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

Eating Wyoming: How A Vietnamese Restaurant Helped Save The Dubois VFW

Everything about The V Cafe in Dubois is interesting. From how the owner's family were kidnapped on the high seas by pirates while fleeing communism to their journey to Wyoming to how their restaurant saved the local VFW from folding. Plus, they've got great food.

Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2024

Adina Sera is from Romania, where she's studying to be a food scientist. She helped in the Busy Bee Cafe at the Occidental, as well as at the Occidental Saloon and the hotel.

Buffalo’s Historic Occidental Hotel Draws Workers From All Over The World

For the past 20 years, the Occidental has hired students from around the world to work the summer tourist season at the historic hotel that’s also a certified museum. This year, they’ve come from Belarus, Albania, Thailand and Taiwan.

Renée JeanSeptember 14, 2024

The Granite Creek Ranch, which was listed for nearly $9 million in Jackson, Wyoming, has been bought by billionare Joe Ricketts.

Billionaire Ricketts Buys Granite Creek Ranch, Rare Jackson Wilderness Inholding

Billionaire Joe Ricketts has bought Granite Creek Ranch, a rare wilderness inholding in Teton County near Jackson. Local officials say there’s likely too many hurdles for him to realize his dream of “Little Jackson Hole” there.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2024

Big Lots Files For Chapter 11, Wyoming Will Lose At Least One Of Two Stores

The Big Lots in Cheyenne was already liquidating even before Big Lots officially announced Monday that it’s filed for bankruptcy. The Casper store is so far not listed for closure, but it’s too soon to say it’s safe.

Renée JeanSeptember 09, 2024

Cheryl Gowdy sits between two stuffed elephants, one named Curtis after her father and the other named Ophelia, representing her mother, Jerre.

Cheryl Gowdy Says 'Little House' Project Just The Beginning For Curt Gowdy State Park

Little House has had a successful two years of operation at Curt Gowdy State Park, spreading thousands of kindness wishes around. But that’s not the end of ideas Cheryl Gowdy has for her father’s namesake park.

Renée JeanSeptember 08, 2024

Andy James leans on his Pulaski in more ways than one. It's great for chopping wood or digging in the dirt. It's also a great reminder of the Big Burn in Idaho in 1910 — a cautionary tale for any firefighter who fights wildfire.

Inside The Fight To Save Brooks Lake Lodge From Fish Creek Fire

Andy James is one of nearly 450 firefighters battling the volatile Fish Creek Fire. He told Cowboy State Daily what it takes to be a firefighter on the nationally elite squad that’s helping defend Brooks Lake Lodge.

Renée JeanSeptember 08, 2024

Despite his reputation and prolific outlaw career, Butch Cassidy was only incarcerated once, from 1894-1896 in the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie. He had been pinched for grand larceny for horse-stealing.

Butch Cassidy in Wyoming: How The Outlaw Got His Name Remains A Mystery

There are a few tales surrounding how Butch Cassidy ultimately got his outlaw name. One claims that he worked in Rock Springs as a butcher. Another that it was the result of a prank with a needle gun named Butch.

Renée JeanSeptember 08, 2024

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

Other Authors

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

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

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