The Historic Hotel Greybull is located in the middle of downtown Greybull, Wyoming. The building was originally constructed in 1914 as a bank but later served as a speakeasy (and rumored to also contain a brothel) for many years. The property now runs as a place of lodging with fifteen rooms available in the hotel, all of which have been renovated in order to comply with modern standards. There is also a restaurant inside of the hotel that is open most days of the week. The restaurant is called the Speakeasy so as to commemorate the history of the property.
The fifteen rooms at the Historic Hotel Greybull differ somewhat between their sizes, decorations, and furnishings. Though most of the rooms are contained within the primary historic building, one of the rooms is located across the street in a secondary building. The rooms are split into three different categories: Economy Rooms, Standard Rooms, and Family Suites. The Economy Rooms are the most affordable of the three groups, offering guests queen-sized beds and access to shared bathrooms/showers (separated by gender). The Standard Rooms are a little larger in size, and each one comes with a private bathroom and a small kitchenette. Some of the Standard Rooms can be adapted to sleep 4-6 people by connecting with adjoining rooms. The Family Suites sleep anywhere from 4-6 people comfortably and come equipped with full private bathrooms and full kitchens. Such suites are designed for longer stays or for families, as the name implies. Two ADA-approved rooms are available on the main floor of the hotel for handicapped visitors. Hotel-wide amenities offered to all types of rooms include coffeepots and cable television.
The Historic Hotel Greybull rests in the center of downtown Greybull, taking up over half of a city block. The 22,000 square foot hotel is made of bright red bricks and white highlights. A small gazebo rests outside with seating available for outdoor recreation. The gazebo is also adorned with flower boxes hanging from the ceiling. Other planters and flower boxes are positioned around the exterior of the hotel in order to draw attention from passerby.
In addition to the hotel itself, the property has a restaurant called the Speakeasy. The restaurant takes its name from one of the building's old functions as a speakeasy, which is a type of pub or bar that sells alcohol illegally—in particular during the Prohibition of the early 1900s. The Speakeasy serves items such as prime ribs, steak, seafood, beer, wine, salads, pasta, and desserts. During the summer, the restaurant is open from Thursday to Sunday, from 5-8:30 PM. During all other times of year—the offseason—the restaurant doesn't operate on Thursdays but otherwise retains the same schedule. Reservations are recommended for potential restaurant visitors. Breakfast at the Historic Hotel Greybull is described as a "light continental meal." Homemade banana/zucchini bread is the most typical "main dish," and it is supplemented with coffee, juice, yogurt, and fruit.
The owners' most desired aspect of Historic Hotel Greybull is—as the name suggests—its history. Myles Foley and Lori Davis, the owners, want their guests to feel the history of the property while still maintaining the luxuries of the twenty-first century. Their two mottos are "take a step back in time" and "rest in the shadow of the Bighorn Mountains." Despite the building's old age and culture being part of the "turn of the 20th century," it has been renovated with new sewage, air conditioning, electricity, bathrooms, and showers. Many people describe visiting the Historic Hotel Greybull as being similar to going to "grandma's house."
One specific review mentioning the history of the hotel had the following excerpt: "This place has some really cool history to it. Ask for a tour of the kitchen in the speakeasy. The owners are very friendly and they have great hospitality. All the wood floors creak, but it's part of the charm." Other reviews mention the hospitality of the owners and their staff, such as this one: "This was a last minute booking over the phone and the staff were very accommodating, friendly and helpful, stayed late till we arrived. Very generous and hospitable."
The Historic Hotel Greybull is open year-round, though their busiest season is between May and the end of October. During this peak season, they are normally booked solid. Typically, guests come to the hotel because it is a central location for many of the northwestern attractions of the United States. Such attractions include Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Rushmore, and the Bighorn Mountains. Other activities in Greybull include mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. The hotel receives demographics such as vacationing families or couples seeking a romantic getaway. People from "all corners of the world" have stayed at the inn, according to Myles. In the offseason, the guests are usually on business trips or fall under the category of "snowbirds," who are people that go south during the winter to escape the cold temperatures of the north.
The central building of Historic Hotel Greybull was initially constructed in 1914. At the start, the property was used as a bank, though when the business turned dry during the Great Depression, they were forced to close down. Joe and Clair Carey purchased the building shortly after its foreclosure in April of 1927, converting it into a speakeasy to sell alcohol during the Prohibition illegally. Most of the liquor was acquired from Canada.
Supposedly, the hotel was also home to "Ladies of the Evening," meaning that the hotel likely had a second operation as a brothel. Tunnels were discovered between the hotel and surrounding businesses, most notably a pharmacy. The tunnels were sealed up years ago, though recently they have been slightly uncovered. The Carey's retained ownership of the building for most of the 20th century. Joe died in the 1980s, and Clair eventually sold the hotel in 1994.
For a short time, the history of Hotel Greybull is a bit unclear, but by 2008 the building had been purchased by Myles Foley and his partner Lori Davis. Many renovations were made to restore the building's primary functions, meaning that it wasn't until 2011 that the hotel was completed. At that same time, the property opened its restaurant "The Speakeasy" as a thematic re-imagining of the hotel's prior speakeasy history. Myles Foley also serves as the mayor of Greybull, which is a fact that occasionally draws in visitors.
600 Greybull Ave
Greybull, Wyoming 82426
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Myles Foley & Lori Davis
