Extended Weekend Getaways Visit Durham Bison Ranch.
This 55,000-acre ranch populated with 3,000 bison has been in the Flocchini family for three generations and is one of the largest bison operations in the world. People are rapidly discovering the deliciously healthy taste of bison. The meat tastes similar to fine beef, with just a slightly sweeter and richer flavor. Bison is naturally flavorful and tender, and can be prepared much the same as beef.*Take a 1.5-2-hour tour on board an 18-passenger bus and learn how the Flocchinis manage their herd. Want to stay the night? Rent the three-bedroom historic Wright Family Rock House. The ranch is located five miles from Wright, but you must call the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 307-686-0040 to sign up for a tour. Learn more about the ranch at durhambisonranch.com.
Coal Mining Tour
Anyone who has ever turned on a light switch should see where some of their power comes from. The Powder River Basin provides 40 percent of all coal utilized in the country. It’s why Gillette is known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation.”
Call the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 307-686-0040 or stop by at 1810 S. Douglas Hwy. in Gillette to make coal tour reservations. Note: You’ll see surface mining, not underground. One hundred coal trains pass through town every day that have 115-140 cars each. Each train car holds 120 tons of coal. Go To City Park, 107 N. Gillette Ave, at 10th and Gillette Ave to see.
Devils Tower
See a striking stone column rising seemingly out of nowhere. It’s Devils Tower, a 867-foot pillar beckoning everyone from Native Americans to geology buffs to rock climbers to come closer. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest crack climbing areas in North America. Drink in the sights and sounds, and learn more about the remarkable cultural and natural history surrounding the monument. From Gillette, it’s an hour and 13 minute drive. Take 90 east to US 14 to WY 24. The 1.3 mile Tower Trail circles the base of the Tower and is paved. The trail has steep grades and is not recommended for wheelchair users. The steepest part of the trail can be seen from the Visitor Center parking lot.