What's NW Wyoming like? (Riverton, Jackson: oceanfront, buy, school districts)

[SD2WY]

Would anyone from south or east of the Yellowstone/Tetons parks care to share their take on housing, etc.? In particular: Lincoln, Sublette and Fremont school districts?

Also, here's a question I haven't seen in recent posts. And I apologize in advance if this makes folks roll their eyes, but I have to ask: Does or doesn't Yellowstone concern anyone and if so, how so? (eyes rolling now! ) My wife and I caught a TV program about the worst-case scenario a while ago and she made it abundantly clear that is one area where we'd never move, but yet, here we are checking into it.

[MHT]

Originally Posted by SD2WY

Would anyone from south or east of the Yellowstone/Tetons parks care to share their take on housing, etc.? In particular: Lincoln, Sublette and Fremont school districts?

Also, here's a question I haven't seen in recent posts. And I apologize in advance if this makes folks roll their eyes, but I have to ask: Does or doesn't Yellowstone concern anyone and if so, how so? (eyes rolling now! ) My wife and I caught a TV program about the worst-case scenario a while ago and she made it abundantly clear that is one area where we'd never move, but yet, here we are checking into it.

Why would you be more concerned about Yellowstone than any other natural disasters? Example: tornados in "Tornado Alley" , hurricanes, earthquakes. There isn't anywhere that doesn't have something going on. We lived in Minnesota for 3 years and experienced several tornados. One took most of our house. I can't believe how many people I talk to that are afraid of Yellowstone. And yes, I was rolling my eyes.

[RockyMtnr]

SD2, your wife is obviously referring to the "SuperVolcano" and the ancient crater that reaches south to nearly I-80. What's to fear? This is Wyoming - we live for this stuff.
Housing in the Jackson area is short and costly and crowded - with bucks, you can get up behind in Wilson or over the pass to Driggs. Lincoln county is well spread out (150 miles from parts to the county seat) and schools are just about as you'd imagine in such a rural setting. Same with Sublette county - and don't fall for Big Piney's claim as the "icebox of the nation" - they put their weather-reporting station nearly 1000ft up on a hill behind town ... on purpose! (Big Piney planted 2 pine trees years ago - 1 at the school and 1 at the bank - were the only trees in town at the time). It's ranch country - with a million empty miles of vista. Same fears as the big city (meth, etc) without all the neighbors. West Yellowstone (actually, in MT) is also isolated but is a haven for the money-crowds like Sun Valley ID and thus, a little better funded but still isolated. Bring snowmobile gear - whether you have a snowmobile or not - it's cold. Jackson, western Lincoln county and W. Yellowstone are alpine conditions. The rest is mainly high-desert. Fremont county is isolated from the rest by the Wind River mountains but perhaps the best description of the "white-man" residing there is "YeeHaw Yahoos" - Riverton is on the reservation (leased by the non-natives) and Lander borders the south end of that valley - so there are some "normal" racial divisions. Depends on who you are and what you're about as to whether you'd like that pocket.

[SD2WY]

Originally Posted by MHT

Why would you be more concerned about Yellowstone than any other natural disasters? Example: tornados in "Tornado Alley" , hurricanes, earthquakes. There isn't anywhere that doesn't have something going on. We lived in Minnesota for 3 years and experienced several tornados. One took most of our house. I can't believe how many people I talk to that are afraid of Yellowstone. And yes, I was rolling my eyes.

We used to live in a section of tornado alley and experienced many. For some reason I don't think they'd compare. But thanks anyway.

[SD2WY]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

SD2, your wife is obviously referring to the "SuperVolcano" and the ancient crater that reaches south to nearly I-80. What's to fear? This is Wyoming - we live for this stuff.
Housing in the Jackson area is short and costly and crowded - with bucks, you can get up behind in Wilson or over the pass to Driggs. Lincoln county is well spread out (150 miles from parts to the county seat) and schools are just about as you'd imagine in such a rural setting. Same with Sublette county - and don't fall for Big Piney's claim as the "icebox of the nation" - they put their weather-reporting station nearly 1000ft up on a hill behind town ... on purpose! (Big Piney planted 2 pine trees years ago - 1 at the school and 1 at the bank - were the only trees in town at the time). It's ranch country - with a million empty miles of vista. Same fears as the big city (meth, etc) without all the neighbors. West Yellowstone (actually, in MT) is also isolated but is a haven for the money-crowds like Sun Valley ID and thus, a little better funded but still isolated. Bring snowmobile gear - whether you have a snowmobile or not - it's cold. Jackson, western Lincoln county and W. Yellowstone are alpine conditions. The rest is mainly high-desert. Fremont county is isolated from the rest by the Wind River mountains but perhaps the best description of the "white-man" residing there is "YeeHaw Yahoos" - Riverton is on the reservation (leased by the non-natives) and Lander borders the south end of that valley - so there are some "normal" racial divisions. Depends on who you are and what you're about as to whether you'd like that pocket.

Thank you! Very helpful!

[imbobbbb]

if the super volcano blows its going to make everything west of chicago uninhabitable anyway so why worry?i think california may slide into the ocean first,taking everything from idaho west with it and flooding all the magma under yellowstone with cold ocean water.....would make a good movie anyway.perhaps i should buy some 'red desert future oceanfront property'

[RockyMtnr]

Originally Posted by SD2WY

We used to live in a section of tornado alley and experienced many. For some reason I don't think they'd compare. But thanks anyway.

Just so you know, SD2, Eastern WY has tornadoes as well - sometimes many at a time - they just usually don't hit right in town. Once saw 9 tornadoes at one time above Wheatland - they never hit a thing.

[SD2WY]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

Just so you know, SD2, Eastern WY has tornadoes as well - sometimes many at a time - they just usually don't hit right in town. Once saw 9 tornadoes at one time above Wheatland - they never hit a thing.

Tornados don't frighten us. Lava does.

Seriously speaking, I was just curious as to what folks thought about that. We've looked into it and as a result aren't terribly concerned ourselves, but within the past couple years it's been sensationalized and we've had a few of our friends and family express concern.

But the main intent of my initial posting was to ask for input about that area. I'd still like to hear from folks who currently live in the region as I don't see too many postings from thereabouts. I'd really like to know specifically about schools as well.

[ElkHunter]

SDWY

Don't worry about lava. Yellow stone has a super volc under it. If it blows, it's expected to cover the entire state with 8-10 feet of rock all the way to mid South Dakota, Down to Denver and over to Salt Lake City

[Earniefan]

greatschools.net is awesome for checking school stats, hope it helps some. Other than that there's some gorgeous artwork I'd like to own from Jackson but that's about all I know about that area, besides that it's beautiful!