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

Butch Cassidy In Wyoming: A Perfect Hideout After His First Bank Robbery

Fresh off his first bank robbery in Telluride, Colorado Butch Cassidy finds the perfect hideout in Wyoming. His Brown’s Hole hideout remains one of the most remote places in the region.

Renée JeanAugust 24, 2024

People line up Friday at the U.S. Postal Service annex on Converse Avenue in Cheyenne on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

Rural Wyoming Can Expect Even Slower Mail Delivery Under New USPS Proposal

A new proposal from the U.S. Postal Service would cut $3 billion in costs by prioritizing mail closest to large processing centers. That could mean even slower delivery for mail in mostly rural Wyoming.

Renée JeanAugust 23, 2024

Wyoming Gears Up To Be First State To Issue Its Own Cryptocurrency

Gov. Mark Gordon said Wednesday that Wyoming is on track to be the first state to issue its own cryptocurrency. But the state’s banking sector isn’t thrilled about it.

Renée JeanAugust 23, 2024

Voting at Lusk North and Lusk South precincts Tuesday for the 2024 Niborara County Primary. In the county's highlight race, JD Williams won in a primary rematch with Allen Slagle.

JD Williams Scores Rematch Victory Over Allen Slagle In House District 2 Seat

After losing by 12 votes to Allen Slagle in the 2022 Republican primary, former House member JD Williams won Tuesday’s rematch. This time it wasn’t as close.

Renée JeanAugust 21, 2024

Charlie Scott won another primary on Tuesday, setting up for a 14th term in the Wyoming Legislature if he wins in November. Without a Democratic opponent, that seems likely.

Charlie Scott Beats Rob Hendry In Bid For 14th Term In Legislature

Charlie Scott, R-Casper, easily beat former Natrona County Commissioner Robert Hendry in Tuesday’s Republican primary. If he wins in November, it’ll be his 14th term in the Wyoming Legislature.

Renée JeanAugust 21, 2024

Scott Smith won his Republican primary on Tuesday. In the background, poll workers bring ballots in to the Niobrara County Courthouse Tuesday night after the polls close.

Goshen County GOP Gives Incumbent Smith Strong Support For House District 5

Incumbent Rep. Scott Smith won a second term representing House District 5 in Tuesday’s Republican primary. A member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, Smith beat out Jackie Van Mark.

Renée JeanAugust 21, 2024

WyColo Lodge, a fixuture in the Snowy Range near the Wyoming-Colorado border for decades, has suddenly closed.

WyColo Lodge, Popular With Snowy Range Travelers, Has Suddenly Closed

The WyColo Lodge, a popular stop for visitors playing in Wyoming’s Snowy Range, has “officially closed till further notice.” A man answering the phone at the lodge said staff was “getting killed” by the workload before hanging up.

Renée JeanAugust 20, 2024

Despite Reports He Sold It, Kanye West May Still Own His Wyoming Ranch

National media have been reporting since June that Kanye West has sold his Wyoming ranch near Cody. But records with the Park County Assessor’s Office show he still owns the properties.

Renée JeanAugust 20, 2024

The 17,000-square-foot Valley Community Center in Baggs is the place to be in this tiny community of fewer than 500 people in southern Wyoming.

They Told Baggs It Was Too Tiny For A Community Center, So They Built A Huge One

The town of Baggs, in south-central Wyoming, has fewer than 500 people, but that didn’t stop the town from building a 17,000 square-foot community center. It even has an indoor walking track and draws people from around the region.

Renée JeanAugust 18, 2024

The 190-acre Red Hills Ranch, owned by late U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, is a spectacular property in the Gros Ventre River Valley. It's listed for $65 million.

Red Hills Ranch In Teton County On The Market For $65 Million

Red Hills Ranch, the 190-acre Jackson Hole home of late U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, is for sale for $65 million. The property, which is only 25 miles from downtown Jackson, was previously owned by Wyoming politician Cliff Hansen, the grandfather of former Gov. Matt Mead.

Renée JeanAugust 17, 2024

The Hurricane shot is an experience. It starts with a shot of Koltiska poured straight into the mouth, top left. Then water thrown in the face, bottom left. And finished with a slap, right. Customers pay $40 for The Hurricane.

Drinking Wyoming: The Hurricane In Aladdin — A Shot And Slap In The Face For $40

Like a shot and a slap in the face? Try the Hurricane at the General Store in Aladdin, Wyoming. For $40, you get the drink and then they'll slap you in the face.

Renée JeanAugust 17, 2024

Cheyenne’s Historic Downtown Plains Hotel Has A Buyer

The historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne has finally attracted a buyer, almost a year after it was put up for sale. The buyer is a former Wall Street investor and tech media startup founder who’s new to Cheyenne.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2024

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A home in Saratoga that's listed for short-term rental on the Airbnb website.

In Wyoming Tourism Towns, Short-Term Rentals Squeeze Real Estate Markets

Wyoming tourism towns like Saratoga are experiencing an explosion of homeowners doing short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO. Now people build houses to rent out, which is squeezing real estate markets for available single-family homes.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2024

This home on Trader Road in Jackson, Wyoming, has 7,234 square feet on 11.59 acres with six bedrooms and six full baths and lists for $23 million.

Jackson Primed For New Wave Of Luxury Homes In The $25 Million Range

Two new luxury home listings in the Jackson Hole market in the $25 million range are just the beginning, says The Jackson Home Co. Another on the way promises to be in the neighborhood of $65 million.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2024

Sheridan’s 7,500-Square-Foot Lion Dog Estate Hits The Market At $4.5 Million

There’s nothing not to like about the fully automatic, 7,500-square-foot Lion Dog Estate in Sheridan, including a waterfall color-therapy tub. It’s unique, stuffed with gee-whiz features for sale, listing at $4.5 million.

Renée JeanAugust 14, 2024

Brandi Kelly was one of the original Ham and Jam girls. She said the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Ralley event in Hulett used to be more wild and raunchy, but has evolved into a great party.

Original Hulett Ham And Jam Girl Remembers A More Wild, Raucous Party

Brandi Kelly was one of the first Ham and Jam girls for the annual party that brings 30,000 people to tiny Hulett, Wyoming, during the Sturgis rally. She says it was wilder then, but it’s still magic because it brings people together.

Renée JeanAugust 11, 2024

Laramie resident Gerry Meyer ran the 50-meter dash 3 seconds faster than he did in last year's Wyoming Senior Olympics. The 105-year-old is not just still kicking, he's winning gold medals.

Wyoming Senior Olympian Still Winning Gold Medals At 105

Laramie resident Gerry Meyer is 105 years old and still winning gold medals at the Wyoming Senior Olympics. At this year’s games, he won the 50- and 100-meter dashes, beating his 2023 50-meter mark by 3 seconds.

Renée JeanAugust 11, 2024

A ramp was built for the annual Sundance Burnout in Crook County during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It places riders up higher so the crowd could better see them.

How One Rowdy Bar Customer Sparked 50 Years Of Sturgis-Week Burnouts In Sundance

The annual Burnout Wednesday during Sturgis rally week in Sundance, Wyoming, has been a must-do for bikers for nearly 50 years. It began with one rowdy customer who threatened to burnout inside the Dime Horseshoe Bar.

Renée JeanAugust 11, 2024

Brian Evans and Anthony Asset from Fort Collins, Colorado, were among the people who came for Saratoga's Steinley Cup last weekend, Wyoming's oldest brewfest.

The Steinley Cup Remains The OG Trophy Of Wyoming’s Legacy Brewfests

Everyone knows about the Stanley Cup. But even more prestigious is Saratoga’s Steinley Cup — the highest award microbrewers can win in Wyoming. Now in its 28th year, the Steinley Cup Microbrew Festival is the oldest brewfest in Wyoming.

Renée JeanAugust 10, 2024

C.J. Box poses for a selfie with some fans in Saratoga, Wyoming.

Want To Be A Character In A C.J. Box Book? Once A Year, You Get A Chance

Being a character in a “Joe Pickett” novel would be a dream come true for many fans of Wyoming author C.J. Box. So, he offers it up as an auction item to benefit his hometown Saratoga Museum.

Renée JeanAugust 10, 2024

Bob Coronato's painting hiatus has been broken. He's just completed a new poster series, and it was all the rage with Sturgis rallygoers at this year's Hulett Ham and Jam.

Wyoming Artist Bob Coronato’s “Trump Train” Painting Catches Fire With MAGA Nation

Hulett, Wyoming, artist Bob Coronato already has a painting in the Smithsonian. The artist, best known for painting historical figures, has painted six Trump campaign posters, and is planning to show them to the former president at a fundraiser this weekend in Jackson.

Renée JeanAugust 10, 2024

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