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 Sunrise "S" seen from a distance. The area where cars are parked used to be a football field for the abandoned mining town's school.

Sunrise May Be A Ghost Town, But The Giant “S” On The Hill Remains

Now abandoned, the former Wyoming mining town of Sunrise hasn’t been forgotten. Although high school football hasn't been played in the town for decades, alums -- some in their 90s -- still keep the giant “S” on the hill overlooking the field painted bright white.

Renée JeanSeptember 08, 2024

Customers use the drive-thru drop-off boxes at the U.S. Post Office annex at 4800 Converse Ave. in Cheyenne.

Wyomingites Have Lots Of Questions About USPS Rural Mail Plan, Get Few Answers

The U.S. Postal Service’s public forum on Thursday was long on questions and short on answers. Wyomingites showed up in force to complain about a proposal that likely means longer delivery times across much, if not all, of the state.

Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2024

The Fish Creek Fire continues to burn in rugged territory, consuming beetle-killed timber.

Fish Creek Fire Makes Run At Brooks Lake Lodge, Firefighters Hold Line

A stubborn Fish Creek Fire made an aggressive run at Highway 26/287, close to Brooks Lake Lodge in northwest Wyoming, but firefighters held the line. It's just a mile or two from the lodge as of Wednesday evening.

Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2024

Lines were long at the U.S. Postal Service office at Capitol Avenue in Cheyenne in this file photo.

USPS Shuts Out Wyomingites Who Want To Comment On Rural Delivery Plan

Wyoming residents trying to register for a Thursday virtual public forum to comment on the latest USPS plan to increase rural delivery times are out of luck. Registration to speak closed at noon Tuesday, but almost nobody knew about that.

Renée JeanSeptember 04, 2024

The Fish Creek Fire burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest of northwest Wyoming.

Brooks Lake Lodge Evacuated As Fish Creek Fire Advances, Highway 26 Closed

An advancing Fish Creek Fire prompted an evacuation of the historic Brooks Lake Lodge and nearby subdivisions Tuesday. Smoke and unstable fire lines also have closed Highway 26/287 over Togwotee Pass.

Renée JeanSeptember 04, 2024

The Papa's Creek Ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, has reportedly been bought by "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan for $4.95 million.

“Yellowstone” Creator Taylor Sheridan Buys Wyoming Ranch For $4.95 Million

Taylor Sheridan, creator of the hugely popular “Yellowstone” television franchise, has snapped up a Star Valley, Wyoming, ranch for $4.95 million. That has people wondering if it’ll be featured in one of his upcoming shows.

Renée JeanSeptember 03, 2024

The Fort Washakie home and studio of the late artist Richard Greeves is for sale, listing for $615,000. It's packed with the sculptor's art, but that's not included.

Wyoming Real Estate: Fort Washakie Artist Richard Greeves' House Lists For $615,000

In his Fort Washakie home and studio, the late sculptor Richard V. Greeves focused on transformational portraits of the West with a special emphasis on Native Americans and the expeditions of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

Renée JeanSeptember 02, 2024

Freedom's Edge Brewery, 1509 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne.

Wyoming Craft Brewers Say Their Industry Is Nearing A Tipping Point

Wyoming’s craft beers have helped boost tourism in Wyoming, but some brewers say the field is getting crowded amid a challenging environment. They’re worried their industry is at a tipping point and could crash.

Renée JeanSeptember 02, 2024

Brandon Erdmann pours glasses of wine for a tasting flight at Blue Stem Wine House. The glasses will go into the spiral holder, along with a notecard that labels each wine in order.

Drinking Wyoming: Cheyenne’s Newest Wine House Is Fun And Flirty

The Cheyenne couple were sharing their hobby wines with friends. To acclaim. Their friends loved their wines, and told the couple they ought to open a wine house. The Blue Stem Wine House was born.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2024

Lusk's Carnegie Library is the only one in the state with a corner entrance.

Carnegie Library In Lusk, Wyoming, Is Worth The Visit

There were 16 Carnegie libraries built in Wyoming and only 10 remain. Just five of them still operate as libraries. Andrea Graham, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming’s Board president, says the one in Lusk is the most charming. "The detailing is just beautiful," she says.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2024

The Grant Hotel, built in 1915 in downtown Chugwater, Wyoming, is for sale.

Can Chugwater’s Historic 109-Year-Old Grant Hotel Be Saved?

The town of Chugwater is undergoing a revival and the owner of the 109-year-old Grant Hotel is hoping a buyer will revive this historic building. Built in same timeframe as the Occidental in Buffalo and the Virginian in Medicine Bow, "it's very stout," the owner says. "Simplistic but strong."

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2024

As the sign says, if the horse is lopen, the 3 Sisters Truck Stop in Manville, Wyoming, is open.

"If He's Lopen, We're Open": Manville’s 3 Sisters Truck Stop Is True Wyoming

Singer songwriter Rachel Baiman noticed the eye-catching sign at 3 Sisters Truck Stop and had to check it out. Then she wrote a song about it. For those who’ve been to Manville in Niobrara County, they know 3 Sisters is as Wyoming as it gets.

Renée JeanAugust 31, 2024

Other Authors

Starfall is a $28.5 million dream home of a Jackson, Wyoming, tycoon that boasts killer views and oozes custom luxury amenities.

Tycoon’s Jackson Dream Home Is Loaded, And For Sale For $28.5 Million

Starfall is the name of a six-bedroom, 4.5-bath custom-built dream home for a Jackson tycoon. The 9,300-square-foot home, listed for $28.5 million, is right by an elk migration corridor and has views of the Tetons all around. "This is not some cookie-cutter subdivision," one broker said.

Renée JeanAugust 31, 2024

The Albertsons store on Pershing Boulevard in Cheyenne is one of five slated to sell if the $25 billion mega merger with Kroger goes through.

Wyoming Union Rep Says I Told You So After Kroger Admits Price Gouging

Prices for milk and eggs exceeded inflation costs, a Kroger executive admitted this week during the FTC’s lawsuit challenging its proposed $25 billion merger with Albertsons. That had Local UFCW President Kim Cordova saying I told you so.

Renée JeanAugust 30, 2024

Dozens of firefighting crews are on site at the Brooks Lake Lodge to protect the historic site as well as train for fighting the Fish Creek Fire in August 2024 if or when it advances close to residential areas.

Dozens Of Firefighting Crews On Site To Protect Iconic Brooks Lake Lodge

A spiderweb of waterlines are positioned around the historic structures at Brooks Lake Lodge and dozens of crews from an overall incident management team of 500 firefighters have been brought to the scene to cross-train for protecting the historic Wyoming lodge.

Renée JeanAugust 29, 2024

The U.S. Postal Service is studying whether some mail services should be moved from the Casper Post Office to Montana.

Faced With Slower Rural Mail Service, Wyomingites Have One Chance To Comment

The U.S. Postal Service is pushing another cost-cutting move that would mean slower mail delivery to rural areas, like much of Wyoming. Cowboy State residents will have one chance to comment on the plan.

Renée JeanAugust 27, 2024

Firefighters work to protect the 102-year-old historic Brooks Lake Lodge from the Fish Creek Fire burning in northwest Wyoming.

Elite Firefighting Team Moves In To Defend Historic Brooks Lake Lodge

One of 44 elite firefighting teams in the U.S. is on scene in Wyoming on Monday to help defend the historic Brooks Lake Lodge from wildfire. It’s also helping to keep the flames away from other homes and infrastructure in the Dubois area.

Renée JeanAugust 26, 2024

Matt Warner's is one of the names carved into the Buckhorn Panel near the San Rafael River in Utah. He began his outlaw life early and was a friend of the notorious Butch Cassidy in Wyoming.

Butch Cassidy In Wyoming: Outlaw Buddy Matt Warner Started A Criminal Life Early

Butch Cassidy’s best friend Matt Warner started his life as a Western outlaw. At the age of 14, he thought he killed a man. That sent him running to Brown’s Hole, where he pulled off his first robbery before he’d turned 19.

Renée JeanAugust 25, 2024

In the same family since 1895, the Antlers Ranch has huge swaths of pristine Wyoming woodland with trophy fishing streams and lots of room to roam.

Wyoming Ranchers And Farmers Leaving Agriculture Are “Tired Of Just Surviving”

The Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse has been in the same family since 1895, but now is for sale. The legacy ranch is an example of Wyoming ranchers and farmers leaving agriculture because they’re “tired of just surviving.”

Renée JeanAugust 25, 2024

Sued To Stop $25B Mega Grocery Merger With Albertsons, Kroger Sues Back

Grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons face lawsuits from multiple fronts challenging its planned $25 billion merger. Now Kroger is fighting back with a lawsuit of its own against the FTC.

Renée JeanAugust 25, 2024

All-Out, Around-The-Clock Effort To Save Historic Brooks Lake Lodge From Fire

There’s an all-out, around-the-clock effort on to save the historic Brooks Lake Lodge from the Fish Creek Fire. Ultimately, the lodge’s survival is up to the wind and weather.

Renée JeanAugust 24, 2024

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