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

The Durham ranch in northeast Wyoming is the state's largest bison ranch with about 3,000 head. The ranch's bison meat and other products are sold across the country.

Bison Have Rebounded From Brink Of Extinction To Become Big Business In Wyoming

American bison have rebounded from the brink of extinction to become one of the West’s great conservation stories. It happened in part because Wyoming ranchers, showmen, and entrepreneurs figured out how to make bison big business.

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2026

What It’s Like Inside The Fragile Maze Of Hell’s Half Acre, Wyoming’s Alien Canyon

A tour inside Hell’s Half Acre reveals an otherwordly labyrinth of stone, an alien landscape shaped by millions of years of wind and water. It's a rare perspective of the sharp canyons because the public generally isn't allowed on the valley floor.

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2026

Diablo, a goat that lives on the grounds of the Wyodak Power Plant near Gillette, has become a local celebrity. People stop on the road to give him scratches and snacks — although that's discouraged as the unofficial mascot people call "Goatalope" grows older and fatter.

People Won’t Stop Feeding Diablo As Gillette’s Famous Roadside Goat Gets Fatter

Diablo, a goat that lives by the Wyodak Power Plant near Gillette, has become a victim of its own celebrity. People stop to give him scratches and snacks — which is causing the aging mascot people call "Goatalope" to get really fat and unhealthy.

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2026

Stone Drug, Jackson’s go-to pharmacy for 50 years, survives with a wildly diverse front-end to fight sky-high housing local housing costs and razor-thin medication margins. It also has a loyal following of its store dogs, Zuri and Lucy.

Stone Drug’s Secret Prescription After 50 Years In Jackson Are Two Lovable Dogs

Jackson Hole's longtime independent pharmacy Stone Drug is celebrating 50 years in business. Its strategy blends dog-powered customer service with a wildly diverse front-end to outlast sky-high housing and razor thin medication margins.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

West End Apartments is the first new apartment complex completed in Cheyenne's downtown in a long while. It has 101 luxury apartments, and is already 60% pre-leased.

Cheyenne Is Reshaping Housing Market With New Upscale Apartment Complex On West Side

The West End Apartments, with its 101 units, is the first major apartment complex completed in Cheyenne's downtown in many years. Another 97-unit building will open soon on Cheyenne's east edge. It's estimated Cheyenne will need up to 7,000 homes by 2030.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Alyssa Lenell-White is creating unique custom-made cowboy boots that start at $3,500 and can take months to finish. There was a time when the Cheyenne woman swore up and down she would never make a cowboy boot, now that’s all she does.

Cheyenne Woman Once Swore Off Cowboy Boots, Now Her Custom-Made Boots Start At $3,500

A Cheyenne woman is creating unique, custom-made cowboy boots that start at $3,500 and can take months to finish. There was a time when Alyssa Lenell-White swore up and down she would never make a cowboy boot, now that’s all she does.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Steve Ingber, — aka the MileHighCook — is bringing white-glove fine-dining to Wyoming’s poshest and wildest places as Jackson Hole has discovered the young chef as his fastest-growing market. His high-end mobile chef business is part of a growing industry trend.

Jackson Is A Booming Market For MileHighCook And His High-End Mobile Kitchen

The MileHighCook is bringing white-glove fine-dining to the outdoors with his high-end mobile kitchen — like the ranch wedding for 124 people in a remote area with no electricity. Jackson is his fastest growing market with people who own second homes.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Battle Lake is a natural 22-acre alpine body of water formed by a moraine dam in Carbon County.

Saving Battle Lake: How A Small Carbon County District Outbid Luxury Developers

When the Little Snake River Conservation District in Carbon County saw luxury real estate developers circling scenic Battle Lake to subdivide, a coalition worked to outbid them. "We were able to pull it together and make it happen,” said one resident.

Renée JeanSeptember 11, 2026

Ian Munsick performs for a jam-packed crowd at the Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall in Laramie to promote his most recent album, The Mountain Goat. It's his fourth studio album, but the first under his independent label, West to the Rest Records, in partnership with Triple Tigers Records.

Wyoming’s Ian Munsick Releases 4th Album — And First Under His Own Record Label

Wyoming country music star Ian Munsick has released his fourth studio album — and the first under his own label, West to the Rest Records. He took over a sold-out Cowboy Saloon in Laramie to introduce his new album, "The Mountain Goat."

Renée JeanSeptember 07, 2026

The historic Snake River Lodge in Teton Village has reopened as Faraway Jackson Hole.

Jackson Hole's Snake River Lodge Gets A New Name And Ultra-Luxury Makeover

A northwest Wyoming destination for 26 years, Snake River Lodge has a new name — Faraway Jackson Hole — and has been given an ultra-luxury makeover. The parent company's renovation somewhat echoes how Faraway Martha’s Vineyard was developed.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

Engines are being assembled at this station, and will be moved into place as the engine further down the line is moved onto the assembly line.

New $70 Million Evansville Plant Making Generators To Meet Surging Need For Power

A new $70 million, 220,000-square-foot facility has opened in Evansville, Wyoming, making generators as America’s need for more power is surging. Mesa Power Solutions plans to build up to 6,000 generators a year.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

Wyoming Couple Fell In Love At Laramie’s Cowboy Saloon — Then Bought The Place

Trevor and Trinity Thatcher had their first date at Laramie’s iconic Cowboy Saloon and Dance Hall. Now the Wyoming couple has bought the country honkey-tonk where they fell in love. “We still get goosebumps every time walking in the door," Trinity said.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

Other Authors

Bryce Robinett works on preparing a pizza order while a customer looks on at L'Osteria Mondello in Cheyenne. Robinett is part of a small army of teenagers working at the pizzeria, which has a waiting list of 17 youths who want to work there.

While Other Businesses Can't Find Employees, Cheyenne Pizzaria Has A Waiting List

Cheyenne's L'Osteria Mondello pizzeria has 17 teens on a hiring waiting list at a time when businesses across Wyoming struggle to find help. The difference, the owner said, is that it's a family business in more than name only.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

After saving Pinedale's Stockman’s Steakhouse and Saloon from the wrecking ball and restoring its historic charm over a past decade, the owner is ready to retire. The 6,180-square-foot landmark is for sale for $4.85 million.

Pinedale Man Who Saved Landmark Stockman’s Steakhouse & Saloon Selling For $4.85M

After saving Pinedale's Stockman’s Steakhouse and Saloon from the wrecking ball and restoring its historic charm, the owner is ready to retire. The 6,180-square-foot landmark is for sale for $4.85 million.

Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2026

Amanda McGraw resurrected Greybull’s K-Bar Motel and has taken on a new challenge — renovating an unlivable home in Basin. She’s using sweat equity, YouTube and Facebook Marketplace to transform it into a showpiece.

After Resurrecting Greybull Motel, Wyoming Woman Tackles The Worst "Unlivable" Homes

A Wyoming woman who resurrected Greybull’s K-Bar Motel has a new challenge — renovating the worst "unlivable" homes she can find. “I don’t know if this makes me completely insane, but it’s definitely the most fun,” the Shell woman said.

Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2026

Genesis Alkali workers underground in its Wyoming trona mine. Inset: A handful of soda ash just as it's coming off the line

Wyoming’s Trona Industry Is Fighting Headwinds From Chinese Market Flooding

Wyoming’s trona industry is trying to fight back against China’s cheap synthetic soda ash flooding world markets, but leaders don't see immediate help. “The only reason China can compete with us is their government gives them subsidies,” one insider said.

Renée JeanSeptember 02, 2026

Maria Vargas styles hair at her salon on North Cache in Jackson. Vargas had to move out Monday because of a new hotel and residences project.

Jackson Hair Stylist Gets Booted For Gigantic 309,000-Square-Foot Hotel Project

Maria Vargas was exhausted and crying as she dismantled her hair salon stations in downtown Jackson on Monday. She was among a handful of remaining business owners who had a deadline to move out for an incoming 309,000 square-foot hotel project.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2026

The finish line is in place for what will be Wyoming's first 1-mile, horse racetrack.

Wyoming’s First 1-Mile Horse Track Sprinting Toward October Opening In Cheyenne

Crews are working around-the-clock to meet a Tuesday deadline that will determine whether Wyoming’s first 1-mile oval track will be up and running for an October debut at Cheyenne Park. The 16-day horse racing season could have $100,000 purses per day.

Renée JeanAugust 30, 2026

A Stargazer’s Retreat With Two Geodesic Domes Lists Near Hartville For $3.5 Million

Cedar Lights Retreat is a three-story, five-bedroom, four-bath almost-mansion tucked into 446 private acres bordering Guernsey State Park. The property, which comes with three of Wyoming’s top-rated Airbnbs (including two geodesic domes), is on the market for $3.499 million.

Renée JeanAugust 28, 2026

Tymber Cozzens races downfield during a Little Snake River 6-Man game last year.

From Baggs To Canada: Wyoming 6-Man Champs Fly To Saskatchewan For Season Opener

The Little Snake River Valley Rattlers raised thousands of dollars in the Baggs community to send its 6-Man football team to Canada for a preseason matchup Friday. It's only the second time a Wyoming high school team will play north of the border.

Renée JeanAugust 28, 2026

400 Southwest Wyoming Trona Mining Jobs On Hold As China Floods Soda Ash Market

About 400 jobs are on hold as Pacific Soda seeks to push back the start of its proposed $6 billion Dry Creek Trona Project in southwest Wyoming a year. The company is blaming China's flooding of the soda ash market and permit delays.

Renée JeanAugust 27, 2026

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