Why Casper Entrepreneurs Thrive in Hospitality

In-town style and out-of-town serenity offer unique opportunities for people who do business in this Wyoming city.

By Greg Phillips on February 12, 2024

Ben Winckler Photography

In downtown Casper, ALMA is where Old West meets New West. “The building was an old brothel, and when I walked through it, I thought it was the perfect place to house my design business,” says Lauren Griffith, one of the many Casper entrepreneurs who excel in the hospitality business. 

Named after Griffith’s great-grandmother, ALMA offers home goods, furniture and gifts. Upstairs, Griffith turned the madam’s quarters into an Airbnb.

“It’s cheeky Western décor curated with antiques I have collected for years, even some of my great-grandmother’s pieces,” she says. 

Griffith, who has run her own company for a decade, says she always has had a love of design. “I see inspiration in the landscape, nature, the seasons – everywhere if you take the time,” she says. 

And she finds the heart of Casper to be an ideal location, a place she says is “fun to experience,” especially with the addition of David Street Station and the adjacent restaurants and shops that have popped up.

Rustic Yet Relaxing Ranch

Just 15 minutes from town, Ruth Romp saw promise in the rough, too. 

“The place was pretty much a dump. Glass and pipes were everywhere,” she says of what she found 20 years ago that has evolved into the Red Butte Ranch. “Time and money, you never have enough of either. It’s been one room at a time.”

She started by first creating a cottage and then adding a bed and breakfast and a five-bedroom lodge. Her ranch is surrounded by mountains, including the stunning namesake Red Butte.

“It’s all about the home away from home feeling,” she says. “There are views of the mountains and river wherever you look.” 

The river is the North Platte, considered a “Blue Ribbon” river for trout. Many of Red Butte’s guests are fly fishers as well as hunters and travelers. The resort also hosts events such as weddings and even knitting circles and counseling groups. “We are a peaceful place to rest or work,” she says, “It’s a cozy, rustic and comfortable place to rejuvenate your soul.”

Kristin Underwood

Fly Fisher’s Paradise

Trout On Inn is another resort on the North Platte that specializes in river adventures. 

“Our cabins and lodge have porches that are literally 100 feet from the water, making fishing easily accessible and very convenient for the wade fisherman,” Kristin Underwood says. 

She and husband Carey bought their piece of paradise in 2012. “It had a house and shop,” she says. “Now, with our six cabins, lodge and commercial kitchen, we can accommodate catering, bed and breakfast, guided fishing and lodging for up to 47 people.” 

Weddings have become a big part of their business, too. “We are continually improving our property to better serve our guests,” she says.

Tailored for Tourism

Kristin Underwood, who grew up in Casper (as did Carey), says people enjoy living in the community because of its rural feel and ready access to outdoor recreation that is not far from town.

“It’s big enough to host many things to do but small enough that you never feel overwhelmed by population,” she says. “It’s a place that kids growing up do not always appreciate until they leave and then many come back.” 

Griffith is one of those who grew up in Casper, moved away and then returned. 

“The city has a lot of charm,” she says. “The best qualities are friendly, down-to-earth people and an affordable lifestyle. The public schools are great, and there are plenty of organizations and activities for kids and adults alike.”

Originally from New Zealand but a Casper resident for several years, Romp cites the community’s “real” feeling as one of its appeals. “It’s still reasonably small,” she says. “And there are good medical and hospitals here.”

Energy has long been Wyoming’s mainstay industry. But the benefits of hospitality are clear.

“Where oil and gas can be like a boom-and-bust cycle, tourism in Casper is a constant,” Kristin Underwood says. “After the first year we had our property, we thought this place was too beautiful to keep to ourselves and said ‘Hey, let’s share this little piece of heaven with others!’ Hence, the Trout On Inn.”

A Wealth of Resources for Entrepreneurs

The Casper region offers a slew of resources to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses and get on the road to success. Those resources include the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network.

Also encouraging entrepreneurial growth is Impact 307 Casper incubator, located in Platte River Commons Business Park next to Three Crowns Golf Club. Impact 307 Casper features a co-working space, private offices, multiple conference rooms, two laboratories and teleconference equipment.

Impact 307 also presents the annual Casper Start-Up Challenge competition in April. The challenge allows entrepreneurial prospects to make presentation pitches, with winners awarded valuable business coaching and monetary support.

Another resource is Breakthrough 307, the state’s only angel investment group. Breakthrough 307 provides early-stage capital to high-growth potential startups in exchange for partial equity in the new companies. Breakthrough 307 was founded in 2017 and has already invested $1.9 million in nearly a dozen entrepreneurial ventures in the region.

Also based in Casper is Elevate Wyoming, a company that provides business development expertise. Another resource is Advance Casper, which serves as the economic development organization for Casper/Natrona County and assists local entrepreneurs. In addition, Advance Casper works to attract even more entrepreneurs who might be considering relocating to Casper. 

– Staff writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.