Embracing Winter: Weston County offers a variety of adventures during winter months

Weston County is home to a variety of outdoor winter activities, appealing to any adventurist. From snowmobiling to fat tire biking, northeastern Wyoming is the perfect place to have a one-of-a-kind experience.

If blustery conditions deter adventurists from their outdoor plans, Weston County is home to numerous historical places to keep one busy.

Snowmobiling

Newcastle is an access point for the Black Hills Trail System, providing riders with miles of groomed trails through the Northeast.

The trail offers access to hundreds of miles of groomed trails where riders can expect plenty of deep powder to boondock in. 

In addition, the Flying V Trail system east of Newcastle offers miles of groomed trails for enjoyment and endless fun. Combined with tens of thousands of acres of off-trail riding, there are days of endless adventure at the turn of a throttle. 

With vast trails spanning many miles, Weston County is a fantastic place to snowmobile without the crowds. 

A popular trail known for its peaceful, tranquil environment is Mallo Trail, outside of Newcastle. Here, riders may experience crossing paths with mule deer or elk which are abundant in the area.

Additional activities

Wyoming is one of the best winter destinations in the country for cross-country skiing, which provides for a great family activity.

Fat tire biking is another activity for outdoor enthusiasts to discover tranquility as they wander along numerous trails in Weston County, enjoying the ponderosa forests and rocky peaks in the area.

Snowshoeing is an alternative winter recreational activity near the Black Hills National Forest. Compared to summer months, the winter season is less crowded, and many trails offer secluded experiences for cold-weather enthusiasts.

LAK Reservoir is privately owned by True Ranches, and public access to it is provided by an access agreement between the ranch and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

In the winter, it is a popular destination for ice fishing and is home to a variety of species, including rainbow, brown, cutthroat, brook and lake trout, as well as kokanee salmon. 

Sit back and relax

If being out in the snow and cold is not one’s cup of tea, they can catch a movie at the historic Dogie Theatre, located in downtown Newcastle on Main Street.

The Dogie Theatre is a single screen theatre which opened on March 21, 1951, featuring Jane Powell and Ricardo Montalban in “Two Weeks with Love” and was state of art with a Western theme. 

According to the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, a larger screen was installed in 1963, and in 1965 the Black Hills Amusement sold the Dogie Theatre to Commonwealth Theaters of Kansas City, Mo.

Then in 1986, the theater was sold to Gerald and Judy Bullard, who hosted a reenactment of the Dogie Theatre grand opening on March 24, 2001 to celebrate 50 years of business, playing the same show as the original night.  

The Bullards sold the historic theatre to Daren Downs in July of 2022, and he still owns it today, along with numerous Newcastle memorabilia, including a grand opening ticket to the Dogie Theatre.

Check out a good book

Between 1899 and 1917, there were 16 Carnegie libraries built in Wyoming, and today, only 10 Carnegie libraries remain standing. 

Newcastle received its Carnegie grant in February of 1911 and was completed in August of 1912. The first librarian was Anna C. Miller. 

The Newcastle Carnegie Library was designed by Charles A. Randall in a neoclassical architectural style using sandstone and brick and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 as part of the Newcastle Commercial District.

The library was built adjacent to the courthouse, and in 1983 an addition was completed, where the front steps and doors were removed from the Carnegie portion and the entrance was moved to the new addition.

Information in this article was compiled from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming and Weston County’s official website.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.