New “Welcome to Wyoming” Signs Installed, Old Signs to be Auctioned
Wyoming is refreshing its state borders with newly designed “Welcome to Wyoming” signs along highways, featuring bold, postcard-like images of iconic locations across the state, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has begun installing the new signs, which are expected to attract attention from visitors and locals alike, with millions of photos and selfies anticipated.
The first of the new signs was installed on US Highway 85 south of Cheyenne, with more already placed on Highway 120 north of Cody and US Highway 310 near Frannie. Doug McGee, WYDOT’s Public Affairs Officer, said the signs are designed to stand out both at highway speeds and in photos, providing a vibrant “postcard of Wyoming” for travelers to capture.
The new design features five images representing key areas of Wyoming: the Grand Tetons, Devils Tower, Medicine Bow Peak, Devil’s Gate, and Flaming Gorge. The images are arranged in a way that reflects their actual locations on the state map, ensuring a geographically accurate representation.
In addition to their visual appeal, the new signs have been created using advanced printing technology, promising greater durability and clarity than their predecessors. This marks a break from tradition, as Wyoming historically updated its “Welcome to Wyoming” signs every eight years in sync with changes to the state’s license plates.
As for the old signs, they will soon be auctioned off to the public, a process that has proven lucrative in the past. In 2017, WYDOT sold five signs for a total of over $33,000, with one fetching as much as $10,000. The retired signs will be listed on publicsurplus.com, with proceeds going back into WYDOT’s budget for future signage projects.
WYDOT aims to have all the new signs installed before winter, though efforts to combat wildfires have delayed some installations. Despite this, travelers are already stopping to snap pictures with the newly installed signs, showcasing their arrival in the Cowboy State.
