Woods Landing Dance Hall, 2731 State Highway 230, Woods Landing, Albany County, WY

2016 Leicester B. Holland Prize, Entry
Significance: The Woods Landing Dance Hall was a central gathering place for large numbers of Scandinavian immigrants in the area during the "tie hack" industry of the early twentieth century. Tie hacks were loggers who specialized in hewing logs into railroad ties. These immigrants came to the area in response to the railroad's large demand for the lumber available in southern Albany County. Much of the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming crosses through high plains and deserts where trees are rare. Spur lines from the main track in Laramie into the forests of southern Albany County provided much needed timber for rail ties and other types of construction.

The Woods Landing Dance Hall served not only for dances, but also as a lodge and restaurant, as well as a place for blood drives, smorgasbords, weddings, and other occasions. Architecturally, the dance hall exhibits traditional Scandinavian design and craftsmanship. The logs were hand-hewn so that they fit tightly together, eliminating the need for chinking. In addition, the dance floor rests on twenty-four boxcar springs, and is the only "floating" dance floor known to be supported in this manner in Wyoming. Features such as the large stone chimney and knotty lodge-pole pine porch suggest the influence of the rustic Craftsman style architecture common to recreational buildings constructed in the Rocky Mountains during this time.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N2209
Survey number: HABS WY-167
Building/structure dates: 1932 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 85003210