Virginia Dale 151st Anniversary Open House: This Weekend

The small Colorado town of Virginia Dale, just 30 miles south of Laramie on Highway 287, will be hosting a 151st Anniversary celebration for the Virginia Dale Stage Station, a historic building that still stands today.

The stage station is undergoing major restoration, and the open house serves as fund raiser for the restoration.  The Stage Station was a Division Headquarters on the famous Overland Trail and was built in 1862.

"The Stage Station is getting a bit old," Says Bill Loyer, spokes person for the event.  "The walls are leaning out, the chimney is leaning away from the building and we're in the midst of restoring it.  We've been working on it for a year-plus now, and we'll probably be working on it for another year or two."

Festivities will kick off with a country dance and pie auction Friday night, June 7th from 7:00 pm to 11:00.  Live music will be provided by Wellington-based country band Barely Gettin' By.  Adult admission is $10 for adults, children are free.  Admission is for Friday night only.

The following day, festivities continue and are free and open to the public.  From 9:00 am until 3:00 attendees can enjoy an open house, performances by historical impersonators (including Abraham Lincoln), Cowboy Poet Dick Hart, Model-A car show, a country store, a quilt auction, presentations about the civil war and more.

To get to Virginia Dale's stage station from Laramie, head south on Hwy 287. Continue past the Virginia Dale rest stop. Turn Left onto County Road 43F just past the Abbey of St. Walburga.  Look for signs and balloons.