Kemmerer and Diamondville, side-by-side communities, are located in Southwestern Wyoming. It is 45 miles north of Interstate 80, and is at the crossroads of U.S. Highways 189 and 30, approximately 2.5 hours east of Salt Lake City. Kemmerer was founded in 1897, due to it’s proximity to a rich coal deposit, which was mined by the Union Pacific Coal Company. The coal mine still operates as a subsidiary of the Chevron Company, with an annual output of approximately 5 million tons of coal. Many trains carry the coal out to different parts of the country. Our base, in particular, is in the small town of Kemmerer, Wyoming. We are approximate 2.5 hours east of Salt Lake City and 4 hours south of Jackson Hole. Hams Fork is approximately 15 minutes away, while Smiths Fork and the Green River are about an hour. Due to this short distance, it is easy to fish all three locations during a multi-day stay. You are welcome to bring your own waders, rods, reels, and so on. We recommend a 5 and 6 weight rods and waders. If you don’t want to transport your equipment, we can provide you with virtually anything you may need at no extra cost to you. Please make sure to bring sunglasses and a hat. We can provide sunscreen and bug spray although the bugs are usually pretty scarce!
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Fossil Country Museum (Free Admission)
A number of interesting exhibits including local history, replica coal mine, and bootleg stills with extremely interesting local history.
Ulrich’s Fossil Tours | Hwy 30W, 10 miles west of Kemmerer | (307) 877-6466
All excavation tools, as well as transportation to and from the excavation area, are provided. The total experience for about 3 hours.
Fossil Safari | 12.4 miles from Kemmerer’s Chamber of Commerce | (307) 883-2445
Visit www.fossilsafari.com before you head to the quarry as there are no markers to the site along the way. You will be provided with tools and a lesson before you begin.
JC Penny’s Mother Store (Free Admission)
Kemmerer is the home of the first JC Penny’s store, established in 1902, and is still open for business! JC Penny’s home, not far away from the store, has been turned into a museum, and tours are offered.
Fossil Butte National Monument (Free Admission)
Set in sagebrush-covered hills with lots of wildlife and great hiking trails. This area preserves one of the richest fossil deposits in the world. Here, fifty million-year-old fish, insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants are nearly perfectly preserved in limestone. The Visitor Center has over 300 fossils, a 13-foot crocodilian, the oldest complete bats, and a mass mortality of 356 fish. Videos programs and numerous interactive exhibits are also available.
LODGING AND RESTURANTS
Best Western Plus, Fossil Country Inn and Suites | 760 HWY 189/30, Kemmerer, WY 83101 | (307) 877-3388
This is the best hotel in town, which has a great breakfast bar, pool and jacuzzi, office center, and exercise room. Rates are about $130.00/night.
Super 8 Motel | 3 US-30 #189 Diamondville, WY 83116 | (307) 877-6901
Their rooms are nice, extremely clean and provide a good breakfast. There are also several other less expensive hotels cost around $75-100 per night.
El Jalisciense of Wyoming | 1433 Central | (307) 877-2948
Authentic Mexican cuisine with a vast variety of dishes.
Bootleggers | 817 S Main | (307) 828-3067
Well-known for their steaks.
Caribou Cafe | 1012 Pine | (307) 877-3464
Excellent burgers as well as a variety of breakfast options available all day.
SEEDSKADEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | (307) 875-2187 | http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Seedskadee/
The Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is 1 hour from, and north and east of, Kemmerer. The 27,230-acre Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory waterfowl and passerine bird species. Seedskadee is a unique and ecologically important component of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Seedskadee NWR was established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage.
Wildlife Viewing
If you enjoy getting outdoors and looking for wildlife, consider a visit to Seedskadee! From birding to moose watching, from viewing speedy pronghorn antelope or crayfish, wildlife observation is the most popular activity for refuge visitors nationwide. The Refuge offers a roughly mown Flicker trail and picnic area just below the Visitor’s Center at Headquarters. Bring your camera, binoculars, bird book, lunch, and bug spray to spend the afternoon viewing a variety of habitats, plants, and animals of the riparian corridor of the high desert sagebrush steppe. Visit our page for a brief overview of the animals that are found here and when. Several bald and golden eagle nests can usually be found, check with the staff for directions. Remember to log your sightings on eBird! eBird.org is a great resource for researchers, land managers and citizens to share bird sightings and numbers from around the globe in real time. We now have one of only 4 permits available for floating and/or fishing this stretch.
Interpretation
Refuge System interpretation programs provide opportunities for visitors to make their own connections to the natural world. From self-guided walks to ranger-led programs, Seedskadee NWR helps visitors learn more about the wildlife and habitat behind the landscapes. Seedskadee NWR offers many interpretive programs, hands-on at the refuge or activities at other events. The Refuge is very rich in history as well, visit our history page to learn more or pick up a historical perspective brochure the next time you’re at Seedskadee.