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.”

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.

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?

• What is your response to people who live in Wyoming or Florida who may be offended by the post?

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.

“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.

• Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All said Yellowstone alone is enough to tip the scales in Wyoming’s favor.

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.

“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.