Franchising
Taco John's inks agreement for Casper, Wyoming
October 22, 2025
Mexican QSR Taco John's has signed a franchise agreement in Casper, Wyoming. The restaurant is slated to open in the spring of 2026 and is under the helm of the Stilwell family. The opening will mark their tenth Wyoming Taco John's restaurant and third in Casper — continuing a nearly five-decade legacy with the brand, according to a press release.
The Stilwell's journey with Taco John's began in 1976 when Daryl and Lori Stilwell opened their first restaurant in Utah before relocating to Buffalo, Wyoming. Daryl later served as a field representative for Taco John's International, while Lori managed operations locally. Their daughter, Lindsay, grew up inside the restaurants, even spending her early years in a playpen in the back office.
By age 15, Lindsay was officially working her way through nearly every position, from greeting guests to running back of house operations. In 2008, she became vice president of operations for the family's portfolio, overseeing growth and operations across multiple locations across Wyoming. Today, she is set to carry the family legacy forward with the new Casper restaurant.
"In 2026, my family will celebrate 50 years with Taco John's," Lindsay Stilwell, vice president of operations for the family's portfolio, said in the release. "Opening my family's tenth Wyoming location feels like a full-circle moment, honoring the foundation my parents built while building something new with the support of my husband. It's been an exciting journey of growth, hard work, and learning, and I'm grateful to continue our family's story with Taco John's."
"The Stilwell family's journey is a powerful example of the lasting impact Taco John's franchisees can make," Shannon Iverson, VP of development at Taco John's, said in the release. "Lindsay's leadership and her family's commitment to growth highlight the strength of our brand, the opportunities available to our franchisees, and the legacy we're building together."
