WYO Sports Ranch Is the Heart of Youth Sports in Casper, WY
To understand the impact of WYO Sports Ranch, look at the range of activities it’s hosted: basketball, volleyball, turf volleyball, soccer, pickleball, dodgeball, flag football, yard bowling, Wiffle ball, Spikeball, futsal, wrestling and cornhole. And that’s just during its first year in operation.
“The Casper community has brought so many innovative, creative ideas,” says Luke Gilliam, WYO Sports director of business development and partnerships. “Our favorite question is, ‘Can you do this?’ A major goal has been to grow and make this place even better.”
WYO Sports Ranch, a 131,000-square foot multiuse facility in Casper that opened in January 2025, was built for athletes, event planners and sports fans. The complex features 20 volleyball courts, 10 basketball courts, four short-side soccer fields and a turf field. There’s also an athletic training room, three community/team rooms and a sports performance center. Lots of spectator seating, a concession area and a full-service kitchen with catering ensure everyone is entertained and well-fed.
Wyoming Youth Sports Hub
“Sports are a very big deal in Casper,” Gilliam says. “In some way, they are connected to every family in the community.”
And yet, the city needed more space for youth sports activities. The idea for the WYO Sports Ranch started about five years ago, Gilliam says, when a few community members traveled with their kids outside of Wyoming for a tournament.
“They wondered what it would take to create a similar resource here,” he says.
The group embarked on a plan to fund and construct a youth-focused venue serving Casper and the entire state. The WYO Sports Ranch, which took 18 months to build, is owned by the nonprofit WYO Complex, and a 13-member board ensures the operations match the mission to serve kids and the community through sports.
The WYO Sports Ranch enjoys a prime location on a hill overlooking downtown Casper.
“We love it when someone walks in and says, ‘Wow, this is in my backyard!’” Gilliam says.
The facility also works in tandem with the neighboring Ford Wyoming Center, the state’s premier arena.
While the College National Finals Rodeo was happening in the center this past summer, WYO Sports Ranch embraced the festivities by hosting roping and mechanical bull riding.
“It really enhanced the Western experience for everyone,” Gilliam says.
Rooted in Community, Reaching for Gold
The Sports Ranch balances its calendar of fun events with elite training activities, hosting everything from nutrition seminars to intensive team workouts.
“We’ve had track and field athletes and even a fly fisherman practicing his cast. They wanted to get out of the wind!” Gilliam says.
The complex has its sights set nationally, too. A highlight of the facility’s first year was a visit from USA Artistic Swimming.
“The team worked out, held leadership and training sessions, and attended a luncheon where the community got to hear from the Olympians,” Gilliam says. “They also performed at a nearby pool.” Casper lies at 5,150 feet above sea level, so it’s ideal for athletes who seek high elevation training, like many preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
This unique altitude makes the facility a strategic destination for global competitors, yet the Sports Ranch remains deeply rooted in local development.
Most top-tier athletes get their start as children, which is why the Sports Ranch hosts Lil’ Wranglers, an introduction to various sports programs for 2- to 5-year-olds.
“The driving goal for us is serving everyone possible in our community,” Gilliam says. “Sports are vitally important because it’s a microcosm of opportunity.”
“You learn about yourself while learning about the people around you,” he adds. “It involves leadership, communication, and things that shape us throughout our lives while making new friends and learning a new sport.”
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