Medicine Bow - Wyoming Ghost Town

MEDICINE BOW

NAME: Medicine Bow
COUNTY: Carbon
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 8
CLIMATE: Cool winter, warm summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: Semi-ghost, visit their website.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

Medicine Bow got its start as a railroad town when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads were laying track across the plains of Wyoming. The railroads needed a site where water could be made available for train engines. A station house was built along with a water tank for the engines. During the few years that followed other buildings, among them the usual saloons, were built mostly for the shipping of cattle and wool. Cattlemen and sheepherders found the plains ideal and soon a town developed and was named Medicine Bow after the nearby river of the same name. Indians were a constant threat to the new town. Attacks were frequent and one lasted long enough that the Cavalry from Fort Steele had to save the town. Medicine Bow was incorporated in 1909 and had the finest hotel in Wyoming built in 1913. Being primarily a railroad and cattle town subjected Medicine Bow to train robberies and various other holdups. The town is still a town and much of the old west atmosphere remains. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenowith	Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress Medicine Bow Courtesy Adam Ress

Medicine Bow got its start as a railroad town when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads were laying track across the plains of Wyoming. The railroads needed a site where water could be made available for train engines. A station house was built along with a water tank for the engines. During the few years that followed other buildings, among them the usual saloons, were built mostly for the shipping of cattle and wool. Cattlemen and sheepherders found the plains ideal and soon a town developed and was named Medicine Bow after the nearby river of the same name. Indians were a constant threat to the new town. Attacks were frequent and one lasted long enough that the Cavalry from Fort Steele had to save the town. Medicine Bow was incorporated in 1909 and had the finest hotel in Wyoming built in 1913. Being primarily a railroad and cattle town subjected Medicine Bow to train robberies and various other holdups. The town is still a town and much of the old west atmosphere remains. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenowith

Medicine Bow
Courtesy Adam Ress

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