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.

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Latest from Jackie Dorothy

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

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

Other Authors

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

The Historic Irma hotel was built in 1902 and has retained much of its original structure, including the stone work. These rooms are believed to have been so comfortable, that some guests have never left.

Haunted Wyoming: Some Guests Still Haunt Cody’s Famous Irma Hotel

Buffalo Bill’s famous Irma Hotel has been a destination for more than 120 years. It’s even popular with guests who never really checked out, like the well-dressed gentleman who keeps showing up at the restaurant, or the soldier who shot up Room 35 in 1912.

Jackie DorothyOctober 27, 2025

Wyoming miners in the early 1900s faced danger each day as they worked deep beneath the earth. These miners brought to Wyoming their beliefs of the supernatural from the Old World and would often refuse to work in haunted sections of a mine.

Haunted Wyoming: Plenty Of Ore — And Angry Spirits — In State's Historic Mines

When miners flocked to Wyoming in the late 1800s, they brought with them from the Old World their ancient superstitions of tommy knockers and ghostly apparitions. But fear of these spirits was not enough to stop miners from rushing to a ghostly mine when it meant gold.

Jackie DorothyOctober 25, 2025

David Maulik of Riverton's Maker Space 307 volunteered to create a prosthetic hand for a local pastor, Scott Jorgenson, through the e-NABLE group that connects people with volunteers who can build the hands. This is just one of many projects that have been made possible with the 3D machines and other emerging technology.

Need A Robot Hand? If You Can Think It, You Can Make It At Riverton Maker Space

With 3D printers, advanced laser cutters and even heavy-duty sewing machines, Maker Space 307 is loaded with tech for the public to use. If you can think it, you can make it at the Riverton maker space — even a robot hand.

Jackie DorothyOctober 19, 2025

Christine Castillo is sharing her love of ice skating with her students in Cody, Wyoming. This joy she brings to the young figure skaters is the same joy that her grandfather brought to the community of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center when he built them an ice-skating rink.

Cody Woman Teaches Ice Skating Decades After Grandfather Built Heart Mountain Rink

Christine Castillo's grandfather was one of about 14,000 Japanese Americans relocated to the Heart Mountain internment center, where he shared his love for ice skating by building a sheet of ice for the camp. Now, decades later, she coaches ice skating in Cody.

Jackie DorothyOctober 19, 2025

Ellen Watson, dubbed “Cattle Kate” by her enemies and some in the press, was hanged from this Limber Pine in 1889. Her death was never avenged and there are those that believe her spirit still haunts the tree.

Ghostly Wyoming: Haunted Trees Hold Echoes of Violence From Murders Beneath Their Branches

Chilling accounts of frightened hounds and blood-streaked apples have been reported around Wyoming hanging trees and spots where people were lynched — either by the law or vigilantes. Some say the trees are haunted by the murders beneath their branches.

Jackie DorothyOctober 19, 2025

Haunted Wyoming: The Ghostly Legends That Haunt Cheyenne’s Historic Train Depot

Employees of Cheyenne's train depot were absolutely convinced the building was haunted after a series of supernatural events. A newspaper reporter investigated for the structure for six months and, he too, came away certain spirits were there, especially at the "witching hour."

Jackie DorothyOctober 18, 2025

In 1870, Truman Everts was lost in Yellowstone National Park with only two knives and a pair of opera glasses. He was slowly starving as winter set in, his only food roots of thistles. Then ghostly guides appeared to guide him home.

Haunted Wyoming: Ghostly Guides Saved Explorer Lost In Yellowstone 155 Years Ago

In September 1870, Truman Everts was separated from the rest of his party in the heart of Yellowstone. In the following month, he survived a mountain lion attack, forest fire and near starvation. Full of despair, a ghostly figure appeared.

Jackie DorothyOctober 12, 2025