Wyo Theater Update: Time to Redevelop?
In August of 2019, Laramie Main Street, a 501(c)3 non profit, was given the historic Wyo Theater at 309 S. 5th Street. Since then, with the help of the community, we launched a “Save the Wyo” fundraising campaign to insure the building, keep the lights on and pay the property taxes.
With the help of donors and grants, we repaired the roof, completed a 3D scan of the interior, inspected the building systems (HVAC, plumbing and electrical) and conducted environmental and structural analysis of the building. We also collaborated with University of Wyoming marketing students on a campaign to gather your memories made at the Wyo.
Between 2020 and 2022, we explored partnerships with multiple private businesses with the goal of renting out the space to be run as a mixed-use entertainment venue. Laramie Main Street is good at historic preservation but it is not our intent to compete with the private sector. Business concepts proposed by our partners included a traditional theater, “dinner and a movie,” live music, a black box theater, a bar and bistro in the lobby.
In response to these ideas, we worked with architects and structural engineers to create conceptual designs for the interior and a plan to restore the facade. Along with these drawings came cost estimates that, unfortunately, informed us that the building would not cash flow as a mixed-use entertainment venue.
Between inflation, interest rates, and not wanting to compete with other theaters or mixed use venues in town, we realize it is time to pivot.
So what is next for the Wyo?
While we are disappointed that the original concept for a mixed-use entertainment venue at the Wyo is no longer feasible, we are excited to work with the community to find a new path forward for the building.
We are looking for viable business concepts that fill a market need so we can revive this space as an asset to the community.
Conceptual plan for the restoration of the Wyo Theater facade
According to 2025 retail data, Laramie residents leave town for furniture and home decor, general merchandise, sporting goods, men’s clothing, family clothing and women's accessories, music and art supplies. Thus, there is a demand for these services in town.
There is also a need for a boutique hotel and more housing downtown. https://www.cityoflaramie.org/1117/Thrive-Laramie-Housing
With gaps in the market in mind, we are looking for ideas to reimagine how the Wyo can enhance the economic and social vitality of the historic district. We invite the community and potential redevelopment partners to email thoughts to downtownlaramie@gmail.com
The Historic Wyo Theater
Building History:
The Wyo Theater at 309 S. 5th Street, Laramie, Wyoming was built between 1927 and 1928 as the Crown Theater and remodeled between May 1948 and September 1949 by Denver architect Charles Dunwoody Strong using streamline modern details. In the last five years, the theater has not been open to the public.
LMSA Director Trey Sherwood says, “We want to revive this landmark for the benefit of the greater Laramie community. There are so many happy memories associated with this space, from first dates to showings of iconic movies and quality time with friends. This building deserves to be preserved for future generations”.
Read more about the Wyo’s history in this article written by the Albany County Historical Society here: https://www.wyoachs.com/businesses/reviving-laramies-historic-wyo-theater
For more information about this project, to volunteer, share photos, or make a tax deductible contribution, contact us at: 307-760-3355 or downtownlaramie@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of the Ludwig Svenson Collection at the University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center
Project Timeline:
In August of 2019, Laramie Main Street was gifted the historic Wyo Theater. Since then, we’ve been exploring the feasibility of what it would take to rehabilitate the building, including a new roof, upgrading the electrical, installing a fire suppression system, and making the building ADA accessible.
Thanks to an in kind contribution from Jon Firestone in the winter of 2019, you can take a 3D tour of the building!
Through a grant from Wyoming Main Street in 2019, we worked with Wattle and Daub to develop conceptual designs for a mixed use entertainment venue.
2020
In the spring 2020, we worked with a group of senior marketing and communications students at the University of Wyoming to develop campaigns to gather memories from the community about the Wyo and create a communication plan for the project.
During the summer of 2020, we use proceeds from Brewfest 2019, funds from our reserves and a grant from the Guthrie Family Foundation to help replace the roof (a $52,000+ expense).
Thanks to a partnership with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and grant from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in August 2020 we had a Phase I analysis of the indoor air, lead and asbestos conducted.
In the fall of 2020, with funds from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and a LISC Placemaking grant we worked with MBX Architecture and our Wyo Task Force Team, made up of artists, entrepreneurs, educators and preservationists, to create a plan to restore the facade of the building, inspected the building systems (HVAC, plumbing and electrical) and had an engineer conduct a structural analysis of the building.
Share Your Memories!
Share your memories: https://forms.gle/99Yd2VhGUMzSrpmt8 or email your photos to downtownlaramie@gmail.com
Donate your gently used clothing and accessories to our "Revive the Wyo" account at NU2U to support the historic Wyo Theater.
Limit 25 items per week. Call before you go: 307-742-3979.
320 S. 5th Street