CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A new sign posted along the Wyoming-Colorado border has sparked a heated exchange between state officials this week, after a photo of the sign — reading “Welcome to Colorful Colorado. Ask Yourself What Poor Life Choices Led to This.” — went viral on social media.
The sign, which appeared overnight on the Wyoming side of Interstate 25, features bold white letters on a rustic wooden background, mimicking Colorado’s iconic welcome markers but with a biting twist. Within hours, bewildered travelers began sharing photos online, prompting confusion, laughter, and outrage in equal measure.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis called the sign “an unprovoked jab at the good people of Colorado” during a press conference Tuesday. “Our state is proud of its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and entrepreneurial spirit. To suggest otherwise is not only inaccurate, it’s unbecoming of our neighbors to the north,” Polis said, vowing to “address the matter diplomatically, but firmly.”
Wyoming officials initially denied responsibility, with a spokesperson for Governor Mark Gordon stating, “Wyoming does not endorse or condone unauthorized signage. However, we do appreciate a good sense of humor.”
The incident has quickly escalated into a cross-border spat, with Colorado lawmakers demanding the sign’s removal and Wyoming residents defending it as harmless satire. Local businesses near the border have reported a spike in visitors stopping for selfies, while souvenir shops are already selling T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Transportation has dispatched crews to investigate, but as of Tuesday afternoon, the sign remains in place — and the debate continues to smolder.
“This is the most attention our border has gotten in years,” joked one Wyoming rancher. “Maybe we should thank whoever put it up.”
