CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Laramie County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new retail liquor license for White Antelope Barn, an event venue that is also facing a civil lawsuit.
The decision came after a public hearing in which residents expressed concerns about safety and the changing character of their neighborhood.
During the hearing, residents of the Mountain Shadow subdivision argued that the venue’s commercial use violates neighborhood covenants and requested that the license be delayed until a civil lawsuit is resolved.
Commissioner Troy Thompson, who presided over the meeting in the absence of Chair Gunnar Malm, and County Attorney Mark Voss, however, stated that covenants are a civil matter, and the county is not a party to the lawsuit.
“If the lawsuit goes through, then they’re not going to have a liquor license,” Thompson informed the crowd.
Residents were also concerned about potentially intoxicated drivers on the area’s one-lane gravel road, which one person described as a “threat to safety.”
Heidi Pulcipher, the owner of White Antelope Barn, told the board that the company had always been clear about its intention to serve beer and wine. She also stated that the venue offers a free trolley service for up to 28 guests to ensure that they arrive home safely.
The County Clerk’s Office and the state liquor division both deemed the application to be in order. In the end, the commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the license.
