Day 10 of the Family Road Trip was a true road day with a journey that started in Manitou Springs, Colorado and didn’t finish until 600 miles north in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
Wyoming’s Beauty is Practically Unmatched
Everyone who knows about Wyoming seems to discover it because it is where you must go to visit Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park or to go skiing in Jackson Hole during the winter. I’ve driven through most of Wyoming and I can tell you that it is easily one of the nation’s top five most beautiful states in the country with vista after fabulous vista of rugged mountains, prairies and open plains straight out of your favorite cowboy movie. (The famous alien flick, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” gets its iconic poster from a real land formation called Devils Tower National Monument, a major MUST SEE).
The thing that most surprises me about Wyoming is that despite its scenic looks, Wyoming is also the nation’s least populated state. Perhaps it has to do with its fast changing climate and windy, cold winters the state is known for. Maybe it’s by design given that Wyomians like to preserve the most genuine outdoor, cowboy-like lifestyle you will find anywhere in this great country.
Buford, Wyoming is the Nation’s Smallest City
On our way to the Tetons we pit stopped at the nation’s certifiably smallest city: Buford, Wyoming. Population: 1.
At first we thought Buford was just one more roadside oddity that screams “tourist trap” but it’s not. Buford has it’s own zip code and even it’s own mayor so it’s certifiably a city.
And yes, you guessed it, Buford’s Mayor Don Sammons is also the city’s only resident, post master and business owner (he has a gas station on the premises). Mayor Sammons was not available to be interviewed for this story but our research shows that he bought the city/property several decades ago and at one time lived in Buford with his late wife and their son.
According to Wikipedia the city wass established during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in Wyoming. At that time the town boasted a population of 2000 itinerant workers. As the railroad progressed, the workers moved west with the railroad and Buford began to shrink. In 1880 a post office was built, and the community was renamed Buford in honor of Major General John Buford.
The deed Mayor Sammons has apparently includes the signature of then President Ulysses S. Grant.
Disney Vacation Tip of the Day
When asking strangers to photograph your family, don’t trust their photography skills. Whenever possible frame your photo exactly as you want it and then direct strangers to shoot the photo by holding the camera in the exact same spot you left it in.