Wyoming Town Fears Nazi Saboteurs During WWII Oil Boom

The small town of Lance Creek in Niobrara County, Wyoming was once a thriving oil camp during World War II. In October 1941, major oil companies shut down operations at their oil fields due to wartime rumors that Lance Creek was on German Chancellor Adolf Hitler's bombing list and Japan had plans to attack as well.

After the US entered the war following the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941, drilling resumed immediately, with oil production playing a crucial role in supplying oil for the war effort. Local residents were fearful of Nazi saboteurs, and additional floodlights were installed around the facilities. Everyone working at the gas plant facility was required to have an ID badge to prevent unauthorized access.

The oil in Lance Creek was highly sought after due to its quality, producing over a quarter of Wyoming's crude during the 1930s and 1940s. The town boasted a bank, store, tennis courts, lit baseball fields, and was self-contained, with its own airport. However, after the war, the oil fields were largely abandoned, and the population dwindled from an estimated 5,000 to less than 50 today.