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Easily accessible, the town of Riverside
is situated in Carbon County, just 30 miles north of Colorado
in south-central Wyoming. Located adjacent to the town of
Encampment (population 443) and nestled along the banks of
the trout-filled Encampment River, Riverside nurtures a population
of approximately 59. It's a tiny town, but complete —
offering local shopping for food, gifts/souvenirs, sporting
goods and supplies; casual dining spots; a gasoline station;
and even a couple of western bars. What Riverside doesn't
have is a fast pace. Nor does it have noise, congestion, pollution,
traffic, and all the urban stressers most people long to escape.
The peaceful river, scenic setting, abundant wildlife, and
friendly folk offer no choice but to relax and enjoy yourself.
Riverside was actually born before the
town of Encampment. It was originally a ranch headquarters
for the Swan Land and Cattle Company, and the Swan brothers
established regular mail service in 1881, along with building
a school and opening a general store. Naturally, the town
was called Swan. Prior to that, Newton Doggett and his brothers
had established a weigh station, and the Swan site was eventually
sold to the Doggetts. Doggett erected a store and cabins where
travelers could spend the night, and the town was then named
Dogget. In 1887, Henry P. Cullerton acquired a 157,650-acre
homestead around the town of Doggett. The homestead was sold
in 1900 and then subdivided into lots, which were called the
Riverside Addition to the town of Doggett, WY. The Doggett
Townsite Company was sold to the Riverside Township Company,
and to escape the town's unflattering nickname of "Dogtown,"
the name was changed to Riverside in 1902.
Prospering during the copper boom of the
late 1890's and early 1900's, Riverside boasted a "large"
forty-room hotel; but as copper prices declined and mines
were closed, so too was the hotel abandoned. Interesting "fossils"
of those boom-town/copper mining days (including the old smelter
site) are still evident throughout the area, and the popular
Encampment Museum is full of mining artifacts. Local history
is rich with tales of mines, miners, and entrepreneurs who
helped settle this area of the West.
Riverside Town Park
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Today Riverside is an incorporated community
with an economy based mainly on agriculture, as most of the
land surrounding Riverside was settled for that purpose. Along
with the Encampment River running through the heart of town,
Riverside also has a large park with picnic area and an area
visitor's center. The small town uses the post office and
school of neighboring Encampment, and also shares police and
emergency services; however, Riverside remains autonomous
in name and government.
Located in the North Platte River Valley
on the lower edge of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range (just
below the Continental Divide), Riverside is a haven for anyone
who enjoys the beauty, recreation and small-town fun of the
Rocky Mountains. From fishing, skiing and golf to chariot
races, melodramas and fine dining, this valley offers an enormous
variety of activities and events
to fill your days and nights. Riverside invites you to relax
in the small town atmosphere, to rejuvenate in the crisp mountain
air and sunny skies, and to revel in the outdoor splendor
that draws so many visitors back to this part of Wyoming.
For area maps and driving instructions
to Riverside, visit Maps & Weather.
SPIRIT
WEST RIVER LODGE
P.O. Box 605 - Encampment, WY 82325
Toll Free: 1-888-289-8321 (reservations only)
All other inquiries: 307-327-5753
getaway@spiritwestriverlodge.com
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