KAYCEE — A little girl named Kaycee Matthews was among thousands dancing their hearts out at the final Chris LeDoux Days on Saturday, which attracted what organizers believe was a record crowd.
The annual event has honored for the past 15 years one of the West’s most legendary cowboys —world champion bareback rider, country music star, and a fierce advocate for the cowboy way of life, Chris LeDoux.
The end of Chris LeDoux Days marks the end of an era for his many fans across America, who are still buying his records and singing his songs in their cars on their way to work.
The event began after the 2010 unveiling of “Good Ride Cowboy,” a bronze statue created by D. Michael Thomas that depicts Chris LeDoux riding a bucking horse in Kaycee’s Chris LeDoux Park.
Every shop in Kaycee was filled to overflowing Saturday as an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 attendees crammed into town. If there was a square inch of parking space left in Kaycee, it was mighty hard to find. People walked long distances to get to downtown for the street concert, which followed the annual rodeo in Harold Jarrard Park.
Kaycee’s parents, Matthew and Morgan Matthews, told Cowboy State Daily they decided to name their daughter after the town because it has some of the greatest people on earth. In their book, the late country music star Chris LeDoux and his son, Ned, are right up at the top of the list.
Those are the things the couple said made the final Chris LeDoux Days a can’t-miss event in their book.
The festival finale also drew spectators from Utah, Oklahoma and beyond, many for the very first time, citing their own love for Chris LeDoux and his music.
Members of the crowd cheer and raise their hats as Ned LeDoux sings at the final Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Thousands all the street to hear Ned LeDoux sing both his own and his father's songs, despite storm clouds gathering overhead during the final Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Adalyn Crump holds an umbrella over herself and a newfound friend, Linda Crawford of Worland, during the last Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Lines for the food trucks at Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming were long. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Posters of previous Chris LeDoux Days were for sale in the Rusty Spur in Kaycee, Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Campgrounds in Kaycee, Wyoming were full for the final Chris LeDoux Days. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Chris LeDoux Park in Kaycee, Wyoming, was a favorite spot for eating lunch during the last Chris LeDoux Days. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily)
A Birthday Present
Among those attending from outside Wyoming were Calvin and Dawn Reeser of Quapaw, Oklahoma. The couple had seen an announcement on Facebook that this year would be the last ride for Chris LeDoux Days.
“This was my last chance to get him up here,” Dawn told Cowboy State Daily. “And so I surprised him with this trip for his birthday.”
The trip just so happened to also fall on the same weekend as their wedding anniversary and her husband’s birthday.
“And then Father’s Day,” Dawn said.
It was a trifecta of celebrations, one the Reesers do not in any way regret celebrating in Wyoming this time around.
“We have just had the time of our lives here,” Dawn said. “We came straight here from Casper and went to the Rusty Spur and got all of our T-shirts and things, and then we explored around the mountains yesterday.”
The Bighorns are lovely, Dawn added, but even more beautiful in her eyes have been the people in Kaycee.
“Like every single person we have met here has been amazing,” she said. “We have not had a single bad interaction. We’re already talking about planning our next vacation, and we want it to be here for at least a whole week.”
While the Reesers flew into the Casper airport, Tracy Mann and her daughter, Avery, and friend Adalyn Crump drove 13 hours from Oklahoma for the event, determined to be there for what was both their first and last time.
When the rain came down, they huddled under umbrellas, refusing to let a “little” storm drive them away, and offering their umbrella to new friends like Linda Crawford, from Worland. That “little” bit of rain lasted about an hour and soaked this reporter head to toe within two or three minutes, who also found shelter with Crump.
A Graduation Gift
Not all of the first-time attendees came from other states. There were plenty of Wyomingites attending LeDoux Days for the very first time as well.
William Shade, from Lander, and his girlfriend, Emily Myers, from Green River, were both making their first appearances.
“We’ve always listened to a lot of Chris LeDoux’s music,” Shade said.
That started out partly because Shade has an old truck, so he wanted old-style music to go with it. He made some collections of old-style music, but none of them were quite what he was looking for.
“When my uncle passed, he had an old Chris LeDoux cassette tape and I got it,” Shade said. “I don’t think I’ve taken that tape out of the truck very often since then.”
Myers, knowing what a big fan Shade is, knew exactly what to get him for graduation the minute she heard it was the final Chris LeDoux Days. Two tickets for the last-ever LeDoux Days, so they could attend it together.
On the way there, the two listened to songs by both Chris and Ned, and they plan to listen to them all the way back home as well.
“‘Hooked on an 8 Second Ride’ is probably one of my favorites. I also love ‘Johnson County War’ and ‘Tom Horn,’” he said, adding, “I’m not a big fan of the sappies.”
Myers admitted the emotional tunes are her favorites, though, and so the couple happily listened to all of the LeDoux songs, sappy or not.
Going Out With A Bang
Standing on a stage under a storm-kissed sky, Ned LeDoux told the crowd he was going to play some of his own songs and some of his dad’s.
“It’s a beautiful evening,” he said. “And I know Dad would say, ‘You guys need some rain anyways,’ So how about ‘Western Skies?’”
That brought out roaring cheers of approval, as did a later comment right before Ned LeDoux’s new father-son duet, “One Hand In The Riggin’,” featured on Ned LeDoux’s new album.
“I know (Dad’s) going to be standing right here with us this whole show,” he said.
Ned LeDoux told Cowboy State Daily the crowd was probably the biggest he’s seen in Kaycee, including 2010 when 4,000 people showed up for the unveiling of “Good Ride Cowboy.”
The statue was a popular spot in Kaycee. It depicts Chris LeDoux on a bucking horse, front hooves planted on a guitar base that features the title of the song, “Beneath These Western Skies.”
“What a way to wrap it up,” Ned LeDoux told Cowboy State Daily on Monday. “We just went out guns a-blazing, like Mom said. “This was a great way to kind of wrap it up.”
Fitting Father’s Day Tribute
Having the event on Father’s Day wasn’t an accident.
“It was all planned that way,” he said. “It was just a great time to do it, instead of doing it at random times during the year. Father’s Day weekend made a very fitting time to do this.”
Ned LeDoux has always viewed Chris LeDoux Days as a celebration of his dad’s life, he added.
“I mean, just thinking of all the achievements and accomplishments that Dad made in such a short lifespan,” Ned LeDoux said. “You know it probably takes most people two or three lifetimes to do what he was able to do. So, this is just a great way, a great time, to reflect and remember him.”
A big highlight of the event, Ned LeDoux added, was having his friends from the band Sawyer Brown appear.
“We’ve been trying to get those guys for like at least three years,” Ned LeDoux said. “You know, just scheduling didn’t work out for them, but we finally got them this year, and I know they had a great time. I’ve been friends with them for decades and they were just really excited.”
One Sunrise At A Time
While Chris LeDoux Days might be over, things are just getting started for Ned LeDoux.
For 20 years after his dad’s death, Ned LeDoux never even thought about being a singer, despite all the times he played drums alongside his dad. It took some cajoling from his friends for Ned to finally pick up a guitar and find out that he’s actually not just good at singing but also writing his own music.
Ned LeDoux has just released his fourth studio album and has a busy summer touring schedule ahead of him for the next four to five months.
As for what the future holds from here on out, Ned LeDoux was noncommittal and said he’s taking it one sunrise at a time.
“I think I’ll just kind of take a break,” he said. “Maybe something else will come along, down the road sometime. But yeah, I think just kind of let this rest for now.”
Contact Renee Jean at renee@cowboystatedaily.com
The Rusty Spur was busy all day long, with people buying Chris and Ned LeDoux merchandise right and left. Outside, a group of singers kept crowds entertained throughout the day, ahead of the afternoon rodeo and the street dance that night. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
James Perrin had the winning bronc ride at Chris LeDoux Days rodeo, which sold out its grandstand, holding 1,500 people. Many people brought chairs of their own for alternative seating. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
People waited in long lines in the Rusty Spur to buy Chris LeDoux T-shirts, hats, and other memorabilia. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
William Shade and his girlfriend Emily Myers were among first-timers at the final Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) 
Calvin and Dawn Reeser flew in from Oklahoma for the final Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming. It was a birthday gift for her husband, but the couple also celebrated their wedding anniversary and Father's Day at the event. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily)
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
