Gillette-Wright: Where Wyoming Cowboys Roamed and Cowboy Culture Thrives
When a Wyomingite makes a promise, they keep it—tough and fair, because in the Cowboy State, those ways of life go hand in hand. In the heart of the American West, where curiosity leads and the courage to stand up for what’s true rules, Gilette-Wright stands as the gateway. Before it became a crossroads for road trippers heading towards their next adventure, this portal to the frontier was steeped in rich cowboy heritage and legends—a history and mindset that birthed the stomping grounds of the famous Wyoming cowboys, celebrated for generations. A cornerstone of ranching traditions and rodeo culture, Gillette-Wright remains the heartbeat of Wyoming’s rugged, authentic cowboy spirit.
Cowboy Culture in Wyoming
Towering mountains and plains as wide-open as those Wyoming’s iconic cowboys once roamed, busy making this land their own. In nature’s harsh and vast kingdom, it wasn’t all glory—taming the world around them took a special person, one with the tenacity to face the elements while guiding large herds of cattle, as if their lives depended on it.
Picture a post-Civil War cattle boom era, where an influx of settlers flooded the region—drawn by cutthroat competition and the promise of the original American dream: pure opportunity. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered land to those willing to work it, sparking a frenzy of westward expansion. Ranchers had to rely heavily on Wyoming cowboys just to keep pace with the wave. Every settler was out there vying for land. With Americans eager to navigate a new landscape, guiding livestock through unruly terrain and a lawless frontier, the battle was on. Enter the dawn of the cowboys of Wyoming.
Outlaws, gunfights, and famous cowboy showdowns—”Go ahead, make my day.” In the dusty trails immortalized in Westerns, those bullets still echo in modern takes on cowboy history and culture. But the reality? It was more than a smoking face-off. Most Wyoming cowboys started off as hardworking ranch hands—honest and determined to make a living in a dangerous and uncertain world. Cowboys first wandered through Texas, some including early African American cowboys. Then came Wyoming’s kind of cowboy, legendary for their resilience.
Many Easterners found their way west to Texas, where the environment was harsh, and they weren’t yet equipped for the rugged trials of the West. They had to adapt—and quickly—learning the ways of cattle herding, horseback riding, and basic survival. Wyoming’s cowboy culture didn’t saddle up overnight—it was forged through unstoppable persistence and grit.
Gillette, founded as a crucial railway and a ranching town, rose as a central hub for cowboy activity. Strategically located for both cattle drives and transportation, it naturally became irresistible to the heart of Wyoming’s cowboy culture.
Cowboy Life and Labor
Rewind to the life of a Gillette-Wright cowboy, where a relentless grind marked every day, from dawn ’til dusk—seasons spent herding cattle across the wild, unyielding range. Long days dragged on under the harsh Wyoming sun, testing their endurance. For the early cowboys of Wyoming, rodeo nights called with a thrilling escape, where good competition fueled their spirit and camaraderie gifted the comfort of genuine solidarity. In the bunkhouses, cowboys shared quarters, and here, strangers became brothers. It was in these communal spaces they swapped tales of hard work and daily life, where the land’s toughest challenges felt less daunting when faced together. United, they labored with one goal—to tame the land, to survive and build a legacy. This is how the spirit of the Cowboy State lived on—hard-won and unforgettable.
Challenges and Changes
Peek behind the scenes into the state of Wyoming’s rich history—cowboy culture was built on an empire of challenges. In the early days, cowboys were tasked with making a strange new land work on their own terms, all while confronting low wages for physically demanding, nonstop labor. The hardships? Constant. The hours? Long—spent on horseback, herding cattle through stark conditions that would make others flinch. But not these cowboys. These were Wyoming cowboys: devoted to their brotherhood, determined to live off the land, and driven by a code that didn’t break under pressure. Still, they lived on the edge of economic survival, where one failed cattle drive or a string of harsh seasons could unleash total financial ruin.
Years passed. Generations of Wyoming cowboys came and went. Through it all, the ranching industry evolved—and the role of the real, raw cowboy evolved right along with it. By the late 19th century, fencing re-shaped the open-range way of life. Then came new transportation—from railroads to trucks—shaking up how cattle moved and curbing the need for long drives. An innovative landscape, mid-transformation, kicked up new trials. Modern cowboys had to adapt just as fast, mastering new tools and methods to manage livestock while striving to protect the traditions that raised them.
From an old-line world into a bold future, the challenges—and innovations—aren’t slowing down. Cowboy culture will keep chasing the horizon, adapting with every shift. In an age of automation and digital mastery, will timeless skills like roping and riding still find their place? Or will Wyoming cowboys do what they’ve always done—charge a new path, ushering tradition in with reinvention?
Famous Cowboys and Outlaws of Gillette-Wright
Long before modern-day ranch rodeos and festivals, iconic cowboys brought droves to cinemas and shaped the state of Wyoming’s epic history. Bill Pickett, Lloyd Cain, and “Beer” Greer—meet some of the men who braved the grit and grind of the Powder River Basin. They left their mark, bucked convention, and carried the cowboy legacy forward. Their stories stand immovable, a testament to Wyoming’s cowboy culture, defined by the courage to change, the endurance to meet hardship head-on, and, throughout each era, the foundation of an unwavering code of honor.
Bill Pickett
You don’t make the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame without revolutionizing the game. Bill Pickett, Wyoming’s renowned African-American cowboy, did just that—wrestling steers to the ground with wild skill and daring grit. Growing up on ranches and mastering cattle-handling from a young age didn’t hurt, either. He invented bulldogging (yes, by biting a steer’s lip to subdue it), a move that stunned audiences and became a rodeo sensation in the early 1900s. Today, his bold technique, lip bite and all, is a staple of the sport—and Pickett’s name, forever lassoed into cowboy history.
William "Bill" Greer
Born in Gillette, Wyoming, William Greer was simply “Bill”—a kid who worked his family’s ranch in Campbell County before he could even talk cowboy. So it’s no surprise that when ATVs revved onto the scene, Greer stayed true to handling cattle on horseback. Apprenticing at a local saddle shop, he tuned into the rhythm of ranch life and spoke the language of horses like no one else. Bill was a brilliant horseman who broke his first horse at just 14. Tough, tireless, and rooted in the ways of the range, he didn’t just mirror the traditional cowboy spirit—he lived it, owning the land like someone really raised by it.
Lloyd Cain
To know Lloyd Cain—who once bulldogged a steer, roped five calves without a bridle on his prized stallion Bitter Creek, and won a $50 bet doing it—was to know a man who wasn’t just a cowboy. He was a horseman to his core. From race tracks to rodeo arenas, Cain had an eye for what separated a good horse from a great one. That priceless gift helped Bitter Creek Ranch ride out the Depression—because life can’t sink a legend. With a booming voice made for announcing and a storytelling wit quicker than the short-running horses he bred, Cain amplified cowboy culture from the saddle and the mic.
Joseph Michael Maycock
Maycock spent his final morning at his ranch home in Gillette, 72 years old, having lived the kind of life that earned him a place in the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. Long before that, he knew what it meant to watch range cattle starve through a brutal winter—and did everything he could to protect his family’s livestock feed. That work ethic wasn’t just a trait—it was the absolute foundation of his life.
A sure American cowboy, Maycock ranched with tenacity and competed with heart. Horsemanship like that turned heads, but really, it was the soul he brought to
John "Mexican John" Marroquin
Born in Texas, just across the border, John “Mexican John” Marroquin arrived in Wyoming with a trail herd in 1877. With roping skills that amazed future governor John Kendrick, Marroquin earned the title “the best roper on the range” long before claiming his spot in the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. Though he hailed from Texas, cowboys of Wyoming proudly call him their own coveted legend. From hardworking ranch hand to landowner who homesteaded his own dirt, Marroquin’s story proves that cowboys come from all walks of life—resilient, determined, and setting pace with the spirit of the American West. Because cowboy culture can come from anywhere.
Charles “Chuck” Reynolds
Born in Gillette, Wyoming, Charles “Chuck” Reynolds launched his cowboy career on the Old Reynolds Ranch at Rocky Point. A standout in the state of Wyoming’s history and legacy, Reynolds helped shape the region’s cattle culture—a hard worker known for his exceptional way with horses. That cowboy spirit ran deep in the family. His son, Ellis, was a born horseman, breaking and training colts at a young age. A skilled calf and team roper, Reynolds was also the guy you called when a horse was deemed “unrideable.” For Reynolds? No such thing. He’d turn that rogue stallion into something remarkable. Together, the Reynolds family rode into the Western lifestyle.
Butch Reynolds
Before his 2021 Hall of Fame induction—and before he and his wife, Sherry, finally bought the dream ranch he’d chased all his life—Butch Reynolds was giving it his all on the Keeline ranches in Campbell and Weston counties.
It was 1969. He was young, headstrong, and already showing the kind of true-grit that would define his legacy. Ranching with a deep respect for the land and roping with the knack of a champion, Reynolds went on to manage a ranch south of Gillette for nearly 40 years.
Need a colt broken? People called Butch. His high school class even nominated him—quite a testament to a Wyoming cowboy who drew the pride of his entire community.
Cultural Impact and Rodeo Celebrations
The pulse of Gillette-Wright’s cowboy culture beats loudest in its rodeo and equestrian events. Travelers flock to the area for annual celebrations like the 307 Horse Racing series and the Jack Greer Memorial Rodeo, uniting the community in classic cowboy solidarity each year. Held at the Energy Downs Racetrack, the 307 Horse Racing events aren’t just competitions—they’re a spectacular display of Western flair, where live races and special match events highlight the raw skill and finesse of riders and their steeds.
Cowboy enthusiasts also look forward to the Jack Greer Memorial Rodeo, honoring one of the region’s most revered cowboy heroes. These events leap beyond entertainment—they’re a living rush of the cowboy way of life, where traditional skills like roping, bronc riding, and barrel racing shine in full force.
For visitors, attending these rodeos is an invitation you don’t want to miss—an opportunity to experience Wyoming’s ranching and rodeo culture firsthand. It’s your chance to witness the spirit and history that shape this wild region. Whether you’re rooting for your favorite rider or soaking in the energy of the crowd, these events encapsulate the treasures of the American West, roaring to life with every ride.
Preserving Cowboy Heritage in Gillette-Wright
Talk about cowboy history and you’ll find yourself in Gillette-Wright, Wyoming. Here, museums and historical sites serve as time capsules, preserving a tangible connection to the past for all who step in to explore. Historical artifacts chronicle each new era of Western culture, while educational initiatives celebrate a hard-won heritage. This entire town offers a rare gateway into the very stories that brought up America’s beginnings.
Located at 900 W. Second St., the Campbell County Rockpile Museum houses an extensive collection of exhibits that captivate visitors. From fossils and Native American artifacts to rifles and saddles, horse-drawn vehicles, and energy industry equipment, the museum unveils the legends of the past, up close. History feels immersive here, deepening a traveler’s connection to the marvels of the Powder River Basin as it once stood.
Rockpile Museum Executive Director, Robert Henning, shares, “Many historians believe that at least one third of all cowboys were non-white. Some estimate it was closer to half. There were black cowboys, Mexican cowboys, and Native American cowboys. Campbell County had them all.”
Tools of the trade might be new, but as far as Henning sees it, the culture and terminology remain steadfast. It’s why we talk about “painting the town red,” says Henning. It’s about “the ethics of hard work and sacrifice.” This is the Cowboy Code that drives Wyoming “and who we are. So much of our culture is influenced by the history of the cowboy. I can’t think of a more influential character in our culture than the American Cowboy.”
Beyond its fascinating exhibits, the museum actively engages the community, imparting traditional cowboy skills and stories through educational programs. Events like “A Tribute to Black Cowboys Weekend” spotlight the diverse contributions that run deep in this cowboy legacy. It’s a Westerner’s promise: the hope that these narratives continue to ride on and inspire future generations—the cowboys of tomorrow. From curated artifacts to dynamic educational initiatives, Gillette-Wright keeps the torch of the American West burning bright, lighting up every corner of this region.
Experience Cowboy Culture in the Cowboy State Firsthand
When you’re in Gillette-Wright, you feel it. This is what it’s like to walk through a tribute in motion, a land that thrives on paying respects to Wyoming cowboys and their enduring legacy. Preserved. Actively celebrated. Everywhere you look, the past seamlessly blends with the present, steeped in cowboy history that still shapes the region.
The Old West continues to fuel today’s Wyoming—a state built on timeless cowboy values like resilience, independence, and community. Those values echo through the landscape, reminding visitors with each new adventure of the lasting impact the West has had on American culture.
Pack your best cowboy boots and come wander through the stories calling at the Campbell County Rockpile Museum. Stay to attend one of the festive rodeos held at the CAM-PLEX Complex. Connect with the cowboy spirit—because in Wyoming, it feels like an open house. Anyone’s welcome. Visit cam-plex.com for future event details and plan a trip that packs a punch like a real Western.
