Not the one with the film festival. That’s in Utah. But the 2 are linked by the movie star associated with the name. Sundance, one of the 15 best little towns in WY, is named for the
sun dances that North American Indians on the plains have traditionally held each year in this area. These were banned in the late 19th century as part of the US and Canada’s colonization and forced assimilation policies. The bans were lifted by Canada in
the 1950s and more than 20 years later by the US with the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978. See more here.
The outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh became known as the “Sundance Kid” bc he served
his only jail time in the town. This true fact
is commemorated in the town’s Sundance Square, where a life-size statue of Longabaugh/Sundance lounges in the corner of an open cell.
The Square is lit up at night, with dedicated lights on the Kid himself.
As to why Redford chose Sundance for the name of his festival, no clue. Probably in honor of himself. Just a guess. I wonder if he even knows there’s a Sundance, WY.
The town itself is kinda cool.. small and western without an awful lot going on now. April isn’t high season, but there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area. "Unmatched beauty & recreation"
and “unparalleled scenery, adventure and history.” Just ask the Sundance Chamber of Commerce. Actually there
are some very cool things... Devils Tower is about 25 miles away. Fantastic and truly amazing; pictures will come next.
This is also Black Hills country; Mt. Rushmore is less than 2 hrs away, in South Dakota; Badlands National Park another 2 hours past that. Plenty of history, much of it not very ennobling. There’s Deadwood and Sturgis (remember the superspreader motorbike
event during the pandemic?). Then there’s Custer, SD. The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is in Montana, 3-1/2 hours in the opposite direction.
Back to Sundance, it’s a neat little town with bars, restaurants, and pretty inexpensive motels. There’s an artist in residence who has a studio where he displays and sells his work and has art classes. There’s also a pretty interesting museum, but it
was closed. And an espresso bar. Also closed. Everything’s pretty convenient and walkable.
And lots of gun enthusiasts, although I didn’t see anyone packin’, and I saw at least one sign prohibiting bringing guns onto the premises. It might have been the bathrooms at Devils Tower.
