This alien landscape isn't on another planet...it's in Wyoming.

Hell's Half Acre looks as if it could belong on an alien planet. On this episode of "Our Wyoming," we'll explore its unique geology, its name's origin, and future plans for the otherworldly site in Natrona County.
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#wyoming #wyominglife #landscape #landscapephotography #alienplanet #geology

[@ChaplainDeanna]

My brother Richard (Rick or Hoot) Holmes spent most of his spare time there gathering arrowheads and artifacts. Now his ashes are part of the landscape there. What an amazing place.

[@necron99.aka-sammyboy92]

Cool. And my condolences

[@ChaplainDeanna]

@@necron99.aka-sammyboy92 Thank you. Was hoping one of his friends might see this and comment. He was an icon and loved by many.

[@hgj2019]

What a wonderful resting place. I’m certain he is delighted. 😊

[@Winstonrodney6989]

Sounds like a life well lived and a fine resting place. 😊

[@ShootingAir]

Can't even tell you how many times I've been by (born and raised in Lander). I can't remember there ever being Any access, always just had to pull off next to the fence and look through. I learned more about it in 7th or 8th grade when we had a Geology portion of science, but apparently it wasn't even open for schools to access at that time (I seem to remember it being Private property). WY PBS, thanks for putting your pieces on youtube. I've not been in WY for a number of years, but still feel like it's "home" and your pieces help scratch an itch.

[@yamati150]

I believe they are opening up access to the public, again.

[@KR-rs3sj]

It's the best place to pull over in between Casper and Shoshoni by far😂

[@geraldmerkel7145]

Stunning and very interesting. I'm ready to get in my rig and drive 1300, mi from Mid Michigan. Bucket list add-on❤

[@Mr.Buster404]

There is a parking lot but the feature is fenced off because it is dangerous with steep drop and slippery mud when raining.

[@2KDUDE22]

Thanks pbs Wyoming

[@bradfordeaton6558]

That's a beautiful part of Wyoming. The Wyoming Veterans Museum is in Casper. My father was stationed there during the war. It's a fabulous museum, 'tho it doesnt look like much from the outside, they have an incredible collection. The Dinosaur Museum in Thermopolis is also plain from the outside but has anothe incredible collection plus a working dig in conjunction with it. Wyoming seens to take their museums very seriously. It' worth spending serious time there.

[@wyoredneck1950]

We always stop there on our way to Pinedale..so fascinating

[@kymberlybyers6218]

Ready to travel from West Virginia to witness this spectacular landscape.

[@travislangholz1026]

Been by this a few times and never really knew it was there. Will be stopping by in the future.!!

[@contouraerials]

Love the drone shots!

[@theooidgirl]

Hey! Hello, Dr. Sundell! ⚒️😊 I still have the photos we took here for the field guide (your photo, the cover; mine, the back cover) for the WGA field conference (2008-9??)

[@robertemmons2260]

I have just added this point of interest to my bucket list of places to visit. Hopefully, this place will be open to the public in the near future.

[@olivianatwick7603]

Being a native of Wyoming and a native of Worland I have probably driven past hell's half-acre 100 times or more in my lifetime. I remember one time when we stopped we got out and went over and looked down into hell's half acre the beauty of it was spectacular. The other thing that I remember on that stop was they had a enclosure with a lot of rattlesnakes in it that we could look down into and see the rattlesnakes.❤

[@user-yu9ib4qz4c]

Love this place 😎

[@everettwhitegoat3414]

Sounds fun. Looks beautiful

[@paulvinzant4809]

Greybull WY has a smaller version of this. It is called Devil's Kitchen.

[@yamati150]

Several hoodoo's in the Gooseberry Badlands between Meteetsee and Worland, too

[@fetchingphotos]

I've never heard of this but it looks amazing! I hope someday I can come see it. A walkthrough with a knowledgeable guide would be fantastic!

[@SumNumber]

What an amazing place. Thanks for the share. :O)

[@secularsunshine9036]

*Let the Sunshine in...*

[@davidandrew1078]

I drove is road last year and the geology is quite amazing.

[@shanelamkie4755]

I wonder why they drilled a water well there?

[@inthelandofthedragon]

If i remember correctly there used to be a small hotel at Hells Half Acre, so maybe for the hotel and its caretakers? 🤔

[@yardbird-wh2bx]

There was a hotel and bar. The county commission would not renew the lease for the folks that had been running it for a long time. As Hollywood was looking to make more movies in the area, someone was looking to get rich. It backfired because the leasee owned the buildings and dozed em down. Hasn't been a movie made there since. All for greed

[@stanhamilton6031]

The future plans are well thought out! I bet that it will become an amazing tourist attraction!

[@scout2469]

Anybody notice the small meteor exploding 30 seconds in, upper left?

[@raiftadehara9218]

We used to drive past there every day in the summer coming from Casper going to Powder River to work on the farm. It is a interesting place.

[@mikesaunders4775]

A stunning place and while more visitors would help the local economy, the area's expansion as a tourist attraction must not compromise its wilderness character.

[@ozz44755]

A person who has traveled to Wyoming for work knows that Hell's Half Acre is one of countless hidden gems in the state. Part of me would prefer it stay that way. Although this would be a selfish statement for those who haven't seen them or those who live there... Hopefully, they find a nonintrusive way of opening it up.

[@johnchedsey1306]

I stopped by there once on a roadtrip and couldn't believe how amazing it is, especially given how it just...appears. If Wyoming wasn't so dang weird about having national monuments declared within its border, this is a perfect site for one. People like me see a national monument on a map and automatically want to check it out. Hopefully the county or state can get a cool park set up regardless.

[@tedpreston4155]

There's an even larger, more impressive badland in south central Wyoming called Adobe Town. It's similar to Hell's half acre, but probably a hundred times larger. If it were in any other state, it would be a national park or monument. Adobe Town is not right next to a highway like Hell's Half Acre, but the extra effort needed to get there is worth the trouble! It's only 30 miles from Interstate 80, and most of the roads between the interstate and Adobe Town are good roads, but the last couple miles are distinctly rough and unpredictable: they are afflicted by the same erosion that created the badlands.

[@stevenmaxon7051]

When I was a kid we would stop and at that time they had a rattlesnake pit that was full of snakes was kinda cool as a kid to see that. Bring back the snake pit as part of the attraction 😅

[@AthenaSchroedinger]

It has been, sad to say, a couple of decades since I was last there. Had no idea that it had closed. Happy to know that there are plans to have it reopen.

[@rainertews1641]

Oh, very interesting place! Is is allowed to go there?

[@air4334]

Build it and they will come !!!!

[@cindyd8646]

I am puzzled by the narration that states that the area was closed from 2005-2024. I remember very distinctly being there in the fall of 2010 and have many pictures of it. I don't even remember the barbed-wire topped fence.

[@highplainsdrifter498]

I was there in 2006,I don't remember any fences.

[@davidfrost801]

There used to be a visitors center, stopped there in the mid 60s as a kid.....

[@allencampbell8322]

Where moon shots were filmed

[@bgmcc907]

Gooseberry badlands has entered the chat. Only a few hours away.

[@joannevendshus5075]

Was this any part of the Lake Missoula floods?

[@spencerme3486]

Nah, that was farther north and west

[@deadkennady]

I hate when people "close" nature. Thats a beautiful place you shouldnt have to pay to see.

[@kidmohair8151]

is it not at least a county or state natural area?

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I think there's a 'Hell's Half-acre' in every state. Four (that I know of) in Ohio alone. That's a pretty crazy place, I'll have to take a day or two there next time I'm in the area.

[@ericligotke3542]

It’s not sounding like there is public access. Might not be the best vacation

[@havechannelwillyoutube]

Nope. Another case of local yocals looking to exploit a local geological wonder for profits.

[@TheSharperSword]

The better interpretation is that those structures were carved rapidly by catastrophic flooding on a continental scale.

[@francisebbecke2727]

It would be a great set for a science fiction movie.

[@yamati150]

Another one?😜

[@tedpreston4155]

It already WAS the set for a science fiction movie: Starship Troopers. A couple of my friends from Laramie got parts as "extras" in the movie, running around the badlands in awful heat, dressed up in costumes that made the heat even worse!

[@yamati150]

@@tedpreston4155 😏It's why I mentioned it. 😜 I've stopped by numerous times and would love to stomp around down there just to see if I remember any areas that look like the movie. Cool area!!! Kind of like when I walk around Gooseberry Badlands.. I can practically see the cowboys riding up through the gulch in my mind!!

[@tedpreston4155]

@@yamati150 Sadly I've never stopped there, because it's been closed to the public for most of my adult life. Gooseberry sounds fascinating! If you ever find yourself near Rock Springs with time to kill, I highly suggest a visit to Adobe Town badlands. Reaching Adobe Town is reputed to be difficult, and that's true, but the difficulty is really just the last couple miles. This place is so otherworldly and fascinating, it would be worth walking the last couple miles! At Gooseberry, you envision cowboys riding up the gulch. At Adobe Town, I envision the tiny handful of people who have ever seen the place, all being as awe-struck as I am! 😯

[@user-yc5qu2xk7o]

Make it ada friendly. A few off road wheelchairs for rent. I’ll come visit and tout it to many wheelchair groups.

[@MovingToAdventure]

what part of wyoming is this?

[@yamati150]

Between Casper and Shoshini

[@havechannelwillyoutube]

The part we can't go to. 😂

[@sjoel3982]

Lol is it just me or is that more like 50 acres not ½?

[@mquintana75]

Im glad it's closed. Keep the thieves out. Leave the items on that land.

[@necron99.aka-sammyboy92]

Green River, says hi y'all. Just moved here, it's nice. Tho i wouldn't recommend moving here unless you're connected? Or good job. I have my ex who's nice enough to give me a place here, but there's no: Bus, help, liberal programs n aid, limited entertainment... I love shooting n bow target practice. Rodeos are cool. I luv hiking up the buttes here too. I luv feeding the deer, and the landscape photo opportunities too. Any suggestions? I need an under the table job/work. Cant work cuz of Insurance pay out. I'm fine now, but i can't work 1 second at McDonald's even. Few more months I'll be free n clear. Ideas for this poor Portlandier ??

[@VOLK________]

Whaaaaaaat

[@seth3209]

This place is

[@stevenkanzler2319]

nose rings, wtf is the point?

[@GregCubaPeteThomas]

What a crock....... millions of years....lies