Riverside Hotel Closed Over Asbestos Concerns
The Natrona County Health Department ordered the Casper hotel and its Whiskey Butter restaurant closed after a cease and desist order.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Dining Out
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The Natrona County Health Department has ordered the Riverside Hotel & Conference Center in Casper temporarily closed due to possible asbestos exposure. The Whiskey Butter restaurant and cocktail bar in the same building was also ordered closed.
Why it matters
The closure affects hotel guests, restaurant diners and nearby residents in Casper while the asbestos concern is investigated. The order says asbestos-containing materials may have been disturbed, damaged or improperly handled.
The cease and desist order, dated Oct. 30, 2026, covers the hotel, restaurant and pool at 300 West F Street. Reopening depends on completing asbestos investigation, removal and containment, and the order does not specify how or where the contamination occurred.
The players
Natrona County Health Department
The county agency that issued the cease and desist order closing the hotel and restaurant over possible asbestos exposure.
Riverside Hotel & Conference Center
A Casper hotel built in the 1960s as a Holiday Inn motel, later abandoned, condemned and reopened under new ownership in 2024.
The details
A cease and desist order for immediate cessation of hotel operations was posted on the hotel's entrances. The hotel's website is not accepting reservations, and a recording at its phone number says the hotel and restaurant are temporarily closed.
Timeline
The 1960s: the building was constructed as a traditional Holiday Inn motel.
2023: former owners abandoned the property, which was later condemned by the city.
2024: current owners began operating as The Riverside Hotel, LLC.
Oct. 30, 2026: the cease and desist order was issued.
Nov. 4, 2026: a guard said the owners plan to reopen soon.
Culture Shift
Older mid-century hotels in Wyoming often face asbestos-related scrutiny when aging buildings are abandoned or renovated under new ownership. This closure follows that pattern, with the health department enforcing abatement before any reopening.
Diners in Casper cannot use the Whiskey Butter restaurant or cocktail bar until the asbestos investigation and containment are completed. Hotel guests with existing reservations should expect the property to remain closed while the order is in effect.
The takeaway
Property owners who disturb older buildings should confirm asbestos testing before renovation or reopening. Guests with upcoming stays at similar properties can check local health department notices before booking.
Further reading
For more local coverage of restaurant openings and closures, see Dining Out in Casper.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Oil City News.
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