A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
For a small town, Dubois has a rich history of offering diverse accommodations to weary travelers. The Stringer Hotel opened all the way back in 1914 while the Branding Iron Motel began operating in 1948. Most recently, the Super 8 opened west of town in the 1990s.
Back in 1919, the Ramshorn Hotel opened its doors under the talented hands of Charles Ezra Shippen, a master carpenter. An attractive two-story white edifice with a porch in the front with four large pillars greeted people going down the road. This impressive establishment boasted 12 rooms with a bathtub between every two rooms and one complete bathroom for all the guests.
For the first 12 years of its operations, the Ramshorn Hotel had five different owners. In 1932, it came under the ownership of Frank LaMar and his wife. They came up the valley from Riverton, their daughter Frances accompanying them. For three years, the family kept this business running smoothly, and Frances even received a beautiful diamond ring from her fiancé Dean Stalnaker.
Unfortunately, the Ramshorn Hotel’s fate was sealed in October 1935 when a fire started one night and burned the building to the ground. The guests were roused from their beds and taken into the homes of local residents. The LaMars and their guests lost all of their belongings, and Frances even lost her engagement ring. Nobody was hurt in this fire, but the Ramshorn Hotel was gone and the lot empty.
Years later, a filling station took the place where the beautiful hotel once stood. Despite its fate, locals still talk about the Ramshorn Hotel and the other historic guest accommodations around the Upper Wind River Valley. Guest ranches, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and motels continue to give travelers a home away from home in Dubois.
Next up for the Fremont County Museums
September 8th, 10am at the Pioneer Museum, “Hudson Coal Mine Trek”
Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series
September 8th, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Pioneer Games & Crafts”
Children’s Exploration Series
September 15th, 1pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Oregon Trail Crafts”
Children’s Exploration Series
September 22nd, 9am at the Riverton Museum, “J.B. Okie Manor Trek”
Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum work extremely hard to provide programs, care for the facilities, create exhibits and care for the thousands of artifacts and archival documents in the collections of the museums. In order to consistently accomplish these objectives the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector. Please make your tax-deductible contribution to be used specifically for the benefit of the museum of your choosing by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.
