Horse-drawn carriage rides return

The days of taking a carriage ride through the park or the historic downtown will return, with some help from Amé Longwell. The Thermopolis Town Council approved of Longwell's idea to provide carriage rides during their May 2 meeting, and already she's seen plenty of interest.

Though planning to officially begin tours June 1, Longwell already gave rides to three families on Mother's Day; two were scheduled, while the third came after somebody stopped her while she was driving her team.

Already she has a couple weddings booked. One for Memorial Day in Lander will feature a Star Wars theme, and the other will be July 31 in Hot Springs State Park. Weddings are a great time to see the horses in action, she said, as they get dressed for the occasion as well.

Born and raised in Thermopolis, Longwell recently moved back to town after managing a couple ranches in Colorado. She owns Black Mountain Shires, raising and breeding horses that weigh 2,000 pounds each, and are about 18-19 hands high. The breed is an old one out of England, and Longwell noted Shires were once used to carry knights into battle.

As for her return to Thermopolis, Longwell said she was at a point where she could choose where she lived and she chose to move back to the community she grew up in and the one she wants to share with her children. Her son, Whip, does head checks for her, helps passengers off and on, and is learning to drive.

"People forget just how amazing it can be here," she said.

She has a couple two-horse teams ready to take people on rides; the pair people will most likely see are Rango and Henry. There are also two vehicles she uses - a more formal carriage which can fit groups of six to eight people and a hay wagon that can fit up to 20.

For the official tours, Longwell is busy learning what the town would like and what she can do. She expressed her appreciation to the State Park staff for working with her, as part of the tour would go along the lower roads of the buffalo pasture. While likely not getting close to the animals - depending on where the buffalo roam - Longwell said it would help show off the pasture and perhaps inspire people to go on their own trips through.

She also plans to be part of the July 4 100th anniversary celebration in the park.

Longwell also has been working to learn some historical highlights and some personal stories about the area, as she can then incorporate them into the tours. In the same vein, she has brought up the point of using the Hot Springs County Museum as a pickup and drop off point, encouraging wagon riders to see some more history.

She further noted she would pick people up at the museum if they book the historical tour, but will most times pick them up in the park.

Businesses are also a venue for Longwell. She has been asked to participate in the ArtStroll, and would be available to businesses for parades.

Currently rides are $5 per person, with a $30 minimum for a reserved ride, but Longwell hasn't really looked at pricing for historical tours. Base price for weddings is $250 in town, but the price would vary if travel is necessary. Parade prices vary for travel and what people want to reserve.

Longwell can also teach people how to drive the horses if they would like. It's a great skill to have, she noted, and one she doesn't want to see disappear.

Longwell hopes people will contact her when they have events, or if they just want a ride. She can be booked for tours or events through blackmountainshires.com, or her Facebook page, or they can stop her. She noted if people have a particular idea in mind they can discuss it with her.

People who have stories they would like to share with Longwell can bring them to the Independent Record office at 431 Broadway.