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Although Cheyenne hails from a Western heritage and still has roots in cowboy and Native American culture, the locals certainly don’t limit their interests to rodeos and country music. In fact, they have a strong “nerd” or “geek” culture here, with multiple comic book stores, open gaming nights, an old-school video arcade, and an annual comic-con. Definitely not what most people picture when they think of Cheyenne, but absolutely worth coming up to see what is available for other enthusiasts.
Comic book shops are in no short supply. The Collection Guys (soon to be called Outlaw Comics) are a bit off the beaten path on Logan Ave, but their fans rave about their selection and customer service. Looking for something specific? Special orders are not unusual and they have a great selection of single cards and new releases. Olympus Games and Comics and T & R Sportscards and More are both in the heart of downtown. Olympus brags a very active gaming community, with on-site gaming opportunities for Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer and more. They keep their Facebook page rife with upcoming events and is a great place to connect with other gamers. T & R Sportscards and More tends to focus more on card-based collecting hobbies. They also have gaming space at the shop and have hosted events like the New Year’s Extravaganza (a MTG triple tournament).
Directly across the street from T & R is Flippers Family Arcade. Walking through the door is like stepping into an episode of Stranger Things. Dozens of arcade consoles fill the multi-room venue, which also has party space available. A wide variety of games are available for play with tokens or loaded cards. Win tickets and exchange them for prizes at the back counter. Flippers offers food onsite in addition to a full bar with specialty drinks for those 21 and older (“aiming fluid,” perhaps?) They have had vegan items (food and beer) on the menu as well, which is harder to find in Cheyenne – BONUS POINTS!
More into Pokémon Go? Pokemon Go Raiders, Cheyenne, WY has an active Facebook group to coordinate group raids and tournaments. Members can show off their achievements, divulge training gym locations, and share trainer codes with others in the region.
The crème de la crème of fandom, however, is the Chey-Fy Comic Expo. At the Plains Hotel, September 13-15, 2019, cosplaying fans will descend on downtown Cheyenne, eager to scour the wares of vendors, attend panels, meet artists, and take pictures with industry celebrities. Chey-Fy is in its second year and is hoping to grow into a yearly must-attend event for the community.
No matter your flavor of nerdy, there is a good likelihood Cheyenne has a group for you! Happy collecting!