You’ll find Wyoming’s most vibrant ghost town celebrations at South Pass City’s Gold Rush Days each July, where $5 admits you to gold panning and anvil blasting competitions among preserved 1860s storefronts. Grand Encampment hosts both the Father’s Day Woodchoppers Jamboree—featuring lumberjack contests and rodeo action—and January’s Sierra Madre Winter Carnival with snowmobile races past copper-boom architecture. Kirwin offers guided August backcountry tours to its 9,500-foot mining ruins, while Superior keeps coal-town heritage alive through annual Mud Bogs. Each festival below reveals specific dates, admission details, and what you’ll experience.
Key Takeaways
- South Pass City hosts Gold Rush Days each July featuring gold panning, mine tours, and anvil blasting competitions with $5 admission.
- Grand Encampment holds Woodchoppers Jamboree annually on Father’s Day weekend, combining lumberjack competitions with rodeo events since 1961.
- Grand Encampment’s Sierra Madre Winter Carnival in January offers snowmobile races and mining-heritage activities at 7,277 feet elevation.
- Kirwin provides guided August tour experiences exploring high-altitude mining ruins and the historic 1907 avalanche site near Meeteetse.
- Superior celebrates its coal mining heritage with annual Mud Bogs, maintaining community vibrancy among its 336 current residents.
South Pass City’s Gold Rush Days Festival
When summer arrives in the Wind River Range foothills, South Pass City State Historic Site transforms into a living portal to Wyoming’s mining frontier.
You’ll find Gold Rush Days on July 11-12, 2026, where $5 admission grants access to authentic 1867-era experiences at 125 South Pass Main Street.
Step back to 1867 for two days of authentic Gold Rush experiences at South Pass City for just $5 admission.
You can pan for gold in the same district that yielded $17 million, tour the legendary Carissa Mine, and watch anvil blasting competitions echo through the gulches.
Vintage base ball games follow period rules while vintage photography captures your pioneer persona.
The preserved ghost town—maintained by the Department of State Parks and Friends of South Pass City—offers saloon visits, mining demonstrations, and trails threading through historic structures where 2,000 fortune-seekers once staked their claims along the Oregon Trail corridor. The festival celebrates the diverse heritage of cowboys, gold miners, Oregon Trail emigrants, and Native Americans who shaped this frontier settlement. Live music performances fill the air throughout both festival days, adding authentic period entertainment to the historic atmosphere.
Kirwin’s Annual August Tour Experience
While South Pass City celebrates its Gold Rush heritage with summer festivals, Kirwin’s story unfolds through August guided tours that confront visitors with the stark realities of high-altitude mining life. You’ll trek 33-40 miles south of Meeteetse into bear country at 9,500 feet, where tour companies reveal mine history spanning $1-4 million in early 1900s investments.
The February 5, 1907 avalanche remains central to these narratives—three killed, structures obliterated, over 50 feet of snow burying what 200 residents built. You’ll walk among preserved assay offices, cabins, and stables where families abandoned everything mid-escape. Visitors report hearing voices and laughter among the ruins, adding to the town’s haunted reputation that refuses to die. The dark, eerie lighting and smell of dank decay enhance the ghostly atmosphere as you explore structures overgrown with vegetation.
These avalanche stories aren’t sanitized entertainment; they’re warnings etched in weathered timber about mountain living’s unforgiving terms, accessible to anyone willing to navigate rough roads into genuine Wyoming backcountry.
Grand Encampment’s Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo
You’ll find Grand Encampment celebrates its timber and ranching heritage each Father’s Day weekend at the world-famous Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo.
Lumberjacks compete in handsaw and chainsaw events before afternoon rodeo action begins. The Lions Club Arena hosts this tradition dating back over fifty years, with $22 all-day tickets covering wood-fired barbecue, vendors, and entertainment. Competitors vie for Rocky Mountain Championship titles in both Lumberjack and Lumberjill divisions.
Events run from morning logging competitions through bull riding. Between events, you can explore the Grand Encampment Museum’s sixteen historic buildings that document the valley’s copper boom era and pioneer settlement. The museum is located at 7,277 feet elevation. The festival includes a parade and melodrama that add entertainment value to the weekend celebration.
June Jamboree Celebration Details
Since 1961, the Riverside-Encampment Lions Club has kept Encampment’s timber history alive through the annual Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo, held each Father’s Day weekend at the Lions Club Arena.
You’ll witness competitive logging events including two-man handsaw competitions and the “Mad Logger” chainsaw throw, where chips fly as competitors honor the valley’s forestry roots.
Champions like Mike Hammer and Albert Wertz established traditions that continue today.
Afternoons shift to rodeo traditions at the Encampment Rodeo Grounds, featuring team-roping, saddle bronc, and bull riding.
Kids participate in mutton busting while families enjoy wood-fired barbecue and ice-cold beer.
The Grand Encampment Opera Company presents melodramas at the historic Opera House, and local vendors showcase handicrafts.
Between events, visit the Grand Encampment Museum to explore photographs and relics from the town’s copper mining boom, including exhibits on the Ferris-Haggarty Mine that once employed 250 men.
The town also serves as the gateway to Medicine Bow Forest, where over one million acres of southeastern Wyoming wilderness offers hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting opportunities.
This Father’s Day celebration preserves authentic Western heritage in a town where freedom still matters.
Grand Encampment Museum Tours
Beyond the arena dust and rodeo cheers, you’ll discover Encampment’s deeper history at the Grand Encampment Museum, where 15-18 authentic structures from the 1890s-1920s copper boom era stand preserved at 807 Barnett.
The museum architecture showcases relocated buildings—from a two-story outhouse to a converted insurance office turned saloon—each telling stories of the valley’s mining, timber, and ranching heritage.
You’ll find artifact preservation at its finest, with original tramway equipment from the 16-mile aerial system that once transported copper ore from mountain mines to riverside smelters. The gravity-driven mechanism used 840 buckets to carry ore over 16 miles, with full buckets pulling themselves down the mountains while empty ones returned uphill. The tramway featured 270 towers supporting nearly 300,000 feet of cable across four sections.
Docent-led tours reveal building interiors Tuesday through Saturday, revealing collections that include period machinery, domestic furnishings, and the Bert and Vera Oldman Research Area’s extensive photographs documenting frontier life.
Admission’s free, letting you explore Wyoming’s independent spirit without constraints.
Sierra Madre Winter Carnival in Grand Encampment
Each January, the Sierra Madre Winter Carnival transforms Encampment into a hub of high-altitude celebration, drawing winter sports enthusiasts and heritage-minded visitors to Wyoming’s south-central mountains. You’ll find this 38-year tradition continues the town’s rendezvous legacy from the 1830s, when trappers gathered at Camp le Grand.
At 7,277 feet elevation, the carnival showcases outdoor recreation against historic architecture dating to the 1897 copper boom.
Carnival highlights include:
- Snowmobile races through alpine terrain bordering Medicine Bow National Forest
- Mining-heritage competitions reflecting the town’s copper industry roots
- Winter contests in Encampment’s mile-square layout with four tree-lined parks
- Gateway access to Sierra Madre backcountry exploration
This late-January event anchors six annual celebrations sustaining Encampment’s 500 residents and preserving frontier traditions without government interference.
Point of Rocks Stage Station’s Year-Round Accessibility
You’ll find Point of Rocks Stage Station open year-round without seasonal closures or entry fees, making it one of Wyoming’s most accessible historic sites. The unmanned station welcomes visitors daily from a small parking area just off Interstate 80 Exit 130.
Interpretive signs guide your exploration of the 1862 sandstone structure and stabilized outbuildings. Unlike many regional museums with limited schedules, this National Register property maintains continuous public access to its grounds.
Although you’ll have access to the site, you won’t find on-site staff or visitor services.
Museum and Building Hours
Unlike many historic sites with restricted seasonal schedules, Point of Rocks Stage Station maintains year-round accessibility for visitors exploring Wyoming’s ghost town remnants. You’ll find the grounds open sunrise to sunset daily, requiring no appointment or admission fee.
The state-owned site, located just half a mile south of I-80 at Exit 130, offers immediate access to preserved history.
While interior restoration by SPHST stabilized the structure during the 1980s, you won’t find conventional visitor facilities here. Contact Wyoming State Parks at 307-332-3684 for current access details.
Expect these authentic frontier conditions:
- Cramped, dimly lit interior spaces with low ceilings
- Tiny windows limiting natural light penetration
- Damp atmosphere within weathered stone walls
- Single fireplace remnant in the south wing
This raw preservation approach maintains historical integrity over modern comfort.
Seasonal Operating Schedule
When planning your visit to Point of Rocks Stage Station, you’ll discover a site that defies the typical constraints of Wyoming’s historic properties.
The grounds remain accessible year-round from sunrise to sunset, allowing you to explore this unmanned historic site at Exit 130 off I-80 whenever adventure calls.
The visitor center adapts to Wyoming’s demanding climate with seasonal lighting adjustments—operating 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May through September, then shifting to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. October through April.
This off-season preservation approach maintains public access while protecting historic buildings during harsh winter months.
You’ll find interpretive signs throughout the 238-266 WY-377 location, though calling 307-332-3684 beforehand guarantees you won’t encounter unexpected closures during your journey into frontier history.
Historic Grounds Access
The State of Wyoming’s 1947 acquisition of Point of Rocks Stage Station established a precedent for perpetual public access that continues today. You’ll find this one-acre site accessible year-round, positioned one-half mile south of Interstate 80 where Overland Trail history intersects with Union Pacific Railroad heritage.
The location connects you to early settlements along Bitter Creek, where mining relics and stage operations once flourished.
Your unrestricted access includes:
- Native sandstone station building with original unglazed windows and timber roof
- Stable ruins displaying stone foundations framed by steep valley cliffs
- Historic corral structures near Black Butte Road
- Interpretive grounds maintained by Wyoming Department of State Parks
The site’s proximity to modern transportation routes ensures you can explore this National Register property whenever you choose, without seasonal barriers obstruct your visit.
Tinnelli’s House of Wonder Halloween Celebration
Each October, Ryan Tinnelli transforms his 20,000-square-foot pink landmark in Shoshoni into one of Wyoming’s most unconventional Halloween destinations.
You’ll experience the building’s haunted history firsthand, exploring the 1920s structure that once housed President Gerald Ford’s grandfather’s ventures.
The artistic transformation blends the site’s 112-year legacy with Tinnelli’s hand-drawn animations displayed in five makeshift theaters, including the converted Masonic Lodge.
For $5, you’ll wander the labyrinth of interconnected rooms adorned with bicycle installations and floor-to-ceiling murals.
If you’re adventurous, contact Tinnelli directly about spending the night—though availability depends on current guests’ approval.
Located at the crossroads serving Yellowstone-bound travelers, this celebration draws both locals and international visitors to experience Wyoming’s most strangely bizarre cultural preservation effort.
Superior: A Living Ghost Town Worth Visiting
Nestled at the junction of White City and Horse Thief Canyon, Superior emerged during the Transcontinental Railroad’s construction as a coal mining powerhouse that would eventually lead the West in production.
Once home to over 3,000 residents, this isolated community now hosts 336 people committed to artifacts preservation and authentic visitor experiences.
You’ll discover Superior’s resilient spirit through:
- The restored Union Hall – the West’s largest union building standing as proof of worker solidarity
- Concrete navigation arrows dotting the landscape from 1900s air-mail routes
- Accessible abandoned mines offering underground exploration opportunities
- The Superior Museum showcasing coal mining history Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The annual Mud Bogs event keeps this living ghost town vibrant, proving you don’t need crowds to preserve freedom and heritage.
Planning Your Ghost Town Event Adventure
Wyoming’s ghost town events operate on seasonal rhythms you’ll need to master for successful visits.
Mark your calendar for South Pass City’s Gold Rush Days, Encampment’s Woodchoppers Jamboree (June 14-15, 2025), and Kirwin’s August tours from Meeteetse Museums. Most sites close October through April, though Point of Rocks maintains year-round grounds access.
Base yourself strategically—Sweetwater County for western sites, Wind River Country for South Pass City. Book accommodations early in Rawlins, Saratoga, or Rock Springs during event weekends.
Check weather conditions before committing to Kirwin’s four-hour expedition.
Pack layers for unpredictable mountain weather and sturdy boots for exploring original structures. Wildlife photography opportunities abound along Sweetwater County roads, where wild horses roam.
After your ghost town adventures, local culinary tours showcase Wyoming’s frontier-inspired cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Pets Allowed at Wyoming Ghost Town Events and Historic Sites?
Pet policies aren’t explicitly stated for Wyoming’s ghost town events and historic sites. Event restrictions typically focus on preservation, so you’ll want to contact specific venues beforehand. Most outdoor grounds welcome leashed pets, but buildings remain off-limits.
What Lodging Options Are Available Near These Ghost Town Event Locations?
Like trails branching through sagebrush country, you’ll find lodging from luxury lodges in Cody and Lander to camping sites near Encampment. Rock Springs and Meeteetse offer historic hotels, while Saratoga provides freedom-seeking basecamp options.
Do Ghost Town Events Offer Activities Suitable for Young Children?
You’ll find plenty for young children, including gold panning, nature walks, and playground facilities. Historic storytelling brings pioneer tales alive, while souvenir crafting lets kids create keepsakes. These preserved sites offer hands-on exploration at your family’s pace.
Are Wyoming Ghost Town Roads Passable for RVS and Large Vehicles?
While most ghost town highways welcome your RV’s freedom, off road vehicle restrictions protect Kirwin’s mountain passages. Road maintenance schedules favor South Pass City, Grand Encampment, and Point of Rocks—where preserved heritage meets pavement, ensuring your journey honors history comfortably.
Can Visitors Explore Ghost Town Buildings When Events Aren’t Happening?
Access varies by location and historical preservation status. You’ll find Point of Rocks and Encampment museums open seasonally with building access. However, Kirwin and South Pass City require private access arrangements or event attendance to explore structures safely.
References
- https://travelwyoming.com/blog/stories/post/5-wyoming-ghost-towns-you-need-to-explore/
- https://www.wyomingcarboncounty.com/blog/261-2025-annual-event-lineup
- https://www.wyomingcarboncounty.com/events/annual-events
- https://windriver.org/spookiest-places-wyoming/
- https://www.explorewy.com/blog/ghost-towns-halloween-southwest-wyoming-travel
- https://www.cheyenne.org/events/top-events-festivals/
- https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wytttp/ghosttowns.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Wyoming
- https://www.southpasscity.org/goldrushdays
- https://windriver.org/video/gold-rush-days-south-pass-city-wyoming/
