Triple Peak Dave Ball took this photo of Triple Peak in the Wyoming Range recently. Click on this link for more scenic photos by Dave Bell: Dave Bell Photo Gallery Photo by Dave Bell.

Big Piney Library closed Nov. 19 (posted 11/17/09)
The Big Piney Branch Library will be closed on Thursday, November 19th, for staff Inservice.

WY Citizens for Liberty & Freedom meeting Nov. 17 (posted 11/17/09)
At the Marbleton Town Hall, 7:00PM
The Wyoming Citizens for Liberty and Freedom will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00 pm. MOVED TO THE MARBLETON SENIOR CENTER.

This is a group of local citizens in Sublette County that wants to rally a grassroots movement to lobby Wyoming legislators reclaim the sovereignty of the State of Wyoming under the protection of the 10th amendment of the Constitution, which asserts states’ rights over power of the federal government. Issues of concern for this group is limitations on free speech and the press, limiting free practice of religion, infringements on the 2nd Amendment right to bear firearms, surrendering power to foreign governments. The group also wants the State to assert a right to not abide by unconstitutional acts of congress including executive declarations of martial law, confiscatory actions of eminent domain, the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act.

Here is the mission statement of this group:
"Under the protection of the 10th amendment and the auspices of Jeffersonian principle; we the Citizens for Liberty and Freedom, have come together to reclaim the sovereignty of the State of Wyoming, a non-UN state, and the rights and monies to and from all minerals and waters originating within the borders of this sovereign state. In this spirit, we proclaim that any action taken by the federal government of the United States of America which serves to diminish the liberty of any of the several states renders null and void the Constitution of the United States, including but not limited to surrendering any power delegated to a corporation or foreign power, limitation on any speech, including political speech, and further limitation of the press, limiting the free practice of religion, any infringement on the 2nd Amendment including prohibition on type and quantity of arms or ammunition, and we further will not abide by unconstitutional acts of congress including but not limited to The Patriot Act, Homeland Security Act, Confiscatory actions of eminent domain, executive declarations of martial law."

For more information, contact laura@wycitizensforlibertyandfreedom.com. Find them on the web at: www.wycitizensforlibertyandfreedom.com.

H1N1 Flu Clinic Nov. 17 in Big Piney (posted 11/16/09)
Sublette County Public Health will be offering a H1N1 (Swine) flu immunization clinic on Tuesday, November 17 in Big Piney. The clinic will be held at the Sublette County Public Health office (in the Annex) from Noon-4PM, or for as long as the supply lasts.

These H1N1 flu shots are for adults to age 64 with chronic health conditions - diabetes, asthma, and those currently undergoing cancer treatment. They will also provide the vaccine to children from age 4 up to age 24, and to pregnant women. The children's age restriction is because of the type of vaccine that has been sent, which cannot be given to children under the age of 4.

For more information, please call Public Health at 307-276-2157.

Congress ups BLM APD processing fee to $6500 (posted 11/4/09)
Bureau of Land Management
60% fee increase reimburses U.S. Treasury for estimated cost of processing new Applications for Permit to Drill.

At direction of Congress, BLM will collect a $6,500 processing fee for each new oil and gas drilling permit application.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Interior appropriations bill – enacted into law on October 30 – directs the Bureau of Land Management to charge a $6,500 processing fee for each new oil and gas drilling permit application, known as an Application for Permit to Drill (APD). The fee took effect November 2; the previous fee was $4,000 per APD. The money generated by APD fees constitutes a reimbursement to the U.S. Treasury for the estimated cost of processing new APDs.

To carry out this congressional directive, the BLM has developed guidance for its field offices regarding the collection and handling of APD fees in the current fiscal year (FY 2010), which began Oct. 1, 2009. The previous collection and handling policies remain in effect except for the amount of the fee to be collected.

The BLM manages more land – 256 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Mixed Media Artists to display paintings In Big Piney Nov 2-30 (posted 10/25/09)
Mixed Media Artists
The library in Big Piney will host the annual Mixed Media art show beginning November 2 and running until November 30. The theme for this much anticipated event is "Flora, Fauna, and Little Gems."

The public is cordially invited to a reception to view the paintings and meet the artists on Friday, November 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Big Piney Library.

The Mixed Media organization was founded in the 1980s and has been growing ever since. Anyone interested in art is welcome to join. For more information, contact Kay Meeks at 307-859-8828.

This year, participating artists include Cristy Anspach, Mary Bluemel, Sandy Brewer, Justine Bruteig, Lois Decker, Debbie Despain, Gina Feltner, Devan LaMere, Jo Mack, Charmian McLellan, Kay Meeks, Tom Mitchell, Holland Morelli, Dee Parker, Ruth Rawhouser, and Melita Snow. The show will feature a special tribute to our prominent member, artist, and friend, Lynn Thomas.

FBLA Coat Drive (posted 10/20/09)
Pickup day November 19th
Big Piney Future Business Leaders of America are holding a Coat Drive. Anyone who has extra coats they would like to donate to people in need can drop them off at the schools, library or Town Halls in Marbleton, Big Piney or LaBarge, and also the Big Piney and LaBarge LDS Churches. Pickup day is November 19th.

Big Piney Craft Bazaar Nov. 21 (posted 10/5/09)
The 31st Annual Big Piney Craft Bazaar will be held at the Big Piney High School from 10:00AM – 2:00PM. Booth space is available for $20. Call 307-276-5696 or 307-276-3880 for more information.

Local Contact Numbers
Big Piney Town Hall
PO Box 70
Big Piney, WY 83113
307-276-3554
E-mail: tbpiney@yahoo.com
Mayor: Phillip Smith
www.townofbigpiney.com

Marbleton Town Hall
10700 US 189
Marbleton, WY 83113
307-276-3815
E-mail: marbletontown@hotmail.com
Mayor: Jim Robinson

Big Piney Ranger District
Bridger-Teton National Forest
315 South Front Street
P.O. Box 218
Big Piney, WY, 83113
307-276-3375 or 276-5800/5200
Fax: 307-739-5235/276-5835
www.fs.fed.us/btnf/

Sublette County Courthouse
21 S Tyler, Pinedale, WY 82941
Big Piney Direct Line 307-276-3827
Marbleton Annex 307-276-3735
Pinedale Information: 307-367-7722

Sublette County Sheriff's Department
PO Box 701
Pinedale, WY 82941
Marbleton: 307-276-5448
Pinedale: 307-367-4378

Big Piney Post Office
401 Budd Avenue
307-276-3772
1-800-275-8777

Sublette County School District #9
Superintendent's Office: 307-276-3322
Big Piney High School: 307-276-3324
Big Piney Middle School: 307-276-3315
Big Piney Elementary School: 307-276-3313
Big Piney Pool: 307-276-9966

Southwest Sublette County Pioneers Senior Citizen Center
111 Rakestraw Ave. Marbleton, WY
P.O. Box 33
Big Piney, WY 83113
Phone: (307) 276-3249
Fax (307) 276-3249
E-mail: southwest001@centurytel.net
Open 8:00am to 4:00pm
Lunch at 12:00 noon Tue. Wed. Thurs. (starting July 1, 2008)
Joan Mitchell / Director

More Area Information:
Sublette County Chamber of Commerce (Pinedale)
307-367-2242 or 1-888-285-7282
www.sublettechamber.com

Mountain Man Country tourism website
www.mountainmancountry.com
Sublette County Joint Tourism Promotion Board

BigPiney.com (Pinedale Online!)
307-276-5699 or 307-360-7689 (days, evenings, weekends ok)

Sublette County Fair
July - August
The Sublette County Fair is packed with entertainment and fun. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

One of the many highlights is the Lil' Buckaroo Rodeo. The audience holds their breath as these young cowboys and cowgirls try their hand at bronc riding. The evening ends with the youngest contestants competing in the stick horse barrel race. The greased pig contest is another favorite, the crowd roars with laughter watching the wave a kids overtaking the slimy critters.

Spend some time viewing the livestock shows and watch the participants as they receive their awards for a job well done. Enjoy the wonderful food which some how tastes more delicious in the atmosphere of the fair festivities. Finish the night off at the rodeos with many local cowboys and cowgirls participating in the fast paced events. Visit the Sublette County Fair web page to enjoy pictures from previous years fairs.

For more information visit - www.sublettecountyfair.com.

Green River Valley Museum
Open June 3 through October 15
The Green River Valley Museum is located on the main street in Big Piney. Artifacts from prehistoric Indians, pioneers, homesteaders and other various groups that have settled this area are on display at the museum. Many of the items displayed at the museum were donated by local families. 'Hard Hats and Stetsons' is the annual fundraiser for the museum. The name of the fundraiser itself reflects how important the cattle and oil industry have been for this valley.

The museum will open on Tuesday, June 3rd this year. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM. Admission is by donation. For special tours, call museum director Carrie Anderson at 307-276-3637.

For more information visit www.grvm.com

Chuckwagon Days
Over July 4th
Chuckwagon Days takes place each year over the 4th of July holiday in Big Piney. There is a Lil' Buckaroo Rodeo, a parade down Big Piney's main street followed by a free BBQ at the Sublette County Fairgrounds, an afternoon rodeo, street dance and late evening fireworks (on the 4th).

The "Chuckwagon Chug" a 5k and 10k Walk/Run, will be held on July 4th, before the Big Piney Parade. Start/Finish is at the Big Piney High School parking lot. There will be prizes for top finishers and gift bags for all contestants.

More information about Chuckwagon Days can be found here: www.ChuckwagonDays.com

Local Lodging
If you are looking for local lodging and places to stay in the Big Piney-Marbleton areas, be sure to check the Sublette County Chamber of Commerce website under lodging. Big Piney and Marbleton are located about 35 miles south of Pinedale, so look under motels, RV parks and campgrounds specific to our towns. www.sublettechamber.com

Camping near Big Piney & Marbleton
The closest campgrounds are located on the Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. They offer two developed campgrounds and many opportunities for dispersed camping in the Wyoming Range west of Big Piney and Marbleton. The forest boundary is approximately 20 miles from local businesses and town services. For detailed information, contact the district office at 307-276-3375.

Sacajewea Campground Located 25 miles west of Big Piney. This campground has 26 sites, basic amenities, and is open June 15th through September 30th. The camping fee is $7.00 per site, per night. This campground has running water, an on-site host, and is well maintained. No electricity, showers or phone.

Middle Piney Lake Campground This is a primitive campground located further down the road from the Sacajewea Campground. This camp area is next to Middle Piney Lake and has 5 tent sites, tables and pit toilets. NO running water, electricity, showers or phone service. NO fees. Because of the narrow winding road to this campground, it is not recommended to take trailers to the lake site.

Forest Service Cabins Big Piney Ranger District offers two Forest Service work centers for rent for overnight stays. One is located at Snider Basin and the other in the Hoback. Contact the Big Piney office for more information on availability and fees.

NOTICE ABOUT BEARS: These campgrounds are in bear country. Both black bears and grizzly bears inhabit the Wyoming mountain range. Visitors are strongly encouraged to practice clean camping techniques and store attractants in a manner that makes them unavailable to bears. Bear-proof canisters are available for rent from the Big Piney Ranger District office. Bear-proof dumpsters are located at various locations at campgrounds and recreation areas on National Forest land.

Dispersed Camping:
There are practically unlimited opportunities for dispersed camping on the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Big Piney/Marbleton. The forest boundary is approximately 20 miles from town. Stay limit is 16 days in any one location. Campers should either bring their own water or boil water obtained from sources in the outdoors to avoid getting sick from organisms that live in lakes and streams. Do not drink untreated surface water. Dispersed camping is available along the Piney, Cottonwood and LaBarge Creek drainages.

Camping on BLM land
There are no developed campgrounds on BLM land near Big Piney or Marbleton, however there are many places for dispersed camping for those who are prepared to bring their own drinking water and camp without developed facilities. For more information, contact the Pinedale Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Pinedale.

Private RV Campgrounds
There are several private businesses that offer RV campsites for overnight and extended stays. Most have power, water and sewer hookups. Click here to our sister website, Pinedale Online, for info about private RV campgrounds and services.

Related Links:
Bridger-Teton National Forest/Big Piney Ranger District
Sublette County Chamber of Commerce

Big Piney, Wyoming, "Ice Box of the Nation"

Big Piney & Marbleton
Ice Box of the Nation
Big Piney is the oldest settlement in Sublette County, Wyoming and was named by Dan B. Budd for the Piney Creeks. In 1879, Daniel B. Budd and his partner Hugh McKay brought a thousand head of cattle from Nevada hoping to ship them at Point of Rocks, but winter caught up to them here in the Green River Valley. The following year Dan Budd moved his family here and that is how the settlement of this town began. Big Piney was called "Ice Box of the Nation" when it was officially made a weather station in 1930. Big Piney had the coldest year round average temperature of any place nationally.

It's a curiosity, considering most Wyoming towns are few and far between, that Big Piney and Marbleton would only be a mile apart. They have separate post offices and town governments. Big Piney was incorporated on July 5, 1913. In the early days there was a lot of drainage problems with the site on which Big Piney was built. So Charles Budd, eldest son to Dan B Budd had hope to build the town up on the bench to alleviate this problem. Charles did establish Marbleton on the bench, in late 1913, but it never replaced Big Piney. Any attempts to combine the two towns has been unsuccessful. The truth is people here kinda' like it that way. Both towns cooperate with each other, they have a common school. The citizens of these two towns take a lot of pride in the growth of their little metropolis over the past years and think the founders would be proud too. Both communities have thrived in the last several decades because of the oil and gas industry. In the 1980's Marbleton recieved it's own post office, because of the number of people moving to the area.

Sublette County Ag Center
The Sublette County Ag Center is an indoor arena used by county residents for 4-H programs, ropings, youth rodeo, barrel racing, horse shows and much more. It is located at the Fairgrounds, north of Big Piney and Marbleton on Hwy 189.

For more information visit www.sublettewyo.com

History of Big Piney 1885-1920
This is a Pictoral History of Big Piney of the Town of Big Piney from 1885 - 1920. This project was sponsored by the Green River Valley Museum. There are photos and histories of some of the first settlers in Big Piney. There are photos of Dan and Josephine Budd's original homestead.

Other Area History - http://www.sublette.com/history

To contribute information to this community website,
please e-mail: info@bigpiney.com or info@marbleton.com.
Phone: 307-276-5699 • Fax: 307-276-5414