Wyoming’s old-timey general stores function as working portals to an earlier era. Life unwinds in the least-populated state in the country, where these one-stop community shops still hold a real place in town life beyond nostalgia. Dirty Sally’s in Ten Sleep looks much as it did a century ago and retains most of its original architecture. Croghan’s Hall above Dayton Mercantile still serves as a gathering point for a sparsely populated piece of the state. The J.C. Penney Mother Store in Kemmerer opened in 1902 and is the original location of what became the national chain. The eight stores ahead each offer a different chapter of Wyoming’s pioneer past in working retail form.

Aladdin General Store (Aladdin)

Aladdin General Store was first established in 1896. Built by Amos Robinson, the store served the local mining community that developed in the area. The building remains one of the best-preserved 19th-century mercantiles in the state, with much of its original architecture including woodwork, cabinets, and windows still intact after more than a century of service.

In true general store fashion, shoppers find an eclectic inventory including groceries, drinks, art, hardware, and fishing supplies. Upstairs, antiques are on display in “Aladdin’s Antique Attic,” adding further character to the store. Aladdin’s also issues fishing licenses and operates a bar and RV park on the same property. It functions as more than just a store. It serves as a pillar of the surrounding community.

Welty’s General Store (Dubois)

Welty’s General Store has stood the test of time. The current location opened in 1903, though the business operated out of a log cabin starting in 1889, before Wyoming’s statehood. The store continued to evolve, and its current building was constructed in 1956. One notable customer through the years was Butch Cassidy, the western outlaw.

The store operates seasonally to serve summer crowds, with a focus on western wear and outdoor gear. It remains on the National Register of Historic Places and continues as both a local landmark and a historic destination. Across the street sits what could be mistaken for a cave but is actually a cold-storage locker. Welty’s continues to offer a window into the past, with a real sense of what life looked like in an earlier piece of Wyoming history.

Dayton Mercantile (Dayton)

Visitors to Dayton have the chance to see one of the oldest stores in the state. Dayton Mercantile was established in 1882 and functioned mostly as a general store. By 1886, a dance hall opened on the second floor. Known as Croghan’s Hall, the dance hall ranks as the oldest in the state, making the building a central point for the community for generations.

Today, the store remains a popular lunch stop. Known locally as the “Merc,” it draws diners in search of deli sandwiches, pies, and craft drinks. Locals particularly enjoy the “Rustler Reuben” but can also pick up gifts for neighbors or antiques to liven up their home. During summer, the homemade ice cream served at the soda counter ranks among the better treats in this corner of the state.

Farson Mercantile (Farson)

If you head to Farson, make sure you stop in at Farson Mercantile, first opened in 1908. A fire destroyed the original building, forcing the store to relocate in the 1940s. Throughout its lifetime, Farson Mercantile served as the center of the community, providing groceries and operating as a post office, boarding house, and souvenir shop along the way.

Today, the store is known throughout Wyoming as the “Home of the Big Cone.” These oversized ice creams come in massive waffle cones and rank among the strongest dessert stops in the state. There’s also plenty of food for the whole family including pizzas and deli subs. Family road trippers can stop by the well-stocked toy section to find games for the rest of the drive, assuming the kids are not in a sugar coma by then.

J.C. Penney Mother Store (Kemmerer)

Although J.C. Penney is known as a national department store, the chain began at the original J.C. Penney Mother Store in 1902. James Cash Penney opened his first location in Kemmerer, which he originally called the “Golden Rule Store.” During its initial years, Penney actually lived in the attic above the business, and the store ran on a strict cash-only model. The suitably named Penney was particularly focused on offering fair service to the mining community where the store was based.

Today, the store still operates as a working J.C. Penney but also functions as a museum, with antiquated features like an overhead pulley system that originally moved cash from the sales counter to the central office. Customers find much of the same clothing and merchandise as in any J.C. Penney location, with the option to read up on the chain’s history while shopping.

Old Faithful General Store (Yellowstone National Park)

Where better to find an authentic general store than Yellowstone National Park? The Old Faithful Lower General Store, originally known as the Klamer Store, was the first store to operate in the Old Faithful area. Established in 1897 before the National Park Service even existed, the store was purchased in 1915 by Charles Hamilton, who also established Yellowstone’s concession services. The original timber roofline remains visible near the chimney, and the store retains the rustic front porch that Hamilton added later.

The interior runs heavy on woodbeam scents and an imposing stone fireplace. Visitors come for the step-back-in-time atmosphere as much as for the merchandise. There are souvenirs to buy and a sit-down restaurant with burgers and sandwiches. A water-bottle filling station serves visitors heading out into the park, and the adjacent Old Faithful Inn handles overnight lodging.

Mammoth General Store (Yellowstone National Park)

A second popular draw in Yellowstone is the Mammoth General Store, established in 1895. The store sits near the Fort Yellowstone Army Parade Grounds and historically supported the soldiers who managed the park before the development of the ranger service. In the early days of Yellowstone, the store’s military-provision background made it the natural spot to supply early tourists as well.

Now, visitors find unique offerings like huckleberry cheesecake popcorn and locally brewed drinks. There are also souvenirs covering candles, throw pillows, and blankets. Anyone heading deeper into the park can pick up last-minute outdoor gear or fill water bottles at the on-site station, a nod to the store’s roots as a rugged outpost.

Dirty Sally’s General Store (Ten Sleep)

Dirty Sally’s ranks among the most traditional old-timey general stores in Wyoming, with an exterior dating back to the earliest days of Ten Sleep itself. The building originally operated as a bank before reopening as a grocery store. Since then, Dirty Sally’s has become a working haven of ice cream and old-fashioned sodas.

Guests can stock up on treats along with coffee, groceries, and a range of souvenirs including postcards and handmade crafts. Dirty Sally’s also works as the right last stop before heading out to explore Ten Sleep Canyon, where limestone and dolomite cliffs make for popular rock climbing, plus extensive hiking and trout fishing options on the access roads.

Old Time Destinations In Wyoming

Wyoming’s pioneer history shows up in the very structure of its buildings and Main Streets. These general stores rank among the best examples of an earlier era still serving real working purposes in their communities. Stop in for lunch or stock up before a camping trip at any of the eight, where creaking floorboards and rustic architecture provide a link to a past that gets harder to find every year.

Oil City News publishes letters, cartoons and opinions as a public service. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Oil City News or its employees. Letters to the editor can be submitted by following the link at our opinion section.

When ‘Republican values’ trump the rule of law

Dear Casper,

I have lived in Wyoming my entire life. I come from a multi-generational, historically rooted Wyoming family. And yet, as I watch the decisions being made for our beautiful state, I find it harder and harder to find a reason to stay.

Our leadership, and the parties they affiliate with, seem to consistently forget that laws are not mere suggestions to be ignored when they become inconvenient. Following them should be black and white.

For decades, Wyo. Stat. § 22-4-105 has ensured that the parties remain neutral vessels for the people’s will until we, the voters, choose our nominee. The recent move by the State Republican GOP to vet and endorse candidates before the primary isn’t just a change in strategy; it’s a dismissal of not only the state statute but also of the voters who live, work and vote here.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray has built a brand on “election integrity,” yet boasts that his actions — including those his critics have heavily questioned — are simply him upholding “Republican values.” But here lies a disturbing question: How can one claim to be the champion of election integrity while simultaneously supporting a party apparatus that treats the Wyoming Supreme Court’s rulings as optional?

For those who may think, “It’s just one candidate, what could the harm be?” let’s look at how Wyoming’s voting power is already so lopsided. Our party structure is built on a “one county, one vote” system. This means those in our least populated counties carry the same voting weight as the thousands of voters in Laramie or Natrona counties.

By allowing the Republican party to vet and endorse candidates before the public even sees the ballot, the GOP is effectively gerrymandering the primary. They are narrowing the field to only those who pass their “test,” stopping the average hardworking Wyomingite from ever truly weighing in.

This leads us to a fundamental question all voters in this state need to ask: Who does the Wyoming Republican Party think their boss is?

Is it the figureheads in Washington? A small circle of party elites in Douglas? Or is it us, their constituents — the ranchers, the miners, the teachers, the parents — who actually cast the votes and have to live with the consequences of the policies made for our state?

Jessica Mantell
Cheyenne

Homeowners associations do not align with Wyoming values

Dear Casper,

To start, having any HOA in Wyoming outside of Jackson seems wild to me. We are the most conservative, anti-big government state in the union. We as a collective are vehemently against taxation and governmental control.

So why then do we willingly allow and join HOA programs? These organizations are liberal government at its finest. You don’t actually own your properties that reside in an HOA as one rule infraction can cause you to lose everything you worked so hard for and already paid for.

Even AI understands this and I am putting an AI analysis of HOA’s below:

An overreaching liberal government and an HOA often function like the same creature wearing different uniforms. One calls it taxation, the other calls it fees, assessments, or compliance penalties, but the playbook stays suspiciously familiar: create layers of rules, attach financial punishment to violations, then claim it’s all for “community standards” or “public good.” In both systems, property owners are sold the idea of ownership, only to learn that missing a payment, painting a fence the wrong shade of beige, or cutting grass wrong. can trigger liens, legal threats, or attempts to seize what they already paid for. It stops looking like governance and starts looking like legalized extortion with meeting minutes.

As a people, we need to castrate all HOAs’ abilities to steal our homes, livelihoods and properties.

In my opinion, any person that joins an HOA board and enforces rules that can steal someone’s home or levy fines that would create a financial hardship over an RV parked on the property, wrong paint color or cutting grass is no longer a freedom-loving Wyomingite and is instead no better then the socialist governments of places like California or New York.

Mike Hinton
Casper

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