Some places feel like they have been waiting for you. That is exactly how it felt stepping into the Chugwater Soda Fountain with my son, a spot where time slows down and the past is still alive, with just the right touch of the present.
It's not just another place to grab a burger. It first opened its doors in 1914 and is the oldest operating soda fountain in Wyoming. For more than a century, it has been serving up hand-mixed sodas, shakes, and comfort food classics right in the heart of downtown Chugwater.
We ordered a Green River, one of those vintage sodas that takes you straight back to the 1920s. Bright, bubbly, and hand-crafted right there behind the counter. It felt almost rebellious drinking something that sweet and nostalgic in such a tiny town, like we had uncovered a secret handshake with history.
The food carried that same balance of old and new. A touch of soda fountain, a touch of gourmet. I had a grilled cheese that was perfectly crisp and gooey, served up with hash-style fries we had never seen before.
My son dug into a burger that came out with a branded bun stamped with the Chugwater Soda Fountain logo. Quirky, playful, and somehow it made the burger taste even better.
And then there is the elk. If you have been inside, you know it. A massive elk mount towers over the dining room. The story goes back to the building’s original owners in 1914, who insisted the elk must always stay. It has been there ever since, through more than a hundred years of soda jerks, travelers, and hungry locals. Today, it is not just part of the décor, it is a permanent piece of Chugwater’s story.
Chugwater itself has a history as bold as its name. Once a bustling ranching hub, it was named after the nearby creek where buffalo were “chugged” off the bluffs into the water by Native hunters. The town has held onto its roots even as the population shrank, and the soda fountain is part of what keeps it alive.
If you ever find yourself rolling down I-25 between Cheyenne and Casper, Chugwater Soda Fountain is a must-stop. Not just for the food, though you will want seconds of everything, but for the feeling. It is a place where history, small-town resilience, and a little bit of pure Wyoming magic meet in one perfect bite.
The Itinerary: Soda, History, and Small-Town Charm
⛪ Stop 1: Chugwater Soda Fountain (Plan for lunch and a Green River soda, 60–90 minutes)
🦌 Stop 2: Meet the legendary elk mount that has guarded the building since 1914
🚶 Stop 3: Stroll through downtown Chugwater and snap a photo by the town signs (15–20 minutes)
🧀 Stop 4: Pick up some Chugwater Chili seasoning mix from the market next door (10 minutes)
🌾 Final Stop: Scenic drive back toward Cheyenne with wide-open plains and endless sky