CASPER, Wyoming – After reopening Hell’s Half Acre to the public earlier this year and adding a viewing deck, local leaders are now exploring the next step: guided tours that would give visitors safe, educational access to the 320‑acre geological oddity.
Hell’s Half Acre, a landscape of deep ravines, caves, and eroded earth, holds both natural and historic significance. Natrona County Parks Department Director Michael Brown explained that Native American tribes once used the ravines to drive bison to their deaths during 18th‑ and 19th‑century hunts.
Visit Casper CEO Annette Pitts told Oil City News that the tourism authority has been in talks with county officials about a structured, supervised way for the public to explore the area, which was closed for several years before its recent reopening.
Tour concepts under consideration
Three primary tour concepts are being evaluated:
- Photography tours – Providing access to vistas that have long been off‑limits, allowing photographers to capture the alien‑looking terrain.
- Science tours – Partnering with local educators, possibly including Casper College, to explain the unique geology that created the landscape.
- Film‑history tours – Highlighting Hell’s Half Acre’s role as a backdrop for Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 movie Starship Troopers, which used the site to portray two alien planets.
Film liaison Kelly Eastes recalled that the Wyoming Film Office directed the production crew to the site after the filmmakers sought locations that looked “distinctly alien.” The crew spent six weeks shooting both day and night, and the local community turned out in force for the film’s premiere at The America Theater.
Safety and partnership focus
Pitts emphasized that guided tours are preferable to unrestricted access because of safety concerns. Wet weather can cause the ground to shift, creating unstable terrain and even quicksand. The area also hosts hazardous wildlife such as snakes, biting insects, and bees.
To address these risks, the plan calls for collaboration with local partners. In addition to potential involvement from Casper College on the science‑focused tour, Eastes may help develop the film‑centric experience.
Looking ahead
While no final decision has been made, Pitts hopes the tours could launch in spring or summer 2027. “The landscape truly does look like what one would imagine is an alien landscape,” she said. “It’s definitely its own vibe and is completely different to anything else in Wyoming.”
County officials see the tours as a way to draw more visitors to Natrona County, support local businesses, and showcase Wyoming’s natural heritage while preserving public safety.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
