If you have an interesting place you would like to share with our viewers, send in some photos some articles, etc., and we’ll pass it on. There are lots of little known places out there where you could spend some time and make your trip more enjoyable.

Jersey Lily in Ingmar, Montana

IGNMAR,MT-Next time you are near Ignomar, MT, stop into the Jersey Lily, best damn beans I have ever had.

A friend of mine lives there. When I asked him how many people lived there, he replied “too damn many.
Population is about 15.

Google it to read its history. It is well worth a trip.

Winter in Sedona Ideal for Holiday Celebration and Red Rock Experiences

SEDONA, Ariz. (September 1, 2015)––When the leaves change colors and the chill in the air greets each morning, the city of Sedona slowly turns into a red rock winter wonderland getaway. For those looking to escape snow shoveling and freezing, Sedona offers lush greenery, stunning red rocks and adventure around every corner, just in time for the holidays and celebration.

Beginning in December each year, the city is a buzz with non-stop festivities. “Holiday Central Sedona,” as it is called, is the annual series of more than 40 events throughout Sedona, which delights both visitors and locals with glowing trees, decorated storefronts and holiday gifts galore. Families, nuptials, friends and strangers alike can celebrate warm days full of sunshine with more than just candy canes and mistletoe, as the city offers unparalleled beauty to be explored around every corner.

Between Tinsel Town, the annual light display, and Christmas in the Park, a festive Sedona Heritage Museum event, guests have plenty of activities to fill their yuletide quota. For those other times when the group wants to experience quintessential Sedona, visitors can escape to an evening filled with stargazing, relax in luxury for a spa treatment, enjoy horseback riding in the Red Rock Ranger District or catch an independent film at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. The possibilities for the holidays aren’t limited to tree lightings and carol singing, but they do provide big-town merriment to Sedona’s intimate small-town community.

To fully capture the joy of winter in Sedona, there are several events around town that are not to be missed, including Festival of Lights, Sedona Restaurant Week, Be the Peace New Year’s Retreat and more.

Festival of Lights: The Lighting of 6,000 Luminarias

This cherished Sedona holiday tradition involves the lighting of 6,000 luminarias in Tlaquepaque’s courtyards and walkways on December 12 at 5 p.m. Free entertainment, Santa and hot cider will be available and the River of Life Tabernacle Choir will perform and continue the merriment well into the evening. Held at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, the event offers guests to experience a time of joy and of remembrance.

Sedona Restaurant Week

Sedona Restaurant Week is a semi-annual event where guests and residents can experience a three-course pre-fixe style menu with dishes from some of the most renowned spots in the city. These options and more offer foodies a chance to sample the varied mouthwatering cuisine of Sedona, without breaking the bank. From December 4-13, chefs across the city may cater their menu to the festive spirit, or incorporate holiday merriment into each individualized experience.

Be the Peace New Year’s Retreat

Hay House author and meditation teacher Sarah McLean and mystical musician Ani Williams will bring in the New Year with deep meditations and moments of mystical music beginning at 7 p.m. on December 31. The powerful & nourishing meditation retreat offers those with a meditation practice or inspired future meditators to come together to be peacefully established in stillness, creating the peace we all want to see in the world.

Sedona is the perfect locale to take advantage of the holidays and explore winter festivities. For more information on what to find, view our Press Kit or visit www.visitsedona.com/calendar-of-events/annual-events/.

Backroads of Wyoming   by      Bob Kisken

The other day, I went to take a photo of the Three Mile Hog Ranch at Ft. Laramie.
Started in 1872, it included cribs for working girls. On private property, it is the only one in Wyoming where some of it is still standing.

What’s left of the Historic old Three Mile Hog Ranch

Mrs. Barbara Windom Costopoulos, who has spent most of her life in Lusk and Guerney kindly showed me around.
Mrs. Costopoulos has written two books, one about the Sunrise, Wyoming, and the other is about the old ranches that were flooded by the Grayrocks Dam on the Laramie River.
Barbara is a fantastic fountain of information about this part of Wyoming.
We took the back roads to the Hog Ranch. My photos do not do the place justice.

                                     Barns, buildings, and beautiful country on the backroads of Wyoming

The two areas we drove through are as beautiful as I have seen in Wyoming. Barbara used to ride horseback all over and she knows and loves the land.
I understand when, she says that, she wants her ashes scattered over the land.
Before we got to Ft. Laramie, we passed a little cabin where L.G. Flannery put together an early settler’s diary-John Hutton.

                               The little cabin where L.G. Flannery put together an early settler’s diary-John Hutton.

The next part of the trip was from Guernsey to Lusk on dirt roads. Part of the road was the old Cheyenne to Deadwood stage road and was beautiful country.

                                                    The old Cheyenne to Deadwood Trail was used by thousands

We passed an area which once had been mined, another area which is still being searched for Indian relics.

We passed an old house which was owned and run as a clinic by a Dr. Brownrigg. People would come from all over by horse and wagon to be treated.

                                     Remnants of the old cabin used by Dr. Brownrigg, who treated many residents

We passed the Rawhide Ranch, where the Indians skinned alive Clyde Pickett, who had killed an Indian woman. Every year, the town of Lusk puts on an outdoor play which describes this historical event. It is worth attending.
The last thing we saw was a monument and burial place of Mother Featherlegs. She ran a roadhouse on the Cheyenne/Deadwood stage road and was murdered for her money.

                                Mother Featherleggs final resting place

I have met two people in my wandering whose love for the land and its people show.
I wish, at my old age, that I could have had that when I grew up.

The Cowboy Influences Almost Everything Around The Country

Check This Out

Encampment, Wyoming Museum by Bob Kisken

ENCAMPMENT,WY-The 13th Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering was held July 17-19, this year. Every year that I have attended, I have been impressed by the quality of the entertainment.

If you go to the gathering or are in Encampment for another reason, be sure to stop at the Grand Encampment Museum.
For such a small town, it has a fabulous museum. The buildings and collections date back to the copper boom in the early 1890s to 1920.

My favorite is the two story outhouse. My photos do not do the museum justice, go and see for yourself.
Oh yes, I had one of the best and biggest hamburgers in the neighboring town of Riverside

 

RAWLINS, WYOMING PRISON TOUR By Bob Kisken

RAWLINS,WY-In 1886, Wyoming’s Ninth Legislature Assembly appropriated $100,000 to build a prison in, or near, Rawlins, Wyoming. The prison was opened in December of 1901 with 104 cells, no electricity or running water, and inadequate heating.

In the ensuing years, the prison was expanded until it was closed in 1981.

Years ago, I toured the prison and it was a very interesting tour. The guides were very knowledgable.

There are paintings on the walls of the cafeteria (painted by the prisoners) whose eyes would follow you wherever you went. The gas chamber, which replaced the hanging, is the as eerie a place as I have ever been.

The other day, while in Rawlins, I took these photographs to give you an idea of what a prison looks like from the outside.

For people interested in western history, it is an interesting tour to take.

In 1987, the movie “Prison” was filmed there. It has been released on Bluetooth. You might want to watch it before you go.

 

Fort Robinson, NE by Bob Kisken

FT ROBINSON,NE-Fort Robinson, which is just a few miles from Crawford, NE, has a long and interesting history. It was heavily involved with the “Indian Wars”.

In February 1877, the American flag was first raised over Camp Robinson. In December 1878, the camp was named Fort Robinson.

In 1948, it was declared surplus and turned over to the USDA. The Fort is now part of the Nebaska Game and Park Commission.

It is an amazing park and Nebraska has done a great job of preserving it. There are places to stay, a restaurant, all kinds of things to see and do.

Two comments I would like to make on the chronology: 1-No mention is made of the Buffalo soldiers who were there for 8 years. 2-There is a controversay as to whether Crazy Horse was either killed or set up and murdered.

If you get a chance to go and see it, it will be worth your while. Send me your e-mail and I will e-mail you a Fort Robinson Chronology put out by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, or google Fort Robinson.

Stop off at Crawford, NE which is one of my favorite small towns.

Enjoy my photos

 

Lincoln County Historical Museum & Buffalo Bill Ranch by Bob Kisken

NEBRASKA-While attending the Bluegrass Festival in North Platte, NE, I visited the Lincoln County Historical Museum and he Buffalo Bill Ranch. They are both near each other.

Lincoln County Historical Museum, North Platte, NE

 

If you get to North Platte, visit them. The staff at both are knowledgable and easy to talk to. Hope my photos will give you a little idea of what you will see

 

Buffalo Bill Ranch

 

 

Fort Laramie and Guernsey Wyoming

1-Historical marker for Guernsey, WY 2-The deep ruts cut into the rock by the covered wagons going to Oregon 3-The Register Cliffs on the way 4-Some of the names of the travelers cut into the rock face

Guernsey and Fort Laramie, Wyoming, are small towns close to each other. There are three historical sites which are worth visiting.

In Guernsey, is the Oregon Trail Ruts which were worn into the rock by wagon wheels. Also, there are the Register Cliffs where travelers on the trail carved their names into the cliffs.

1-The hospital ruins 2-Calvary barracks 3-Old Bedlam, bachelors officers building 3-Post traders store

Fort Laramie National Historical site is located in Fort Laramie, Wyoming.

Private trading posts were built in the area, but in 1849, the US Army bought one and built what is now the Fort Laramie. The reason was tu furnish a military presence along the emigrant trails.

        1-Magazine (ammunition storage) 2-Old Bedlam 3-Officers quarters ruins 3-Captain’s quarters

In 1890, the post was abandoned.

Eleven structures have been restored. There are rangers stationed there who I have always found to be willing to and knowledgeable to answer questions.

1 & 2-Guard house 3-Cells

Visitor center is open 8-4:30 except Thanksgiving, Dec. 25, Jan 1-longer from June to Labor Day. The center has amazing collection of books for sale.

Special events will be listed here at ropeburns.org.  If you’re in the vicinity, they’re definitely worth your time, you will not be disappointed.

Their website is www.vpj.gov/fo/a

Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center in  Fort Pierre, South Dakota

1-The giant wind vein of Casey Tibbs turns with the wind 2-Billy Etbuer 3-A plaque of Billy Etbauer 4-Casey’s World Championship saddle 

1-2-Casey’s shirt and chaps 3-A poster from the National Finals Rodeo 4-Movie poster 

1-The giant boot meets you at the door 2-Casey’s saddle collection 3-Mattie Goff Newcombe 4-Plaque for Mattie Goff Newcombe

1-Bronze of Casey at the Chute 2-Closeup of Mattie Goff Newcombe bronze 3-Collectibles from Casey 4-Bronze of Billy Etbauer