Writer

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.

Find Jackie Dorothy

Latest from Jackie Dorothy

Before he became a mega-star as Aragorn in "Lord of the Rings," a young Viggo Mortensen survives as a prisoner in a horrifying and haunted prison. The 1987 horror film "Prison" was shot at the historic prison in Rawlins, and has become a cult classic.

1987 Cult Horror Classic Starring A Young Viggo Mortensen Filmed At Rawlins Prison

Before he became a mega-star as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings," a young Viggo Mortensen survived as a prisoner in a horrifying and haunted prison. The 1987 horror film "Prison" was shot at the historic prison in Rawlins, and has become a cult classic.

Jackie DorothyNovember 30, 2025

Samuel Nelson and his wife, Jamie, are raising their family on the ranch that has been in the family for five generations. Nelson has not only inherited buildings but the stories that go with them.

5th-Generation Wyoming Rancher Also Keeps Family Legacy Of Cowboy Storytelling

Samuel Nelson is the fifth generation to run his family's Noble Ranch, preserving the family's connection to the land and Western tradition. He also keeps alive another tradition — cowboy storytelling.

Jackie DorothyNovember 30, 2025

George Abeyta and his 6-year-old grandson Ethanial Brown (aka Baby E) from Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation showcased their Shoshone heritage at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Thursday.

Wyoming Shoshone Dancers Showcase Culture In Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

George Abeyta and his 6-year-old grandson from Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation showcased their Shoshone heritage in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Thursday.

Jackie DorothyNovember 28, 2025

Asa Mercer wrote the most banned book in Wyoming. The author of the "Banditti of the Plains” had turned on the Invaders and wrote the truth about their war on the homesteaders of Johnson County. The first edition published in 1894, just two years after the invasion, then copies were banned, stolen, burned and destroyed by those who supported the Invaders and wanted to suppress the story.

Rare First Edition Of Wyoming's Most-Banned Book Finally Back In Johnson County

An extremely rare first-edition of Asa Mercer’s 1894 “Banditti of the Plains,” Wyoming's most-banned book because it exposed powerful backers of the Johnson County War, has resurfaced. It's been donated to the Johnson County Library and Hoofprints Museum.

Jackie DorothyNovember 27, 2025

Thanksgiving “maskers" would run around cities, such as Cheyenne, dressed as beggars and silly characters. They would play at begging for alms and, if not given pennies, nickels or candy from adult pedestrians, would whack them with a sock full of flour and toot their horns in their victim’s ears, like in this photo circa 1910.

Wyoming History: Thanksgiving Used To Be About Costumes And Trick-Or-Treating

Prior to the 1930s, Thanksgiving in Wyoming included jack-o'-lanterns, costume parties and going door-to-door for what was basically trick-or-treating. The proper outfit to wear to dinner was a costume, not your Sunday best.

Jackie DorothyNovember 26, 2025

John “Portugee” Phillips’ legendary 1866 236-mile ride through a blizzard from Forts Phil Kearny to Laramie has been dubbed by some as "the greatest ride in history." Now a historian says new evidence suggests the ride may have been less perilous. This painting depicts Portugee arriving at Fort Laramie.

Wyoming History: The 236-Mile Blizzard Ride Dubbed 'Greatest In History'

John “Portugee” Phillips’ legendary 236-mile ride through a blizzard in 1866 from Forts Phil Kearny to Laramie has been dubbed by some as "the greatest ride in history." Now a historian says new evidence suggests the ride may have been less perilous.

Jackie DorothyNovember 23, 2025

At the Storyteller and other businesses in Thermopolis, Wyoming, several different coffee groups meet each week. The table at the Storyteller is used each morning by a revolving group of women that includes retired teachers, Catholic ladies, a sewing group and yoga enthusiasts. Pictured are Tammy Redland, Joan LaFave, Trudy Brooks, Collette Anderson, Carol Biven, Meredith Russel.

Coffee Trumps Internet In Thermopolis, A Throwback To Old-School Social Networking

In Thermopolis, Wyoming, coffee groups meet all over town in person for old-school social networking rather than scrolling social media and the internet. Regular groups meet wherever coffee is served, even McDonald's.

Jackie DorothyNovember 21, 2025

Interpretive Ranger Jessica Moore wanted visitors to have unique experiences at Sinks Canyon State Park, so she helped spearhead a program that takes visitors underground in a network of caves that lead to an underground river. An average of 20 people a month can explore the caverns and experience a place that few people will ever see.

There's A Whole Other World To Explore Under Wyoming's Sinks Canyon State Park

Sinks Canyon State Park is famous for its "disappearing river," but that's not all there is to see at the Fremont County destination. A series of caves offer a whole other world to explore underneath Sinks Canyon — for the lucky few allowed in.

Jackie DorothyNovember 16, 2025

After losing a bet on a horse race, Moreton Frewen — Winston Churchill’s uncle — declared he was moving to Wyoming to get into the cattle business. Along with his brother and a band of outlaws, Frewen became an unlikely Cowboy State cattle baron.

Wyoming History: The British Adventurer Who Lost A Bet And Became A Cattle Baron

After losing a bet on a horse race, Moreton Frewen — who would become Winston Churchill’s uncle — declared he was moving to Wyoming to get into the cattle business. Along with his brother and a band of outlaws, Frewen became an unlikely cattle baron.

Jackie DorothyNovember 16, 2025

Wyoming Author With Tourette Syndrome Finds Voice By Writing Characters With It

Jessica Baehr was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome in college, and she has turned her awkward tics into a writing career. She's found a voice by writing characters who also live with Tourette syndrome in their lives.

Jackie DorothyNovember 15, 2025

Larry Bentley, inset right, was hired by Ashley Kent Carrithers, left, to trail 30 quarter horses for 450 miles alone across Wyoming and into Colorado. It was 1984, and Bentley took these horses over the Outlaw Trail, where the Hole in the Wall gang used to trail their stolen horses 80 years before.

450-Mile Solo Horse Drive In 1984 Was One Of Wyoming's Last Over Outlaw Trail

Larry Bentley was hired to trail 30 quarter horses for 450 miles alone across Wyoming and into Colorado. It was 1984, and Bentley took these horses over the Outlaw Trail, where the Hole in the Wall gang used to trail their stolen horses 80 years before.

Jackie DorothyNovember 15, 2025

Veterans’ Path Of Honor Memorial Fulfills 75-Year Dream At Fort Washakie

After 75 years of planning, Wind River Reservation veterans finally built the Veterans' Path of Honor Memorial in Fort Washakie. The site continues to grow as new names and stories are added representing all who served.

Jackie DorothyNovember 12, 2025

Other Authors

At Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, Wyoming, more than 1,000 veterans are buried. Two historians from the Rockpile Museum have been researching about 12 veterans a year to bring to life the names on the graves. These stories highlight the service and lives of the veterans and help to ensure that they are not forgotten.

Stories Of Forgotten Wyoming Veterans Unearthed By Gillette Museum

Two local historians are researching and sharing the lives of Campbell County veterans buried in Gillette’s Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Their work digs into the veterans’ backgrounds so the service members are vividly remembered — and not just names on graves.

Jackie DorothyNovember 11, 2025

Gracies, an eight-room high-class brothel, operated in Hudson, Wyoming, from 1906 to the 1960s. After being shut down, the building was abandoned and left to decay over the past nearly 60 years.

Wyoming History: Hudson’s Wild Legacy Of Brothels And Bootleggers

In the early 1900s until the 1960s, Hudson, Wyoming, was one of the liveliest towns in Fremont County, living up to a legacy of brothels and bootleggers. Even today, the town's website boasts that it had the most brothels in the region.

Jackie DorothyNovember 09, 2025

In 1881, telephone service arrived in the modern city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. But for most rural residents, phones did not become common until 70 years later partly because without insulators, lightning strikes proved dangerous.

Wyoming History: Early Rural Telephones Were Convenient — And Dangerous

In 1881, telephone service arrived in the modern city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. But for most rural residents, phones did not become common until decades later partly because without insulators, lightning strikes proved dangerous.

Jackie DorothyNovember 09, 2025

Wyoming Author Channels Career As A Navy Russian Linguist Into Her Books

K.J. Gillenwater has channeled her knowledge of the military and national security from a career as a Navy Russian linguist into a successful sci-fi book series, "The Genesis Machine." She lives in Cody and also writes rom-coms and supernatural thrillers.

Jackie DorothyNovember 06, 2025

Jo Orchard, 84, of Ten Sleep has been inspired by Wyoming and its people since the 1970s. She has channeled that love into her original buckskin dresses, beaded art and quilts.

Ten Sleep Buckskin Artist Tans Hides With Brains And Makes Thread From Sinew

Mavis “Jo” Orchard of Ten Sleep creates authentic Wyoming artistic masterpieces from buckskin and makes hand-appliquéd quilts. She’s taught herself traditional methods, like brain-tanning hides and making her own thread from sinew.

Jackie DorothyNovember 06, 2025

In March 1908, the Thomas Flyer was the first car in the New York to Paris auto race to arrive at the frontier town of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They were greeted with much fanfare and teased about their sheep herder coats which were not typical automobilists attire. The three-man team were escorted into the city and then headed straight for bed.

Wyoming History: How Wyoming Almost Derailed The Great Auto Race Of 1908

The eyes of the world were on automobile teams racing across America as the first challenge in a 22,000-mile race from New York to Paris. It was almost derailed in Wyoming when an Italian team was waylaid by a pack of 50 wolves.

Jackie DorothyNovember 02, 2025

Why Not Filter Your Car’s Oil With A Roll Of Toilet Paper?

More than 70 years ago, an auto parts maker had an it’s-so-simple-it’s-brilliant idea — replace your car’s oil filter with a roll of toilet paper. The company still makes its toilet paper filter system, which it and some wrench-turners claim works better than standard filters.

Jackie DorothyNovember 02, 2025

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Cinnabar on his special train. The small town became known as the “Western White House” during the sixteen days the president was at Yellowstone National Park. Nine days after Roosevelt boarded his train and left, Cinnabar was abandoned. The railroad had diverted their train to the rival town of Gardiner and Cinnabar lost the tourists they depended on.

Haunted Wyoming: Spectral Train Still Runs Through Ghost Town Of Cinnabar

Each year, a spectral train is said to pull up to the Cinnabar Depot at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. But Cinnabar is a ghost town, abandoned more than 120 years ago — and the train tracks have long been pulled up.

Jackie DorothyOctober 31, 2025

In the 1900s in Saratoga, women in an upper-class household, such as the Saratoga woman in this photo, were frightened by unexplained bumps in the night. The men tried to explain away the thumping by saying that the servant girl was bumping her head against her headboard each night when the clock chimed the half-hour. Reports do not say if the women believed this explanation.

Haunted Wyoming: The Headless Woman Of Cheyenne, And Other Terrifying Tales

Young women working the steam laundry in West Cheyenne were terrified by a headless woman who haunted their way to work. As bone-chilling as that was, sometimes the truth is even more bizarre.

Jackie DorothyOctober 29, 2025

Page 4