Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
28 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
28 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
28 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Wyoming Woods Landing-Jelm Woods Landing Bar & Cafe
Gastro Obscura

Woods Landing Bar & Cafe

Dance on a hand-hewn log floor padded with bouncy boxcar springs at a saloon built in 1883.

Woods Landing-Jelm, Wyoming

Added By
Rachel Rummel
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  shashe
  shashe
  mkennedytwin
  ohio_dirt
  ohio_dirt
  D. Vinzant
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Woods Landing in Jelm, Wyoming, wasn't named for the rugged terrain on which it sits. In 1883, Colonel Samuel Wood founded the saloon because he lacked the necessary acreage to open a ranch. About 27 miles southwest of Laramie, Woods set up shop near the Medicine Bow Mountains and on the Laramie River. Today, the property includes a restaurant, general store, gas station, post-office, cabins, and a historic dance hall.

In 1927, Clarence and Mayme Lewellen of Indiana bought the property with dreams of a vacation resort. In 1932, they hired Hokum Lestum, a Norwegian immigrant, to build a dance hall and cabins. Lestum employed traditional Scandinavian design in his craftsmanship, which included a dance floor built from hand-hewn logs that fit together so tightly they didn't require chinking. He situated 24 boxcar springs beneath the logs to give participants additional bounce. Woods Landing remains home to the only "floating" dance floor in the state of Wyoming.

Clarence passed away in 1936, and two years later, Mayme married Lestum. Their patrons danced, dined, and made merry, but they also used the space for blood drives, holiday celebrations, and weddings. Many Scandinavian immigrants had flocked to the area in the early 20th century for tie hack jobs (a term for loggers that hewed lumber into railroad ties), and Woods Landing Dance Hall became something of a community center for them.

The springy dance hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985; its "period of significance" is listed as 1925 to 1949. Decades later, the space continues to host Saturday night dances, as well as Friday open mic nights. And the kitchen's still churning out a full menu that encapsulates the area's social history. Amongst cowboy fare (look out for bull fries, also known as Rocky Mountain oysters), you'll find country cooking (gravy-smothered chicken fried steak), mid-century Americana ("Sody Pop Floats"), and Scandinavian favorites such as kladdkaka, a gooey Swedish chocolate cake.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Zimbo (@djzimbo) on Aug 19, 2018 at 1:54pm PDT

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions Hotels Restaurants Dancing Cabins Saloons History

Know Before You Go

The dining area of the resort is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

rachelrummel

Published

May 22, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://woodslanding.com/
  • https://www.travelwyoming.com/listing/jelm/woods-landing-resort
  • https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/wyoming/secluded-wy-restaurant/
  • https://res.cloudinary.com/miles-extranet-dev/image/upload/v1553465485/Wyoming/account_documents/2551/6c097b9efa065ff3958d3db52775e322_2018MENUpdf.pdf
  • https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/85003210.pdf
  • https://www.loc.gov/item/wy0625/
  • https://www.laramieboomerang.com/news/a-surprising-discovery/article_1fefef20-d18e-5114-bc47-75e53d3ad9fb.html
Woods Landing Bar & Cafe
9 State Highway 10
Woods Landing-Jelm, Wyoming
United States
41.110621, -106.011666
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Matthew Shepard Memorial Bench

Laramie, Wyoming

miles away

Gnome Road

Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

miles away

Lincoln Highway Monument

Laramie, Wyoming

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wyoming

Wyoming

United States

Places 63
Stories 19

Nearby Places

Matthew Shepard Memorial Bench

Laramie, Wyoming

miles away

Gnome Road

Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

miles away

Lincoln Highway Monument

Laramie, Wyoming

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wyoming

Wyoming

United States

Places 63
Stories 19

Related Stories and Lists

50 Places to Eat and Drink Before You Die

List

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • The antique, embossed tin on the walls and ceiling of the Martin Hotel have an “Arabesque” design motif, popular at the time of establishment.

    Winnemucca, Nevada

    The Martin Hotel

    It may no longer take overnight guests, but the Martin still makes out-of-towners feel at home—just like it has for the past century.

  • The restored motel reopened for business in 2012.

    Carthage, Missouri

    Boots Court Motel

    This historic motel standing at the "crossroads of America" offers a radio in every room and was saved by local protesters.

  • Antler chandelier plus interior of restaurant

    Elsie, Oregon

    Camp 18 Restaurant

    A logging-themed roadside restaurant surrounded by museum-quality machinery and artifacts from the industry's heyday.

  • The Middlegate Station roadhouse in Nevada has existed since the Pony Express era

    Fallon, Nevada

    Middlegate Station

    This Old West eatery along America's Loneliest Road was originally a stop on the Pony Express.

  • The restaurant and the topiaries.

    San Miguel Ameyalco, Mexico

    La Escondida

    A fairy garden in an old hotel hidden in La Marquesa forest.

  • A celebrated architectural feat, the Blennerhassett hotel was adorned with elaborate window treatments, frescoes, and even a passenger elevator.

    Parkersburg, West Virginia

    The (Haunted) Blennerhassett Hotel

    The oldest hotel in West Virginia is reportedly frequented by ghosts.

  • Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.

    Eggleston, Virginia

    The Palisades Restaurant

    Dine in a former general store from the Roaring Twenties, when Eggleston was a hot springs boomtown.

  • Naydja Cojoe takes the stage at the Dew Drop Inn.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Dew Drop Inn

    First opened in 1939, this legendary performance venue was a haven for Black musicians including Ray Charles and Little Richard.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.