Every area has differing colloquialisms and idioms. Around here, when one comments about anything that is different from what seems normal or common to ourown lives elsewhere, the response is usually.... "THIS is Wyoming!". Recently we noted another difference between the way things are done here, from what seem the norm everywhere else. In the development of the new section across from us (in the construction zone) as well as on privately owned lots which are either getting slabs poured, or adding sheds and so on... there are never ANY building permits posted or building inspectors seen inspecting anything. Even when someone (2 lots over) extended their electric power (100A) from the meter to their shed and then added a 50A RV connection outside their shed, no permit was evidently displayed on the lot. Hopefully they used an electrician to do the work; however, if not, it would not surprise us, because...
T H I S I S W Y O M I N G !
Star Valley Ranch RV Resort is located just off of US Hwy 89, about 5 miles north of the town of Thayne WY (87123) has a population of 366 (as of Census 2010) and sits at an elevation of 5,906ft.
Star Valley Ranch, is a housing community that includes homes from 1/2 acre home sites to several acre small ranches, which is located next to the Bridger-Teton National Forest, in the heart of Star Valley, Wyoming. It is a premier community with two professional golf courses Cedar Creek, an 18 hole course and Aspen Hills, a 9-hole course. Other amenities include Cedar Creek Swimming Pool, Duffer's Lounge, Cedar Creek Grill, rental facilities for events and public parks. Additionally, for the RV community, Star Valley Ranch RV Resort is an over 900 RV lot community, strictly for the RV community which features deeded lots of approximately 40' width by 65' to 75' lengths, and can be bare gravel or paved by the owner, with 4ft setbacks on the sides and rear, and 5ft in the front. A shed can be added no larger than 10'x12'; fences up to 36" tall are allowed in the rear and sides (72" with ARC approval) and soft or hard top Gazebos can be added as well as outside kitchens, and other decor. Some people go all out in their decor. Others leave it rather plain. One can rent their lot when not using it, renting for $500 - $600 per month, and the community Star Valley Real Estate will even property manage it for you or you can do it yourself... your choice. There is a $925/yr HOA fee, which includes FREE play on its own 9-hole Executive golf course (trail fee is $225, no green fees), 8 Pickleball courts, Basketball court, dog parks for large and small dogs, a large laundry room, a HUGE Barn for many events and activities, dances, shows etc, a convenience store and several restaurants, a package pickup area and a mail service (also free) and other amenities. So far the Water and Sewer is included FREE as the owners own the water rights from 3 canyons. A garbage can service must be contracted by the owners at a cost of $97/year, but often neighbors will share a can as pickups are every Monday and the cans are really big. And the natural beauty of this area is indescribable, except to show it in photos, so view it for yourself, below. The only NEGATIVE is to that the community is only usable between May and October, because otherwise the weather in Wyoming is very inhospitable for RVs. To avoid water lines bursting from freezing, the developers shut down the water service near the mid to late October, which makes it uninhabitable after that date... until it reopens in May. But we would not want to be here in their winter weather anyhow, which is why we would head south towards our winter home in Benson AZ, until May.
Bank of Star Valley (a local bank next to Wells Fargo)
The local hardware store is a True Value.
But there is an Ace in Afton about 10 miles further South.
Beautiful bronze sculpture of a Bull Elk in front of the Star Valley Bank
The Chevron station always has great gas and diesel prices.
Cedar Creek Inn, a lovely hotel with delightful cabins in town
Our Wells Fargo branch in Thayne
The Maverik gas station (about 2-3 blocks from the Chevron) has the same prices.
The Thayne & Rural Volunteer Fire Department & EMS (est. 1952) in Thayne WY is currently trying to beome the Mid-Valley Fire District. As a Volunteer Fire Dept, they get $8,000/yr (and facilities) from Thayne, $32,000 from the Star Valley Ranch Assn, $20,000+/- from donations and events, and currently $30,000 from Lincoln County (18,106 pop.) and covers a total area of 4,095 square miles. By current law Lincoln County is not required to fund Volunteer Fire Depts, but they do inasmuch as their budget allows. However, as their budget is cut from the state level, so would their funding of Volunteer Fire Depts. They have 7 fire trucks (dated 1978 - 2009), 1 air trailer and 22 firemen and women. Each firefighter costs $20,000 in personal safety gear/equipment, plus upgrades to trucks and other fire training needs.
The Wagon Wheel Diner in Thayne WY. Our favorite weekend breakfast location (so far)
Thayne US Post Office (83127)
A Star Valley Ranch Propane Distributor (about 3 miles from us) Salt River will deliver propane for $1.29/gal bulk into a 128 gal tank behind our lot (so we can keep the RV tank full). There is also a Propane Coop nearby and in Afton Open Country Propane will deliver it for just $1.10/gal.
This truly is one of the prettiest parts of Wyoming, much of it as it used to be.
Some of the small homes in Star Valley Ranch
Views of the 9-hole Star Valley Ranch RV Executive Golf Course
This is the Business Office, where the SVR Real Estate is. Packages (Fedex and UPS that are not addressed to an individual's lot address are also delivered to the Business Office, where individuals can pick up their own packages. However, if the individual's lot address is on the package, both Fedex and UPS will deliver packages to your lot address.
An open airfield for Radio Controlled (RC) plane and drone flights.
Above and below, entrance to Star Valley Ranch RV Resort
Upon entering the community RVers going to the 'nightly' area check-in here. Residents also check in when they first return for each season, so the community security knows who is there and who is not.
A Self Serve Laundry for those who do not have Washers/Dryers in their RVs or Sheds
Above and below, Convenience Store and light cooked food availabe
Above, a playground for the kids
8 Pickleball courts with scheduled matches and classes.
Next to the Pickleball courts a small motel (or
rooms and cabin rentals) for visiting non-RVers.
One of the streets in the initial section of the community (as evidenced by the mature trees)
Next to the Pickleball courts, 2 dog parks (one for large dogs and one for small dogs)
Another open field for RC planes or vehicles.
This is the HUGE barn-styled facility used for multiple events,
like dances, shows, community dinners, etc.
Beyond the Barn, heading to our lot. This is the newer area
of the community as evidenced by the lacking (or new) landscaping.
Above and below, these are some early morning (about 7:00am) views of the community
taken while Mary was walking Roxy in the large open area and trails around the development.
Arbout 100 yards from our lot there are two ponds, which give a spectacular reflection of the mountainscapes in the early morning hours
There is a large field about 150 yards from our lot, which has at least 12 horses.
And below are photos of our lot, #825 (location shown on the map circled in RED)
View of our street, Whiffle Tree #825. BTW, Whiffle Tree
is actually supposed to be all one word... and it is not an actual TREE.
"A whippletree, or whiffletree, is a mechanism to distribute force evenly through linkages. It is also referred to as an equalizer, leader bar, or double tree. It consists of a bar pivoted at or near the centre, with force applied from one direction to the pivot and from the other direction to the tips." (Wikipedia) as shown below...
The lot...
The gazebo is an excellent place to sit and have breakfast with coffee. Note Mary has to wear a jacket at 8:30am because the temperature here is in the 60s still this early. By afternoon it warms up to the 80s. The side curtains keep the wind off of us, or block the sun in the late afternoon as it sets.
In the shed there is a full-size stacked Samsung washer and electric dryer, plus a laundry sink and an upright freezer, plus lots of room to store the gazebo furniture (6 rocking and swivel chairs and a hexagonal table), plus room for a (future) golf cart, for golf and so Roxy can get her golf cart fix, without getting into other people's golf carts, as she does now.
Above and below, viewed from the rear lot (#827). The white tank is a 128gal bulk propane tank which lets us keep our RV propane tank full at all times, ready for any trip. Bulk propane is only $1.10/gal. compared to about $2.96/gal or more, retail.
RV Hook Up behind shed.
Viewed from Lot #826 (corner lot).
And below some photos of the fabulous sunsets we get
to adorn our evening sky views from our gazebo.
NEXT POST: August 12, 2019 - Trip to Jackson (Hole), Wyoming.
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