Xanterra Parks & Resorts in Yellowstone Introduce New Summer Adventure Packages-Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone Couples Getaway is a five-night package beginning each Saturday, June 6 through October 3, 2009. Guests will explore various thermal features and villages in the park hosted by a Xanterra driver/guide with one day trip to into Grand Teton National Park. Some of the touring will be from the road and some components of the program involve easy-to-moderate walks. Couples return to the park and spend the night in the historic Old Faithful Inn. Yellowstone Couples Getaway includes five nights of accommodations, in-park transportation, five breakfasts, three lunches, five dinners and welcome “Sweets Basket.” Rates are $3,458 per couple based upon double occupancy.

Once Around the Park is a four-night package offered twice per week from June 6 through August 11, 2009. Starting Tuesday and Saturday, the package features accommodations in a different hotel each night as the group makes a clockwise loop around the park. Also under the direction of a Xanterra driver/guide, participants depart their hotels for a day of exploration and activities such as the Old West Dinner Cookout, the sceniccruiser tour of Yellowstone Lake and walking tours of various geyser basins. This package includes four nights of accommodations, in-park transportation, four breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners and a welcome gift. Rates start at $1,580.50 for single occupancy and $2538 per couple based upon double occupancy. Triple and quad rates are also available.

General reservations for these packages as well as accommodations, tours and activities can be made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (1-866-439-7375), or visiting the web site www.travelyellowstone.com.

Wyoming Center at Cam-Plex Opens – Gillette, Wyoming
The Wyoming Center recently opened in Gillette providing the community and guests with a new complex for special events, recreation and shows. The footprint of the facility is 123,000 square feet with an additional 54,000 square foot mezzanine level which can be used for spectator seating, trade show booths, or meeting room setups. The beautiful red brick facility also claims the most modern ice skating facility in the region with seating for 2,500 spectators. This regulation NHL ice rink is home to several club hockey teams, a figure skating club, and provides space for recreational skating for the community. The Wyoming Center is the newest of seven CAM-PLEX facilities. These facilities are capable of hosting local, state, national, and world class events. This summer they will be the host to the Campbell County Fair & Rodeo as well as the Fleetwood RV Rally which expected to draw a large crowd. Call 307-682-0552 or visit http://www.cam-plex.com/building-wyomingcenter.htm

Whitney Gallery of Western Art Celebrates 50 Years with a Re-Opening – Cody, Wyoming
To commemorate this significant milestone, events, publications, gallery renovations and the addition of a new artist’s studio are in the works. While visitors can certainly appreciate the beautiful paintings and sculpture currently within the gallery, the artwork does not speak for itself. A new installation and interpretation helps put the artwork into context – making it come alive. The installation is going to encourage visitors to make connections across cultures and time to see the old masterworks in a new light.
The new building was built to give prominence to “Buffalo Bill – The Scout” which will be framed by a large picture window at the end of the gallery. The Whitney Gallery reopens to the public on June 21, 2009. Call 307-587-4771 or visit www.bbhc.org

Transcontinental Railroad Map – Cheyenne, Wyoming
The Golden Spike was driven into the ground on Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory 140 years ago on May 10, 1869. This spike symbolized completion of the first transcontinental railroad, joining the nation from coast to coast. Cheyenne, Wyoming happened to the be the half way point from Omaha to Promontory Point and now visitors can revel in a granite, multi-colored floor that lays in the lobby of the Cheyenne Depot Museum.
Built by Wayne Hansen, costing $100,000, the 12 x 42 foot display was based on a historic Union Pacific map. Steam engine fans can hop aboard the Union Pacific steam train that runs during Cheyenne Frontier Days from Denver to Cheyenne. July 16-19, 2009. Visit http://www.upsteam.com for a complete schedule.

The NEW Aerial Tram Opens for Summer 2009 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Making its summer debut, the new aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) will begin operating daily on Saturday, May 23rd starting at 9:00am until September 27th, 2009.

The tram rises 4,139 vertical feet to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain at 10,450 feet. The tram carries 100 skiers in the winter, but will operate with 60 passengers in the summer to allow for maximum comfort and all angle viewing, also the usual 9 minute ride is extended to 12 minutes to make sure nothing is missed!  In addition to the amazing 360 degree sightseeing views of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park at the summit, guests will find easy and moderate hikes as the snow recedes, naturalist talks, tandem paragliding, access to backpacking trails
In addition to freshly made waffles at Corbet’s Cabin at the tram summit this summer, Nick Wilson’s at the base of the mountain will open serving BBQ and grill favorites. JH Sports will also open daily starting May 23rd and offers a full-service bike rental center and outdoor center with technical mountain wear, shoes, lifestyle clothing and kids clothing and equipment. www.jacksonhole.com

Wind River Heritage Center Reopens – Riverton

Dedicated to preserving the natural and human history of the West, the Center features lifelike displays of the Jake Korell Wildlife Collection.  This includes Wyoming big-game species such as bison, bears and grey wolves. Impressive representations of historic traps dating from the fur trade in 1804 are also on display. 

The Center will have a typical Mountain Man Camp as well as a Native American Display.  The gift shop will carry a selection of Native American jewelry, furs, leather and other western-themed items.  The summer hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day) are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information call the Wind River Heritage Center 307-856-0706 or Riverton Chamber of Commerce 800-433-0662.  For a complete list of events in Wyoming's Wind River Country, go to http://www.wind-river.org
Padlock Ranch Opens to Guests – Sheridan

The Padlock Ranch is the 10th largest co-calf operation in the nation (on 450,000 acres) and just began offering the opportunity to be a guest and experience an authentic ranching legacy. Homer and Mildred Scott started the Padlock Ranch with 3000 acres and 300 cows in 1943. The ranch headquarters is located just north of Sheridan Wyoming near the quaint little town of Dayton, sitting at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains to the west and the high grassy plains to the east. Guests will ride some of the same country that the original cattle drives were on in the 1800’s along the historic Bozeman Trail.  307-750-2276 www.padlockranch.com

Snow King Fun Pass – Jackson
Snow King has added a bungee jump and chair lift service for their new mountain biking program this summer.  The Snow King Fun Pass allows visitors to do one of each of their summer activities: a chair lift ride, bungee jump, mini-golf round and alpine slide ride.  It is also available in an Unlimited Fun Pass which provides unlimited participation in all of the activities. 800-522-5464 www.snowking.com

Cody Dug Up Gun Museum - Cody
Collection of guns and other weapons from many different periods and locations including “America’s War of Independence, Gold Rush Era, Civil War, WWI and WWII, roaring 20’s and the old west and Indian wars. 307-587-3344, www.codydugupgunmuseum.com.

Moondance Diner – LaBarge
A once-popular New York City eatery and gathering place has found a new life in a tiny town of 430 in western, Wyoming.  The diner was the set for several major motion picture films including Spiderman 2. It took 18 months and many trials and tribulations to open the Moondance Diner but it is quickly becoming “the place to stop” for a bite to eat.  307-386-2103 www.historicmoondancediner.com