From Sacred Lands to Sci-Fi Sets: Unveiling Wyoming’s Hell's Half Acre!

Nestled in the rugged heart of Natrona County, lies a landscape like nowhere else in the state of Wyoming. It is so bewilderingly alien that it could easily be mistaken for a slice of Mars dropped onto Earth. Hell's Half Acre, as it is ominously named, stretches across an expanse that belies its daunting moniker, sprawling far beyond its implied dimensions into a 320-acre scarp of jagged ravines and intricate rock formations.

The story of Hell's Half Acre begins millions of years ago, when it was created primarily by erosion and sculpted by the relentless forces of  weather. Yet, despite its seemingly inhospitable terrain, this area harbors a rich tapestry of life and history. Native American tribes have long revered this land; tales of spirits and otherworldly beings are etched into its very essence. Meanwhile, pop culture has also cast its spotlight onto this eerie landscape — serving as an alien planet backdrop in the Hollywood film Starship Troopers. As we peel back the layers on Hell's Half Acre, prepare to embark on an exploration that defies expectations at every turn.

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Native American History

A place steeped in history and culture, the Native Americans used Hell's Half Acres rugged cliffs and caverns as a Buffalo Jump. There's evidence they not only hunted bison but also elk, deer and antelope here.

This communal hunting method dates back as far as 12,000 years. Gathering together, the hunters steered the game toward a cliff, causing them to fall and incapacitate themselves by breaking their legs. Other tribe members already below quickly converged with their spears and bows to complete the hunt by killing the animals that survived the fall. Sites like these were called pishkun by the Indians, meaning roughly “deep blood kettle.”

According to American Indian lore, if they allowed the buffalo to escape, they would teach the remaining herds to steer clear of human hunters, making future hunts more challenging.

American History

Since then, the site has been mainly viewed as a curiosity. It attracted immigrants traveling the Oregon Trail and, later, visits from stagecoaches journeying the Overland Trail between Casper and Thermopolis.

In the summer of 1833, while on a trading expedition with the Shoshone Indians, Army Captain Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, an esteemed explorer credited with charting parts of the Oregon Trail and extensive exploration of the American West, made his initial visit to Hell's Half Acre. During this journey, his expedition detected the smell of sulfur, which they realized was emanating from subterranean fires. Scientists later attributed the stench to ancient coal deposits that had been burning for years.

Although the name does not fully capture its profound cultural and historical importance, there are a couple of different stories about how the area was named. One suggests the site changed nomenclature when a cowhand stumbled upon it, mistaking it for Hell's Half Acre, a region located southwest of Casper, characterized by its alkali deposits and bogs. The alternative hypothesis suggests that the moniker originated from a marketing effort to attract visitors to the local attraction. Several names were tried in the quest for a catchy one, including Devil's Kitchen, the Pits of Hades, and the Baby Grand Canyon. However, this name inadvertently became its lasting identity due to an error on a postcard from the 1930s, which referred to it as Hell's Half Acre.

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Starship Troopers

With its rugged and unique landscape, Hell's Half Acre was an ideal location for the backdrop of the 1997 science fiction movie Starship Troopers, directed by Paul Verhoeven. This visually striking area offered a convincing stand-in for the fictional planet Klendathu, the setting of the film's central conflict.

The plot of Starship Troopers centers around Johnny Rico, portrayed by Casper Van Dien, and his journey through military ranks in a futuristic society embroiled in a fierce battle against hostile extraterrestrial creatures known as bugs. The story explores themes of citizenship, duty, and the cost of war.

The eerie terrain of Hell's Half Acre played a crucial role in bringing to life the alien world where much of the movie unfolds. Its vast, desolate landscapes were instrumental in conveying a sense of isolation. This backdrop amplified the suspense and tension inherent in the storyline, particularly during scenes involving sudden ambushes by the alien enemies.

By leveraging Hell's Half Acre’s natural scenery, Starship Troopers created an authentic and captivating extraterrestrial ambiance. This setting enriched the cinematic experience, enhancing the visual spectacle and emotional impact of the characters' struggles on Klendathu.

The film effectively utilized Hell's Half Acre’s topography to intensify scenes where characters faced ambushes from Arachnids emerging from all directions, using the area’s caves for surprise attacks. One notable scene involved an ambush at Whiskey base, demonstrating how the terrain’s complexity added depth to action sequences.

Following the movie production, access to this iconic location was restricted, leading to a decline in local tourism activities that once thrived around this unique geological feature.

Know Before You Go

In 2005, the operators of a small hotel and restaurant vacated the property. Natrona County had difficulty finding new management for the site, so the buildings were demolished, and the park closed.

Fast forward to 2024, and a spark of optimism exists for revitalization. A collaborative effort involving the Natrona County Parks Department, Natrona County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative, and Visit Casper is underway to breathe new life into the park. Visit Casper envisions transforming Hell's Half Acre into a safe and preserved historical site that is an attractive destination for tours and public visits. Recognizing it as a valuable natural asset for the community, they aim to make it accessible for enjoyment. Initiatives are underway to secure funding for various improvements, such as renovating the parking lot, installing new fencing, upgrading picnic areas, sealing an old well, and adding restroom facilities.

The gate is open, and you can access the parking lot to view Hell's Half Acre from above. Hopefully, the county will soon get it completely reopened for public enjoyment. 

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Getting There

Hells Half Acre is between Shoshone and Casper, Wyoming, on US-20/26.

GPS:  43.0479374 -107.092037

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About the Photographer

Susan Rissi Tregoning is the 8th photographer in the past four generations of professional photographers in her family. After a long career as an art buyer and interior designer, she put her career on hold in 2006 to travel with her husband and his job. In the process, she found her roots again,  developing a photography obsession far  ​beyond casual ​snapshots that evolved into a desire to capture every location and object as art. By meshing her two loves, photography and design, she has come full circle only now creating art instead of purchasing it for others.

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Step into another world without leaving Earth. Hells Half Acre in Wyoming - where the rugged terrain isn't just a landscape; it's the planet Klendathu from Starship Troopers!