but we do have an airport with daily service to DIA.

Women run by themselves all over town here. We have crime sure but not the big city issues you might find in Cheyenne and Casper. Things happen but not regularly.
Biggest issue now is all the construction guys coming in the area for work and housing is not cheap here by any means.
Buying a house is hard, had good friend move out of town because they could not buy a house due to the competition for what's available.
No plans to go anywhere else.

 

[307]

The wind whiners are worse than the wind itself.

Casper has more than routine medical care. Many of the specialists for the entire state are located there. Obviously, Denver, SLC or Billings are the next level areas for when things get more complicated/severe but Casper is far above only having "routine" level of healthcare.

 

[BrBa]

The wind whiners are worse than the wind itself.

Casper has more than routine medical care. Many of the specialists for the entire state are located there. Obviously, Denver, SLC or Billings are the next level areas for when things get more complicated/severe but Casper is far above only having "routine" level of healthcare.

A bit touchy? Like I mentioned, my family moved away about 37 years ago so things may have changed since then. I just remember our next door neighbor got sick and they couldn't do anything for him at the local hospital. His wife had to take him to SLC for treatment.

 

[cofen380]

Been in Laramie for 37 years now and fit right in from the get go.
Yes we have wind, good grief, and winter for about 6 months or so.
Nice smallish town lifestyle and with the university just enough fun stuff going on.
Travel for some shopping and medical but we do have an airport with daily service to DIA.

Women run by themselves all over town here. We have crime sure but not the big city issues you might find in Cheyenne and Casper. Things happen but not regularly.
Biggest issue now is all the construction guys coming in the area for work and housing is not cheap here by any means.
Buying a house is hard, had good friend move out of town because they could not buy a house due to the competition for what's available.
No plans to go anywhere else.

Great input, thank you. We’re really curious to see what Laramie is like towards the end of our trip. We like the size and are interested to see what affect the school has on the feeling of everything. 37 years is a long time and it sounds like you know the place well. What major changes have you seen within that time, if any?


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[mxgsfmdpx]

The wind whiners are worse than the wind itself.

Casper has more than routine medical care. Many of the specialists for the entire state are located there. Obviously, Denver, SLC or Billings are the next level areas for when things get more complicated/severe but Casper is far above only having "routine" level of healthcare.

You live in the one the most constantly windy places on the planet when looking at monthly wind speed average.

It’s not wind whining when it really doesn’t get any windier than where you live.

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

The wind whiners are worse than the wind itself.

I assume you don't work outdoors? I live in Northern Colorado, and shoe horses for a living. Northern Colorado has one of the highest concentrations of "Certified Journeyman farriers" in the nation. Southern Wyoming hardly has any CJF's, and none of the CJF's I know in Northern CO are willing to travel up that way to shoe horses, even though it's not that long of a drive and there is a huge need. The wind is an immediate factor in all of this. It's dangerous, and being outside in it all day absolutely wears you out. The farrier community in general is a tough bunch, and not whiners. But the wind is a REAL factor to consider for people who don't get to work inside.

 

[wytx]

Great input, thank you. We’re really curious to see what Laramie is like towards the end of our trip. We like the size and are interested to see what affect the school has on the feeling of everything. 37 years is a long time and it sounds like you know the place well. What major changes have you seen within that time, if any?


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Cost of living has really gone up lately, housing mainly.
University is building new dorms and an infux of workers has really hyped up the housing shortage, along with the Plenty folks moving over from Cali for that business.

Saturdays on home games are either great fun or avoid town, depending on your point of view on crowds and the game day type of atmosphere.

Some new jobs are popping up, which this town needed.
Weather is not as bad as folks make it out to be, yes it snows and the winds blows but guess what folks go about their business. Spent many a cold, snowy evening throwing back a few cold brews downtown with the other locals.
Still the kind of town you may see folks you know almost everywhere you go.

College kids can be a pain but Summers are great when they are gone.

We also have some good locally made beer, I think last count maybe 5 micro breweries in town (?) maybe more.

 

[Brijake]

I believe what Skunkape was saying is most places mentioned are very conservative and they want it to stay that way, which it isn't with an influx of people moving in. Just a guess.

 

[Htm84]

I assume you don't work outdoors? I live in Northern Colorado, and shoe horses for a living. Northern Colorado has one of the highest concentrations of "Certified Journeyman farriers" in the nation. Southern Wyoming hardly has any CJF's, and none of the CJF's I know in Northern CO are willing to travel up that way to shoe horses, even though it's not that long of a drive and there is a huge need. The wind is an immediate factor in all of this. It's dangerous, and being outside in it all day absolutely wears you out. The farrier community in general is a tough bunch, and not whiners. But the wind is a REAL factor to consider for people who don't get to work inside.

This is the softest shit I’ve ever read. You can’t talk about how tough you are then say you’re scared of working outside in the wind. Limp

Other than that I got nothing to add besides Wyoming is a cool state overall.