When the wind picks up in Jeffrey City, it creaks through buildings, old cars and signs, including the remnants of Kevin Robinett’s projects at the Green Mountain Motel.
The late owner’s tinkering endeavors are scattered throughout the motel’s grounds, which have fallen into unexpected, grieving hands. After his death last year, his children are left to sort through the inheritance their father left behind.
“Our end goal is to sell the place, because that's what my dad was trying to do before he passed, and it was really not our plan to have a motel in Jeffrey City,” said Randy Robinett, Kevin’s son. “We've been trying to keep it afloat for almost a year now, just dealing with courts and stuff… then, I guess, just trying to grieve and trying to move on.”
Randy Robinett returns to the motel grounds almost every weekend to fix and clean it up, despite the painful memories of his dad’s unexpected death in May 2024.
The family hopes to sell it within the year. Robinett said they’re planning to start out at $185,000 for the property, but they’re open to offers.
The Green Mountain Motel from above. (Reilly Strand) 
A car drives past the Green Mountain Motel. (Reilly Strand) 
As the owner of Green Mountain Motel, Kevin lived on the premises in a home that doubled as the motel office. (Reilly Strand) 
Parts of Suzuki Samurais at the Green Mountain Motel, which Kevin Robinett was working on. (Reilly Strand)
Green Mountain Motel, A Jeffrey City Staple
The motel is one of the few places to stay on the 125-mile stretch between Rawlins and Lander. It’s also one of the few remaining icons of Jeffrey City, a town that sprouted up during a uranium mining boom, then busted in the early 1980s.
The town had about 4,000 residents at its peak, but people left in droves after the bust. Though it’s often referred to as a ghost town, residents say about 50 or 60 people live there today.
Kevin Robinett became one of those few residents in 2014, when he bought the motel from a friend. As an owner, he was known to barbecue for guests and help out people who were stranded when winter weather closed the highway.
Kevin Robinett and his corgi, Tuffy. (Courtesy Randy Robinett) 
Winters can be bitter in Jeffrey City. Kevin Robinett was known to help out travelers who were stranded when bad weather caused the highway to close. (Courtesy Randy Robinett) 
Kevin Robinett in Alaska in 2012. (Courtesy Randy Robinett) 
A newspaper clipping of miners posted on a bulletin board at the Green Mountain Motel office. (Reilly Strand) 
Buildings in the main town of Jeffrey City in April 2025. The building on the right was a bachelor apartment complex during Jeffrey City’s boom. (Hannah Brock)
Fixing Up Dad’s Motel
Randy Robinett, 45, juggles a full-time job and a family in Casper, so his time at the motel is limited. Local family friends, like Split Rock Bar Owner Isebel Hiatt, manage and clean the motel during the week.
Robinett enjoyed coming out to the motel for holidays, or just to bring his kids to hang out with their grandpa and run around with his dog. Though, the first time he pulled into the Green Mountain Motel, he said, “Wow.”
“Because everything's run down, you know, and the amount of money to bring it up, dad didn't have… It just keeps going downhill, essentially,” Robinett said. “Just perfect scenery for a slasher film… It's what we always joked about. Dad thought it was funny.”
The motel hasn’t changed much since his father bought it. Aside from replacing air conditioners and adding microwaves and refrigerators, the rooms still have a sort of 1970s vibe.
“We talked to him about updating some stuff, and it just seemed like he was comfortable with it just being the way it was,” Robinett said. “He liked it just being old-timey.”
Randy Robinett and his brother repair siding at the Green Mountain Motel. (Reilly Strand) 
A guest room at the Green Mountain Motel. (Reilly Strand) 
Randy Robinett jumps his dad’s boom truck with the help of his brother. Robinett and his father used to share the truck, which he now plans to sell. (Reilly Strand) 
The older guest rooms at the Green Mountain Motel. Currently they’re used for storage rather than guest rooms. (Reilly Strand)
Robinett may make more updates to the motel, but it depends on the situation. If someone buys it as is, the family will sell it as is.
The property includes a house, 10 rooms for guests, and a large workshop. There are also additional guest rooms in an older building, which are used for storage.
Painful Memories
Though his father enjoyed meeting new people and the freedom of living in Jeffrey City, the motel also took a toll on him.
“He enjoyed it up to a point, but it was killing him, because all he did out here was drink, essentially, which is the sad part of this situation,” Robinett said.
In May 2024, 62-year-old Kevin Robinett had an unknown medical event that caused him to drive his truck erratically from the motel grounds, Randy Robinett said.
“Through part of the motel, the older buildings, and then out across the highway and wound up crashing into a shop,” he said. “And he was life flighted to Casper, but didn't make it.”
Each time Robinett returns to the motel, he’s met with a reminder of how his father died.
The Robinett family had to quickly patch up the motel building to keep insulation from spreading across the prairie. They haven’t fixed the building or fence yet.
“That's why we want to sell it,” Robinett said. “... It gets hard, you know, to see it.”
When Kevin Robinett suffered an unknown medical event in May 2024, he drove erratically as he left the motel grounds, striking the older part of the motel, which is used for storage. The family had to patch it up quickly to avoid littering insulation on surrounding land. (Reilly Strand) 
The truck Kevin Robinett drove in May 2024 remains on the Green Mountain Motel grounds. (Reilly Strand)
Selling The Motel
Selling the motel would give closure to Randy, his family and his late father. Kevin wanted to sell the motel and snowbird in Arizona. The family was preparing to move their father with a big trailer full of items he wanted to keep, but on Saturday, April 5, Randy and his brother unpacked it.
It was mostly full of tools. Kevin Robinett was a handyman of all sorts.
“Kind of the pack rat mentality, and that was definitely my dad, but not all of it was just junk,” Randy Robinett said. “He felt a purpose for everything that he had.”
Kevin and Randy worked together several times over the years and had a good relationship. That’s why spending so much time sorting out his things can be painful for Randy.
“You come out here, and I don't know; almost talk to him, you know?” Randy Robinett said. “I almost feel him. Sometimes it makes it very hard…it also makes it easier, too. It does make you remember him and the type of person he was.”
Despite that, Randy and his siblings persevere.
“I suppose my dad's legacy would be us, his kids, and just the way that he raised us. You know, being able to come out here and get stuff done,” he said with tears. “Just strong, strong as I'm crying, just resilient people. That's his legacy.”
Randy Robinett sits for an interview inside his dad’s workshop at the Green Mountain Motel. (Reilly Strand and Hannah Brock) 
The Robinett family. From left in the back, Lea Hendrickson, Josh Hendrickson, Shad Robinett, Randy Robinett, Taneshia Robinett, Kenny Robinett, and Kevin Robinett. From left in the front, Austin Robinett, Delilah Robinett, Kevin J Robinett and Chance Robinett. (Courtesy Randy Robinett) 
Randy Robinett walks through his dad’s workshop at the Green Mountain Motel. The building was once Jeffrey City’s auto parts store. (Reilly Strand)
Message To Others
For others who haven’t had an unexpected loss, Robinett said he wants to remind people to talk about arrangements when someone dies. Even if it’s uncomfortable.
“I mean, death happens to us all,” he said. “Nobody wants to plan for it, because they don't think it's ever going to happen…my dad was only 62, so realistically, that's early. So, you don't plan on it happening, but if you talk about it beforehand, then it definitely helps.”
Between the loss and bittersweet memories, Robinett said it’s a learning experience.
“We don't want to leave this burden, like this kind of situation on anybody else. So it's been a learning experience as well,” Robinett said.
Hannah Brock can be reached at: Hannah@CowboyStateDaily.com
Reilly Strand can be reached at: Reilly@CowboyStateDaily.com
