April 1-7 marks the inaugural 5150’ Restaurant Week in Casper. Be sure to check out all of your favorite local restaurants during this culinary adventure, including these establishments located within the Downtown Development Authority.
(more…)The heart of Casper has some of the best music stores and places to listen to live music. We might be bias, but here is our top list of downtown businesses to help you get your jam on:
(more…)If you are not the planning type, don’t worry, we are! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner (hint, hint: this Thursday), we have put together the perfect date night that will allow you to enjoy the romantic setting that is Downtown Casper.
(more…)Don’t let the cold weather and snow get you down. It’s time to get out and explore! It’s no secret that fresh air stimulates the mind and provides loads of other benefits, so we have some ideas to get you out of the house to enjoy the cooler temps while supporting local businesses!
Located on Center Street across from the America Theater, 42° North will help you step in to your next adventure. The local owners enjoy all things outdoor and were born and raised in Casper, so they have the expertise when it comes to your outdoor gear during any season.
Casper Mountain has great Nordic Trails and downhill skiing and 42° North offers all the equipment necessary to get on the trails. If you aren’t sure about the skis, you can try snowshoeing too! Rentals for snowshoes, back-country skis, and cross-country skis are available for children and adults.
Shoes for any sport or leisure activity can be found in this newly remodeled shop. When you want to take a hike or wander our city center, look no further to shoe those feet and protect yourself from the elements with the latest and greatest in active wear.
There is nothing like the beauty of Wyoming during any season, but something about the snow-covered landscapes warms our hearts. Wyoming Camera Outfitters (WCO) is the perfect place to help you capture your favorite features throughout our picturesque region. Specializing in camera sales, printing services, classes and workshops, WCO is a one stop shop for capturing your favorite moments in photos.
Not only does Wyoming Camera Outfitters sell the highest quality in cameras and equipment, but they will also teach you how to use the features on each piece of equipment you purchase. Boasting “old-fashioned service, with exceptional technical advice,” Wyoming Camera Outfitters won’t leave you in the dark when it comes to answering questions and providing support.
Not sure if you are ready to purchase? WCO even has rental equipment based on your needs. From lenses and cameras to lights and tripods, purchasing or renting a camera has never been so easy. All you need to do now is find your favorite Casper-area landmark and start saving those memories.
David Street Station Ice Skating Rink
Finally, if you haven’t been to David Street Station this winter, you have been missing out. Since the grand opening of the ice-skating rink in November, David Street Station has been hosting event after event to ensure that all of Casper can enjoy our downtown plaza all year long.
With only a few events left until the outdoor ice-skating rink closes for the season on February 15th, you will want head down there to see the rink for yourself. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children aged 4-12, and $2 for children 4 and under. Ice skate rentals are available for $3 if you don’t own a pair of your own. Areas to sit and watch the skaters or take a break line the outside of the rink and the fire pit and lamp warmers provide a break from the cold.
A last blast will be held on February 9th which will be a big party to celebrate a successful inaugural year and is sure to be a great time. The final event of the season is a Valentine’s Day Date Skate on February 14th, perfect to skate, cozy up by the fire, and enjoy a night with loved ones.
Downtown Casper is as vibrant as ever. Businesses are flourishing, food and drink can be found around every corner, and the community is regularly enjoying our unique city center.
As some have said: if you haven’t been to Downtown Casper in the last 18 months, you haven’t been to Downtown Casper. Businesses, organizations, partners, and individuals continue working hard to make this area the heart of our community.
With so many things happening, you may not know where to start. We’ve got you covered. Each month, we will be providing ways to experience Downtown Casper on a single night, in a month, or over the course of the year.
The Downtown Development Authority is the best resource for all that is happening in Downtown Casper and we are excited for the year to come.
CASPER DDA BOARD POSITION
The Casper Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking applicants for the Board of Directors. There are three seats available, one with a single term that expires 6/30/20 and two full terms that expire 6/30/22. Details of the board and an application form can be found at downtowncasper.com or by stopping by our office. Applications, including a Letter of Interest, will be received until May 28, 2018, 4:00 pm, at the offices of the Downtown Development Authority located at 341 W. Yellowstone Hwy. Please call 307-235-6710 for additional information.
David Street Station Receives Daniels Fund Amateur Sports Grant
Casper, WY – The Downtown Development Authority announced today that it has received a $500,000 Daniels Fund grant to expand and enhance youth sports opportunities in Casper with the completion of David Street Station.
David Street Station is a new outdoor public gathering place in the heart of downtown Casper whose mission is to enrich the community by offering free public space for community events and gatherings. With an emphasis on children and family, the multi-purpose complex will also provide an ice skating rink and practice and play space for youth sports programs. Specific sports programs will include hockey, ice skating, figure skating, curling, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, futsal (soccer in small area), exercise and wellness classes, and many others. In addition to traditional sports, the community complex lends itself to be used for non-traditional sports and competition, allowing all youth the opportunity to participate.
Wyoming sport enthusiasts have already worked to utilize the space in and around David Street Station to recruit and grow the summer 3×3 Basketball tournament, as well as to help rebuild and strengthen the Cowboy State Games. The Cowboy State Games has contracted to utilize the community complex to host their opening and closing ceremonies; plus, provide space for their activities and events. “David Street Station is, for the Casper Sports Alliance and the Cowboy State Games, an integral component for the sports events we host now and will into the future. It has already proven to be a valuable asset in attracting sports events to Casper that otherwise may have gone to another city or state. That’s good for our kids and our community,” said John Giantonio, Director of the Casper Sports Alliance.
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
For more information, please contact Kevin Hawley, CEO of the Downtown Development Authority at (307) 235-6710 or kevin@downtowncasper.com
Rocky Mountain Power Donation to David Street Station
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leslie Blythe, 307.259.6904
A $10,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation will assist with the Downtown Development Authority’s continued work on the David Street Station, an outdoor public place in the heart of Casper.
“Rocky Mountain Power and their charitable Foundation truly are partners in our great community. We are honored to accept this generous donation and eager to reinvest it back into the community through what is truly a civic project – David Street Station. We can’t thank Rocky Mountain Power and their Foundation enough for believing in us, our project, and our amazing community here in Casper” said Kevin Hawley, Director of the DDA.
“We are pleased to support the Downtown Development Authority with this donation from our Foundation,” said Leslie Blythe, Rocky Mountain Power regional business manager. “As part of this community, Rocky Mountain Power is grateful for all the work the program does in the Casper area.”
About David Street Station:
David Street Station, an outdoor civic space in the heart of downtown Casper, is currently under construction. Phase I construction, which includes a band shell, walkways, lighting, and landscaping, is set to be completed in August 2017. Phase II construction is set to begin in the summer of 2017 and will feature a free splash pad, pop up performance area, vendor space, restrooms, and observation deck. David Street Station will offer free community activities, open and accessible to all, in a safe, clean, and beautifully maintained facility. Common sights will be children giggling as they run through the community splash pad or families sitting together on a blanket enjoying one of the many free community movie nights. Additional activities will include Live Performances, Festivals, Community Fundraisers, and a Farmers Market.
About the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation:
The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.8 million customers in six Western states as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. For more information, visit www.rockymountainpower.net/foundation.