The Real Wyoming
No Set. No Script. Just the Land That Inspired It All.
Longmire, Yellowstone, and 1923 didn't invent Wyoming. They just pointed a camera at it. The ranches, the bars, the mountains, the wide-open sky: all of it is here, and all of it is real.
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The Stories Are Real
Three franchises. One landscape. Your next trip.
Longmire: Absaroka County Is Sheridan County
Craig Johnson wrote the Longmire novels from his home in Ucross, just 30 miles from Sheridan. The Mint Bar, Kings Saddlery, the Occidental Hotel: these aren't fiction. They're our neighbors. The annual Longmire Days festival brings thousands of fans to Buffalo every July.
Yellowstone: The Cowboy Life Isn't Television Here. It's Tuesday.
Taylor Sheridan lived in Wyoming before he created the Duttons. The ranch life, the land disputes, the fierce independence: that's Sheridan County every day. When fans visit, they don't need to pretend. They just need to arrive.
1923: Harrison Ford Chose Wyoming for a Reason
Harrison Ford owns a ranch in Wyoming. He felt a personal connection to Jacob Dutton's story because he lives it. The ranching heritage of Sheridan County stretches back to the 1880s. The history of 1923 isn't distant past here: it's family stories told over dinner.
Walk Where the Stories Live
Real places in Sheridan County that inspired the fiction.
Sheridan
Kings Saddlery and Museum
The inspiration for Walt Longmire's hat. Family-owned since 1963. Working saddle shop and Western museum. Longmire landmark.
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The Mint Bar
The neon-signed watering hole that inspired Durant's bar. Locals and visitors have been bellying up here since 1907. Longmire landmark.
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Historic Main Street
Listed on the National Register. The kind of Main Street that Hollywood tries to recreate on soundstages. Living history.
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Buffalo
Occidental Hotel and Saloon
The Euskadi Hotel from the Longmire novels. Lovingly restored, it hosted Butch Cassidy and Teddy Roosevelt. Longmire landmark.
Busy Bee Cafe
Appears by its real name in the Longmire novels. A Main Street staple for lunch and pies. Longmire landmark.
Surrounding Areas
Ucross (between Sheridan and Buffalo)
Where Craig Johnson lives and writes. The tiny community that gave the world Sheriff Walt Longmire. Author's home.
Eaton's Ranch (Wolf, near Sheridan)
One of America's very first dude ranches, established 1879. The original cowboy vacation, before Yellowstone made it cool. Dude ranch heritage.
Brinton Museum (Big Horn)
Western art in a 1920s ranch house at the base of the Bighorns. The 1923 era, preserved. Western art and history.
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Curated Western Itineraries
Pre-built trips you can customize with our concierge.
The Longmire Loop (3 to 4 Days)
Follow Craig Johnson's own itinerary through the real Absaroka County. From the Mint Bar in Sheridan to the Busy Bee in Buffalo, through the Bighorn foothills to Ucross. Stops: Sheridan, Buffalo, Ucross, Bighorns, Kings Saddlery, Mint Bar.
Cowboy Core Weekend (2 to 3 Days)
The Yellowstone experience without the family drama. Horseback riding, ranch life, craft beer, and Main Street strolls. Stops: horseback riding, rodeo (seasonal), Blacktooth Brewing, Main Street, ranch dinner.
The 1923 Experience (5 to 7 Days)
A week-long journey through the vast landscape and frontier history that inspired the saga. Sheridan County to the Bighorn peaks. Stops: Sheridan, Bighorn Mountains, Yellowstone road trip, historic ranches, Brinton Museum, frontier history.
Where the Fans Stay
Handpicked homes and cabins for your Wyoming western experience.
Cabin Life: The closest thing to Walt's cabin in the Bighorns
Affordable Adventures: The Western experience doesn't need a Dutton budget
Cozy Retreats: Fireside evenings after a day in Longmire country
Downtown Sheridan: Walking distance to the Mint Bar and Kings Saddlery
Longmire Days 2027
Projected July 15 to 18 · Buffalo, Wyoming · 35 minutes from Sheridan
Buffalo hotels sell out fast. Stay in Sheridan: better properties, more options, scenic drive along the Bighorns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is Longmire Set in Real Life?
The Longmire novels and TV series are set in the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. Author Craig Johnson based it on the real town of Buffalo in Johnson County and the surrounding Sheridan County area. Johnson lives in Ucross, a small community between Sheridan and Buffalo. Many real locations appear in or inspired the stories: Kings Saddlery, the Mint Bar, and the Occidental Hotel.
Can You Visit Longmire Locations in Wyoming?
Yes. While the TV series was filmed in New Mexico, the real places that inspired the novels are in Buffalo and Sheridan, Wyoming. The Busy Bee Cafe, the Occidental Hotel, Kings Saddlery, and the Mint Bar are all real and open to visitors.
When Is Longmire Days 2027?
Longmire Days 2027 is projected for July 15 to 18 in Buffalo, Wyoming. Dates are not yet officially confirmed. Verify at longmiredays.com before booking non-refundable travel. The event features author Craig Johnson and cast members from the TV series including Robert Taylor.
Where Should I Stay for Longmire Days?
Buffalo has limited hotel options that book up quickly. Many visitors stay in Sheridan, a 35-minute scenic drive from Buffalo, where Wyo Stays offers 40+ vacation rentals ranging from downtown apartments to mountain cabins. Book direct and save 16 to 20%.
What Is a Cowboy Core Vacation?
Cowboy core is a travel trend inspired by shows like Yellowstone and 1923: ranch-style vacations featuring horseback riding, rodeos, western culture, wide-open landscapes, and the frontier lifestyle. Sheridan County, Wyoming is one of the most authentic destinations for this experience.
How Far Is Sheridan from Buffalo Wyoming?
Sheridan is approximately 35 miles (about a 35-minute drive) north of Buffalo along Interstate 90. The drive follows the eastern base of the Bighorn Mountains with mountain views the entire way.
Did Harrison Ford Film 1923 in Wyoming?
1923 was primarily filmed in Montana, but Harrison Ford owns a ranch in Wyoming and has spoken publicly about his personal connection to the state and the character of Jacob Dutton.
What Is There to Do in Sheridan Wyoming?
Sheridan offers Western heritage, outdoor adventure, and modern culture. Visit Kings Saddlery, explore the Brinton Museum, hike in the Bighorn Mountains, enjoy craft beer at Blacktooth Brewing, attend rodeos in summer, and stroll one of the most preserved Main Streets in the American West.
