Until it was rerouted, the Lincoln Highway took motorists straight through the middle of Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming. However, in 1939, U.S. 30 was re-routed and paved a few years later at its present location near I-80. At that time, most of the commercial activity ended and the number of residents declined rapidly. With the beginning of World War II and the end of the timber industry, the town was dealt its final death blow.