The Hitching Post INN Transitions Into New Memories [PHOTOS]

The glory days are gone and now its the end of an era for once high-rolling Hitching Post.

In 1925, The Hitching Post Inn grew where potatoes would not. Pete Smith and his brother decided to give up on spuds and, instead, would take advantage of the traffic that was increasingly building and passing by on The Lincoln Highway.

The brothers decided to start a campground or hotel. Beginning as The Lincoln Court with 25 rooms, they grew to become competition for The Plains Hotel in Downtown Cheyenne.

It became important to the City of Cheyenne and to the state of Wyoming as well. It was a place for politics, Cheyenne Frontier Days meetings, Rotary & Kiwanis meetings, weddings and more, according to Sue Castaneda who wrote the book “The Hitching Post Inn: Wyoming’s Second Capitol” and tells a very interesting story of its evolution.

At 7 a.m. on Sept. 14 of 2010, a fire ravaged the hotel and six decades of history went up in smoke, thanks to an arson.

24 hours and 4.5 million gallons of water later, the disaster was evident.

It was the beginning of the end for The Hitching Post. After more than 60 great years, the main part of the property was destroyed and what was left withered to decay.

A hollow shell is all that remains.

Now Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr is in talks with the current owners to purchase the property and begin demolition for the renovation of the property and area.

Many famous people came through The Hitching Post. Many prestigious guests stayed and ate there. Many important events happened and many great memories were made.

What are your memories of The Hitching Post? Please, share them in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.