The Natrona County Sheriff's Office is investigating the vandalism of the cabin at Crimson Dawn Park on Casper Mountain on Wednesday morning, the museum's curator said.

"People love the park and it's this few that do the damage; it's taking away from the community," Michele Montoya-Lipes said Wednesday afternoon.

The incident probably happened early Wednesday before she arrived at 10 a.m., Montoya-Lipes said. County workers who opened the gate to the park didn't see anything when the opened the gates at 8 a.m., she said.

After she arrived, Montoya-Lipes gave a tour for a group of children and their teacher. She noticed the electric power was off, but didn't see anything else until she returned to the cabin after showing the children out.

Montoya-Lipes found the power had been turned off at the breaker box, doors had been kicked in, she said. The vandal or vandals had been in the museum. The only thing missing was the donation box, she said.

Michele Montoya-Lipes
Michele Montoya-Lipes
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She also found damage to the outhouse and the bunkhouse, she said.

The damage has not been totaled, but Montoya-Lipes said the doors are of odd dimensions and will cost a lot to replace.

This incident follows vandalism from earlier this year when someone damaged some of the sites on the trails in park, she said.

Crimson Dawn was founded by mountain resident and artist Neal Forsling who donated 96 acres for the public to enjoy, Montoya-Lipes said.

Its major event is the annual summer solstice celebration, during which hundreds of visitors listen to storytellers spin tales of folklore of mythical inhabitants of the mountain.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June through September. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

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