Business and Tourism Reporter

Renée Jean

Renée Jean is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

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Latest from Renée Jean

Descendants of Jim Baker attending the rededication of the famous mountain man's cabin from left are Michael and Paul McAllister, Chilly Rollison, Cynthia Reschke Collyard, and James Neeley.

Jim Baker Descendants Celebrate Work To Save Forgotten Mountain Man’s Savery Home

Long before he built his cabin in Savery, Jim Baker led two dozen men in an 1841 fight that gave Battle Mountain its name. Now his far-flung descendants and a tiny museum are fighting time, money and rotten logs to save the frontier scout’s last home.

Renée JeanAugust 11, 2026

Colorado cowboy and journalist Will Grant rode all 2,000 miles of the Pony Express trail on horseback. His trip was inspired by the legacy of America’s pioneers, and he said their Code-of-the-West grit and hospitality is still alive, especially in Wyoming.

Cowboy Rides All 2,000 Miles Of Pony Express, Says Wyoming Weather Overwhelming

Cowboy and journalist Will Grant rode all 2,000 miles of the Pony Express trail on horseback. He said the trip gave him a newfound respect for Wyoming weather. Mosquitoes in Jeffrey City are bad, while South Pass can be freezing cold even in July.

Renée JeanAugust 09, 2026

When agriculture took a nosedive in the 1980s, five ranching families in the tiny town of Chugwater decided to do something about it. They formed a company called Chugwater Chili, and 40 years later the chili — and the town — are still going strong.

Chugwater Chili at 40: How Five Families Came Together And Saved Chugwater

When agriculture took a nosedive in the 1980s, five ranching families in tiny Chugwater, Wyoming, decided to do something about it. They formed a company called Chugwater Chili, and 40 years later the chili — and the town — are still going strong.

Renée JeanAugust 09, 2026

The grain elevator has an enormous footprint.

Cheyenne Woman Saving 1910-Era Grain Elevator Wants To Resurrect City’s West Side

The owner of T-Joe’s Steakhouse in Cheyenne just spent $850,000 on a cluster of 1910-era buildings that includes the old Ful-O-Pep grain elevator to resurrect the city’s west side. “It will take a little work, but it won’t take very long,” she said.

Renée JeanAugust 09, 2026

Tell Christopher Volzke he can’t grow something in Wyoming, and it’s game on. Volzke and his wife, Angie, started their Unlocked Vines winery in Casper after winning a silver medal from Winemaker Magazine with a wine made from their Wyoming-grown grapes.

Casper Couple Proves You Can Make Award-Winning Wine In Wyoming

Growing up on a fifth-generation ranch made Christopher Volzke confident, despite what everyone told him, that he could get grapes to grow in Wyoming. Not only was he right, but he and his wife, Angie, won a silver medal for their wine from Winemaker Magazine.

Renée JeanAugust 08, 2026

A bison walks past a throng of visitors who had just watched the eruption of Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in this file photo.

Bison Tosses, Tourons And Cowboys: Why Yellowstone Is No. 1 National Park Online

Yellowstone is America’s No. 1 national park on Google, passing the Grand Canyon. Bison tossing people and bad-behaving visitors help, as people can’t seem to get enough of would-be wildlife paparazzi crowding animals that only appear to be docile.

Renée JeanAugust 07, 2026

Wyoming’s First Nickel Discovery Heads Into High-Tech, High-Stakes Drilling Phase

Armed with new technology and a major mining partner, Visionary Metals is ready to probe just how big — and how valuable — a nickel discovery at Jeffrey City is. If realized, it will be a first of its kind in the Western U.S. since the 1940s.

Renée JeanAugust 06, 2026

Wallop Family’s Quarter Circle Lazy B Ranch For Sale After 135 Years For $24.5M

The Wallop family's legacy Quarter Circle Lazy B Ranch in Sheridan County is for sale for the first time in 135 years, listing for $24.5 million. It hosted Queen Elizabeth II, supplied cavalry horses to Britain and helped build Wyoming's polo scene.

Renée JeanAugust 06, 2026

Across the valley, luxury vacant land appreciated an average of 1,384% over 30 years, or about 14 times what buyers originally paid. Luxury condos and townhomes rose on average 858%, about 8.6 times higher than their 1990 values, while luxury single-family homes climbed 657%, or about 6.6 times.

Kaboom! Value Of Jackson Luxury Property Has Exploded In Value Since 1995

A new 30-year analysis shows longtime Jackson Hole luxury property values have absolutely exploded in value since 1995. One 5.43-acre property increased in value from $275,000 in 1995 to $5.45 million in 2025, a 1,981% gain.

Renée JeanAugust 05, 2026

New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will attend the Federal Reserve’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole

New Fed Chief Visits As Two Elite Summits Puts Wyoming At Center Of Money Fight

In the span of a week, Teton County will host a 500-person, invite-only, digital-asset “Davos.” That will be followed by the Federal Reserve’s elite annual retreat. Each event is another round in a high-stakes wrestling match over the future of money.

Renée JeanAugust 04, 2026

Ashlee Kintzler dreamed up the idea of Moonhitch Wagons because she's a chariot racer, and she felt like downtown Buffalo, with all its historic buildings, was just begging for a wagon to appear.

Wyoming Places: Buffalo’s Covered Wagon Tours A Nod To Town’s Old West Legacy

Tourists enjoying a warm summer evening in Buffalo get to see something uniquely Western that’s not seen much anymore — a covered wagon rolling down Main Street at a leisurely pace, a gentle clip-clop of hooves echoing off historic storefronts.

Renée JeanAugust 03, 2026

Bike after bike after bike rolls into the tiny town of Hulett every year during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for the Ham-N-Jam free food and music at Captain Ron's Rodeo Bar Lounge.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Is Make-Or-Break For Businesses In Small Wyoming Towns

A stream of bikers on their way to and from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally create the biggest business week of the year for small northeast Wyoming towns. Bikers stay at motels, pack bars, eat and gas up — helping some businesses thrive, and others survive.

Renée JeanAugust 02, 2026

Other Authors

George Jay Wienbarg III helped a friend sell pieces of the Hollywood sign, then later trademarked it for a clothing line. Wienbarg was successful in drawing international attention to both the Hollywood souvenirs and later to the clothing line.

How A Cheyenne Man Trademarked The Famous Hollywood Sign Because He Was In Love

As a young man, Cheyenne native George Wienbarg figured out how to trademark the famous Hollywood sign in L.A. He did that because he fell in love with a Korean fashion student and promised to make her line of clothing famous by associating it with that sign. And he has all the receipts....

Renée JeanAugust 02, 2026

Dixie Berger in her booth at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

How A Saratoga Woman Built An International Western Fashion Brand From Her Bedroom

A Saratoga woman was determined to remain a stay-at-home mom, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t build an international Western fashion brand. Her business Pure Dixie started in a 150-square-foot bedroom, now takes up two warehouses and continues to grow.

Renée JeanAugust 01, 2026

A Crook County ranch with almost a century of history has hit the market for $5 million. It comes with a historic homestead, 7,500-square-foot mansion, a trout stream, views of red bluffs and access to the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota.

T Diamond Ranch, Legacy Black Hills Spread, Hits Wyoming Market For $5 Million

Another of Wyoming’s legacy ranches is hitting the market after nearly a century of stewardship. The T Diamond Ranch in Crook County comes with a 7,500-square-foot mansion, trout streams, scenic red bluffs, and a front-row seat to the Black Hills.

Renée JeanAugust 01, 2026

Doctors thought John Mionszynski would never bend his arm again and would likely lose use of his fingers. But every year he becomes the piano man for South Pass City, playing flawless 1800s tunes.

South Pass City Saloon's Piano Man Has Entertained Gold Rush Visitors Since 1974

John Mionczynski has entertained patrons of the South Pass City Saloon since 1974, when the state resurrected the gold-rush town. Watching him play a flawless rendition of “The Entertainer," one would never guess that once he couldn’t use his fingers at all.

Renée JeanAugust 01, 2026

Home Prices In Northeast Wyoming Jump 20% While Much Of U.S. Market Cools

From Gillette to Aladdin, home prices are up 20% and inventory is scarce as retirees have discovered northeast Wyoming. That has the region bucking a national trend of a cooling housing market. “We have record low inventory,” one real estate agent said.

Renée JeanJuly 31, 2026

$1.8M Settlement Puts Star Plunge On Track To Reopen After Closed For 18 Months

Star Plunge in Thermopolis is on track to reopen after a $1.8 million settlement between Wyoming State Parks and its previous operator has kept it closed since January 2025. “It won’t happen today, but hopefully soon,” said a state parks official.

Renée JeanJuly 31, 2026

Cheyenne Frontier Days is basically a 10-day part with concerts, rodeo and other events, but the party isn’t confined to the CFD grounds. It spell out into Wyoming’s capital city, where bars and restaurants can do double their normal business. The arena floor at Frontier Park is rebranded as The Party Zone at night for standing-room-only concert-goers, who can even buy fast passes to get closer to the stage.

Cheyenne Turns Into Wyoming’s Party City For 10 Days During Frontier Days

Cheyenne Frontier Days is basically a 10-day party with concerts, rodeo and other events, but the party isn’t confined to the CFD grounds. It spills out into Wyoming’s capital city, where bars and restaurants can do double their normal business.

Renée JeanJuly 26, 2026

Brian Harms talks about using Matchbox-sized cars to work out complicated logistics for television shows like "The Closer" and "Grey's Anatomy" when he was art director and production designer.

Wyoming Native, Now Small Business Owner, Spent 13 Years On TV’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Brian Harms is a Lander native who spent 13 years designing the look of TV's hugely popular "Grey's Anatomy." Harms, who recently bought the Lander Bake Shop, has dozens of other film and TV credits to his name in his 20-plus-year Hollywood career.

Renée JeanJuly 26, 2026

From escaping Cambodia's killing fields to crafting handmade furniture, a Lander business owner says she has a deep appreciation for the American Dream — because she's living it. “My mom didn’t make it because we had no medication,” said Sophal Thompson.

Lander Business Owner Escaped Cambodia's Killing Fields To Build American Dream

Sophal Thompson grew up in Cambodia and remembers hiding underground when bombs came. She saved every penny to take English lessons and had $10 when she arrived in the U.S. Now, a successful business owner in Lander, she says: “I really, really love America."

Renée JeanJuly 26, 2026