Torrington (Wyoming)

Straddling a line (geographically speaking) that is equidistant between Scottsbluff and Wheatland, Torrington finds itself stuck between two clienteles and cultures. When you enter town, you will find vertical traffic signals juxtaposed with the horizontal style of Nebraska, and yet no one will say why. The town was founded in 1889 by William G. Curtis, with help by various South Torrington residents, and the Burlington Railroad. It's this mixed culture that makes Torrington a unique place to visit.

Your best bet is by car, although a taxi is not out of the question.

• 🌍 Torrington Municipal Airport (TOR  ^IATA), Arrowhead Road. If you own an aircraft, or can rent one, than you can pull into this airport just outisde of Downtown. There are no scheduled flights here. The closest airport with regular commercial flights is in Scottsbluff (to Denver), Casper (to SLC and Denver), and Cheyenne (to Dallas). (updated Oct 2019)

Downtown Torrington is very walk-able, it a trip to the store will likely require a car or good bike.

• By foot: Oddly, the numbering grid does not start in downtown. 1st street is well south of city, much like Cheyenne. The downtown area is mainly 20th to 25th streets. Vertical streets are lettered, and has directions as to help the traveler. As an example, "East A Street" is one street east of Main. Sidewalks are easy enough to find, but may be less than maintained in winter.

• By car: For places outside of downtown, a vehicle is easier to work with. Torrington and other neighboring towns are easily navigated and can be a wonderful way to explore.

• 🌍 Western Sugar Factory Co (WSFCO), 400 Main Street (across from Homesteaders Museum (see below)), ☏ +1 307 532-7141. M-F 8AM-3PM. You can tour this factory of the sweets. (updated Oct 2019)

• 🌍 Homesteaders Museum, 495 Main Street (South on Main), ☏ +1 307 532-5612. M-W 9:30AM-4PM, Th F 9:30AM-5PM , Sa 9AM-1PM, closed Sunday. A nice museum to see the past of Torrington come alive. (updated Oct 2019)

• 🌍 Main Street Market (Panhandle Co-op), 1542 S Main. Another Nebraska specialty in Wyoming, the Scottsbluff based Main Street market act similar to a grocery store, and is just south of Torrington. (updated Feb 2020)

Torrington has a strong Chinese association and history, and the food reflects the same. The first two restaurants on the list are next to each other.

While there is a selection of the usual national brands, such as Travelodge, Holiday Inn, and Cobblestone, the town maintains its own brand of hospitality.

• Grandma's Inn, 4577 US 26 (Take Main West about 10 minutes, will be on left.), ☏ +1 307 532-4064. Locally maintained hotel with free wifi, and a rustic look. Only within a short drive of downtown, and a launch point for Goshen county discovering. Generally $55-60. (updated Oct 2019)
• 🌍 Kings Inn (Days Inn), 1555 Main Street, ☏ +1 307 338-2263. This locally owned hotel, which appears to have leased property from the Days Inn, is contemporary, and offers a business center. Across the street from Main Street Market. (updated Oct 2019)

Explore some of Torrington's neighboring towns, like

• Lusk with a population of 1,000, but it was once ten times that. Even today, the magic still exists at this Niobrara county town, especially around rodeo season.
• Lingle: The town motto is "Small but Proud", and really summarizes this stopping point between Torrington and Guernsey.

• Fort Laramie and Guernsey is home to a military base for the west. In order to keep the peace between Native Americans and the Settlers, a treaty was infamously signed here in 1851, and again in 1868. Now the fort is mainly closed off, however one can still arrange tours to see the nostalgic buildings of another era. In Guernsey, it's a great place to fuel up, and possibly go fishing.

• Hartville is a tiny town of just 62 that is nearly gone, but is a charm because of the sign, the mountains, and friendly citizens. Neighboring Sunrise is indefinitely blocked off because of the mine at risk of collapsing. The coal mine in Sunrise has made both Hartville and Sunrise into a national sensation.

• Morrill and Mitchell are a pair of towns outside of Scottsbluff that have unique small town qualities, and big lakes. Each of these communities were larger, and with that comes tales of the golden age of these towns.

Additionally, there are some nearby cities that are worth checking out:

• Scottsbluff, Gering, and Terrytown form a tri-city region in the Nebraska Panhandle just north of the Wildcats, and east of the namesake Scottsbluff National Monument. Scottsbluff is just over 30 miles away, and is a local hub to start an adventure into Western Nebraska or Eastern Wyoming.
• Casper is effectively the quintessential city of Central Wyoming with 59,000 people, a planetarium, a college, a sports park, and is a shopping center with people traveling far to go to the Eastridge Mall.
• Cheyenne: Capital city of Wyoming where the hustle and bustle of modern life meets an alive western culture that is laid-back. At 67,000 people, Cheyenne serves as the hub for any travel within Southeast Wyoming, so any day is good to start the adventure.