Frontier Freeze opens

Marty Oravec has opened a new business called Frontier Freeze at the old Thermopolis Liquor, across the street from Mack's Market, 625 South 6th Street. Frontier Freeze is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Oravec said he always wanted to do an ice cream business, but first postponed that dream when he bought Thermopolis Cafe from Tony Nettles. Oravec said, "By having a cafe in six months, I probably knew everyone in the whole county." Later they got a liquor license and established Thermopolis Liquor. Due to Covid and other things, according to Oravec, the liquor business slowed down.

But now, after some major renovations, Oravec's dream can come true. He said, "I've always loved ice cream, so this was always what I wanted to do."

The renovation work took a longer amount of time than expected due to issues with the supply chain and getting various work done. What would normally take one month to accomplish work actually took four months. However, he has no complaints about the plumbers, electricians, or anybody who has helped him.

Oravec described his personal enjoyment in serving his customers and said, "It's fun to deal with the kids because they're so excited when you give them something like a flurry or a banana split. Their eyes get real big and that adds a lot."

Frontier Freeze has a wide variety of food to eat, from ice cream to burgers, cheddar burgers, and a deep-fried Philadelphia hotdog. They have a grill that cooks both sides of the burgers at the same time, which makes the cooking go faster.

Oravec said, "People think Wyoming's a beautiful state, and it is. But the people are more beautiful in the state... And so this, for me, is the final resting place. This is just the last hurrah for me. This is the final resting place for me. I like it here that much. I'm like the people are never bored. It's beautiful."