The Long Way
Albany County
A log cabin exterior sits in a grassy, forested area under a clear blue sky.
Plate I. Log cabin at Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov
A rustic log cabin stands in a clearing with a picnic table and a fire ring.
Plate II. Keystone Ranger Station back entrance and picnic area. From recreation.gov
A log cabin sits on a grassy hill with wildflowers under a clear blue sky.
Plate III. Keystone Ranger Station cabin. From recreation.gov
A grassy meadow bordered by pine trees viewed from a stone structure.
Plate IV. View from Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov
A stack of cut logs in a grassy clearing with a forest in the background.
Plate V. Woodpile on grounds, Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov
A rustic kitchen with wooden cabinets and appliances.
Plate VI. Kitchen interior, Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov
A rustic living room features a stone fireplace, a wooden coffee table, and a sofa.
Plate VII. Living room inside Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov
An interior view of a bathroom showing a sink, toilet, and bathtub.
Plate VIII. Bathroom inside Keystone Ranger Station. From recreation.gov

Keystone Ranger Station

Albany, Albany County, Wyoming. Cabin; January - December.

Details

Map. Albany, Albany County, Wyoming. Larger map
Where
Albany, Albany County, WY. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
Take highway 130 from Laramie west to Albany (via State Hwy 11). The cabin is located 8 miles west of Albany, Wyoming on Forest Road 542.
Fees
$150/night, 9 person maximum capacity.
Access
The Keystone Ranger Station is located 8 miles along a road that is not accessible by wheeled vehicle as of December 1 of any year. The road becomes a snowmobile trail, closed to wheels.
Walk-in or reserve
There are 2 cabins at the Keystone Ranger Station; one is the rental and the one is sometimes used for employee housing on a temporary basis.
Phone
307-745-2300
Website
fs.usda.gov
Managed by
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland.
Coordinates
41.169679, -106.250922.

Located deep within the Medicine Bow National Forest, Keystone Cabin offers a unique lodging experience in southeastern Wyoming for guests seeking recreation and relaxation.

Notable Events

  1. 1913The old Keystone Ranger Station (1913) was located about a mile away when the present complex was built. wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  2. 1937A 1938 letter from the Medicine Bow National Forest Supervisor refers to logs being cut in 1937 for the combination building (Office/Dwelling). wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  3. 1939The Office/Dwelling and Garage were constructed by crews from the Chimney Park Side Camp. wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  4. 1941The land was purchased for the purposes of constructing the Keystone Ranger Station Administrative Site. wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  5. 1944The Dwelling was not constructed by the CCC; it was built by Glenn Watson, a carpenter hired by the Forest Service in 1944, with inside work completed in 1945 and 1946. wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  6. 1964The garage of the Office/Dwelling was walled in with log siding and converted to a kitchen. wyoshpo.wyo.gov
  7. 1994The Keystone Work Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places. wyoshpo.wyo.gov

People

  • Glenn Watson, Carpenter hired by the Forest Service; built the Dwelling (1944).
  • James Heid, Forest Archaeologist, Medicine Bow NF; prepared the National Register form.
  • Ranger Graw, Ranger whose wife is mentioned in the Forest Supervisor's letter on siting the new Ranger Station.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233972
  2. fs.usda.gov/r02/mbrtb/recreation/keystone-cabin
  3. wyoshpo.wyo.gov/index.php/files/874/Albany%20County%20NR%20forms/1449/Keystone%20Work%20Center%20National%20Register%20form.pdf
  4. wyoshpo.wyo.gov/index.php/programs/national-register/wyoming-listings/view-full-list/376-keystone-work-center
  5. livingnewdeal.org/sites/keystone-work-center-medicine-bow-national-forest-wy