The interstates have certainly taken the traffic away from the small towns. But traveling by bicycle you can easily stumble upon some hidden gems that have survived fast-paced progress. In Fort Bridger, WY, a mile off I-80, is a blink of a town that features an historic Trading Post run by the same family for 92 years.
Fort Bridger, WY — Just a mile off I-80, where most travelers race by without a second thought, there’s a quiet little bend in the road. In times past that turn served as a fur trading post and resupply lifeline for pioneers on the Oregon Trail.
In the shadow of the old Lincoln Highway, sits the landmark Jim Bridger Trading Post. For 92 years, this small-town store has been run by the same family; Giorgis sisters, Virginia, 72, and Darlene, 65, wait on customers and relay stories of the past.
The story began with their father, Ernest Giorgis, a tenacious young man fresh out of high school who had the nerve to ask Maytag for a dealership after the local rep passed away. “His sisters and cousins told him, ‘They’re not going to give a snot-nosed kid like you a dealership,’” said Virginia. “But he got it.” And so began Bridger Valley Maytag, a modest appliance shop that soon grew into something much more.
The store evolved into Giorgis Appliance Center, then Jim Bridger Trading Post, as Ernie adapted to the needs of his neighbors—and the changing times. “He even had a little diner in here at one point,” said Darlene. “Called it ‘Ernie’s In’ when he was there, and when he wasn’t, it was ‘Ernie’s Out.’”
But the soul of the place isn’t just in its name changes. It’s in the details—the old cash register that belonged to their Italian grandfather, who immigrated and worked the coal mines before opening a saloon in South Cumberland. “When Grandpa tore the saloon down, Dad used those old boards and rusty nails to build the original store,” Darlene said. “That’s still part of what’s here.”
Though the sisters rebuilt the store in 1982, the past is very much alive. Antique cabinets rescued from a long-gone Lincoln Highway gas station line the aisles.
One even still bears the faded “King Cutter” stamp on the wood. “I wanted to sand it off once,” Virginia said, “and someone told me, ‘No, don’t do that. That tells you how old and valuable it is.’”
The store is a patchwork of generations—appliances still sold alongside fireworks, t-shirts, groceries, and local souvenirs. “People still come for a little bit of everything,” Darlene said. “Fireworks all year, groceries—not as much as we used to—but we’ve got ranch supplies, shirts, snacks… you name it.”
Ernest Giorgis was also a member of the American Legion. One year, the group got stuck with a batch of fireworks they couldn’t sell. “So they asked Dad to take them off their hands,” Virginia said. “Next thing you know, we’re in the fireworks business.”
Over the years, the Trading Post has quietly hosted more than just locals. There was the day Robert Redford wandered in during Fort Bridger’s famed “Rendezvous” weekend. “He didn’t say who he was,” Virginia said. “But I looked up after he left and said, ‘I just waited on Robert Redford.’”
Zane Grey, the legendary Western author, once stopped in, too—drawn by Ernest’s deep knowledge of the land and its stories. He picked Ernie’s brain for lore, history, and authentic local color. “He was looking for the kind of stories only Dad could tell,” said Darlene.
The sisters continue to honor that legacy. They manage both the store and the family ranch, just like their parents did.
On a side note:
Next to the Giorgis Grocery is another historic site, the Fort Bridger State Historic Site and Museum. The site has house about 2,500 troops during the Utah War and in the 19th-century it was a fur trading outpost that later became a critical resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.
One of the most unique items on display was the punishment horse. A wooden horse with a simple log design built to deal with soldiers who tried to get out of doing chores in 1866.
At the time Captain Anson Mills had a discipline problem. Men were committing petty crimes so they would be thrown into the guard house for 24 hours. The issue was, the men were getting the rest and getting out of doing chores.
To confront the bad behavior Captain Mills designed the punishment horse where those who now committed petty crimes would be required to sit on the log horse and hold the large wooden sword for many hours at a time for all the other men and women at the fort to see.
They were required to occasionally feed, water, and curry the horse throughout the day, not only would the horse become uncomfortable, it would also create embarrassment.
It was also common to find soldiers on the grounds, collecting dandelions for fermentation of dandelion wine, the most common alcoholic beverage for soldiers.
This year’s bicycle tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events in 2026 and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.
Absolutely a great human interest story… the kindness of strangers still exists. (Did you have a root beer float?)