Anyone traveling north into Wyoming along Colorado State Highway 125 will pass one of the many large "Colorful Colorado" signs that announce when motorists enter and leave the state.
As they speed by, they might not even notice the lonely, simple green highway sign immediately to their right that tells them they've reached Wyoming.
The message is an unspectacular "Entering Wyoming” — short and to the point, but not necessarily sweet or welcoming.
A weary traveler driving toward Baggs might not give another of the unambiguous green road signs a second look. Nevertheless, it's there and doing its job.
"We think that people appreciate knowing when they've crossed into another state," said Jordan Young, deputy public affairs officer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Entering, Not Welcoming
Drivers on Interstates 80 and 90 and other major highways are welcomed to Wyoming with large, lavish signs. They're perfect for pull-offs and photo ops for first-time visitors.
WYDOT just replaced the signs along seven primary corridors entering Wyoming from Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Utah. This happens every eight years to give the state's major points of entry a fresh look.
Unlike the minimalist “Enter Wyoming” signs, these measure either 4 feet by 8 feet, or 8 feet by 16 feet for interstate signs.
"People love these signs," Doug McGee, WYDOT's Public Affairs Officer, told Cowboy State Daily in October 2024 when the new ones were announced. "I would stake at least $1 that it's the second most popular sign for photos in Wyoming, behind the Yellowstone National Park entry signs."
There are many less-traveled roads that cross state lines into Wyoming, and they have their own signs letting drivers know they've entered the Cowboy State. Unlike those along the major corridors, these are basic information and not photogenic.
There’s a reason for that, Young said.
The volume of traffic heading toward Cheyenne along I-25 is significantly higher than the volume on Wyoming Highway 230 or other smaller roads, so there's less reason to invest in a warm welcome.
"It's also a safety thing," Young said. "We're always looking to give people or drivers as much information as possible as they're driving without distracting them.
"An 'Entering Wyoming' sign can help people give law enforcement or first responders a better idea of where they are in relation to different signs, mile markers, and things like that."
That much is undeniable.
When you pass the "Entering Wyoming" sign, you've entered Wyoming.
There's another reason to keep these signs simple. WYDOT makes its own road signs in-house, and "Entering Wyoming" is smaller and more economical than "Welcome to Wyoming" should anything happen to the sign.
"When a sign has been broken, damaged, or stolen, the green signs are an easy way to fill the space while working on an interim sign, if there is one," Young said. "Also, the 'Entering Wyoming' signs don't get stolen quite as much, not that I'm giving anyone any ideas."
Out, In, Out, In
There aren't any specific federal or state mandates requiring signs to be posted along every road entering Wyoming. Nevertheless, there are several "Entering Wyoming" signs out there.
"We try to put them wherever anyone might enter Wyoming for the first time," Young said.
WYDOT even seems to have embraced the "fun" side of placing these signs.
Jordan doesn't know every spot where there's an "Entering Wyoming" sign, but she can recall one place where WYDOT put in the extra effort on signage.
"We have a few signs on a section of U.S. 212 in the northeast corner of Wyoming," she said. The Beartooth Highway "cuts through the corner of the state. You can't even get to it without leaving Wyoming and coming back into Wyoming through Montana."
The Beartooth Highway starts and ends in Montana, but most of it stretches across Wyoming. That's one spot where it's educational, and somewhat entertaining, to know when you've crossed the state line as drivers meander in and out of Wyoming and Montana.
Not Entering A Bidding War
People like the "Welcome to Wyoming” signs, and some are willing to pay big money to get one.
When the last batch of "Welcome to Wyoming" signs were taken down, they were sold at a public auction. When the auction ended in April, 21 signs sold for over $107,000.
Jackson real estate agent Sam Haack was one of the bidders eager to own one of those signs.
He bought one of "the big seven" that stood in Niobrara County alongside U.S. Highway 18 near the South Dakota state line for $9,754.12."
"I originally went for the one on the western side of the Wyoming-Idaho line between Wilson and Victor," he said. "That was the closest sign to me, and it was 90% covered with stickers.
"But someone outbid me and paid over $10,000 for that one."
Several months later, Haack doesn't regret his purchase in the slightest, although his financial advisor hasn't shared the same sentiment.
"He told me not to buy anything, including gold, that doesn't produce money," he said. "If it just sits there, don't buy it. This is one of those things that just sits there, but I'll say it has intangible returns to it."
As someone willing to pay a premium for a "Welcome to Wyoming" sign, Haack said he would be content to sit on his hands if an "Entering Wyoming" sign were up for sale.
In his view, there's no personality to it.
"I just drove into Oregon yesterday, and they had a similar sign," he said. "It was green with white lettering. That sucks. It had very little character to it."
Not Worth A Sticker
Over their eight-year lifespan, the "Welcome to Wyoming" signs accumulate a lot of stickers from passing travelers, adding to their character and desirability at auction.
The "Entering Wyoming" sign along Wyoming 230 has a few stickers on it, but there's not much space and (presumably) not much attraction for people to stop to slap on a sticker or snap a selfie.
For Haack, the old "Welcome to Wyoming” sign is more than just a cool conversation piece for his office wall.
"I think for people who grow an affinity for these designs and fonts, the signs become synonymous with the brand of Wyoming as a state," he said. "That's why I'm not a fan of the new signs, and I know many people who aren't, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
If there's any charm to the "Entering Wyoming" signs, Haack doesn’t see it.
"I definitely wouldn't pay $10,000 for that sign, I'll tell you that much," he said.
Keep It Simple
When a "Welcome to Wyoming" sign is replaced, for whatever reason, people take notice. Not so when an "Entering Wyoming" sign is replaced.
In the 21st Century, Google Maps or Siri are more likely to inform drivers when they cross state lines before a sign does. Still, WYDOT sees the importance and value of "Entering Wyoming."
"Our sign crews will prioritize safety signs before informational signs," Young said. "Those simple green, informational signs are definitely not super common on the borders, and they're inexpensive to place and replace."
And yet, there's something to the "Entering Wyoming” signs — no embellishments, slogans, or obnoxious posturing for out-of-state travelers.
They’re the blue-collar workers of road signs and get the job done in a way that Wyomingites can respect.
"People need to know where they are, and they like to know when they've entered Wyoming," Young said. "We just want to make sure people do that safely."
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
