Bed & Breakfast Inns and Ranches of Wyoming

Fort Hat Creek was built by the Army in 1868 on the banks of Sage Creek -- it seems the solders were a bit confused about their actual location, since the creek the fort is named for is in Nebraska.  It was established as a sub-post of Fort Laramie to secure communications to the Black Hills and its first mission was to discourage settlers and prospectors from sneaking illegally into the Black Hills.  When Custer found gold there in 1874 the rush was on, in spite of Fort Hat Creek.

After the resulting Indian troubles had been settled in the white man's favor, the fort became a stage stop on the Cheyenne to Deadwood Stage Route and was known as Hat Creek Station.  The general store/roadhouse built in the 1880's still stands, and the entire station is in the process of being restored.  The site is located about 15 miles northeast of Lusk off US Hwy 18-85.

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