WCF honors Mike Hughes On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Sublette Local Board of the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) recognized Mike Hughes with the Spirit of the Meadowlark Award for his numerous contributions to Sublette County. The Southwest Pioneer Senior Citizens Center in Marbleton was filled with well-wishers, and a squad of Sublette County firefighters even showed up with a fire engine! Click on this link for more pictures. Photo by Wyoming Community Foundation.

2025 Chuckwagon Days

New fire report – Pine Grove fire (posted 7/1/2025)
Firefighters on the Bridger-Teton National Forest are responding to the #PineGrove fire reported the evening of Tuesday, July 1, 2025 located off of Pine Grove Ridge Road, approximately 2 miles from Deadline Ridge, roughly 10 miles southwest of Big Piney, Wyoming. The fire is estimated at three acres. Firefighters will have to hike into it as there are no roads close to the smoke. There is a very high spread potential as it is burning in heavy dead and down spruce and fir trees. Two helicopters are on scene and the Forest is mobilizing a crew. This is a full-suppression fire. The cause is undetermined. There are no closures at this time. The fire is producing three separate columns of smoke. Please do not report.
(Source: Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook page)

Big Piney/Marbleton 2025 4th of July Events (posted 7/1/2025)
THURSDAY, JULY 3RD:
4PM: Chuckwagon Days Jr. Rodeo at Sublette County Fairgrounds, Buss Fear Arena

FRIDAY, JULY 4TH:
7:00AM: Pancake Breakfast, Big Piney Recreation Center parking lot, 630 Piney Drive. Breakfast provided by Town of Big Piney and Town of Marbleton. Served by Mayor Voss and Mayor Robinson.
7:15AM: Chuckwagon Chug, 5K. Big Piney Recreation Parking lot.
10AM: Parade down main street in Big Piney.
After Parade: Community BBQ at the Sublette County Fairgrounds in the Event Center (by donation)
1:00PM: Cornhole Tournament at Big Piney Rec Center
7-9PM: Live Music/Food at Centennial Park
Fireworks at Dusk shot from the Marbleton Hill

All events are FREE, donations welcome

MORE INFO: 307-749-3546
https://www.facebook.com/BigPineyRecreation
https://www.facebook.com/townbigpiney
https://www.facebook.com/chuckwagondays/

Spirit of the Meadowlark 2025 honors Mike Hughes (posted 6/30/2025)
Wyoming Community Foundation
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Sublette Local Board of the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) recognized Mike Hughes with the Spirit of the Meadowlark Award for his numerous contributions to Sublette County. The Southwest Pioneer Senior Citizens Center in Marbleton was filled with well-wishers, and a squad of Sublette County firefighters even showed up with a fire engine!

WYCF President & CEO Samin Dadelahi gave a brief overview of the organization. For over 35 years, the WYCF has connected people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming. WYCF has granted more than $120 million to charitable causes in all 23 counties while ensuring communities have the resources to thrive.

WYCF houses three priority funds that focus on causes you care about which include: the Wyoming Enrichment Network, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, and the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation.

Aside from grantmaking, WYCF specializes in working with individuals to achieve their charitable goals through:

- Establishing Donor Advised and Donor Designated Funds;
- Supporting giving in specific geographic areas or to a specific cause
- Accepting and liquidating unique gifts such as mineral rights, gifts of property and appreciated stock
- Helping individuals leave a legacy to their community through estate planning.
- WYCF works directly with nonprofits to establish endowed funds to support their work; local examples include the Museum of the Mountain Man, Pinedale Fine Arts Council and the Pinedale Preschool.

Local Board Chair Mindi Crabb then provided highlights on the Local Board:
The members of the Sublette Local Board at WYCF invest in local projects and initiatives, fund nonprofit programs, and connect the Sublette communities to our statewide WYCF resources. The Sublette Local Board was established in 2005 with a million-dollar endowment left by Shell Oil to support nonprofits in the county.

- The local board now advises on grants made from four different funds that support Sublette County, including the Gayle McMurry Kinnison Fund which Gayle established in 2000 to support charitable purposes in Health & Human Services and Arts & Culture.
- The local board has granted over $1.59 million since inception to over 60 different nonprofits in the area and granted over $91,000 in 2024 alone. The 2025 spring round of grant awards will be announced very soon!
- The local board has been operating for over 20 years and has been a major sponsor of the Pinedale Half Marathon, now the Race to Raise.
- Local board members include Sam Bixler, Tara Bolgiano, Mindi Crabb, Emily Fixter, Ken Konicek, Greg Legerski, Dean Loftus, Fred Palmer, Sherri Redden and Karen Wenz.

This is the Sublette Local Board’s fifth year honoring a recipient of the Spirit of the Meadowlark Award. The award is intended to recognize those in the Sublette area that give of their time, talent, and treasure to make their community stronger - in good times and in bad.
- The Meadowlark was chosen because it arrives as winter is ushering out. This bird is the first to start the work and build their community and they are often the bird that gives many of us a spark of hope for warmer months!
- Meadowlarks are one of the few birds that sing both while perched and while flying, much like those that willingly give both time and financial support in the effort to support the vision of their communities and favorite organizations.
- John Audubon attributed the scientific name Sturnella Neglecta to Western meadowlarks, which in Latin means "overlooked." The Sublette Local Board created the "Spirit of the Meadowlark" award to ensure those who give the most of themselves to their community are not overlooked, but recognized for the good they do to build a better Wyoming.

Board member Sherri Redden introduced Mike Hughes by highlighting some of his many roles and services to the Big Piney/Marbleton community. She and Local Board Chair Mindi Crabb then presented Mike with a beautiful acrylic award and handed him the microphone. Mike regaled the audience with a number of stories about his time as a volunteer firefighter and accomplishments during his tenure as a town council person and mayor. The evening wrapped up with a nice meal provided by the Southwest Pioneer Senior Center team led by Carie James and a piano solo by one of Mike’s granddaughters. Mike’s wife, Janice, shared a slide show and some letters and awards that he has received over the years.

Click on this link for more pictures

Text-to-911 now available in Sublette County (posted 2/13/2024)
Sublette County Sheriff’s Office
The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center is excited to announce the launch of Text to 911, Inbound non-emergency text, Text Language Translation, and Real-Time Text (RTT).

This addition to our technology suite will significantly improve our ability to respond to emergencies effectively and efficiently in the community when a traditional 911 call is not an option.

Text to 911 allows dispatch to receive inbound emergency text in the Prepared Live interface. This will allow someone who can’t make a voice call to text us in emergencies. This is exciting for the hearing-impaired, a person in unfortunate situations where making a phone call could put the caller in danger, and backcountry rescue, just to name a few. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to text 911, be prepared to describe the nature and location of your emergency and answer all the questions asked by the dispatcher.

Call if you can, text if you can’t.

Inbound non-emergency text allows dispatch to receive non-emergency text when a voice call is not optional. Again, call if you can, text if you can’t. The number to text in non-emergency situations is 307-448-6477.

Text Language Translation auto-detects and translates incoming foreign languages and allows us to respond in the same language.

Real-Time-Text (RTT) is a feature that instantaneously transmits the text of your typed messages to the recipient. It is frequently used by device users who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have a speech-related disability, and can be crucial for these callers in an emergency.

TEXT-TO-911
NON-EMERGENCY TEXT 307-448-6477
CALL IF YOU CAN, TEXT IF YOU CAN’T

Be aware of new Wyoming ID rules for voting (posted 4/10/2022)
Wyoming voters are now required to show one of the following acceptable forms of ID when voting in person:
- Wyoming Driver’s License or ID card
- Tribal ID Card
- Passport
- US Military Card
- DL Card or ID card from another state
- University of Wyoming Student ID
- Wyoming Community College Student ID
- Wyoming Public School Student ID
- Valid Medicare Insurance Card
- Valid Medicaid Insurance Card

If you don’t have any of these IDs, you can obtain a free ID card from your local Driver’s Services office. For more information, call 307-777-5860, email elections@wyo.com, or go online to http://www.sos.wyo.gov/Elections/VoterID.

Info on vehicle registration laws in Wyoming for non-resident workers (posted 5/29/18)
Sweetwater County
In a joint release issued on Tuesday (May 29, 2018), Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell and County Treasurer Robb Slaughter described the details of Wyoming statute concerning vehicle registration for non-residents working in the state.

"The Wyoming statute that addresses this issue," Slaughter said, "is W.S. 31-2-201 (j) and (k). It can be reviewed online at the State Legislature’s website at http://www.wyoleg.gov/StateStatutes/StatutesConstitution?tab=0 ."

Lowell and Slaughter outlined the statute as follows:

A non-resident who is employed in Wyoming, on either a temporary or full-time basis, and who is the owner or operator of a vehicle in Wyoming that is not a commercial vehicle must immediately obtain a valid Wyoming registration or purchase a temporary registration.

To obtain a temporary registration, their vehicle must display a valid registration from another jurisdiction and be properly insured. Application is made in person at the County Treasurer’s Office at the Sweetwater County Courthouse at 80 West Flaming Gorge Way in Green River. The fee for a temporary registration is $50.00 per month and cannot exceed 120 days per vehicle. If a worker is going to be employed in Wyoming for longer than 120 days, a regular Wyoming registration must be issued.

Those applying for a temporary registration will need to bring with them the following:

- The vehicle’s current, non-expired registration
- Proof of insurance
- Color of vehicle
- Payment for temporary registration in the form of cash, credit card, or debit card

Subsection (k) of the statute makes the following provisions for a commercial vehicle owner, a non-resident owner of a vehicle who is not employed in Wyoming, or any owner, upon transfer of ownership to, as an alternative to registration:

A 30-, 60-, or 90-day permit may be obtained in any 12 month period. The temporary permit begins on the date the owner enters Wyoming or on the date of purchase of the vehicle. The fees for a temporary permit are:

Up to 30 days - .10 X regular registration fee
Up to 60 days - .20 X regular registration fee
Up to 90 days - .30 X regular registration fee

Lowell and Slaughter noted that Wyoming has full reciprocity agreements with Idaho, New Mexico, Illinois, and Nebraska. Non-residents working in Wyoming who live in these states may run with their regular registration. If they take up residence in Wyoming, however, (by living here over 120 days, for instance), they must obtain Wyoming registration.

In addition, Wyoming has daily commuter reciprocity with Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Utah. Non-residents who live in these states and commute to work daily in Wyoming may run with their regular registration.

Lowell emphasized that Sweetwater County deputies are enforcing this statute, and will continue to do so.

Slaughter said those with questions may contact their County Clerk’s office.

3 towns call themselves the ‘Ice Box of The Nation’ (posted 1/15/18)
Including Big Piney, Wyoming
Wyoming Public Radio posted an article today (Monday, January 15) about three towns that are fighting to claim the title of "Ice Box of the Nation.’ Those three towns are International Falls, Minnesota; Fraser, Colorado; and Big Piney, Wyoming. Each has had record cold recorded temperatures. Big Piney has reached -61F.

For more on this story, click on this link,Why Three Towns Are Fighting To Be The 'Ice Box Of The Nation' and then click on the audio link on the left hand side. Story by Kelly McEvers, All Things Considered, npr.org, Jan. 15, 2018

Local Contact Numbers
Big Piney Town Hall
PO Box 70
Big Piney, WY 83113
307-276-3554
www.bigpiney.us

Marbleton Town Hall
10700 US 189
Marbleton, WY 83113
307-276-3815

Flicks & Pins Entertainment Center
Open Sunday through Thursday from 3:00PM to 10:00PM
Friday & Saturday 3:00PM to Midnight
Phone 307-276-4062 for movie times
www.flicksnpins.com/

Big Piney Ranger District
Bridger-Teton National Forest
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
www.sublette9.org


Southwest Sublette County Pioneers Senior Citizen Center
429 E First St, 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
www.bpmseniorhousing.com
Facebook page

Green River Valley Cowbelles
www.greenrivervalleycowbelles.com

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

BigPiney.com (Pinedale Online!)
307-360-7689 (days, evenings, weekends, after hours calls 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 through October
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 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM from June into October (opening date varies, so watch for announcements on the specific date each year). Admission is by donation. Special tours can be arranged by calling Museum Director Jeannie Lockwood at 307-276-3637.

For more information visit www.grvm.com

Chuckwagon Days July 3rd & 4th in Big Piney
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.
Lodging Links:
Bed & Breakfasts, Cabins, Motels, Guest Ranches, RV
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.

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