CASPER, Wyo. – Oct. 7, 2026 – The Preserve Wyoming Award recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Wyoming. Three Preserve Wyoming Awards were presented in 2026 to Thomas Tisthammer, founder of Wattle and Daub Contractors; Mary Kelley, founder of the Gillette Historic Preservation Commission; and GROWYo, LLC, for restoring the historic Tomahawk Hotel in Green River.

Thomas Tisthammer was nominated by Andrea Graham, the Wyoming Frontier Prison, the Arapaho Ranch Field Station, and Old School Heritage Solutions. The nomination recognized his decades of work and commitment to preserving Wyoming’s historic buildings and cultural landscapes. He has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to historic preservation through meticulous restoration work and thoughtful adaptive reuse of historic structures.

Tisthammer founded Wattle and Daub Contractors in Torrington, Wyoming, in 1978. The company’s project management and construction activities focus exclusively on historic building preservation, restoration, and construction. Tisthammer has worked on numerous projects throughout Wyoming, including the Wyoming Frontier Prison, Arapaho Ranch Field Station, Fort Caspar, Wyoming State Capitol, and Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.

Mary Kelley was nominated by the Gillette Historic Preservation Commission and Campbell County Rockpile Museum. Kelley has driven historic preservation efforts in Gillette and Campbell County and is a dedicated advocate for history and culture in her community.

Kelley researched and wrote the National Register of Historic Places nomination for Gillette’s 1935 U.S. Post Office, the city’s first property listed on the National Register. She was also instrumental in creating the Gillette Historic Preservation Commission in 2015. In 2021, under Kelley’s leadership, the commission successfully nominated the Historic Gillette Avenue District to the National Register.

Kelley has also been a longtime member and officer of the Campbell County Historical Society and has helped develop educational programming, walking tours and research about the local area. She has led numerous historic walking tours of Gillette for local school groups and has written and published three books about Campbell County history in partnership with the Rockpile Museum.

GROWYo, LLC was nominated by Green River Mayor Pete Rust and the Sweetwater County Historical Museum. GROWYo recently completed the restoration of the historic Tomahawk Hotel in downtown Green River. The GROWYo team includes Marty Carollo, Darren Clevenger, Amy Stone, and Joshua Stone.

The historic Tomahawk Hotel opened in 1921 in downtown Green River and operated as a hotel until the 1980s. When GROWYo purchased the Tomahawk Hotel from Green River Futures in 2017, the building required extensive restoration. Throughout the project, GROWYo prioritized preservation and reused original materials whenever possible.

Today, the historic Tomahawk houses multiple commercial storefronts, including a brewery, pet spa, artist marketplace, and law office, as well as residential suite rentals, office spaces, and conference rooms.

In July 2026, a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the grand opening of the restored building, drawing more than 500 attendees. GROWYo considers the Tomahawk Hotel the “heartbeat of downtown” and its restoration an opportunity to help revitalize downtown Green River and its businesses.

The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office was pleased to recognize this year’s recipients during the Preserve Wyoming Conference and celebrate their contributions to historic preservation across the state. Sara Sheen, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources and State Historic Preservation Officer, presented the 2026 awards.

For more information about the Preserve Wyoming Awards and Preserve Wyoming Conference, contact Katie Leeper with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office or visit WyoSHPO.wyo.gov. 

Figure 1:  The Preserve Wyoming Award recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Wyoming. Figure 2: Thomas Tisthammer (left) was nominated for a lifetime achievement award for his decades-long work and commitment to preserving Wyoming’s historic buildings and cultural landscapes. Figure 3: Mary Kelley (middle), pictured with Sara Sheen (left) and Brian Beadles (right), was nominated by the Gillette Historic Preservation Commission and Campbell County Rockpile Museum for her dedication to historic preservation and advocacy for history and culture in her community. Figure 4: GROWYo, LLC was nominated by Green River Mayor Pete Rust and the Sweetwater County Historical Museum for its recent restoration of the historic Tomahawk Hotel in downtown Green River. Photos courtesy of Wyoming Out Loud.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Oct. 6, 2026 – Wyoming’s Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. As required by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the Recreation Advisory Committee (REACT) represents Wyoming in proposals to change recreation fees on federal public lands and waters across the state.

REACT is composed of representatives from the following state and federal agencies: Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service,  Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Office of Tourism, and the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. 

The upcoming meeting date, time, location, and call-in information are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 13

Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Location: Barrett Building 1st Floor Conference Room, 2301 Central Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001

Google Meet Video Link: https://meet.google.com/pux-tqoc-maw

Dial In: ‪(US) +1 401-684-3193‬ PIN: ‪780 548 984‬#

Members of the public are welcome to attend REACT meetings in person or virtually. 

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) was passed into law as part of the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-447) on December 8, 2004. The REA authorizes the USDA Forest Service and four Department of the Interior agencies—Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service—to retain recreation fee revenues to supplement appropriations and other funding sources to repair, improve, operate, and maintain recreation sites and areas to quality standards (including elimination of recreation deferred maintenance), and to enhance the delivery of recreation services to quality standards. 

Learn more about REACT and/or review upcoming meeting agendas, past meeting summaries, presentations, and more at wyorec.info/react. 

PINEDALE, Wyo. – Oct. 6, 2026 – The Wyoming Arts Council Board will hold its quarterly meeting Oct. 19–20 at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale.

While in Pinedale, Wyoming Arts Council Board members will also meet with the Arts Council's strategic planning consultant Monday morning as part of the agency's ongoing strategic planning process.

The quarterly meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, and continue from 9:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 20. During the meeting, Board members will hear staff reports, discuss current Arts Council initiatives, review this year’s Governor’s Arts Award nominations, and plan for upcoming programs and events. An executive session may be called if necessary.

Members of the public are invited to attend any portion of the quarterly meeting to observe the Board's proceedings. The Board will hear public comment at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, giving individuals and organizational representatives an opportunity to share updates, events, or feedback with the Board.

Interested parties may attend the meeting in person at the Sublette County Library, 155 S. Tyler Ave., Pinedale, WY, or join virtually via Google Meet. On Monday, the meeting may be accessed at https://meet.google.com/wgu-vtwb-nxz or by calling (347) 467-6851 and entering PIN ‪958 108 695‬#. On Tuesday, the meeting may be accessed at https://meet.google.com/jdo-ncjd-ohv or by calling (205) 844-5163‬ and entering PIN 433 557 764‬#. All callers will be muted except during the public comment period.

In addition to the quarterly Board meeting, Wyoming Arts Council staff and Board members invite the community to join them for a casual Coffee and Chat on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 8 to 9 a.m. at Mountain Mama's Bakery and Cafe, 709 W. Pine Street, Pinedale. Local artists, creatives, educators, community organizations, and anyone interested in the arts are encouraged to stop by, meet Arts Council staff and Board members, and connect over arts and culture in Wyoming. No formal presentation is planned.

The mission of the Wyoming Arts Council is to provide leadership and invest resources to champion, sustain, and cultivate community through the arts.

For a meeting agenda or additional information, contact the Wyoming Arts Council at (307) 777-7742.

Contact:

Mandy Connelley, Public Outreach and Events Coordinator

Wyoming Arts Council

(307) 214-2701 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Oct. 5, 2026 – The Wyoming State Archives will host sign painter, artist, and commercial art historian Colton Bowden for the next installment of its monthly Speaker Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. MDT.

The presentation will explore the career of Edgar Church, a prolific yet underappreciated figure in Western American commercial art. While world-renowned among collectors for his legendary comic book collection, Church spent more than 40 years as the lead advertising and design artist for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company in Denver, Colorado. His work reached millions across Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, shaping the visual culture of Mountain West telephone directories and commercial illustration from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Bowden will present virtually, with a public live-stream watch party hosted at the Wyoming State Museum Classroom. A live Q&A session with Bowden will follow the lecture.

Event Details

• What: Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Church
• When: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. MDT
• In-Person Location: Wyoming State Museum Classroom, 2301 Central Ave., Cheyenne, WY
• Virtual Attendance: Free online participation with advance registration at wyomingstatearchives.eventbrite.com
• Cost: Free and open to the public

About the Presenter

Colton "Colt" Bowden is a fine artist, sign painter, commercial art historian, and steam locomotive restoration specialist based in McMinnville, Oregon. He holds a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University (2012) and has published over 10 books on sign painting and design over the past decade. Bowden is currently researching Church’s life and work for an upcoming book.

About the Wyoming State Archives

The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series takes place on the second Thursday of each month and highlights the state's diverse history. The Wyoming State Archives preserves and makes Wyoming's rich history accessible, offering public programming, research resources, and educational series that bring the state's vibrant past to life.

The Wyoming State Archives is fully accessible under ADA guidelines. For more information or to request special assistance, please contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist.

MOORCROFT, Wyo. – Oct. 1, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources has been awarded a $3 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support the development of a new visitor center in the Coulter Bay area at Keyhole State Park. 

“The Helmsley Charitable Trust continues to make significant positive impacts possible across Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites, and we value their continued partnership,” said Dave Glenn, director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. “Funding opportunities like this allow us to make meaningful, long-term investments in our parks while responding to the needs of the communities they serve.”

The new visitor center will enhance recreation and education opportunities, improve visitor services, and support park operations. Designed to complement the surrounding landscape and natural character of the park, the facility will serve as a central hub for visitors and a gateway to Keyhole State Park and northeast Wyoming, with interpretive exhibits highlighting the area’s natural and cultural history, space for community gatherings, and resources to help visitors explore recreation opportunities throughout the park.

“Being outdoors and having access to places where people can recreate, connect with their communities, and enjoy nature is an important part of health and wellness,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Keyhole State Park is a great example of a place that serves both the people who live here and those who come to experience Wyoming. We’re pleased to help make this investment in the park and in the surrounding community, and we look forward to seeing how this new visitor center will serve people for generations to come.”

The visitor center will also support year-round park operations and natural resource management, and serve as an emergency shelter for the park and the nearby community of Pine Haven in the event of a natural disaster. The facility will be developed in conjunction with broader improvements planned for the Coulter Bay area, including boat ramp and courtesy dock enhancements.

“The Pine Haven Town Council congratulates Keyhole State Park on securing grant funding for the new Coulter Bay visitor center, and appreciates the Park’s collaboration with the Town throughout the application process,” said Rob Norton, mayor pro tem of Pine Haven. “As this project moves forward, the Council looks forward to continuing that partnership—including the boat dock and ramp improvements on the Pine Haven side of the lake that the Town has long identified as a priority.”

Wyoming State Parks hosted three public meetings in early 2026 to gather input from park users and area residents and help identify priorities and features for the proposed facility. Feedback received through that process has helped inform the project as it moves into the design phase. Construction is currently scheduled for completion in fall 2028.

For more information about Keyhole State Park, including recreation opportunities, amenities, and visitor information, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov/keyhole.

Figure 1: The Coulter Bay area at Keyhole State Park, where a new visitor center is planned as part of construction projects supported by a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Figure 2: Jentry Eatherton, assistant superintendent at Keyhole State Park, discussing existing amenities with a community member during a public meeting in January 2026. 

CODY, Wyo. – Sept. 25, 2026 – Buffalo Bill State Park will temporarily close the Eagle Point area to the public Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Oct. 1, while crews complete scheduled maintenance and accessibility improvements.

The project will include resurfacing the asphalt entrance to Eagle Point and reconstructing the ADA parking pad near the restroom facility. The entire Eagle Point area will be closed to public access while work is underway.

Visitors are asked to observe all posted closures during construction. The closure is expected to remain in place through Thursday, Oct. 1, and the area will reopen once work is complete and conditions allow.

Buffalo Bill State Park appreciates visitors’ patience and cooperation while these improvements are completed.

For more information about Buffalo Bill State Park, visit WyoParks.Wyo.Gov/BuffaloBill.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 23, 2026 – The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund (ORTTF) board will meet on Oct. 7, 2026, in Cody, WY, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Cody Regional Office located at 2 Tilden Trail.

The ORTTF supports outdoor recreation infrastructure projects across Wyoming through funds generated from the statewide lodging tax. In July, the board awarded more than $1.9 million to outdoor recreation and tourism infrastructure projects across 15 counties. Additional applications for grant funding will follow in 2027.

“The success of the inaugural July awards set a strong foundation for the program. As the ORTTF board gathers to review grant materials and results, they are focused on thoughtful preparation to ensure the 2027 funding cycle is even more impactful,” says Brynn Hirschman, grant coordinator for the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Members of the public are welcome to attend board meetings. An online attendance option will be available for virtual attendees; however, the ORTTF board will benefit from your in-person attendance. A designated time will be provided for public comment. 

To join the meeting virtually, register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8cmODCqWSfeMYKF_2uxLCQ. 

For more information about the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, please visit wyooutdoorrecreation.wyo.gov. 

CASPER, Wyo. – Sept. 21, 2026 – The Natrona Converse Outdoor Recreation Collaborative is seeking volunteers for a public cleanup day on Saturday, Oct. 3, to restore a high-traffic parcel of state trust land along Coal Mountain Road outside Casper.

The three-hour event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Organizers are targeting an area heavily used for recreational shooting, where accumulated trash and target debris pose an increasing risk of site closure. The effort is a joint partnership between the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Office of State Lands and Investments, Pacific Steel and Recycling, and Wyoming Patriots.

Volunteers will meet directly along Coal Mountain Road at GPS coordinates 42.69875, -106.49086. To reach the site from Casper, drivers can take U.S. Highway 220 west out of town, turn left onto Coal Mountain Road, and follow it for approximately three miles to the event signs, trucks, and trailers marking the staging area. Participants must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Organizers will supply trash bags, a dump trailer, and gallon water jugs. Participants should bring work gloves, rakes, brooms, dustpans, rolling magnets, water bottles, and snacks. A limited supply of work gloves will be available on-site. Local residents with trucks and trailers are encouraged to attend to help haul debris to the landfill. Volunteers must sign liability waivers and photo releases on-site.

“We would like to encourage anyone who is interested in keeping Casper’s wild spaces beautiful to attend, especially individuals who participate in shooting sports. This is a great opportunity to get outside and give back to the recreational areas we all utilize,” said Linda Fittje, outdoor recreation specialist for the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. “When everyone does their part, it makes a massive difference.”

The Natrona Converse Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NCORC) represents communities within Natrona and Converse counties and is facilitated by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR).

Since its first meeting in February 2022, NCORC has brought together business owners, land managers, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, and recreationists representing a variety of interests. The Collaborative works to include a broad range of outdoor recreation perspectives while supporting efforts to improve and expand outdoor recreation opportunities in the region.

For more event details or information about NCORC, visit the NCORC Facebook group or contact the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more about SPCR and its statewide recreational, cultural, and educational programs, visit wyospcr.wyo.gov.

Figure 1:  The Natrona Converse Outdoor Recreation Collaborative is seeking volunteers for a public cleanup day on Saturday, Oct. 3, to restore a high-traffic parcel of state trust land along Coal Mountain Road outside Casper.

EVANSTON, Wyo. – Sept. 18, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources will host a public forum to share information and gather feedback on a proposed expansion of the visitor center at Bear River State Park.

This project aims to enhance recreation and education opportunities at Bear River State Park by improving visitor services, interpretive exhibits, and dedicated meeting and learning spaces, and to serve as a launch point for recreation in southwest Wyoming. Most importantly, it would connect travelers with the many communities, attractions, and experiences that make the state unique.

During the forum, Wyoming State Parks staff will present preliminary concepts and planning information for the proposed visitor center and invite public feedback to help guide potential next steps in the project development process. The event will provide park users and residents with an opportunity to learn more about how the new facility could support visitor experiences and natural resource education at Bear River.

The public meeting will be held:

Date: Sept. 28, 2026

Time: 5-7 p.m open house, with presentations at 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. 

Location: Bear River Greenway Pavilion, 75 Bear River Drive, Evanston, WY 82930

“This proposed visitor center expansion is a tremendous opportunity to enhance educational and recreational experiences at Bear River State Park,” said Greg Devereaux, district manager for Wyoming State Parks. “Local feedback is essential to ensure the final design best serves the people of Wyoming and its guests for generations to come.” 

Those unable to attend in person can review presentation materials and submit feedback through an online public comment form available at wyoparks.wyo.gov/BearRiver following the meeting.

For more information, contact Carly-Ann Carruthers, planning manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Greg Devereaux, district manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Figure 1: Bear River at Bear River State Park.