It’s a taste of the west with an emphasis on “taste” during Cheyenne, Wyoming’s popular Hell On Wheels Rodeo and Chuckwagon Dinner Series. Read up on it now and make plans to attend this summertime/early fall opportunity. Our Hospitality Editor, Ron Stern, tells Real Food Travelers about the experience and the history behind it.

Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan to attend Cheyenne’s Hell On Wheels Chuckwagon Dinner Series. Photos by Ron Stern. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Somehow summertime in Wyoming just wouldn’t be complete without an old-fashioned rodeo and chuckwagon dinner. And in Cheyenne, they have a doozy!  Known as the Hell on Wheels Rodeo, the annual event is held between June and September. Anyone is welcome to compete for cash prizes and the chance to move on to the series finals. Coupled with an award-winning chuckwagon dinner, an entertainment trifecta of sight, sound, and taste is the perfect way for families to embrace this country’s Western heritage.

Hell on Wheels might sound like an odd name for a rodeo but it pays homage to an intriguing piece of American history. During the 1860s the Union Pacific Railroad was expanding its reach westward.

Temporary “boom towns” as they were known flourished in its wake as did the inevitable vices like gambling, crime, alcohol and prostitution. Along with those, however, were people who hoped to establish a lasting settlement operating legitimate businesses. Cheyenne was one of the communities that survived and was officially founded in 1867.

Currently held at the Laramie County Fairgrounds, it features an open-style format where anyone can pay to enter. There are nine events including saddle bronc riding, tie-down, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping and more. Cash is awarded to the winners as well as the chance to advance to the American Contender Series which in 2024 was held in Arlington, Texas.

A Bronc rider during the Hell on Wheels Rodeo.

The admission fee covers either just the rodeo or also the pre-event dinner prepared by the family-owned 3 Lazy R Chuckwagon. Trust me, you will want to do both. The owners Fred and June Wood and their children have taken their converted grain wagon all across the country and have won many cooking competitions including Cheyenne’s Frontier Days.

Chuckwagons (later called food wagons) were the original food to go for cowboys on the trail from 1865-1901. They carried an assortment of staples like flour, baking soda, salt, vinegar, canned milk, beans, molasses, lard, and tobacco. Arbuckle’s Coffee was the preferred favorite and each bag included a large, red-striped peppermint stick, usually reserved for the one who ground the coffee beans.

Typical items found on a Chuck Wagon.

Today’s chuckwagons prepare more contemporary fare. Served buffet style, the lines moved quickly for the 200-plus crowd. The tantalizing aroma lingered in the air which merely increased my appetite appeal while I waited to sidle up to the table. The Woods start days in advance and the spread included slowly smoked brisket, BBQ beans, coleslaw, buttered new potatoes, and rolls.

3-R-Lazy Chuckwagon Dinner served during the Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuckwagon Dinner series.

Balancing my plate and beverage with one hand, I sauntered up to the dessert table offering four types of cobblers (blueberry, peach, apple, and cherry). They topped it all with a heaping serving of vanilla ice cream. This hearty meal was way delicious and put me in the cowboy mood for the rodeo program that started at 7pm.

For dessert, it’s big trays of fruit cobblers.

Rodeos are part of America’s patriotic heritage. I met one couple who traveled all the way from Chicago after reading the positive reviews about this event. As the announcer got things rolling, a still hush came over the audience. Everyone rose from their seats as cowboy hats and hands covered their hearts. Honoring military veterans was followed by a heartfelt, a capella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

I cleared the lump in my throat as the festivities got underway. Local and regional participants blasted out of chutes chasing down 500 lb. steers for the various events. Cowboys and cowgirls delighted the crowds who whooped, hollered and shouted encouragement for the riders, some of whom were still in high school.

Cowboys wait their turn at the Hell On Wheels Rodeo in Cheyenne.

From its early days as a railroad boom town, Cheyenne has retained its pioneer spirit. The Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuckwagon offers a lively evening of authentic Western fun the whole family will enjoy.

-Story and photos by Ron Stern, Real Food Traveler Hospitality Editor

Please note: As is common practice in this industry, this was a sponsored visit, however, all opinions were honest and based on the author’s opinion for the purpose of informing our readers.