Welcome to Wyoming!

By Helen Coronato

The Accidental Cowgirl

Drivers headed westbound on I-90 are greeted by the Forever West billboard announcing the unofficial line in the sand between the Midwest and the West. This staple photo-op recently upped the ante on Western hospitality with the addition of the “Welcome Center” sign alerting travelers to the recently opened Northeast Information Center at exit 199. Curious to see what newcomers (like myself) would experience as a first impression, I pulled in.

I was immediately struck by the grand entrance, lovely landscaping and easy access to very clean bathrooms (always a bonus!) open 24 hours day. Going into the main building, I was greeted by high-end décor; think Pier 1 goes frontier. There were several fun spots to snap a few quick photos, including a white water rafting adventure that provided a great backdrop but required no towel.

I mulled around for a few moments, taking note of the extensive amount of information free for the taking. Maps, guides, points of interest, coupons and trails lined the walls — making it possible for every traveler to take what they need. I even found a few articles of interest (the Lewis and Clark trail!) and happily took a pamphlet to share with my own family as I am committed to remaining a tourist in my own backyard and not taking for granted where I live. (On a sad side note, I lived in NY most of my life and never visited the Statue of Liberty. Sigh.) I also eavesdropped on the Welcome Center staff taking the time to help tourists find alternative routes after an unusual amount of rain resulted in road damage and threatened to derail their plans. The kind, reassuring tone of the staff coupled with their knowledge and understanding made me proud to have parked my Wyoming plates outside.

And that’s the beauty of Welcome Centers like these — the first impression. With 24/7 Wi-Fi, extended summer hours that begin at 7am and close at 7pm and a staff that is dedicated not only to pointing you in the right direction, but pointing out what to do and see as you make your way there, the Northeast Information Center is an invaluable addition to our neck of the woods. An addition that is likely to be added to the memory making experience of visiting our great state.

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