Fans of the hit television and Netflix show “Longmire,” based on Wyoming author Craig Johnson’s detective novel series set in northeastern Wyoming, will soon converge on Buffalo for the town’s annual transformation into the fictional community of Durant in the equally fictional Absaroka County.
Those fans who choose to fly into Wyoming at Casper on their way to Buffalo for Longmire Days will quite likely recognize the voice that greets their arrival with an enthusiastic, “Welcome to Wyoming.”
The voice belongs to none other than Robert Taylor, the guy who plays fictional Sheriff of Absaroka County Walt Longmire himself.
Taylor will be at Longmire Days this year — as always, said Jennifer McCormick, executive director of the Longmire Foundation.
“All the announcements in the airport are actually made by Robert Taylor,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “Someone from the chamber approached us one year and said, ‘Do you think you can get him to do that?’”
Taylor didn’t even have to be cajoled into it, McCormick said. His immediate response was, “I’d love to.”
Just like that, a set of likely soundbites went off to Taylor, and then returned as recordings for perpetual use at the Casper-Natrona County International Airport.
Taylor, McCormick added, is not just all-in on Longmire Days, but on Wyoming.
The actor has even talked about buying a house in Wyoming someday, though his wife had a different idea for their home base.
Ultimately, he told McCormick in jest, that resulted in a little compromise: a house on the beach in Australia, where he and his wife are both from.
“But he stays in Wyoming for a couple of weeks after Longmire Days,” McCormick said. “He’ll go out to a local guest ranch, and so there’s always an opportunity to see him around Buffalo or Sheridan, even if there’s no event going on.”
Taylor Never Misses
Taylor is always there for Longmire Days, which is set for July 17-20 this year.
“Robert has even turned down a paying job to come to Longmire Days because it conflicted with the schedule,” McCormick said. “This was several years back, but he told me some producer had called him with a job they had lined up, and it wasn’t a huge job, but maybe it could have led to something else.
“He actually turned down a paying job to come to Longmire Days because he was already committed.”
Other guests from the show this year include Louanne Stephens, who plays Longmire’s no-nonsense office manager Ruby. She is perhaps the only character who can tell Walt what to do.
She keeps everyone on the straight and narrow on the show, and in real life, McCormick added.
“She’s the one I’m on the phone with all year planning stuff,” she said. “And she’s always coming up with great suggestions for people we should invite. She is super involved. She comes in and straightens us out, too, like she straightens out Walt.”
A. Martinez, who plays casino owner and primary villain Jacob Nighthorse, and John Bishop, who plays town drunk Bob Barnes, are also coming to Buffalo this year, along with Derek Phillips, the cowboy who was an occasional romantic interest for Deputy Sheriff Victoria “Vic” Moretti.
Stephens will once again host her popular tea at the TA Ranch this year, as well as the morning brunch, events that commonly sell out quickly.
“I don’t know how she manages it, but she makes it special for everyone,” McCormick said. “She always brings cute little prizes, too. Like last year she brought these cute little bandannas that she had printed up.”
The bandannas were such a hit that fans were asking about them all weekend long, trying to get one for themselves.
“Everyone wanted one, but they were only for the people who came to her events,” McCormick said. “She always does interesting stuff at all of her events.”
Bishop, too, is a frequent repeat guest of Longmire Days. In addition to being an actor, he’s also a great musician, McCormick said.
“He’s putting on a concert for us this year,” she said. “And then for A. Martinez, we’ll be showing ‘Powwow Highway,’ which was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress.”
Johnson Puts On A Great Show
Longmire Days also includes lots of chances for fans to interact with Johnson, the author of the whole Longmire universe.
Johnson’s latest Longmire novel is “Return To Sender,” which drops May 27, and Longmire Days will kick off with Johnson reading from that work and sharing a few insights.
That’s just the beginning of chances to see and interact with Johnson during the event.
The author plans to have his popular skeet shooting event again this year, as well as many other events where he will make a command appearance of one kind or another, whether it’s waving in the parade, enjoying the rodeo or sharing a few tips on writing.
For the skeet shoot, Johnson takes a hands-on approach, McCormick said.
“He goes out and orders his own plaques and trophies for that event,” McCormick said. “It’s not something he’s ever asked me to do. And Craig is very hands-on for this whole event. He’s in all the planning meetings, and he has suggestions, and we send him to run errands.”
It’s all for a good cause.
Because one of the main points of Longmire Days isn’t just celebrating the author. It’s raising money for charity. To date, Longmire Days has raised more than $200,000 for charities in Wyoming and beyond.
A look at the schedule online shows Johnson appearances at the Jim Gatchell Museum, as well as seminars like So You Want to Write a Book.
There will also be a cool Q&A with Marcus Red Thunder Sr., who was the Native American advisor for the television series. It’s an inside view of the making of the popular series that ran for six seasons between A&E and Netflix.
There will be autograph sessions during the weekend as well, which give fans a chance to have their books or other items signed by their favorite actors or Johnson.
Perhaps the best times to catch the author for mingling is at the VIP reception, which is at the TA Ranch, or the final Wrap Party, which will feature music from Jalan Crossland.
“Those are guaranteed access,” McCormick said. “But if you don’t want to buy tickets to the events, Buffalo itself is an amazing town, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet the actors downtown all weekend long. I think you can eventually run into one of them.”
Wyoming Attire
Fans who do bump into the actors, particularly Taylor, may notice one other interesting thing about the reigning sheriff of Absaroka’s attire.
“He wears a King Ropes hat everywhere he goes, because he loves King Ropes in Sheridan,” McCormick said. “In fact, I have not seen a picture of the man without a King Ropes hat on his head.”
Roberts isn’t the only one with an affection for King Ropes gear. Many other members of the Absaroka County crew have done the same.
John Bishop, for example, not only has a King Ropes hat, but wears a “Surf Wyoming” shirt around as well.
It’s all part of an immersive experience like no other that draws thousands of Longmire fans to Buffalo, which once a year transforms into the fictional tiny town of Durant, county seat of Absaroka County.
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
