Life and Business in Casper, WY: A Local Shares What She Loves About Living Here

©Journal Communications/Jeff Adkins

Chelsea Combe grew up in Casper, WY, and attended the University of Wyoming before moving to Denver to start her career. During the pandemic, she decided to return to Casper to be closer to family. 

“I feel like there were so many things calling me back to Wyoming. I loved growing up here,” she says. “I held on to so many fond memories of my family camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, road-tripping or even shopping at the small local stores downtown.” 

Combe took a job at Visit Casper managing the organization’s marketing, a role which she says made her “truly fall in love with Casper again, sharing hidden gems that are overlooked.” 

A year later, she launched her own marketing and copywriting agency, Lady Folk Co. She rekindled a romance with a former boyfriend, Drake, who is now her fiancé, and they have a 1-year-old daughter. 

Living in Casper, WY

Combe and her fiancé were renting a home for a couple of years and initially looked at fixer-uppers in her childhood neighborhood. However, they felt they wouldn’t have time for a project, so instead, they opted for a home in Evansville, a nearby suburb. 

Located near the North Platte River and Interstate 25, the development was recently constructed, and their home checked all their boxes – four bedrooms with lots of space and storage, plus a workshop in the back for Drake. The neighborhood features a tree-lined riverside walking path with boating and fishing access and a new park with a Western-themed playground. 

“We’ve been so happy with our decision because our neighbors are incredibly kind and it has a village-like feel to it,” she says. “There are a bunch of kids that are always outside playing and having that type of childhood is so important for us to give our daughter.” 

Working in Casper, WY

At Lady Folk Co., Combe does creative copywriting and brand messaging for small businesses, especially in the wedding industry. She’s proud to have started her own business and grown a network of small, women-owned businesses for whom she does copywriting and marketing. 

Combe says that Casper’s strength is in the diversity of local small businesses. 

“I feel really lucky to have a part in representing the business community,” she says. “It lights me up to share the stories of people here through the ideas that they carry, bring to life and are shaping Casper forward with.” 

Finding Community in Casper, WY

When Combe is dining out, she opts for locally owned restaurants like La Cocina, which has been open since 1996 and has “incredible margaritas” but also does community advocacy work in the area. 

She orders takeout from Thai Kitchen, another family-owned eatery, at least once a month. She’s a regular at Copper Cup Coffee Co., which has created an inviting community space for families and young professionals alike to work and relax. Combe also loves to shop at all the charming local boutiques in downtown Casper. 

Combe is an avid hiker and cross-country skier. She frequents the Nordic Ski Trails at Casper Mountain and Bridle Trail, which offers a view of the city. 

“You’re able to escape from everything and really connect with nature,” she says. “It’s beautiful and feels like you’re being transported somewhere else.”