After a FUN evening making new friends in Evanston, Wyoming we were ready to head back to our motel for “a little shut-eye” as those Wyoming cowboys would say. But before we left Kate’s (the awesome little bar/restaurant downtown) we were approached by a friendly “local” who offered some advice for our return stroll to our motel. She told us to walk back through the park which was “down the block and around the corner.” She also told us our motel was situated across the parking lot from HER bar/restaurant called The Painted Lady Saloon. She told us to walk in and look around before we headed off to bed.
Since it was already dark, I wasn’t sure if I felt comfortable taking a different path through a deserted park in a strange town…but Peepaw and I LOVE a good adventure…so off we went. And we were certainly glad we took her advice!
Thankfully, Wyoming is still filled with old buildings. The kind that scream the Lone Ranger, Matt Dillon and Roy Rogers. And if you’ve never heard those names before…I feel so very sorry for you, since those rootin’-tootin’ cowboys ushered in the golden age of Saturday morning TV way back in the 1950’s…in Memaw’s day! (I bet you’ve never even heard of Sky King and Penny!)
And the local park in Evanston? It was filled with history. And it was BEAUTIFUL…even at night!
No wonder the locals in Evanston are so proud of this park! They should be!
Evanston, Wyoming was named after James E Evans, a surveyor for the Union Pacific Railroad, and the town was founded in 1868 during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
It’s funny how some historical dates are etched in my mind..I’ll never forget my Grandma Grady was born the year that railroad was completed…in 1869!
Evanston’s library is also located in the beautiful park…
After our solitary stroll through the park, we headed toward our motel…but we decided to pop in for a quick look at The Painted Lady Saloon…and what a place it turned out to be!
Bartenders A.J. and Jed were happy to see us, and Jed gave us free rein to wander through the labyrinth of rooms. The decor looked like it came straight from a cowboy movie set!
The red bordello wallpaper made me quickly glance around to see if Miss Kitty might come sashaying down those stairs!
The wall art was quirky…and FUN!
And the modern amenities were a welcome sight as well…
There is even a stage where live music happens often, we’re told.
And the huge outdoor patio would be perfect on a night when the stars are twinkling in the big, wide open Wyoming sky…
Peepaw and I finally headed across the parking lot to our motel to get some much needed “shut-eye” before our road trip continued West…and I thought about the motto of Evanston that I had read earlier. Their motto? “Fresh Air, Freedom, and Fun”…and I promise you, Dear Readers…Evanston, Wyoming delivered on ALL counts!
Loved reading about Evanston- and the photos were great!!