CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Feb. 4, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources honors the life and legacy of Geraldine “Jerre” Ophelia Gowdy, who passed away Jan. 27, 2026, at the age of 101, and recognizes the enduring contributions of the Gowdy family to Curt Gowdy State Park.

Jerre Gowdy, the late broadcaster and Wyoming native Curt Gowdy's wife, was a devoted philanthropist whose vision, generosity, and commitment helped shape Curt Gowdy State Park into a welcoming and inspiring place for visitors of all ages. For more than five decades, the Gowdy family has worked in close partnership with Wyoming State Parks, the Wyoming Legislature, and private partners to support meaningful park enhancements that reflect Curt Gowdy’s deep love for Wyoming and the outdoors.

Among the family’s most significant contributions are the park’s visitor center, iconic entry archway, and the creation of Little House on the Park, a one-of-a-kind children’s space designed to inspire kindness, curiosity, and a lifelong connection to nature. Little House opened in 2023 and was dedicated in 2024 as a family legacy honoring Curt and Jerre Gowdy.

In 2013, Jerre Gowdy and her daughter, Cheryl Gowdy, established the Curt Gowdy State Park Family Fund to ensure continued stewardship and support of the park for future generations.

“The Gowdy family’s impact on Curt Gowdy State Park is profound and lasting,” said Nick Neylon, deputy director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. “Jerre’s life of service and the family’s continued commitment embody the spirit of generosity, community, and outdoor appreciation that Wyoming State Parks strives to foster statewide.”

Wyoming State Parks extends its condolences to the Gowdy family and expresses deep gratitude for their extraordinary partnership and dedication to preserving one of Wyoming’s beloved state parks.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Curt Gowdy State Park Family Fund through the Wyoming Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, at 1472 N. 5th St., Suite 201, Laramie, WY 82072.

Figure 1: Geraldine “Jerre” Ophelia Gowdy of Boston and Palm Beach, Fla., passes at 101, January 27, 2026.

Figure 2: Curt Gowdy State Park's visitor center and entry archway were made possible through the support of the Gowdy family and continue to welcome visitors to the park.

Figure 3: Little House on the Park opened in 2023 and was dedicated in 2024 in honor of Curt and Jerre Gowdy.

Figure 4: Jerre Gowdy (left) and Cheryl Gowdy (right) stand at the center of the ribbon cutting during the opening of Little House on the Park, joined by family members, community leaders, and partners.

Contact: Nick Neylon, (307) 431-4866; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

LANDER, Wyo. – Feb. 3, 2026 – The Wyoming State Trails Program is issuing a safety alert and urging the public to exercise caution this winter snowmobile season. The season has tragically begun with a concerning number of fatalities, underscoring the hazards currently present on trails across the state.

"We have already had four snowmobile-related fatalities in the State this season, and that is four too many," stated Forrest Kamminga, the State Trails Program manager. "While many of our high-elevation snowmobile trail systems are officially open for business, the conditions are far less than desirable. Riders are going to encounter extremely icy and hard-packed snow conditions that significantly compromise the control of their snowmobiles."

The Current Danger: Hard and Icy Conditions

A severe lack of significant snowfall across most of Wyoming for nearly a month has resulted in a hard, frozen, and icy base layer on most established trail systems. This lack of fresh powder fundamentally changes the physics of operating a snowmobile, making machines much harder to control, steer, and stop.

• Compromised Control: Accelerating, cornering, and braking performance are all severely degraded by the hard, icy surface. What would be a manageable speed on fresh snow can become dangerously fast on ice.
• The Downhill Hazard: The loss of traction is magnified on downhill sections. The combination of speed, ice, and gravity significantly increases the risk of loss of control, potentially leading to rapid instability and serious accidents.
• Encouragement with a Caveat: We encourage everyone to still get out and enjoy the unique Wyoming snowmobile experience, but this must be done with the utmost caution and awareness of the drastically altered trail conditions.

Hidden Hazards: The Risk of Low Snow Cover

The limited snow depth is creating a significant secondary risk: barely covered-up hazards both on and immediately off the trail system.

• Subsurface Dangers: Riders must be acutely aware of objects lying just beneath the snow's surface. Running into a rock, a jagged stump, or fallen timber that is only thinly covered can result in severe personal injury and major, often catastrophic, damage to the snowmobile.
• Assume the risk: Encountering these subsurface hazards increases exponentially when traveling off the established, packed trail because of insufficient snow cover.

A Call for Responsible Riding

The Wyoming State Trails Program is encouraging all riders to adjust their behavior and riding style to match the current dangerous conditions.

• Please Slow Down: Reduced speed is the single most effective way to regain a manageable level of control on hard, icy trails. Give yourself significantly more distance and time to react and stop.
• Scale Back the Ride: Consider adjusting the planned route or ride duration to a more conservative, manageable level. This may mean choosing less ambitious terrain or shorter trips until conditions improve.
• Prioritize Safety: The goal of every outing should be to return home safely with a positive Wyoming snowmobile experience to share, not to push the limits of speed or machine capability in dangerous conditions.

Snowmobiling is a beloved winter tradition in Wyoming, and the State Trails Program wants everyone to enjoy it safely. Until significant snowfall softens and deepens the trails, riders must assume that every turn and every descent poses an elevated risk. Your vigilance can save lives.

Learn more about the Wyoming State Trails Program at wyoparks.wyo.gov. 

Figure 1: The Wyoming State Trails Program is issuing a safety alert and urging the public to exercise caution this winter snowmobile season.

Contacts: 

Forrest Kamminga, (307) 335-2671; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State Trails Field Office, (307) 335-8229; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

MOORCROFT, Wyo. – Feb. 3, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources reminds the public that the online survey related to the proposed projects at Keyhole State Park will close at midnight on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

The survey follows a public forum held in January and provides an opportunity for park users, local residents, and stakeholders to review project information and share feedback if they were unable to attend the meeting in person.

“Public input is an important part of our planning process,” said Carly-Ann Carruthers, planning manager for the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. “We encourage anyone who has not yet shared their thoughts to take a few minutes to complete the survey before it closes.”

Presentation materials from the public forum and the online survey are available at Bit.ly/WYPublicForum. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

The proposed Coulter Bay Visitor Center is intended to enhance recreation and educational opportunities at Keyhole State Park by providing improved visitor services, interpretive exhibits, and a community gathering space, while serving as a launch point for park recreation.

“It’s important that this facility reflects the expectations and needs of the people who use and care about Keyhole State Park,” said Misty Moore, district manager for Wyoming State Parks. “We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to provide feedback.”

For more information, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov/keyhole or contact Carly-Ann Carruthers, planning manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Misty Moore, district manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Figure 1: Keyhole State Park. 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Jan. 27, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR) will launch a new professional development event on Sept. 17, 2026: the Cultural Heritage Institute, a one-day, in-person gathering in Cheyenne designed to equip cultural heritage employees, historic site and museum staff, and volunteers, both new and long-serving, with practical skills in preservation and collections care.

Hosted in partnership with the Laramie County Library System, the Institute will bring together emerging and experienced professionals, as well as dedicated volunteers, working in Wyoming’s cultural fields to share ideas, exchange knowledge, and build lasting connections. The event will feature sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities centered on preserving and promoting the state’s shared history, arts, and culture.

“The Cultural Heritage Institute will create space for new and emerging professionals—and those looking to strengthen or refresh their foundational skills—to build confidence, gain practical knowledge, and connect with mentors and peers,” said Wyoming State Archivist Sara Davis. “It’s an exciting step toward ensuring Wyoming’s history and culture continue to be preserved and shared by a strong, connected community of professionals statewide.”

The Cultural Heritage Institute will offer a foundation in core practices across museums, archives, historic sites, and arts programs. The event will emphasize practical learning, professional growth, and opportunities to connect with mentors and peers across Wyoming’s cultural community. Participants will learn how cultural collections and programs are cared for, interpreted, and shared within the state’s vibrant cultural network.

The Cultural Heritage Institute is seeking volunteers to lead workshops and lightning talks focused on practical cultural heritage work, including preservation, collections care, digitization, interpretation, and related topics. Individuals with relevant expertise or proposed session ideas are encouraged to submit a brief interest form by March 31, 2026, at Bit.ly/LeadAWorkshop.    

This initiative is made possible through funding from State Parks and Cultural Resources’ Spark Tank Program, an internal fund that supports SPCR staff in developing and testing innovative ideas to advance the department’s mission. The event is being organized collaboratively by SPCR programs, including the Arts Council, Cultural Trust Fund, Office of the State Archaeologist, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, State Museum, State Parks, and Historic Sites.

Attendance will be free, with registration required and limited to 50 participants. Additional details will be announced in the coming months, including registration information and a schedule. The event will be held at the Laramie County Library located at 2200 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001. 

For future updates, please visit Bit.ly/WyoCulturalHeritageInstitute. Updates will also be shared on social media through SPCR programs, including the Arts Council, Office of the State Archaeologist, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, State Museum, and State Parks, using the hashtag #WyoCulturalHeritageInstitute2026.

Figure 1: A volunteer reenactor demonstrates historic prison labor practices at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.

Figure 2: Visitors engage with fossil specimens from the Wyoming State Museum’s collections during the annual Dino Day event.

Figure 3: A Wyoming State Archives staff member uses new 16mm film repair equipment to preserve historic film materials. 

Contact: Sara Davis, (307) 777-7826; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Jan. 19, 2026 – Public notice is hereby given on Jan. 7, 2026, that the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (Department) is proposing to amend Chapter 1, Rules and Regulations (State Parks & Historic Sites Program), of its rules. The amendments update and expand definitions, remove redundant recitations of statute, and eliminate obsolete or unnecessary provisions. In addition, the proposal introduces several substantive changes, including:

Positive Changes / New Permissions

• Drone use allowed with prior written permission from the park superintendent
• Parks remain open after 10:00 p.m. for non-camping visitors
• Removed or clarified requirements for alcohol permits
• Bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates now permitted in previously restricted areas
• ADA-designated campsites no longer exclusively for ADA
• Vehicles present after 10:00 p.m. will only require camping permit if camping
• Class 1 e-bikes permitted on trails

Protective / Restrictive Changes

• Maximum campsite occupancy reduced from 10 to 8 persons
• Pets may no longer be left unattended at any time (previously one-hour limit)
• Barking or excessively noisy dogs explicitly included in quiet-hours violations
• Bow fishing prohibited within 100 yards of any public facility
• Fishing prohibited in cooling ponds and canals at Hot Springs State Park
• Watercraft must be launched and retrieved only at designated locations
• New restrictions for rental units

Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained through the Wyoming Administrative Rules System at rules.wyo.gov by using the advanced search for proposed rules, or by contacting the State Parks Headquarters at 2301 Central Avenue, Barrett Building, 4th Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002, attention Stephanie Dillmon, (307) 777-5734, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Public comments regarding the proposed rules may be submitted by email through the Wyoming Administrative Rules System at rules.wyo.gov by using the advanced search for proposed rules and selecting the public comment link, or by contacting State Parks at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The public comment period ends Feb. 26, 2026.

Contact: Stephanie Dillmon, (307) 777-5734; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.