From the Wyo Stays team. National furnishing checklists are written for Scottsdale and Orlando. This one is written for a place where it hits 20 below, hunters show up at 4am, and the nearest big-box store is a drive. Here's what actually earns five stars in the Bighorns.
The public version below is the summary. The gated PDF is the full printable, room-by-room checklist with a par-stock quantity column and a winterization sub-list.
The Wyoming items national lists always miss
Start here, because this is the difference between a good review and a great one up here:
- A real mudroom / entry system — boot tray, bench, hooks, a place for wet and muddy gear. Wyoming guests arrive outdoorsy.
- Serious cold-weather bedding — high-fill duvets, wool blankets, layered options. "I was warm" is a five-star sentence in January.
- Heat management — supplemental heat source guidance, and clear instructions for the thermostat/wood stove/pellet stove if present.
- Freeze protection built in — heat tape on vulnerable pipes, known shut-off locations, a laminated "if a pipe freezes" card. (More in the winterization list.)
- Gear storage — space and gear for skis, fishing rods, hunting equipment. A gun-safe or lockable storage is a differentiator for hunt-season bookings.
- A game-processing-friendly option where appropriate — hunters remember the property that had a plan (extra freezer space, an outdoor spigot, a spot to hang).
- Blackout curtains — long summer daylight up here is real; guests need to sleep.
- A genuine local guide — trailheads, King's Saddlery, the Mint Bar, fishing access, the grocery run. (Pair with the Wyo Stays Local Guide resource.)
- Backup power / outage kit — flashlights, lantern, extra batteries; rural properties lose power.
- Bug + bear-aware guidance for foothill properties in season.
Room-by-room (summary)
Kitchen — full cook's kit (guests here actually cook): sharp knives, cast iron, coffee maker plus a backup method, spice basics, ample glassware and mugs, dishwasher, water filter. Wyoming guests overwhelmingly self-cater.
Living — comfortable seating for max occupancy, throws, board games/cards, strong Wi-Fi, a real TV with streaming, and a fireplace/stove that's clearly explained.
Bedrooms — quality mattresses, two pillow firmnesses per sleeper, blackout curtains, luggage racks, bedside charging, closet space for gear.
Bathrooms — hotel-grade towel pars (2+ sets per guest), robes, quality toiletries, hair dryer, plunger, ample TP par stock.
Outdoor — the highest-ROI space in Wyoming: hot tub (serviced on schedule), fire pit + wood, quality patio seating, a grill, and the view framed on purpose.
Safety & compliance — smoke + CO detectors (tested), fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, clearly marked exits, emergency contact card. (This overlaps your compliance checklist — keep them in sync.)
Tech & access — smart lock, reliable/mesh Wi-Fi, a simple welcome tablet or QR to the digital guidebook, noise monitor where appropriate.
The winterization sub-list (the expensive one to skip)
- ☐ Heat tape on exposed/vulnerable pipes, tested before first freeze
- ☐ Faucet-drip / cabinet-open guidance posted for deep-cold nights
- ☐ Known main water shut-off — labeled, and on the "if a pipe freezes" card
- ☐ Furnace / stove serviced pre-season; filters stocked
- ☐ Snow removal + ice-melt plan and supplies on site
- ☐ Exterior faucets shut off and drained where applicable
- ☐ Hot tub freeze protection verified
- ☐ Emergency heat backup + outage kit staged
Par-stock thinking (why the PDF has a quantity column)
Five-star cleanliness scores come from never running out. The full checklist assigns a par quantity to every consumable — TP, paper towels, dish soap, laundry pods, coffee, trash bags, batteries — so your cleaner restocks to a number, not a guess. That one column is why our turnovers don't generate "there was no toilet paper" reviews.
Setting up a property now?
Getting this right on the front end is the single biggest lever on your first 90 days of reviews — and reviews drive everything after. Wyo Stays does full property setup, staging guidance, and photography as part of onboarding.
→ Download the full printable checklist, or → get a free property evaluation and we'll walk your property against it together.