Hell's Half Acre, a striking geological formation, stretches across 320 acres (1.3 km2) along US 20/26, roughly 40 miles west of Casper, Wyoming. Dedicated to Natrona County by the federal government, this dramatic landscape features intricate networks of deep ravines, hidden caves, distinctive rock formations, and weathered terrain carved by centuries of erosion. The site's names evolved over time, from "The Devil's Kitchen" to "The Pits of Hades" and even "The Baby Grand Canyon." Its current name emerged from a humorous misunderstanding when a cowhand confused it with another location southwest of Casper known for its alkali deposits and boggy terrain.
From 1993 to 2005, roadside restaurant and motel offered panoramic views of Hell's Half Acre. It closed from lack of visitors and was later demolished. Today, while fencing prevents direct access to the cliffs and valley, visitors can learn about the site from an interpretive display west of where the restaurant stood. Though the area remains officially restricted, as of July 2021, open gates allowed vehicles to access a gravel lot. From this elevated vantage point, the intricate patterns of erosion reveal themselves in the weathered ravines and rock formations below, creating a starkly beautiful panorama of Wyoming's rugged landscape.
This natural wonder was used by Native American tribes as a buffalo jump site. The tribes would coordinate to herd the animals toward the cliff edges, causing them to fall to their deaths below. This efficient hunting method allowed them to harvest multiple animals at once, providing meat, hides, and other materials needed for survival. It is still possible to find buffalo bones and arrowheads here.
It was also made famous by Hollywood as the location of the alien planet Klendathu in the 1997 movie Starship Troopers.
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