Quirky Roadside Attractions You’ll Only Find in Wyoming
Just a short drive south of Casper, the small town of Muddy Gap offers a roadside spectacle unlike any other in Wyoming: the giant concrete dinosaur sculptures along historic Highway 220. Known as the Muddy Gap Dinosaurs, these oversized prehistoric creatures were created decades ago and still stand sentinel over the dusty highway. Visitors can walk among the towering T-Rex and stegosaurus figures, which serve as a whimsical nod to Wyoming’s rich fossil history. The blend of kitschy roadside art with the open Wyoming sky makes for unforgettable photo ops, particularly in the golden light of late afternoon. This spot is perfect for travelers keen to explore an oddball attraction that nods to the state’s deep connection to paleontology.
Farther west, about a 40-minute drive from Jackson, the town of Wilson surprises visitors with its quirky National Museum of Wildlife Art perched on a bluff overlooking the National Elk Refuge. While the museum’s collection of fine art might seem conventional, its eccentricity lies in its design and setting. The building’s exterior mimics the rugged cliffs and mesas of the Wyoming landscape, making it an art piece itself. Inside, visitors wander through galleries filled with over 5,000 works depicting animals in every imaginable form. The museum balances high culture with a playful spirit, especially during outdoor sculpture tours that feature oversized bronze animals seemingly frozen mid-leap. Visiting in early summer when the elk herd grazes below adds a living dimension to the artistic homage.
In the southeastern corner near Torrington, about two hours east of Cheyenne, the Prairie Dog Town at the Goshen County Fairgrounds offers a quirky close-up with one of Wyoming’s most beloved critters. Unlike typical wildlife viewing, this attraction lets visitors observe prairie dogs at close range as they chatter and pop in and out of their burrows in a bustling colony. The fairgrounds host an annual prairie dog festival that celebrates this small rodent’s quirky social behavior, complete with educational talks and local crafts. The best time to visit is spring or early summer when the prairie dog pups are most active and visible, providing a lively, interactive wildlife experience that’s unique to Wyoming’s grasslands.
Heading north to Buffalo, about 45 minutes north of Sheridan, the Occidental Hotel stands as a monument to Old West eccentricity. Built in the late 1800s, the hotel and its adjacent bar are steeped in ghost stories and historic legends. Its saloon walls are lined with vintage photos and artifacts from Wyoming’s frontier days, creating an immersive step back in time. Visitors can sit at the bar where famous gunslingers once drank, and catch local history through spirited storytelling nights. The hotel’s unique charm is its blend of genuine history and folklore, making it a living relic. Winter evenings here are especially atmospheric, with roaring fireplaces and the snowy Bighorn Mountains just beyond the windows.
About 30 minutes east of Cody lies the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a profoundly unusual roadside stop with a heavy historical legacy. The center interprets the site of the World War II Japanese American internment camp located here. It features exhibits that explain the complex story of civil liberties, wartime fear, and resilience set against the backdrop of the rugged Wyoming landscape. Walking the outdoor trails of the site, visitors encounter preserved guard towers and barracks foundations, creating an eerie yet enlightening experience. Visiting in spring or fall offers cooler weather for reflective hikes surrounded by wildflowers or autumn colors. This is a unique cultural waypoint blending history with Wyoming’s distinctive terrain.
Near Laramie, about 30 minutes west, the Vedauwoo Recreation Area surprises many with its otherworldly granite rock formations and hidden caves along the Interstate 80 corridor. This collection of massive, pockmarked rocks invites visitors to scramble, hike, and explore labyrinthine passageways through boulders that seem sculpted by ancient giants. The Garden of the Gods Trail provides an easy loop through the most dramatic features, making it accessible yet thrilling. Vedauwoo’s setting on a high plateau gives panoramic views of the Snowy Range Mountains, especially stunning at sunset. The area’s unique geology and opportunity for hands-on exploration make it a must-see for travelers craving something offbeat and tactile in Wyoming’s high country.
Lastly, in the far northwest corner near Cody, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West delivers a quirky fusion of museums under one roof, each dedicated to a different facet of the American West. The center houses five distinct museums, including those focused on natural history, firearms, Plains Indian culture, and Western art. Visitors can wander from a detailed diorama of bison herds to galleries filled with historic cowboy gear and Native artifacts. What sets this center apart is the sheer breadth and unexpected juxtapositions of its collections, all framed by the legacy of Buffalo Bill himself. Spring and fall visits offer the added bonus of fewer crowds and dramatic mountain views from the center’s outdoor terrace.
Each of these places reveals a slice of Wyoming’s eclectic personality—where vast landscapes meet the unexpected, and history blends with whimsy in ways you won’t find anywhere else. Whether encountering giant dinosaurs by the highway, exploring ghost-haunted hotels, or climbing ancient rocks shaped by time, travelers can seek out the state’s distinct roadside curiosities woven through its sweeping terrain.