Good Stops Through Southern Wyoming into Utah

When: June 2, 2001 (one night)
Where:  Red Desert Rose Campground (Rawlings WY)
Cost: $34.02/night for full hook-ups
Bucket Lists:  Matthew Shepard Memorial

We planned two travel days to get from Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City.   We made a couple of stops en route that are worth sharing.

Lincoln Highway

Lincoln Highway Memorial — near Laramie Wyoming

Just east of Laramie is a wonderful rest area with memorial and statue of Abraham Lincoln.  We stopped there because I wanted a photo with the statue of the President himself. Then, I got to reading about why the memorial was there in the first place. That is because Interstate 80 forms part of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental road for automobiles in the United States over a century ago.   There have been several realignments throughout its history, the last of which took around 20 years to complete.   We tend to take stuff like this for granted nowadays.  Yet, having good roads and bridges are something we should all be proud of.

Check out the Lincoln Highway Association for more information.

Matthew Shepard Memorial

No town wants to be known for something horrific.  Yet, at least for me, whenever I think of Laramie, Wyoming, the first thing that comes to mind is Matthew Shepard.   He died in 1998, just around the same time that I was coming out.   And, as I got more involved in LGBT activism efforts, his story was something none of us could forget.  He is the namesake for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act – which everyone I know just calls the “Matthew Shepard Act.”   I saw his mother, Judy Shepard, speak on a couple of different occasions, and no one is a better advocate for the community.    A memorial bench on the University of Wyoming honors Matthew, and visiting that was a “must do” for me.  

Matthew Shepard Memorial Bench - University of Wyoming

Because we were driving the RV and parking is limited on campus, Kasie just dropped me off on 9th Street, and I walked towards the Arts & Sciences building where the bench is located.   There are several other benches in the area, and it took me a while to find the right one, even with Google Maps.   The bench is in the southeast portion of the plaza area right outside the A&S building, along with several other benches.  The bench does have an inscription which reads in part: “He continues to make a difference.  Peace be with him and all who sit here.”  Other than the plaque, the bench wouldn’t stand out, except that there were a few flowers and other handmade items on the bench.   The memorial was overall very understated.  

I spent a few sobering moments reflecting on Matthew’s life and his role in the LGBT movement, but I also felt out of place doing so with the hustle and bustle of the campus surrounding me.   The bench just didn’t seem to fit there, and I felt like I did not either.  I felt a level of self-consciousness that I hadn’t in decades about being gay…like people were watching me at the memorial, and knew I was different somehow.  It was a weird unexpected feeling that didn’t last long.   Perhaps the feeling was a reminder of just how far we’ve come in the LGBT community.  And that, even though there is more work to do, maybe Matthew truly is at peace.    

Red Desert Rose Campground

Another 1.5 hours of driving would take us to our stop for the night, the Red Desert Rose Campground in Rawlins, Wyoming.   The campground is located right off I80 next to another RV Park.  Although there are full hook-ups and cable, this is essentially a “no frills” park.   The map of the park shows a “puppy park,” playground for kids, horseshoes area, and mini golf course – but at least during our stay, most of those amenities were not very well maintained.   Out of these, we used the dog park a few times.  The park served its purpose for a one-night stay, and we would stay there again if need be on another trip.    

Rawlins is home to Buck's, a bar and grill with a menu that is about the size of Wyoming.   The menu font was big enough that I didn’t need my glasses.   They served some decent pepperoni pizza, a burger, and some craft beers that I forgot to write down.   We drove around Rawlings a little, and called it an early night.  

Echo Canyon  -- Utah Welcome Center

Echo Canyon Welcome Center — Do you see the prairie dog?

The next day, we finally got to Utah.   About 27 miles from the border on I-80, there’s a belated welcome center of sorts near the I80/I84 junction.   We stopped to stretch our legs and make a pit stop.   Much to our surprise, we were met with a welcome committee:  hundreds of prairie dogs adjacent the parking lot and the “Utah” sign.   We watched as another couple had fed the prairie dogs.  Kasie opted to throw out some real dog kibble, but I thought the prairie dogs were getting a little too friendly.   While she joked about petting them and adding a few to our four-dog clan, I was more concerned one might scurry up my leg!  It was a fun memorable experience….BUT in hindsight, we shouldn’t have fed them at all and left them to forage more naturally.  Forgive us.  We’ll do better next time.  Check out the video below for some footage of these wonderful creatures!

Yes, I did write a song about Prairie Dogs. Don’t be jealous, Bruce Hornsby.