Built by Bill Robinson in 1896, the Aladdin General Store has stood the test of time in Devils Tower Country. The 123-year-old business was recently purchased by Trent Tope, an Aladdin native whose family has been ranching in northeast Wyoming for multiple generations.

Aladdin, Wyoming — established in the 1800s and named for the Aladdin of Arabian Nights — is one of the few places where visitors to the Cowboy State can see a historic general store from a bygone era.

Located in beautiful Devils Tower Country, the hamlet with a population of 15 recently came under new ownership. "I remember looking into the ice box when I was so small that I was looking through the glass at the bottom shelf," says Trent Tope, the store's new owner. Tope is the fourth generation of his family to ranch in the Aladdin area. "My family has been here since 1892."

From the sweeping front porch to the items offered in the store, much of what people love about the Aladdin General Store will remain the same. Additions and improvements are, however, being made. "We are currently working on the restrooms," says Tope. He hopes to have them complete before the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Tope also plans to make slight modifications to highlight the building's woodwork, architecture and historic elements. "We will be adding the work of local artists and American made items," he notes. The store is currently home to a wide array of antiques.

The Aladdin General Store is located along Highway 24 between the communities of Belle Fourche, South Dakota and Hulett, Wyoming. Historic Aladdin can also be accessed by taking the Aladdin Exit off of Interstate 90 between Beulah and Sundance, Wyoming. The Northeast Wyoming Visitors Center is located very near this exit and serves as a great source of information for area travelers.

During its heyday, Aladdin, Wyoming was comprised of about 20 houses built and owned by the railway and standing at the end of the rail line. Bill Robinson built the Aladdin General Store in 1896 using lumber from Pearson Sawmill. At first a saloon, over time the store served as a post office, train depot, barbershop, freight station, gas station and general location to purchase all items one might need.

 

Demand for coal in the gold mines of Lead and Deadwood, South Dakota brought the railroad close to Aladdin, Wyoming country in the 1800s at a cost of $192,000 for the rail and associated equipment. Three separate coalmines shipped via the train, loading at the tipple that still stands at historic Bakerstown near Highway 24 west of present day Aladdin.

 

For many years, trains stopped at a Y about a half mile east of Aladdin. In 1901 or 1902 the line was extended closer to the General Store when John Pearson received a contract to furnish one million feet of timber for the Hidden Fortune Mine at Deadwood. As part of the agreement, he furnished the ties to bring the tracks all of the way to Aladdin.

 

“This railroad train made a trip to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, every day except for Sunday,” recalled Josephine Gervassi Hoffman in a 1969 edition of the magazine  Bits & Pieces.  Hoffman spent her childhood in Aladdin, Wyoming. “It left Aladdin at 10 a.m. and got to Belle Fourche between 11 o’clock and 11:30. Left Belle Fourche on the return trip around 1:00 p.m., arriving back in Aladdin around 2:30 p.m. It made connections with the Northwestern train that came in from Omaha, Nebraska.” 

 

Hoffman recalls the school children, during the month of September, standing outside and watching the loading of cattle on the rail. “One would see herds of cattle in all directions waiting their turn at the loading pens. The cowboys would camp and keep watch over their herds.” Only able to pull 25 cars, Gervassi said the train made multiple trips during cattle shipping season. 

 

Very little coal was hauled after 1910 and the last train left Aladdin in 1927. The Aladdin General Store, however, has stood the test of time and continues to serve as the local place of commerce. 

 

The Crook County Tourism Promotion Board has partnered with TravelStorys.com to create an audio tour that you can listen to right from your smart phone or tablet device. The tour allows visitors to hear about the area they're seeing as they walk or drive. A copy of the tour can be accessed at the link at the right.

Adjacent tours are also available so please see the full list of tours offered.