Enjoy Outstanding Health and Wellness Resources in Casper

Residents of this Wyoming region can count on quality health care, fresh food and great fitness options.

By Patsy B. Weiler on February 12, 2024

Adam Amick

Venture into this vibrant Wyoming city, and you’ll find plenty of Old West culture and traditions. But you’ll also find a corral full of modern health and wellness resources in Casper, which includes award-winning health care facilities and a strong recreation program that helps its residents live their best life. 

Fresh Food and Healthy Living

A healthy diet is foundational to a community’s well-being and the Food Bag Program administered by the Wyoming Food for Thought Project works year-round to provide meals for children facing food insecurity when they are not in school. Volunteers of all ages regularly meet to pack the bright, cheerful bags with nutritional items and “provide a local solution to hunger, so hunger is not an obstacle for our children to thrive in our community,” says Cassie Murphy, Food Bag director.

The organization’s Food is Free gardens offer raised beds producing fruits and vegetables in urban settings “where people can come by and pick a free strawberry or a squash or whatever’s available at no charge,” Murphy adds.

Jamie Purcell

Eat Wyoming is a convenient and growing link between food producers and consumers across the Equality State. 

“People can shop at our online farmers market and stock their kitchens with wholesome and seasonal food grown locally by Wyoming’s farmers and ranchers,” says LeAnn Miller, the program director and food broker. “You can purchase a community supported agriculture (CSA) subscription to buy fresh produce that is delivered for pickup at various locations.”

Other items from milk to meat, including yak, can be added. During the summer, Eat Wyoming also has a booth on Saturday mornings at the Natrona County Master Gardener’s Farmers’ Market in Casper. Plus, Natural Grocers has a storefront near the Eastridge Mall, supplying the area with natural and organic groceries and products.

Courtesy of Banner Health

Largest Hospital in Wyoming

Casper residents are well cared for from the stroller set to senior citizens at Banner Wyoming Medical Center, the largest hospital in Wyoming and the state’s only Level II Trauma Center. 

Services range from trauma, stroke and heart care to da Vinci robotic surgery, weight-loss surgery, maternity, neurology, pediatrics and pulmonary, among many others.

The facility, Banner Health’s flagship location, has served Wyoming residents since 1911. Today, it meets the medical needs of over 250,000 people from 11 counties and recently began building a $6 million electrophysiology lab targeted to open in 2024. The new lab will primarily be used for cardiac ablation procedures and feature specialized equipment to determine the cause for abnormal heart rhythms.

“We know people heal better when they’re close to home,” says Lance Porter, Banner Wyoming Medical Center’s CEO. “Whether you or your family need emergent care for strokes, heart attacks and trauma, or a planned surgery or specialty procedure, we are committed to ensuring that residents in Casper and across the state have comprehensive health care right here in Wyoming.”

Winning Score for Health

The City of Casper’s Recreation Division knocks it out of the park with a highly utilized collection of 33 community athletic fields for youth and adults – 12 for soccer, eight sites for softball, nine youth baseball/softball locations, three regulation baseball fields and the Mike Lansing Field – all lighted. 

Kickball leagues are also popular. The leagues and tournaments make about a $7 million impact for the local economy.

Two other well-utilized recreation facilities are the ice arena, where hockey and ice skating are popular, and the aquatic center. Although the pool area has been closed for construction improvements, people should be able to make a splash again in early 2024.

“Our recreational offerings provide the community exercise and fitness, and promote positive sportsmanship all around,” says Paul Zowada, Casper recreation supervisor. “Keeping people active is one of our top priorities. Engaging with the community and creating new relationships enhances quality of life.”