-Seth McFarland
A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
In 1945, the traditional “tie hack” industry, in operation for thirty-five years, came to an end with the last tie drive down the Wind River. The ties had been cut and hewn by hand until the 1930s, when mobile sawmills were slowly introduced, and ties were transported to Riverton to be processed and treated with creosote. In 1947, the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company sold. The operations had become mechanized and the need for tie hacks was no more. The mill changed hands over the years, rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1956. In 1972, Louisiana Pacific (LP) spun off from Georgia Pacific, and was incorporated in July. LP, based out of Hayward, Wisconsin, was known for unique innovations in the building industry, and was the first company to manufacture oriented strand board (OSB) in 1985. Although LP expanded globally through the 1980s, factors such as housing sales in the late 80s and early 90s and dwindling timber supplies heavily impacted the company.
The Dubois mill flourished for many years until the supply of local timber dwindled. In 1985, the U.S. Forest Service implemented a long-range management plan reducing available timber supplies. By 1986, LP began mill shutdowns in Riverton and Dubois. A federal court ruling in 1988 lost LP’s bid for more timber in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Operations were suspended in Fremont County. Over 200 jobs were lost as the Dubois mill was permanently closed. The company abandoned the 55-acre site.
In 1998, the Albright/Arlen family purchased the property and donated it to the Nature Conservancy. 5.5 acres were sold to the Dubois Medical Board for a new medical clinic. In 2005, an additional seven acres sold to the Dubois Community Project for an assisted living center. The Town of Dubois spent several years with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality addressing contamination on the property. From 2006 to 2010, sawmill refuse piles and petroleum contamination were first addressed, then moved. By 2015, enough remedial actions were taken to allow for unrestricted reuse of the property.
The Dubois community and the Town of Dubois worked together to develop a green space called the River Walk Project, including a river walkway path, benches, paved parking, and a fishpond. The two-acre fishpond called Pete’s Pond, opened in 2018, with fishing access to the Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group (DAWGS). It has also become a birding hotspot, with over 89 species observed around the pond. Today, Dubois schoolchildren participate in the annual educational “kid’s fishing day” to help release rainbow and cutthroat trout fingerlings.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
January 24, 3-5pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Sweetwater Ranch Life, The Paintings of Jack Corbett” Exhibition Opening
February 19, 6-8pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Rag Rug Class” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series Program
March 23, 1-3pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Women’s Tea” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
We will be announcing a full 2026 schedule of programs very soon, Stay Tuned!
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation www.windriverccf.com or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support. 
Photo credit: Dubois Museum Collection; Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Crew, February 16,1979.
From left to right appearing in the photo are:
(front row) James Hebgen, Walter Hodgson, John Grove, Jeff Thompson, Mike Lapeyre, Laurie Lapeyre, John Cook
(back row) Brian Hebgen, Allan Lapa
Photo taken by Orian W. Finley
Dubois Museum Photo Collection P180
Gasoline Driven Portable Sawmills took over tie making by the mid-1930s.
Dubois Museum Photo Collection P119
Ties Trucked to landings
Swenson Collection, Dubois Museum Photo Collection
Swenson Co-Workers at Sawmill