Jackie Dorothy
Jackie Dorothy is a reporter for Cowboy State Daily based in central Wyoming.
Over the past 20 years, Jackie has worked in television, radio and print across Wyoming. In this role, she has won numerous writing and history awards including the Wyoming Governor’s Journalist of the Year and SBA Journalist of the Year.
Jackie is also the podcast host of ‘Pioneers of Outlaw Country’ that explores little known historical stories of Wyoming with entertaining narrative.
Latest from Jackie Dorothy
Reader Question: What Are Those Broken Heart Signs Along Wyoming Highways?
A Cowboy State Daily reader asked us about those white and red signs on the highway that feature a broken heart and a dove. They act as memorials for families in honor of their loved ones who lost their lives in traffic crashes on state and federal highways and interstates.
Jackie DorothyOctober 13, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: The Ghost Ship Of The North Platte
One of the more intriguing ghost stories in Wyoming is a ghost ship that appeared infrequently on the North Platte River in in 1862, 1887 and 1903. Each time it was spotted, it brought death with it for the people who saw it.
Jackie DorothyOctober 13, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: Chugwater Restaurant Serves People Decades After Burning Down
Caught in a blizzard, three people sought shelter at a restaurant off the interstate in Chugwater, Wyoming. They ate steak waiting out the storm, only to learn later the restaurant burned down decades ago — and their waitresses died in the fire.
Jackie DorothyOctober 13, 2024
Inside Shoshoni's Haunted House: It Takes A Year To Build And Is Straight-Up Scary
The folks in Shoshoni, Wyoming, take Halloween seriously. Any doubt of that will be erased by a visit to its annual haunted house, which takes a year to build and is housed in an abandoned bowling alley which was closed nearly 40 years ago.
Jackie DorothyOctober 12, 2024
Wyoming Grower Expects To Bring In 525,000 Tons Of Super-Sweet Sugar Beets
It’s harvest time for Wyoming’s sugar beet growers, and it looks like they’ve had a good season. For Worland-area grower Jim Miller, it’s been a good year. He expect to bring in about 525,000 tons of super-sweet sugar beets.
Jackie DorothyOctober 12, 2024
How Mardy Murie, Wyoming’s Grandmother Of Conservation, Inspired The Wilderness Act
From Alaska to Wyoming, Margaret “Mardy” Murie and her family were advocates for keeping the wilderness wild. Known as the Grandmother of Conservation, she and husband Olaus helped inspire the Wilderness Act.
Jackie DorothyOctober 06, 2024
80,000 Miles And Thousands Of Photos, She Explores Wyoming For Those Who Can’t
Lesleigh Ann Shaefer of Thermopolis has traveled more than 80,000 miles and taken thousands of photos as she drives around the Cowboy State. She says she explores Wyoming for those who can’t.
Jackie DorothyOctober 06, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: The Headless Bride Of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn
A teen bride murdered and decapitated at Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn in 1914 is said to still haunt the historic hotel. People tell of seeing her ghostly apparition walking to the crow’s nest — carrying her own head in her arms.
Jackie DorothyOctober 06, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: The Wailing Skeleton Of Badwater Creek
In October 1940, the Lichty family discovered a skeleton on their property near the Badwater Creek in Fremont County. Their troubles were only beginning…
Jackie DorothyOctober 05, 2024
Yellowstone Highway At 100: Wyoming’s $1 Million Gamble That Paid Off Big
It’s been 100 years since the Yellowstone Highway was blasted through a rugged, unforgiving Wind River Canyon. At $1 million, it was the most expensive stretch of road ever built in the U.S., and a gamble that paid off big for Wyoming.
Jackie DorothyOctober 05, 2024
Wyoming Caver Has Spent 50 Years Exploring World’s Deepest, Darkest Places
It takes a certain kind of person to not only tolerate being in caves, but love it. Juan Laden of Lander is one, having spent 50 years exploring the world’s deepest, darkest places from Antarctica to Ukraine to New Zealand.
Jackie DorothySeptember 29, 2024
Once A Showstopper, Thermopolis Hot Springs RV Park Being Restored
The owner of the iconic Fountain of Youth RV hot springs park in Thermopolis, Wyoming, was just a girl when she visited during its heyday decades ago. It was a showstopper park for travelers, and now she and her family are restoring it.
Jackie DorothySeptember 28, 2024
Boysen State Park’s Abandoned Tunnel Is Last Reminder Of Fierce Railroad Fight
A crumbling abandoned tunnel in Boysen State Park is all that’s left of one man's fierce fight with the railroad in the early 1900s. It’s the last reminder a failed gold rush and a showdown with the railroad for ownership of Wyoming’s Wind River Canyon.
Jackie DorothySeptember 28, 2024
Riverton Kennel Has TVs For Dogs, And They Love “Little House On The Prairie”
Muddy Creek K9z in Riverton, Wyoming, isn’t a typical boarding house for dogs. It pampers pooches, including TVs in each of their kennels. And they love “Little House on the Prairie.”
Jackie DorothySeptember 28, 2024
Three Wyoming Schools Named Among Nation’s Elite Blue Ribbon Schools
Wyoming schools in Powell, Sheridan and Thermopolis have been named among the nation’s elite Blue Ribbon schools for 2024. They’re among the 356 nationwide recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Jackie DorothySeptember 24, 2024
Wyoming’s Al Hubbard Defining New Past-Modern American Indian Art Movement
Wyoming’s Al Hubbard is an Arapaho and Navajo artist who’s defining a new past-modern art movement. His blend of tradition with contemporary life captures the soul of his culture while inspiring Native American youth.
Jackie DorothySeptember 22, 2024
Sheridan Mountaineer Trains 2 Years For “Pretty Intense” 30 Minutes Atop K2
Sheridan, Wyoming, mountaineer Darren Rogers planned and trained for more than two years to climb to the top of K2. Once there, he spent a “pretty intense” 30 minutes atop the mountain considered the most dangerous to climb in the world.
Jackie DorothySeptember 22, 2024
“Wood Week” On Author Craig Johnson's Ranch — Hard Work And Lots Of Rainier Beer
Longmire author Craig Johnson makes a celebration of putting up a dozen cords of wood on his Wyoming ranch each fall. It’s called “Wood Week,” and it’s full of hard work and lots of Rainier Beer.
Jackie DorothySeptember 22, 2024
Meet Porshia Birdsley, The Wyoming “Girlie Girl” Who Deadlifts Over 400 Pounds
Porshia Birdsley describes herself as a “girlie girl” who just qualified to compete in the Official World Strongman Competition in December. She carries a fire hydrant around Thermopolis, Wyoming, to train and deadlifts over 400 pounds.
Jackie DorothySeptember 22, 2024
Wyoming History: Tubb Town, The Rowdiest Town In Wyoming Territory
A few miles east of Newcastle along the banks of the Salt Creek was once a roaring Wild West frontier settlement known as Tubb Town. Here, saloons, dance halls and brothels far outnumbered all other types of businesses. The town had a rough reputation, even by Wild West standards.
Jackie DorothySeptember 21, 2024
Riverton Man’s El Camino Sketch Launched Renowned Auto Art Career
Riverton's Shannon Watts didn’t intend to make a career out of drawing cars. But his sketch of a 1964 El Camino turned his life upside down. Now he sells over 400 of his designs in car shows across the country and his metal signs are being sold in Hobby Lobby Stores and other big box stores.
Jackie DorothySeptember 14, 2024