Buffalo, WY

Going in, I was amped for Buffalo. The drive through Wyoming was pretty, and Cameron's dad, virtually unprompted, was talking about how much he liked Buffalo when he biked through (albeit a few decades ago). From the drive in, I knew a snowy pass with recreation options was nearby and per the town's tourism website, I knew there was going to be a charming historic downtown.

The day we arrived, we treated ourselves to a paid campground for their showers and laundry services. The morning was brisk and frosty, but yellow leave were falling and I felt clean and fresh – a great start for this town to make a good impression. 

While there, we worked from City Park, and ate dinner at the Virginian. I also spent some time walking through town and some neighborhoods, and stopped in an outdoor supplies shop (the Sports Lure), a thrift store (GiGi's Vintage and Upscale Resale), and a local art gift shop (Wyoming in Color). All were nice, and had degrees of small-town charm, but it was obvious that everyone I interacted with knew I was an outsider. I don't know if it was just the time of day, or the tight-knitness of the town, or my yellow corduroy pants, but I could tell I was not blending in. 

The Good

• Historic downtown with character and some seemingly long-standing businesses. 
• Close proximity to Bighorn National Forest. We spent a night there, and it seemed like there were lots of hiking trails and likely snowmobiling access in the winter. 
• The in-town trail system parallels a pretty creek and has direct access to the national forest. 

The Bad

• Very limited amenities in town. It seemed like if you wanted anything more than a limited local grocer, you'd be driving at least 35 minutes. 
• Felt like a locals-only vibe. I think all of the store owners recognize the economic value of tourism, but I didn't feel like I'd be welcomed if I moved there. 
• Per Cameron – too dry and shrubby, despite being able to see snow-capped hills nearby.
• When looking for a place to eat, only ~20% of the nearby options were opened on a Wednesday night. Maybe the town is popping on the weekends, but weekdays are pretty bland. 

The Verdict

No. It was hard to not compare to Jackson, WY given the proximity of our visit, but whereas Jackson was far too bougie, Buffalo was not bougie enough. I'm not against a remote town, but Buffalo didn't have enough on the good side to counteract the challenges that there would be. 

Per the town's website, they are unsure if Buffalo is named after the animal or the town in New York. As an outsider, it seems far more likely that it's named after the animal.

There were lots of murals around town and they all seemed to boast odd facts and slogans that made me giggle. This one reads "more than a one horse town"...

...and this one: "a creek runs through it."

The main town square is named "Crazy Woman Square." I thought that was simultaneously funny and rude, but then we started so see more spots and shops around town boasting the Crazy Woman nomenclature. Turns out there is a nearby creek and canyon that bears that name.

It seemed like Clearwater Creek was the primary selling point for the town. It was nice, and the parallel trail took you into the national forest. 

Maybe it was the time of year or the time of the week, but downtown seemed pretty lifeless, despite the historic charm it seemed to boast. 

The town notice board advertised some upcoming events. A showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show is a plus in my books, and, although not pictured, another flyer I saw nearby was for a weekend fall arts and crafts and crafts fair. 

All of the statues in town were historic in nature. I prefer a bit more whimsy, but I suppose this one's proof that it's more than a one horse town. 

Frank Prosinski Park, where we hung out most of the day, was nice and relatively-well attended, albeit mostly by retirees walking their small dogs. 

We parked next to a fenced-in horseshoe lawn, so Pancake got some unleashed outdoor time.