I had heard of the seven wonders of Casper, but for one reason or another, I kept forgetting to check them out. I finally did a little research and found out that there are actually more than seven. I use the term “wonder” loosely. These are mainly quirks and oddities that, over time, our city has adopted. As time has gone by, many people have added their own wonder to the list. I will be no different. My first “wonder” that I am adding to the list is new to Casper:
1. The sundial: It’s a public art project located near the intersections of Collins and Beech Streets in downtown Casper.
2. Car in the Box: Drive toward Second Street on Sun Drive. You will see a car in a box next to the traffic signal. I thought this was pretty cool. I have driven on Second Street countless times, but never had a reason to drive on Sun, so I never noticed this before.
3. Echo Chamber: This is located in the Natrona County Library parking lot, in the rotunda. The story is that you face the middle of the rotunda, from the sidewalk, and speak into the plaque. Your voice is supposed to echo. I tried it a few times, but couldn’t get it to echo. I might not have been speaking loud enough (I probably looked pretty silly speaking to a wall.)
4. The Egg Beater: This is the Wells Fargo Tower. You stand under it and spin around. I tried to video this, but it made me dizzy and couldn’t keep the camera straight. It was quite a site!
5. Spiral Staircase: This is located in the alley behind Toy Town. I am not sure why this was built, because it dead-ends into a brick wall. I had one of those huh? moments. I thought about climbing it. That was it, just thought about it.
6. Look-out Point: This is located on a pull-out as you head up Casper Mountain. I took this photo a week before the Sheep Herder Hill fire started. I am not sure what it looks like up there yet. The fire has not yet been contained and Casper Mountain Road is still closed.
7. Eternal Flame: The flame is part of the Sinclair Refinery in Evansville. It tells Casperites that they are home. ( I did not post a picture because the flame would not have shown up in a photo on that bright, sun shiny day.)
The next set of “wonders” I could not see or could prove that they worked.
8. Cowboy in the lights: The story is that the lights of Casper, as seen from look-out point, make the shape of a cowboy on a bucking horse. With all of the growth that Casper has experienced, I can’t imagine that this is still a “wonder.”
9. Gravity Hill: I was most excited about this one. It starts on Garden Creek Road, near the entrance to Rotary Park. This is where it gets specific: You face your car toward Casper Mountain Road, by a big tree, and put your car in neutral. You are supposed to be pulled uphill. Notice I said “supposed to be?” We tried several different big trees that were in that area. Nothing seemed to work for us. I don’t know if maybe I sneezed or looked the wrong way, but our truck just stood still. I feel like the Mythbusters… myth busted.
10. Jewels of Downtown: On Midwest Avenue, near Center Street, there is a storm drain cover that is supposed to shine like jewels in the light. We drove up and down Midwest Avenue and inspected all of the storm drains – no jewels. Maybe after a rain shower?
11. Hidden Clock: You are supposed to be able to see this from the third floor of the First Interstate Parking garage. We thought that it was the actual First Interstate parking garage (which was closed when we were trying to find it.) I later found out that it can be seen from the public parking garage. It is a clock that was on the side of a building before the parking garage was built.
As you can see, these are mainly weird points of interest. It was a fun-filled day finding and learning about these oddities, even though I did look silly sometimes. I challenge you to find your own town’s seven wonders.
Kristina, Your posts are always so entertaining. I love learning about your neck of the woods. Sounds like Casper’s got a lot going on!
Kristina, you got me curious. I never really gave my town much thought. But I bet there are many oddities here too. I will keep my eyes open from here on.
What I admire so much about all you post, is that they are enjoyable for all ages. I can’t wait to have my nine years old read this post. He likes traveling to new towns and your post will no doubt inspire him to want to see Casper.
Very nice pics, can’t wait to see Casper.
Thank you very much! It would be a lot of fun to find those “wonders” with kids. Kinda like a scavenger hunt and maybe learn a little history, too.
The world is such a magical place, full of fascinating little wonders wherever you go. Thanks for sharing these from your neck of the woods. I would love to climb that spiral staircase and find out exactly where it goes. By the way, a close friend just returned from a family gathering in the Grand Tetons. He had a glorious time.
Gravity Hill works; my roommate and I did it about a week ago. Just make sure not to drive up the road too far!
I have heard of other people being able to make it work, too. For some reason it just wouldn’t work for us. We were all over the area trying different spots. 🙂
Kristina,
I am sure you have heard that gravity hill doesn’t work. Well if you come back to Casper, if you head south passed the rotary park entrance, it is the first tree on the right. 🙂 I have done it with many different sized vehicles so a truck wouldn’t be an issue.
Also, there is what’s called “The Midget House” and it is located on north kimball. It is in the west side of the street. Farther north down the street on the right hand side. Where an attic window would be on a two story house, it is a fairly large eye ball.
Also there is what’s called the “magic mirror” and that is located on one of the shops downtown. Not that exciting, but an odditie none the less. Lol
Hi Jerica, Thank you. I will have to check these out. They sound interesting. Casper seems to be full of unique landmarks and oddities. lol!
I have been inside that house along time ago. There is a miniture city of Casper in the attic. exactly like the movie Beetlejuice.
My boyfriend is not from Casper so I am taking him to see the “seven” wonders although there are more than just 7! There is also the tree in the middle of the road which is in the trailer court in North Casper off of Center Street and of course the “Eye House”, a house with a crazy eye on the side of it also in North Casper!
Gravity hill works, and I take people there as an amusement, you must have been at the wrong tree. Just FYI, it is not really a wonder just an optical illusion, while it looks for all the world like you are rolling uphill, it is actually a downhill section of the road.
If you go to Washington Park and look West from a certain point there is a tree growing out of the middle of someone’s house. I have always wanted to see the inside of that house.
I will have to go check out the tree. Sounds like a neat house!
For gravity hill you are supposed to face downhill and put your car in neutral and it pulls your car backwards up the hill.. I know this for I have done it twice on the last two days.. There’s only one spot it does it..
One of these days I will try to make it back over there and try it again. We had tried at several spots the last time we were there and couldn’t make it work. I’m glad other people have had it work for them. It sounds pretty cool! 🙂