Bates Creek, Bates Creek Reservoir, and Bates Hole (sites) are in about the same area.  The area was named for Captain Bates, who is best remembered for the 1874 expedition, when he took a cavalry troop and some 100 Shoshone under Chief Washakie in pursuit of some Arapaho raiders, who were defeated.  Bates Hole is bounded on the east by Muddy Mountain, on the west by the North Platte River, and on the north by Casper Mountain.

Bessemer (site) was platted by the Wyoming Improvement Company in the summer of 1888 and also reserved grounds “upon which to erect the future capital of Wyoming.”  In 1889, when Natrona County was created from Carbon County, Bessemer was a rival of Casper for county seat status.  Bessemer received a vote of 731 to Casper’s 353; but since all votes for Bessemer were cast in its precincts and its population was less than 100, the election commissioners ruled that the Bessemer ballots were “irregular” and the vote was not considered.  Bessemer dissapeared a few years later and is now an alfalfa field.  Near Bessemer, where Poison Spider Creek empties into the river, Robert Stuart and six companions built a cabin in 1812 - the first white-man structure inWyoming.

Bishop (site) was established as a post office in 1913.  It was another railroad station near Casper.  It was named by patrons after the Postmaster, Marvin L. Bishop, who was president of the Natrona County Wool Growers Association.  He also had his sheep shearing pens here.  The post office was discontinued.

Bothwell (site) was created in 1899 by cattle ranchers who started a trading post here.  It had a post office and was named for the Bothwell brothers who were traders.  Jim Averill had a saloon here.  About a mile away, Cattle Kate Jackson, "Ella Watson", had a homestead.  She was  believed to have added to her cattle herd by persuading cowboys to put her brand on calves for which they were duly rewarded.  Ranchers ordered Cattle Kate and Averill to leave and when they refused, a posse hanged them from a cottonwood tree.  Members of the posse were well known, but never punished.  The demise of Bothwell came shortly thereafter.

Cadoma (site) was another Natrona County railroad station and was established in 1903.  It is an Indian name meaning "to hide".

Durbin (site), No records found.

Eadsville (site), sits high on Casper Mountain and is the ghost town.  It was named for Charles W. Eads, who surveyed and platted a town around a spring in 1891.  Many ore mines were opened and a stamp mill was planned.  Log cabins were built and the population grew to almost 5,000.  The boom collapsed in 1897.

Fry (site) was a railroad siding named after the father of Mrs. Howard Geary.  It is now abandoned.

Horse Creek (site) was once a Pony Express Station.  In 1824, Edward Rose was a guide for a large party of hunters that included Jedadiah Smith and Thomas Fitzpatrick.  Rose was married to an Indian woman.  He was much admired by the Crows for his courage and daring.  Rose betrayed his white hunting party to the Crows, who stole the horse owned by the whites at this Creek, thus the name.

Lavoye (site) is another oil field ghost town and was named for Louis Lavoye who homesteaded land here.  In 1924 it was a thriving town when the Ohio Oil Company gave everyone 30 days to move.  After more than 1,000 resisted; marshals were sent in with eviction notices.  Buildings were jacked up on wheels and moved a few miles to a new Lavoye.  For more than six months buildings were scattered over the prairie.

Meadow Creek (site) was settled by homesteaders in the 1890's.  It was a beautiful meadow.  A big flood in August of 1895 struck the tents in which the people lived.  They hurried to grab what they could and fled to higher ground.  Mrs. Nuby and her three children drowned.  Their bodies were caught in piles of driftwood.
Within Natrona County are interesting areas to visit.

Oil City (site):  Nmaed after Oil City, Pennsylvania, by S.A. Aggers, who drilled for oil here in the 1880's

Split Rock (site) Split Rock was a landmark on the Oregon Trail.  Just east of this landmark on the Orgon Trail was Split Rock, the stage station.

Strouds (site): A stage station named after Joshua Strouds, homesteader.  IT was established in 1884.

Fort Caspar was established on the banks of the Platte River, as a permanent fort in 1856.  The location was first known as Camp Platte, Morman Ferry, Platte Bridge Station, and finally, as Fort Caspar.  The fort was named for Lieutenant Caspar W. Collins - Fort Collins already existed in Colorado and was named after Lt. Collins’ father, William Collins.    Twenty-one year old Lt. Collins was killed by Indians in July 1865 when he and twenty men were sent northwestward from Platte Bridge Station to meet and escort a wagon train of vital supplies and ammunition.  Fort Caspar was abandoned in 1867.  Shortly thereafter, the Indians burned it to the ground.  Around 1925 the Natrona County Historical Society's Oregon Trail Committee began acquiring property and materials to reconstruct the old Fort.  Reconstruction was completed in 1938.

Independence Rock, 55 miles west of Casper, is a granite dome rising about 136 feet located along the Sweetwater River that was an Oregon Trail landmark.  Tradition says that travelers, to ensure they did not have to battle cold and approaching winter on their trip, should be to Independence Rock by July 4.  Others indicate it was a point of celebration for July 4, and indeed, in subsequent years it was the site of many July fourth celebrations.  Many travelers’ names were carved into the rock, most of which are now obliterated by the ravages of time.  About seven miles west is Devils Gate, another famed Oregon Trail landmark, where the Sweetwater River has cut a 330 foot chasm.

Martin’s Cove is the site where Captain Edward Martin’s handcart company, which began as 576 Mormons,  found shelter from a November 1856 blizzard.  At what was formerly the Sun Ranch, the Mormons have established a museum and interpretive center that explains the hardships and loss of life experienced by the Martin and Willy Handcart Companies.  Well worth a visit.

Alcova Dam/reservoir, Fremont Canyon, and Pathfinder Dam/reservoir are readily accessible by paved roads.  Alcova dam, 265 feet high, was completed in 1938 and is in a spectacular red-earth and eroded sandstone setting.  Facilities include picnic areas, swimming beaches campgrounds and a marina.  Fremont Canyon, between Pathfinder and Alcova dams, is a mini Grand Canyon whose red vertical cliffs rise 500 feet above the river.  Construction on the Pathfinder Darn and reservoir was started in 1905.  It is the oldest dam on the Platte River and spectacular considering its time of construction.  A great many men were used in building this dam.  Supplies were hauled in by teams; grading was done with horses and scrapers.  The foundation was hand-dug to bedrock; stones were brought in by teams and wagons.  Workers and masons climbed down wooden ladders to build foundations.  The dam was completed in 1909.  It was built in a deep granite canyon, 218 feet high and 432 feet long. 

Hells Half Acre (near Hiland) covers 320 acres and ranges from flat prairie into eroded bad land towers, spires, and caverns in many spectacular shapes and colors. Hells Half Acre was once known as Devils Kitchen, but one time Casper merchants wanted to attract more people to the wonders of the county, and had pictures taken of it.  When the post cards were printed, the name Hells Half Acre was printed under the picture.  The cards were used and the name stuck.  It is now a public park leased by Natrona County to private operators.