New Fork, Wyoming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Fork
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Abandon building in New Fork, Wyoming
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sublette County, Wyoming |
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| Nearest city | Boulder, Wyoming |
| Architect | Chris Brandt, John Vible |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000773 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1987 |
New Fork is a ghost town located in Sublette County, Wyoming, near Boulder, Wyoming. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, leaving behind empty buildings. New Fork was one of the very first settlements in the upper Green River valley.
The Story of New Fork
New Fork was started in 1888 by two Danish immigrants, John Vible and Louis Broderson. They had come to the United States in 1884. They built a store along the Lander cut-off, which was a path used by pioneers on the Oregon Trail.
Life in the Early Town
By 1908, a small town had grown around the store. In 1910, John Vible built a dance hall. He called this dance hall "The Valhalla."
In the early days of New Fork, many local Bannock and Shoshoni Native Americans traded there. They came from the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation. Vible and Broderson's first store was a simple log cabin. They sold supplies that they brought from Evanston, Wyoming.
Why New Fork Disappeared
The town of New Fork started to decline around 1915. This happened after John Vible and some of his family members passed away due to illnesses. Another reason for the decline was that the Lander cut-off trail was no longer used as much. Mail service to New Fork completely stopped in 1918.
Today, you can still see several old log and wooden buildings at the New Fork townsite. They stand as a reminder of the town's past.
