Why Evanston, Wyoming is a GREAT place to live!

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover 

When you drive past Evanston on I-80, all you might see at first glance are truck stops- a lot of truck stops, and maybe Walmart. But what you might miss is the charming historic town that is only found by driving in and experiencing Evanston up close.  

An original railway town, Evanston is filled with old-timey charm. Many of the historic railroad buildings have been reimagined into gorgeous venues. You can rent The Machine Shop, The Roundhouse, and The Superintendent’s Building for your next event, party, market, or meeting.   

Main Street Evanston is a blast to the past. Small shops and restaurants line the street making it a perfect place to visit. Ivory and Iron is a great place for home décor and floral arrangements. The Beauty Bar is a full-service salon and a one-stop shop for cute clothes or hair and beauty products.  

Fun Main-Street Food/Treats: 

Dad’s Ice Cream 

Suds Brother’s Brewery 

The Pie Hole (also serves lunch) 

The Bakery 

The Yellow Cup Coffee Shop 

For Pete’s Sake Coffee and Tea  

And City Drug has hand-dipped ice cream! 

Located in the heart of downtown Evanston is Depo Square. It is composed of the Depot building, 2 gazebos, and two smaller buildings that are also available to hold your get-togethers for family and friends. Fun tip: in the summertime, The Depot Square is home to the annual Evanston Car Show!  

Other Favorite Stops: 

Heroes Realm is Southwest Wyoming's premier store for Magic the Gathering for the gamers out there. They not only have (and play) games, but sell comics, sports cards, knives, swords, statues, and t-shirts. 

More inclined to sit a sewing table than a game table? An excellent fabric and quilting supply store awaits you at Common Threads Quilting.  

If you venture off Main Street a bit, you can find the best pizza in town at Edge of Town Pub and Uinta Lanes. Enjoy bowling and arcade games or just go to eat. We have a closely held secret we're now sharing with you. You ready? On Thursday Nights you can bowl for just $1! (But shhh! Don’t tell too many people, or it’ll be crowded!) 

Want to see the latest releases? You can catch the new movies at Aspen Cinema with treats, meals and reclining seats.  

The Evanston Recreation Center is full of fun activities for the fitness enthusiast or the casual family outing. There’s a large swimming pool, a gym for indoor sports, and a well-stocked fitness center. Evanston Rec also sponsors multiple outdoor activities throughout the year for many ages. 

Love the outdoors? If you've never been crawdad fishing, stop by the Bear Ponds with some bait (or just catch them by hand)! No license is required. There’s a biking and walking trail as well as a pavilion available to reserve for events. You can even rent kayaks and paddle boats to take out on the ponds. And, our favorite event at the Bear Ponds is the “Light up the Night” Water Lantern Festival held every summer! Don’t miss it! 

Bear River State Park is home to Wyoming wildlife (including two white buffalo) and is an awesome destination for outdoor adventures! A Mountain Man Rendezvous is held there every Fall for a truly authentic feel for what life was like in the past in these parts. 

Don’t Forget – We're Close to Many Other Outdoor Wonders: 

Rock Springs' location makes it convenient for quick getaways to renowned national parks without being an overly touristy destination itself. Everyone always thinks of Yellowstone, but many other sites of interest are worth your visit. Here are just a few: Bridger-Teton National Forest, Sinks Canyon, Ashley National Forest, skiing in Utah, Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and so much more! 

Healthcare Facilities: 

Rest assured your medical needs will be cared for with Evanston Regional Hospital in town. This hospital is famous for its low ER wait times, caring and competent staff, and personal attention.  Other, more extensive care options are available in nearby Salt Lake City. 

Housing in Evanston: 

Of course we might be a little biased, but if you’re looking for a new home, we recommend Smart Dwellings! We would love to build you a new home in Evanston or anywhere in Southwest Wyoming. Please, take a look at our available new homes or build with us on your own land in the area.  

Did you know Wyoming is the most affordable of the Rocky Mountain States? It is! Of all the Rocky Mountain states, Wyoming beats out her Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana neighbors. We are also rated as one of the 20 most affordable states to live in. Don't believe me? See MERIC's 2023 data. 

And if you need a little help figuring out if now is a good time to buy a home, read our 2024 blog post, “Should I Wait to Build?”