A group of hemp distributors couldn’t convince a federal appeals court Monday that their lawsuit challenging Wyoming’s stringent hemp regulations was wrongfully dismissed.
The businesses failed to state a cognizable preemption claim, failed to demonstrate a constitutional violation, and haven’t established a regulatory taking of their commercial personal property, Judge Harris L. Hartz wrote for the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, affirming a lower court’s dismissal.
Wyoming “need not provide just compensation every time it adjusts its regulatory scheme, even if those changes incidentally impair or even destroy the businesses of some,” Hartz said. Judges Nancy L. …
If you don’t live in Wyoming, the sight of a pronghorn antelope is positively magical. These thickly-coated mammals are like a cross between a deer and a wild goat, and look so peaceful as they graze in western grasslands. Yet the moment they’re startled, a pronghorn springs into action, sprinting up to 60 miles per hour across the plains. When you spot a pronghorn on the move, you believe it’s the speediest land animal in North America. They’re also an evolutionary oddity; they look a lot like African antelopes, but they’re genetically unrelated. Believe it or not, their closest relatives are giraffes.
This is just one species you may spot in the scrubland around Fossil Butte National Monument. Shaped like a giant, striated bottle cap, Fossil Butte is a big hill composed of sedimentary rock and speckled with vegetation. The multicolored surface may remind visitors of the Dakota Badlands, as may the surrounding treeless expanses. In a state full of natural wonders — from the jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons to the cylindrical monolith of Devils Tower — Fossil Butte is easily overlooked.
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Moreover, this national monument in Wyoming’s southwest corner is difficult to reach without a long drive in the backcountry. But intrepid travelers will be rewarded with big skies and eponymous fossils. And, like this underrated Wyoming state park that’s a must-visit for wildlife lovers, Fossil Butte is a fantastic ecosystem for spotting wildlife.
The prehistoric origins of Fossil Butte
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Animals have lived in this spot for at least 50 million years, but back then, most of its inhabitants had fins: the land mass that would become Fossil Butte lay was at the bottom of Fossil Lake. Over the eons, deceased marine specimens left permanent impressions in the emerging rock faces. Many of the fossils here are shockingly clear, giving scientists a vivid portrait of the sizes, shapes, and textures of various lifeforms.
So far, paleontologists have identified 27 fish species and 100 different kinds of insects. The Fossil Butte visitor center displays more than 2,000 of the fossils discovered here, including the “fish wall,” “turtle wall,” and “insect end case.” The center also has an extended physical timeline, representing different stages of geology since Earth was formed, helping patrons appreciate just how ancient this region is.
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If you’re looking for fauna that still roams these parts, head outside. The grounds are crisscrossed with two main hiking routes: Historic Quarry Trail and Fossil Butte Nature Trail. Together, the trails cover about four miles and are well-maintained. More rustic alternatives include Cundick Ridge Trail, Eagle Nest Point Trail, and Rubey Point Trail. None of these trails is too difficult, and you’d be hard-pressed to get lost in such a wide-open space, but do make sure to bring water, snacks, and sunscreen, especially on hot days. (These are some of the hiking safety tips everyone should know.) From the trail, you’re likely to spot pronghorns in the surrounding grasses, as well as white-tailed prairie dogs and ground squirrels. You’re less likely to encounter a bobcat, mountain lion, moose, or badger, but rest assured, they’re out there.
Getting to Fossil Butte and where to stay
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Fossil Butte is definitely off the beaten path. Two hundred miles south of Yellowstone National Park and more than 350 miles from Wyoming’s state capital Cheyenne, this national monument requires effort to visit. Interestingly, Fossil Butte is closer to Salt Lake City, Utah than it is to any major Wyoming destination, and you can drive from that city’s airport — a major hub — to the entrance of Fossil Butte in a little over two hours.
This is a great location to get away from it all; the landscapes from the highway are rugged desert and prairie as far as the eye can see. You can drive for miles without passing so much as a service station. You could easily weave Fossil Butte into a scenic road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. One consolation for venturing out so far is that entrance to Fossil Butte is free.
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The closest hotels to the national monument are nestled in the little town of Diamondville. This place doesn’t have quite 700 residents, but the nearby tourist attraction supports several accommodations, most under $100 per night. Note that Diamondville isn’t next door; you’ll have to drive about 12 miles to reach town, so keep an eye on that fuel gauge. If you come during warmer months, you can hop over to Bear Lake State Park in Utah, a popular spot for swimming and water-sports. It may give you an idea what Fossil Lake looked like all those ages ago.
Anyone traveling north into Wyoming along Colorado State Highway 125 will pass one of the many large “Colorful Colorado” signs that announce when motorists enter and leave the state.
As they speed by, they might not even notice the lonely, simple green highway sign immediately to their right that tells them they’ve reached Wyoming.
The message is an unspectacular “Entering Wyoming” — short and to the point, but not necessarily sweet or welcoming.
A weary traveler driving toward Baggs might not give another of the unambiguous green road signs a second look. Nevertheless, it’s there and doing its job.
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“We think that people appreciate knowing when they’ve crossed into another state,” said Jordan Young, deputy public affairs officer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Entering, Not Welcoming
Drivers on Interstates 80 and 90 and other major highways are welcomed to Wyoming with large, lavish signs. They’re perfect for pull-offs and photo ops for first-time visitors.
WYDOT just replaced the signs along seven primary corridors entering Wyoming from Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Utah. This happens every eight years to give the state’s major points of entry a fresh look.
Unlike the minimalist “Enter Wyoming” signs, these measure either 4 feet by 8 feet, or 8 feet by 16 feet for interstate signs.
“People love these signs,” Doug McGee, WYDOT’s Public Affairs Officer, told Cowboy State Daily in October 2024when the new ones were announced. “I would stake at least $1 that it’s the second most popular sign for photos in Wyoming, behind the Yellowstone National Park entry signs.”
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There are many less-traveled roads that cross state lines into Wyoming, and they have their own signs letting drivers know they’ve entered the Cowboy State. Unlike those along the major corridors, these are basic information and not photogenic.
There’s a reason for that, Young said.
The volume of traffic heading toward Cheyenne along I-25 is significantly higher than the volume on Wyoming Highway 230 or other smaller roads, so there’s less reason to invest in a warm welcome.
“It’s also a safety thing,” Young said. “We’re always looking to give people or drivers as much information as possible as they’re driving without distracting them.
“An ‘Entering Wyoming’ sign can help people give law enforcement or first responders a better idea of where they are in relation to different signs, mile markers, and things like that.”
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That much is undeniable.
When you pass the “Entering Wyoming” sign, you’ve entered Wyoming.
There’s another reason to keep these signs simple. WYDOT makes its own road signs in-house, and “Entering Wyoming” is smaller and more economical than “Welcome to Wyoming” should anything happen to the sign.
“When a sign has been broken, damaged, or stolen, the green signs are an easy way to fill the space while working on an interim sign, if there is one,” Young said. “Also, the ‘Entering Wyoming’ signs don’t get stolen quite as much, not that I’m giving anyone any ideas.”
The Welcome to Wyoming sign at the border with Colorado on Interstate 25. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)
Out, In, Out, In
There aren’t any specific federal or state mandates requiring signs to be posted along every road entering Wyoming. Nevertheless, there are several “Entering Wyoming” signs out there.
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“We try to put them wherever anyone might enter Wyoming for the first time,” Young said.
WYDOT even seems to have embraced the “fun” side of placing these signs.
Jordan doesn’t know every spot where there’s an “Entering Wyoming” sign, but she can recall one place where WYDOT put in the extra effort on signage.
“We have a few signs on a section of U.S. 212 in the northeast corner of Wyoming,” she said. The Beartooth Highway “cuts through the corner of the state. You can’t even get to it without leaving Wyoming and coming back into Wyoming through Montana.”
The Beartooth Highway starts and ends in Montana, but most of it stretches across Wyoming. That’s one spot where it’s educational, and somewhat entertaining, to know when you’ve crossed the state line as drivers meander in and out of Wyoming and Montana.
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Not Entering A Bidding War
People like the “Welcome to Wyoming” signs, and some are willing to pay big money to get one.
When the last batch of “Welcome to Wyoming” signs were taken down, they were sold at a public auction. When the auction ended in April, 21 signs sold for over $107,000.
Jackson real estate agent Sam Haack was one of the bidders eager to own one of those signs.
He bought one of “the big seven” that stood in Niobrara County alongside U.S. Highway 18 near the South Dakota state line for $9,754.12.”
“I originally went for the one on the western side of the Wyoming-Idaho line between Wilson and Victor,” he said. “That was the closest sign to me, and it was 90% covered with stickers.
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“But someone outbid me and paid over $10,000 for that one.”
Several months later, Haack doesn’t regret his purchase in the slightest, although his financial advisor hasn’t shared the same sentiment.
“He told me not to buy anything, including gold, that doesn’t produce money,” he said. “If it just sits there, don’t buy it. This is one of those things that just sits there, but I’ll say it has intangible returns to it.”
As someone willing to pay a premium for a “Welcome to Wyoming” sign, Haack said he would be content to sit on his hands if an “Entering Wyoming” sign were up for sale.
In his view, there’s no personality to it.
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“I just drove into Oregon yesterday, and they had a similar sign,” he said. “It was green with white lettering. That sucks. It had very little character to it.”
When the defunct “Welcome to Wyoming” signs went up for auction, Jackson real estate agent Sam Haack welcomed the opportunity to buy one, snagging this one for more than $9,700. (Getty Images)
Not Worth A Sticker
Over their eight-year lifespan, the “Welcome to Wyoming” signs accumulate a lot of stickers from passing travelers, adding to their character and desirability at auction.
The “Entering Wyoming” sign along Wyoming 230 has a few stickers on it, but there’s not much space and (presumably) not much attraction for people to stop to slap on a sticker or snap a selfie.
For Haack, the old “Welcome to Wyoming” sign is more than just a cool conversation piece for his office wall.
“I think for people who grow an affinity for these designs and fonts, the signs become synonymous with the brand of Wyoming as a state,” he said. “That’s why I’m not a fan of the new signs, and I know many people who aren’t, because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
If there’s any charm to the “Entering Wyoming” signs, Haack doesn’t see it.
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“I definitely wouldn’t pay $10,000 for that sign, I’ll tell you that much,” he said.
Keep It Simple
When a “Welcome to Wyoming” sign is replaced, for whatever reason, people take notice. Not so when an “Entering Wyoming” sign is replaced.
In the 21st Century, Google Maps or Siri are more likely to inform drivers when they cross state lines before a sign does. Still, WYDOT sees the importance and value of “Entering Wyoming.”
“Our sign crews will prioritize safety signs before informational signs,” Young said. “Those simple green, informational signs are definitely not super common on the borders, and they’re inexpensive to place and replace.”
And yet, there’s something to the “Entering Wyoming” signs — no embellishments, slogans, or obnoxious posturing for out-of-state travelers.
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They’re the blue-collar workers of road signs and get the job done in a way that Wyomingites can respect.
“People need to know where they are, and they like to know when they’ve entered Wyoming,” Young said. “We just want to make sure people do that safely.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
