CHEYENNE — If you ask the folks at In-N-Out Burger, Wyoming is one of the worst places on the planet to “find yourself waking up in.”
Not Iran. Not Colima, Mexico, the murder capital of the world. Not even North Korea.
According to the popular fast-food chain that’s grown a cult following for its burgers and Animal-style fries, Wyoming and Florida are the two places people should least want to be.
“Don’t ever take California and In-N-Out for granted,” the company posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. “You could find yourself waking up in Florida or Wyoming one day.”
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The chain has more than 400 outlets, most in California. There are none in Wyoming or Florida.
Why Wyoming is somehow so undesirable is a mystery to the people who actually live here. And they feel the same, telling Cowboy State Daily that if that’s the opinion In-N-Out Burger has of Wyoming, it can just stay out.
“If that’s how they feel, they can just keep themselves in California,” said Cheyenne resident Jae Brown. “I don’t like In-N-Out anyway. They must have something against the good life.”
Why Wyoming?
The closest In-N-Out Burger location to Wyoming is in Loveland, Colorado, about 52 miles south of Cheyenne. Contact information for local restaurants isn’t public, with all listing the corporate office toll-free number.
Cowboy State Daily called the company’s corporate communications and marketing team and was told any questions had to be emailed to In-N-Out Burger and that someone would respond with answers. Nobody had responded by the time this story was published.
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We asked:
• What does In-N-Out Burger have against Wyoming?
• Why would it be bad for someone to wake up here, or in Florida?
• Is this a political statement, that Wyoming and Florida are big red states, while California and In-N-Out are blue; so, therefore, it’s better to not be in Wyoming or Florida?
• We have no In-N-Out Burger restaurants anywhere in Wyoming now; could that change in the future? Are there plans for Wyoming to have In-N-Out at some point?
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• What is your response to people who live in Wyoming or Florida who may be offended by the post?
(Cowboy State Daily Staff)
What’s Not To Love?
If there’s a contest of whether it’s better to be in Wyoming or California, “It’s Wyoming, hands down,” said Betsy Anderson of Cheyenne.
“I’ve been waking up in Wyoming for a long, long time,” she said, adding that there’s nothing special about In-N-Out. “I’ve tried it once, and it was a hamburger.”
John Borges spent his morning Friday ringing a bell in front of a Salvation Army red kettle at the Walmart off Dell Range Boulevard. He said he loves In-N-Out Burgers and would love for there to be one in Wyoming.
But he said the chain is 180 degrees wrong on its opinion of the Cowboy State.
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“I’ve been here since I was 16 and I love it,” he said. “There’s no place I’d rather live.”
Of the locals who chimed in on the In-N-Out post, nearly all threw out examples of why Wyoming not only isn’t a bad place to live, but better than California. Those include:
• No huge traffic jams going to and from work.
• No income tax, and much lower sales, property and other taxes.
• Fewer people.
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• Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All said Yellowstone alone is enough to tip the scales in Wyoming’s favor.
The fires at Five Guys are so popular, they make them in huge batches. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)
Wyomingites Are Just Smarter
As much as In-N-Out has its underground following, so does Five Guys, another popular fast-food burger chain famous for its burgers and hand-cut fries.
One of the big differences is Five Guys loves Wyoming and does a brisk business at its outlet in the Frontier Mall in Cheyenne, said Darlene Curby, who was busy taking orders as the restaurant opened Friday.
“I was born and raised here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Curby said, adding there are other benefits working for Five Guys. “We make good money here in Wyoming and it goes farther. And the taxes for businesses is a big deal.”
Wyoming’s business-friendly tax environment alone should be enough for In-N-Out — or anyone – to want to set up shop in the Cowboy State, she said.
Andy Kuntz was ordering a drink and fries — “just a little snack” — and said he loves In-N-Out Burger.
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“But this is still better,” he added, pointing at the Five Guys menu board.
All the other debate aside, there’s one thing that tips the scales in Wyoming’s favor over California, said Nadine Murphy, who had just finished shopping at Walmart.
“I think it’s so much better here. I lived in New York, and I would take Wyoming any day,” she said. “And besides, in Wyoming we’re smart enough not to try and pet the buffalo.”
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
