Travelers along Highway 14 near Shell Falls may notice a sign pointing to Copman’s Tomb, a distinctive rock formation perched at 9,111 feet in the Bighorn Mountains. The name commemorates Wolfgang R. Copman, a little‑known Wyoming pioneer whose ambition reached far beyond the ranches and traps of his day.

From Ranch Hand to Inventor

Born in the mid‑1800s, Copman worked as a repairman and assistant cook on the historic Lovell Ranch in northern Wyoming. He built a modest dugout home near the present‑day formation and lived as a trapper, periodically visited by friends who checked on his well‑being.

While many of his contemporaries focused on cattle and mining, Copman turned his curiosity to the skies. In the 1880s he began constructing small, powered flying‑machine models. Though the devices never achieved sustained, controlled flight as defined by later aviation standards, they demonstrated that Copman possessed both mechanical skill and a daring imagination.

The Legend of the Leap

Local lore tells of Copman’s bold claim that he would leap off the cliff overlooking the formation, joking that if he failed, the rock would become his tombstone. The story stuck, and the outcrop earned the name Copman’s Tomb. In the end, Copman never attempted the jump, choosing instead a quieter life.

In 1890 he married, settled into orchard farming, and became a successful fruit grower. He lived out his later years in Greybull, Wyoming, where he died of strokes in 1907. Though he wished his ashes to be scattered on the butte, his final resting place is beside his wife in Greybull’s cemetery.

Remembering a Local Visionary

Today, a small interpretive sign at Shell Falls offers a brief glimpse into Copman’s story, reminding visitors that the spirit of invention has long been part of Wyoming’s frontier heritage. While the Wright brothers later achieved the first sustained, powered, and controlled flight, Copman’s early experiments reflect the broader American drive to push the boundaries of technology.

For residents and travelers alike, Copman’s Tomb serves as a tangible reminder that even in remote mountain valleys, the desire to soar has deep roots. The rock formation stands not only as a geographic landmark but also as a tribute to a man whose dreams briefly touched the sky.

Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.