"Getting To Know My New Home" Torrington by gt_ky

In the months leading up to my wedding to a "Local" rancher from Torrington, I have spent many weekends in the town, getting to know the local hangouts, favorite restaurants, best places to shop, etc.

It took me a few visits to really start to appreciate this friendly and low-key town. The community is strong and the rugged beauty of the Wyoming plains really grows on you after a while. (This coming from someone who has never lived outside of the heart of the Rocky Mountains!)

You can really start to see the wonder of "big sky" country here! I love taking a drive out to the smaller out-lying towns. You will see tons of cows & horses, but also some pheasants if you're looking for them, deer, antelope, and various small critters that like to lurk near the road.

Since Torrington is a "college town", it is actually fairly populated, for being in the plains of Wyoming.
Torrington is only 84 miles north-east of Cheyenne and about 30 miles west of Scottsbluff, NE, so shopping centers are within reasonable driving distance.

Prices are quite high in the town of Torrington, since they are somewhat isolated and people are more willing to pay whatever they ask. (I've yet to determine whether this is because they don't want to travel to where they can get things cheaper, or they are so isolated they really don't know how much merchants mark things up there!)

The grocery stores (Main Street Market, Kelly's) are all fairly average as far as cost - I thought it was about the same as shopping in Vail, Co. All the shops I've been in have been very clean, good variety, and the merchants & employees are super nice.

My conclusion, after price-hunting all over the town, is if you are looking for furniture, clothing, or appliances, either
1) Garage Sale!!!
2) 2nd Hand Store
3) Go to Cheyenne, Ft. Collins, Scottsbluff - anywhere that has an actual "mall" area!

Portabelo Mushroom Burger @ Deacon's

On the whole, people in Torrington are incredibly nice and friendly. They will definitely help you out and give you directions if you are lost, or a ride if you break down. The community is filled with "old-timers" - part of the reason I love the area (I grew up in the Vail Valley of Colorado, where young college kids abound, and the old-timers are hard to find)

The whole town has a very distinctive "Western" feel - from the plaid shirts and Wrangler jeans to cowboy hats and feed lots. On warm and hot summer days, the smell wafting from the feed lots can be overwhelming, but you get used to it. On the plus side, during sugar beet harvesting time, the Holly sugar factory is in full swing, and the whole town smells sweet!

There is a train that runs straight through the southern part of town, and depending on where you are, you will hear the train whistles blowing night or day. After a bit you hardly even notice them, and if you are a few blocks away you barely hear them.

If you really want to check out the "local" flavor - head over to Deacon's Restaurant. Great food, friendly staff, and it's a favorite hangout for old-time ranchers & families.

• Pros:Friendly, laid back town with a pretty surrounding landscape!
• Cons:The wafting smell of feed-lots in the summer.
• In a nutshell:A real Western taste of "Big Sky Country"!