wyoming frontier prison

Likes2B-practical

I toured this several years ago but I imagine it has not changed much. It is very interesting and creepy. Much more so than Alcatraz! i can't imagine having to be incarserated in this place! The tour is good!

Kate_R49

Wasn't expecting too much excitement in touring a prison but was so wrong.We had a charming, enthusiastic tour guide who explained the running of the prison and gave wonderful stories as we toured. Seeing the gallows and gas chamber was very eerie and you could actually go into these and feel the tensionThe long tables in the dining area, the cell blocks, even the bare shower area add to the experience of the visit

krysiaCt

This is an actual prison that closed in 1980. The tour guide is very through in describing all aspect of the prison. Including the hanging room and gas chamber. It is well worth a tour, similar to prisons shown in movies, just like Shaw Shack Redemption.

267dianer

Our tour guide talked too fast even though we asked her to slow down but we still learned a lot about life at the prison. I recommend the tour. There is also a museum to tour, they had some interesting characters at that prison, one man came back four times! There was also a big prison break of 29 prisoners, if I remember correctly they all were caught, three were killed but not before they had killed some of the town's people. They also have a gas chamber which cost millions but was only used five times.

MaryS489

Absolutely fascinating tour of this prison that closed in 1981. We had an exciting tour guide that walked us through the entire prison, explaining and stories in each area. You are shown the various cell blocks, social population areas, punishment areas, and the death row and death house that did change from a gallows to a gas chamber in the 1930s. You are shown inmate artwork in the mess hall along with stories and explanations of riots and violence within the walls. The brutal conditions these prisoners lived with are very apparent. The prison is also a documented haunted prison and had been the center do investigation for many ghost hunter and paranormal type groups. A must see if you are in the area

gardnar

This was my first visit to a maximum security prison. It was Wyoming's first penitentiary and it operated for 80 years, closing in 1981. Over 13,000 inmates were housed there. The docents give a great tour, explaining the history and giving accounts of a variety of interesting prisoners, both men and women. There are photos of a number of the prisoners. The female population was transferred at some point when it was determined a coed environment was to expensive and difficult to maintain.The tour takes you through several of the cell blocks, solitary confinement, the exercise yard, the hanging area, the gas chamber and a few other areas. You get a very good idea of what it was like. More of a factual view rather than a morbid one.The $8 fee is well worth the experience.

kimikenh

We recently visited the Wyoming Frontier Prison and were not expecting anything really exciting. However, we took the hour long tour and enjoyed every minute. It was an excellent learning experience and you could feel yourself being transported back to frontier times when this prison held many of the "outlaws" from this time period. While on the tour, you will witness the conditions that prisoners were held in and learn what it was like to be a prisoner in times when things were quite different. You'll tour the initial detention area, cellblocks, galley and other grisly things like the actual gallows and gas chambers. You'll learn several "interesting" facts some of which are actually humorous. The tour guide was excellent and while he kept the tour moving, was always open to questions. As an added bonus, the Wyoming Police Museum is also in the prison and you can see what it's like to be a police officer in Wyoming over the years.It's weird to say this, but the prison is a must see if you are in the area.

Cheryl5353

Sarah was the best guide a group could have hands down. This penitentiary is out of bounds creepy and the history immense. Can't wait to read the diary of the inmate we purchased in the gift shop. If you are in any way interested in history or the old west, you should take this tour. It'll take a long time to get that funk out of your brain afterwards. Guaranteed.

L_Hunter71

We visited the Frontier Prison and did their one hour tour, it was informative and interesting. If you like history, this is a must see.

P9225NBcarolb

I visited the Laramie territorial facility before touring the WFP and I wasn't pleased. The preservation is over the top and the prison did not feel authentic. Here in Rawlings, the prison is almost exactly as is when it was decommissioned. The guided tour is a nice touch (ask to have Trevor, if at all possible) and I was surprised at how much larger the facility is than what it looks from the outside. The architecture is just beautiful, and the history is grisly. "When you think of wild west, you think of Wyoming", the guide stated at the end of tour. "This prison was in the midst of it all". It truly was. The stories are unlike anything I've ever heard. I highly recommend touring this facility. I also advise bringing a camera. You'll want to get pictures of the gas chamber, of the deer outside.

BridgetB609

Did you know this is one of the Top Ten Most Haunted Places in America?? I didn't. But of course, as soon as someone TOLD me that, then I started 'feeling' things and freaking myself out. :) I am kicking myself because I don't know the name of the girl who lead our tour, but she was FABULOUS. (Oh, and let me say that I showed up 10 minutes late, so another very nice employee gave me a quick tour to get me caught up with the group in progress.) Very knowledgeable. She was able to answer 97% of the questions our group posed to her, and the 3% she didn't know? She was very honest in admitting that. I like that in a person. Anyway, it's just a cool tour. You either like these kinds of places or you don't.

KimUtah

This museum is excellent. The tour guide gave an excellent presentation. We were surprised to find this prison operated until 1981. Very easy to spend 2+ hours here.

79Jennyb1979

What a great tour, lots of history. The place is kind of creepy and supposedly haunted. Had a great time, no information about the prices on the website, I thought it was a bit pricey when we got there, but worth seeing once. Death row was interesting, and you can sit in the gas chamber.

World-wander-woman

The tour did not start till 10:00 AM. I did not have time to wait around. When I first arrived, I was so surprised how beautiful a prison could look from the outside. I went to go take pictures of prison from the outside and there was a deer eating grass. The deer was not even phased by our presence so I got a lot of wonderful shots of the deer and also the exterior of the prison. They do have a museum that you can go through for free. It is small but the exhibits were very good. They also have a Cardboard cut out so that you can stand behind it and put your face through it and get your picture taken. I hope to be going to Rawlins Wyoming again so that I can actually go on the prison tour

BarryM55

Wandering the halls of this place puts your mind in a different place and time. To think what life was like through the history of this place gets your creative juices flowing. Not to mention how many thousands of Wyoming license plates were made here... back in the day!This is a very worthwhile stop if you are in the vicinity of Rawlins Wyoming and don't forget to also enjoy the Wyoming Peace Officers museum also located in the old prison.