THE HISTORY OF THE SILVER CLIFF HOTEL

Where the American Dream and the Wild West Converge.

From a rugged 1879 mining tent city emerged the Silver Cliff Hotel. Built in 1918, it became a sanctuary for prospectors and miners. In honor of our shared Western history, we are meticulously restoring the hotel as a lasting tribute to those pioneers who came before us and led us into the future.

The Historical Timeline

  • 1879

     

    The Silver Cliff Discovery

    Prospectors discover gold, silver, and copper at Silver Cliff Hill, establishing a booming tent city west of present-day Lusk. This site was later recognized as the first uranium deposit discovered in Wyoming, establishing a century of geological significance.

  • The Silver Cliff Mine

    Discovery of silver in the hills. This justifies the “Silver Cliff” name and the sudden influx of capital to the Lusk area.

     

    1882

  • 1886

     

    Frank Lusk & The Railroad

    To accommodate the approaching Wyoming Central Railroad, pioneer Frank Lusk donates 1,000 acres to move the settlement east. The new town is named in his honor and becomes a vital transportation hub connecting the Cheyenne-Black Hills Stage Line to the rail head.

  • Statehood & Stewardship

    Wyoming joins the Union. The site becomes a primary anchor for the developing Niobrara County social structure.

     

    1890

  • 1918

     

    Construction of the 56-Room Landmark

    During the regional oil boom, Roy Chamberlain completes construction on this premier 56-room brick structure. Designed as the primary destination for high plains travelers, the Silver Cliff Hotel becomes the social and economic nexus of Niobrara County.

  • Hotel Operator: E. Otto Stratton

    The first lessee and manager during the Oil Boom. Positioned the hotel as a “Modern Hostelry” with radium baths.

     

    1918–1922

  • 1922

     

    The Silver Cliff Mineral Baths & Wellness Era

    On July 11, the hotel’s state-of-the-art hydrotherapy center was ‘thrown open to the world.’ Utilizing the natural mineral-rich waters from the nearby Silver Cliff mines, the hotel became a premier Western sanitarium. This era established the building as a global destination for those seeking health, restoration, and advanced research—a legacy we continue today through the Silver Cliff Sanctuary.

  • Hotel Owner: A.E. & L.H. Johnson

    L.H. “Yoy” Johnson headed the Silver Cliff Radium Baths, Inc. This was the hotel’s peak as a “Sanctuary” of health.

     

    1922–1926

  • 1924

     

    The Golden Age of Travel

    Post-war prosperity. The hotel becomes a “Sanctuary” for travelers navigating the early highway systems of the West.

  • Mr. & Mrs. P.P. Brown

    The longest era of stability. They modernized the building and steered it through the Great Depression.

     

    1926–1946

  • 1940

     

    The Mid-Century Pivot

    Focus on the building’s resilience through the Depression. This highlights the architectural integrity (the 10×10 posts) as a metaphor for community stability.

  • Owner / Manager: Roy & Sharon Chamberlain

    Part of a regional hotel empire (including the Ranger Hotel). Represented the “Golden Age” of Western tourism.

     

    1946–1970s

  • 1970s–1990s

     

    Theresa Modine

    Modern steward who has preserved the oral and physical history of the building.

  • Owners: Michael Tengberg & Donna Sommers

    Stewards & Benefactors with a deep desire to restore the Silver Cliff Hotel to it’s original glory.

     

    1997-2024

  • 1924 -Present

     

    A Dual-Purpose Conservation Model

    Following the stewardship of Michael Tengberg and Diane Sommers, the property transitioned into a sustainable conservation model. The Silver Cliff Land Trust was established to hold the physical title, protecting the 1918 architectural integrity in perpetuity.

Simultaneously, the Silver Cliff Sanctuary and Cultural Center, Inc. was incorporated as our non-profit arm, dedicated to restoring the “Crossroads of Western Legacy” and serving as a cultural hub for Niobrara County. This structure ensures the Silver Cliff remains both a preserved physical landmark and a thriving community sanctuary.

Welcome to the future of the Past! ™

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The Silver Cliff Hotel | 130 S Pine Street, Lusk, Wyoming 82225
Welcoming guests through our doors in 2027
© 2026 Silver Cliff Land Trust | © Silver Cliff Sanctuary and Cultural Center, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Mission | Contributions are non-refundable and directly support our restoration mission.
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