Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – 100 Years Later
Northwest Wyoming The Wild Bunch
Not much has changed at the Hole-in-the-Wall near Kaycee, Wyoming, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from posses in the late 1800s. The hills are still rugged with the same grand views. But today, visitors can trace the movement of these infamous outlaws throughout the state of Wyoming – exploring saloons, hotels, prison cells and other hangouts occupied by the pair more than 100 years ago.
History books say Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker, and the Sundance Kid, born Harry Longabaugh, went down in a blaze of glory during a gunfight with local law enforcement near San Vincent, Bolivia, on November 6, 1908. They left Wyoming in 1901 in an attempt to evade the Pinkerton Detective Agency, known today as the FBI!
There is much debate over whether this was the duo's true fate. Some believe instead the story told by Butch's sister, Lula Parker Betenson, that the outlaws faked their deaths and returned to the States, living anonymously for years before both dying in the 1930s. No matter which story you believe, one thing is certain: They leave behind a legacy of mystery and intrigue that entices thousands of people to retrace their footsteps throughout Wyoming.
Northwest Wyoming Old Trail Town
The Hole-in-the-Wall, located about 30 miles west of Kaycee, can be accessed by Willow Creek Ranch, which also offers authentic ranch experiences and remote access for exploration. Geographically, this area had all the advantages needed for a gang attempting to evade authorities. It was easily defended and impossible for lawmen to access without detection by the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. The original cabin that housed Butch Cassidy can now be found at the Old Trail Town in Cody, Wyoming.
Butch and Sundance also liked to frequent the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, where rooms are named after them today. South of Buffalo and 16 miles west of Kaycee is the Outlaw Cave Recreation Area. It contains a public campground, a Native American rock shelter with pictographs, and the famous "Outlaw Cave." Another popular place for the gang to hide out was in Baggs, Wyoming, bordering Colorado and offering a quick escape.
If you trace the history of Robert Leroy Parker (that's "Butch" to you and me), you will learn that he received his nickname in Rock Springs, Wyoming,
Northwest Wyoming Wyoming Territorial Prison
where he worked in several butcher shops. Butch also called the Meeteetse area home for several years. He left his mark on an 1886 petition, and a few years later in 1890 was arrested outside the local Cowboy Bar that still holds the original back bar and several bullet holes from times past. Later, Butch spent time at the Territorial Prison for stealing horses, but was released with a promise to never return or operate in Wyoming again. "Sundance" received his name after being thrown in prison in Sundance, Wyoming, for the same offense.
Each year in August, a group of enthusiasts gather for an eight-day Outlaw Trail Ride beginning in Thermopolis and ending at the Hole-in-the-Wall. Guests make the trek across the vast Wyoming countryside on horseback, discovering historical landmarks along the way. The trip also includes a stop at the Hot Springs County Museum which houses the original Hole-in-the-Wall Saloon. In addition to this group, Historic Trails West offers horseback trips across various parts of Wyoming, including a six-day Outlaw Trail Ride through Hole-in-the-Wall, and Thunder Mountain Tours provides an interpretive tour with access to private land that surrounds the area, including views from the top of the bluff.
Although his death is a mystery, some believe that Butch did in fact bury loot near Mary's Lake in the Wind River Mountains. And while some think he later returned (after his alleged death) to dig up his fortune, others believe he never did – and that all that loot is still buried up there somewhere today.
Powwow is the steady thump of beaters on a hide-covered drum, a cadence of mixed voices singing in Arapaho, Shoshone, Crow, or Lakota, and the sweep and swirl of men and boys wearing brightly colored regalia, of young girls with fringed shawls, older women dressed in buckskin, even tiny tots in beaded moccasins and creamy white buckskin outfits. Begun as a ritual gathering of spiritual leaders and medicine men, powwow is now a social event. read more
Many waves of history have washed over Wyoming, leaving layers of the past for modern-day adventurers to discover and appreciate. read more
