SOUTHERN WYOMING - Montana and Wyoming - page 718

air-conditioning, private baths, telephone, TV, and wireless Internet in each room—are de-
cidedly 21st century. Each room is uniquely appointed and named for an important figure in
the mansion's fascinating history. A sumptuous breakfast is served each morning; lunches
and dinners can be arranged as well. The mansion's Murder Mystery Dinners are great fun
and wildly popular, as are a variety of getaway weekends and special events. For what you
pay and what you get as a guest at the mansion, this is without a doubt one of the best val-
ues in the entire state.
Undoubtedly one of the coolest signs at any motel just about anywhere is the one at the
Firebird Motel (1905 E. Lincolnway, 307/632-5505, $45-59). The dated rooms are as basic
as can be, and the motel has been hit hard by the economic downturn, but the sign is worth
seeing. A good and perhaps more reliable budget-friendly choice in town is the Fleetwood
Motel (3800 E. Lincolnway, 307/638-8908, $55-95).
An important part of the Cheyenne community since 1911, The Historic Plains Hotel
(1600 Central Ave., 307/638-3311 or 866/275-2467, www.theplainshotel.com , $68-144) is
a handsome establishment with 130 lovely rooms and suites. The hotel is decorated with
art by Wyoming artists and offers a full restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and an on-site fitness
center and spa. A multimillion-dollar renovation in 2003 restored the hotel to its glory, and
The Historic Plains is an excellent value for your money in Cheyenne.
Cheyenne also offers a number of chain hotels that are comfortable and convenient. Both
the Holiday Inn (204 W. Fox Farm Rd., 307/638-4466, www.holidayinn.com , $112-164)
and the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites (1741 Fleischli Pkwy., 307/433-0751,
www.holidayinn.com , $114-165) are excellent choices.
The website for the Cheyenne Convention and Visitors Bureau ( www.cheyenne.org )
has a handy tool where travelers can input their travel dates to see all available accommod-
ations in the city. The tool is particularly useful the closer one gets to Frontier Days, as
accommodations fill up entirely.
CAMPING
Thanks to the massive numbers of people that roll into town for Frontier Days, Cheyenne
has abundant RV and tent campgrounds, not all of which are necessarily great. Among those
that are really special is M Curt Gowdy State Park (1319 Happy Jack Rd., 307/632-7946,
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us , day-use $4 residents, $6 nonresidents, camping $10 residents,
$17 nonresidents, includes day use), 24 miles west of Cheyenne, halfway to Laramie at the
edge of the Laramie Mountains. The area was prime hunting and camping ground for nu-
merous Native Americans tribes. There are 24 RV sites that can be reserved, 15 with water