AARP’s Great Places to Live: Sheridan, Wyoming

Culture

For a town next to the mountains, Sheridan doesn’t give off strong “mountain town” vibes. There’s no dedicated ski store, but the locally owned Sport Stop sells hiking boots, trekking poles and other gear. The Fly Shop of the Bighorns offers expert angling advice and fishing lures for mountain lakes and streams. Catch a cutthroat on a caddis fly, and you’ll know you’ve found the right spot.

Most of the restaurants and shops are homegrown, especially downtown. “There’s been a big influx here, in the last decade, of people who want to have a retail store in the crafts, whether it’s pottery or beer,” says Shawn Parker, a former globe-trotting travel writer and photographer who now runs Sheridan County Travel & Tourism. “Sheridan supports that entrepreneurial spirit.”

Walking downtown, you get a strong taste of Sheridan’s vibrant art scene. More than 150 sculptures of bison, horses and gunslingers, plus a smattering of abstract works, add up to a 24-7 art walk. Just 20 minutes from downtown, the Brinton Museum showcases art from Charles Russell, Frederic Remington and other Western artists on a sprawling ranch.

Getting around

Sheridan has added a bit of small-scale sprawl along its outskirts, but the core downtown and Kendrick Park are compact and walkable, whether you stick to the sidewalks or wander along miles of pathways past mostly quiet neighborhoods.

Climate

The Bighorn Mountains shield Sheridan from Pacific moisture, leaving the town relatively high — its elevation is just under 3,800 feet — and dry. An average year will see less than 15 inches of precipitation, mostly coming from powdery winter snow and occasional spring storms. Winters get cold, with average high temperatures in the 30s. But most months of the year, nice days will bring multigenerational pickleballers to the four well-maintained outdoor courts at Thorne-Rider Park. Kendrick Park, with miles of paths that wind through mature ponderosa pines and silver poplars along Big Goose Creek, is a great place to walk in any season. Three golf courses — two public options, plus the swankier Powder Horn Golf Club — offer fun and frustration with mountain views from spring through fall.

Job market

Between the hospital, the community college and the many retail spaces, the unemployment rate remains low, at under 3 percent. That presents good opportunities for older people who want to work.

Going Out Guide

Sunny-day location: Soldier Ridge Trail. A summer walk on this trail west of town puts everything in perspective. From here you can see the entire town beneath you as the mountains fill in the background. The grassy foothills are practically treeless, but you can see — and hear — Western meadowlarks proudly perching on fence posts.

Weekday evening hangout: McGregor’s Steakhouse. Sit on the outdoor patio and take in a view of the Bighorn Mountains as you enjoy a 12-ounce New York strip, or sip a Highland McGregorita, made with tequila and a house-made sweet-and-sour mix. If you’re in an indoor mood, you can sit at the bar and order sliders made of Wyoming-raised Wagyu beef.

Where to take visitors first: Kendrick Arboretum. The oaks, elms and maples add up to a lively scene in the middle of town. In summer, kids splash in the gentle current of Big Goose Creek, and people of all ages line up at Scoops Ice Cream Stand. Watch for bison and elk in the fenced-in wildlife area next door.

AARP initiatives

AARP Wyoming organizes a 30-person community action team in Sheridan that supports holiday parades, document-shredding events and food drives, among other events. It recently helped a senior living center install raised garden beds for residents.