When you think of the great American West, few images are as iconic as a wagon rolling along the Oregon Trail.
In this episode of Casper Stories, we traveled just west of Casper to Historic Trails West, where Morris Carter brings history to life by offering authentic wagon trail experiences.
Here’s a look behind the scenes at how we captured Morris’s story — and why this episode turned into one of the most challenging and rewarding shoots of the series.
🐴 The Story – Meet Morris Carter and Historic Trails West
Morris Carter isn’t just telling the story of the Oregon Trail — he’s living it.
Through his company, Historic Trails West, Morris offers visitors the rare chance to actually ride in a historic wagon across an original stretch of the Oregon Trail, just outside Casper.
Complete with river crossings, authentic gear, and a deep love for history, Morris’s passion for sharing this experience made him a perfect character for Casper Stories.
Not only does he offer a one-of-a-kind adventure, but his work also ties directly into one of Casper’s most important tourism assets: the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum that tells the story of westward expansion.
🎥 Filming at Historic Trails West
Filming this episode brought some unique production challenges — and a lot of creative problem-solving.
We broke it into two shooting days:
Day 1: Film the wagon trek experience on the trail
Day 2: Film Morris’s interview at the Historic Trails Center museum
🎬 Gear Used
Sony FX6 Cinema Camera
Sony A7SIII Camera (for gimbal and second-angle work)
Sony G-Master 24–70mm and 70–200mm lenses
Chest Mounted GoPro Hero 13
DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone
Comms headsets for communication across distance
Because the wagon was constantly moving, and we had limited time (only a few hours to capture the whole experience), we had to stay extremely mobile.
Rather than switching prime lenses, I relied heavily on zoom lenses for fast re-framing and flexibility — filming from the back of a four-wheeler driven by my assistant Jose to chase the wagon and get dynamic shots.
The headsets were a game-changer.
We were able to give one to a rider inside the wagon to help coordinate movement, positioning, and timing, which saved precious filming time on the trail.
📝 Pre-Production and Visual Goals
A lot of planning went into this shoot.
Before filming, I scouted the entire wagon trek route — walking parts of it, using Sun Seeker to plan where the best lighting would hit, and figuring out logistical challenges like:
How to stay ahead of the wagon for shots
Where we could safely pull over to capture passing shots
Where the landscape would look most cinematic
I wanted the visuals to feel grounded and connected to the past — wide open spaces, textures of the trail, hands touching the wagon, dust under boots.
We aimed for a natural light look, using golden-hour sun for beautiful, backlit shots.
🖥️ Post-Production Workflow
The editing style for this episode leaned a little more rugged — matching the tactile, dusty feeling of being out on the Oregon Trail.
Music choices leaned toward country with a good beat, keeping the energy authentic and upbeat for the wagon experience.
Deliverables Created
2–3 minute master episode
One 30-second cutdown
One 15-second cutdown
Widescreen and vertical versions
A curated B-roll library for Visit Casper
A library of behind-the-scenes photos from the trek
Special care went into weaving shots of the visitors touching the trail, the wagons, and the horses — because Visit Casper wanted to emphasize the theme of "touchable history" that ties into the Trails Center’s messaging.
🎙️ Personal Reflections on Filming Historic Trails West
This was definitely one of the most logistically challenging shoots of Casper Stories — but also one of the most rewarding.
There’s something really powerful about standing on the same dirt that thousands of pioneers once crossed — and trying to capture that feeling through a camera.
One of my favorite shots from the entire series came from this day:
A slow gimbal shot with a long lens compressing the wagon against the backdrop of Casper Mountain.
There’s a real magic in those visuals that stills and museum exhibits can’t fully capture — and I’m proud we were able to bring it to life.
Also — quick side story — we did encounter a rattlesnake during the location scout.
Thankfully, no one got hurt, but it was a good reminder that out here in Wyoming, dealing with rattlesnakes is just part of the reality of working outdoors.
📍 See More About Historic Trails West
Want to experience the Oregon Trail for yourself?
➝ Check out Visit Casper’s feature on Historic Trails West here.
🎯 Tell Your Story with Stengel Media
At Stengel Media, we specialize in capturing authentic, cinematic stories that connect audiences to places, people, and experiences.
Whether it’s a tourism campaign like Casper Stories or a completely custom project, we work closely with clients to bring their vision to life with care, craft, and creativity.
➝ Reach out today if you're ready to tell your story.
