Wyoming
Wyoming Bear Lodge Resort reopens doors in hopes of rebuilding business
SHERIDAN COUNTY, Wyo. — In the snowy mountains of Sheridan County, Wyoming, it can be hard to believe a resort is open in the midst of the Elk Fire. However, the Bear Lodge Resort has decided to reopen their doors, in hopes of making up some of their lost business.
According to a press release by Lisa Eichhorn, the Public Information Officer for Sheridan, Burgess Junction, where Bear Lodge Resort resides, is not in the danger zone.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
Mid-October usually means one thing for many in the region.
“So, October is hunting season. So, that can be pretty busy. Unfortunately, the fire kind of coincided with the bulk of that business,” said Ian Lindsey, the manager of the Bear Lodge Resort.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
At the Bear Lodge Resort, one of their busiest times of year is early October. However, the now almost three-week Elk Fire has caused the resort to lose a huge chunk of their business.
“There’s been a little bit of activity going on, nothing like it would normally be, but enough that we want people to know if there’s a need, somebody’s here to help,” said Scott Jorgensen, one of the owners of the lodge.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
Now that the first snow of the season has fallen, the Bear Lodge Resort is able to reopen their doors in hopes of rebuilding some of their hunting business.
“Seeing nobody up here is weird,” said Brady Tracy, a hunter and nearby resident.
His brother told, Jeff, MTN, “It’s pretty sad, this parking lot should be full.”
Mack Carmack, MTN News
Jeff and Brady Tracy say every week during hunting season they visit the area, and were sad to see it closed most of the month.
“I feed my family by wildlife,” Jeff said.
“A lot of people don’t realize hunting is not just a sport. You’re actually bring food home,” Brady said.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
The fire hasn’t only impacted the hunters, but the employees of the resort as well.
“We actually all live here at the lodge. So that’s why the fire was particularly difficult for us, because some of our employees, their homes are actually out of state,” said Lindsey.
Saturday officially marked the soft reopening of the resort.
Jorgensen says it can be hard to predict their current business, especially since the hunting season is almost over.
“We’ve kind of done a very limited crew, soft opening, so that we could service anyone who was going to come up and check things out,” he said.
Mack Carmack, MTN News
Now, the crew is trying to stay positive, hoping more snow comes soon, for another booming season.
“We had a pretty good lunch, and I don’t know. We’ll see where it goes,” Lindsey said.
Gaining the knowledge to become an outdoorsy type of person isn’t easy. It takes time, dedication, and the desire to sometimes get out of your comfort zone. Sure, if you grew up in the outdoors, but it’s been a while since you’ve actually been out hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping, you may be a little rusty, but you have a leg up on those who haven’t.
If you’re in Wyoming, there’s a good chance that taking advantage of the incredible outdoor activities we have available has crossed your mind, but where to start is the big question. Asking others for help is one way, but there’s sometimes an element of intimidation or embarrassment involved.
If you’re a woman looking for that help and want to avoid the intimidation, you should really check out the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoor Woman (BOW) workshops this summer. It’s held at the Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp near Dubois, and everything you need to learn about the outdoors is provided, including food and lodging.
The registration deadline is March 31, meaning you have just a couple of weeks to apply for one or all of the offered workshops.
There are multiple options available depending on your level of outdoor knowledge.
Basic BOW Workshop: Introductory level camp teaching outdoor survival, basic fly fishing, backpacking, how to shoot, outdoor photography, and more. There will be two of these workshops, June 5-7 and August 7-9. $150
Fly Fishing Beyond BOW Workshop: The focus here is on fly fishing. Learn the basics and then put them to use. This workshop runs July 30 – Aug 2. $150
Backpacking Beyond BOW: This workshop is all about backpacking, hiking, cooking on the trail, adjusting to the trail, and preparing for the trip. You’ll learn how to properly pack your bag, set up camp, and then head out on an overnight trip. July 30 – Aug 2. $150
Become a BOW Instructor: Here’s where you put your years of experience to work by sharing your skills and knowledge with others, helping them learn the tricks and tips of the outdoors.
Not only will these workshops help get you started on a life in the outdoors, but you’re likely going to gain some street cred with your family when you can teach them the skills they’ll need to get out and celebrate a Wyoming lifestyle.
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