Our annual Hole in the Wall Tour traces the steps of the Outlaw Era from the sympathy towards rustlers and outlaws that resulted from the Johnson County War through the famous Hole in the Wall Fight.
The tour begins in Kaycee at the KC Fight site, then the site where the Hole in the Wall gang hid from the posse after the Wilcox Train Robbery. It then follows the Old Barnum Road to the location where Kid Curry of the Hole in the Wall gang shot Sheriff Deane before traveling into the famous Hole in the Wall Valley. Here the numerous stories of fact regarding local outlaws are related by knowledgeable authors and local historians. Site stops include overlook of the Hall Cabin where Champion was first ambushed, the entire valley, the homestead site of Alex Ghent, horse trader and friend of the outlaws, the real Hole in the Wall site, where a picnic lunch is enjoyed, before finally traveling to the Hole in the Wall Gap on the Red Wall.
The tour is an important fundraiser for the museum, and costs $90 per person. This includes continental breakfast, a nice lunch, and a day in the famous Hole in the Wall country. Even if you are not a history buff, you will experience
Hole in the Wall Valley
The museum’s annual fundraising Hole in the Wall tour was a great success with 81 attendees. The weather was ideal, with just missing the rain earlier in the week and not too hot on the day of the event.
We could not have the tour without the time and dedication of our tour historical guides. Bill Betensen, author of Butch Cassidy My Uncle, was the main speaker with a variety of unique stories regarding Butch Cassidy told from the vantage point of his familial relation to the famous outlaw. Colin Taylor, who grew up in the Hole in the Wall area and has studied its history extensively, was also a speaker. Local Dwayne Christensen told the stories of Alex Ghent related to him by Jim Dillinger, who knew the man. Brock Hanson, another local historian told a variety of local history documented by his grandfather.
The museum is grateful for the assistance of the many local volunteers who make the event a success every year.
Fall 2015 Johnson County War tour date to be announced soon!