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

Wyoming Historian Works To Reveal Inspiration For Owen Wister’s Mysterious ‘Virginian’

A study of oral histories in Thermopolis has uncovered new stories that shed new light on the real people who helped inspire the mysterious “Virginian” in Owen Wister’s famous novel.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2024

A row of houses on the grounds of the High Plains Arboretum are some of the oldest homes in Cheyenne.

Will Cheyenne's High Plains Arboretum Finally Be Rescued?

After decades of neglect, the High Plains Arboretum in Cheyenne may be rescued. Supporters of the 877-acre arboretum are hoping the Wyoming State Legislature will designate it as a state historic site.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2024

Fossils At Bottom Of Wyoming’s Natural Trap Cave Give Up 20,000-Year-Old DNA

Wyoming’s Natural Trap Cave is one of few sites in the world where preservation conditions are so good, the fossils at the bottom are giving up 20,000-year-old DNA and world-class insights on Earth’s prehistory.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2024

Chimney Rock along the Wind River Scenic Byway in winter.

It’s Been A Spectacular 100 Years For Wyoming’s Wind River Scenic Byway

The 20-mile section of U.S. Highway 20 known as the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway turns 100 this year. With a $1 million price tag back in 1924, it was the most expensive stretch of highway in America at the time.

Renée JeanJanuary 13, 2024

Cheyenne Frontier Days Won’t Have Live Horse-Racing After All

Cheyenne Frontier Days has decided it won’t pursue a proposal to bring 16 days of live horse racing to Frontier Park after all, even though it could have been a revenue stream to help pay for looming maintenance needs.

Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2024

A lack of early season snow and a shortage of staff has prompted Sleeping Giant Ski Area in Cody to close for the winter season.

Wyoming’s Sleeping Giant Ski Area Won’t Open Because Of Lack Of Snow, Staff

Some Wyoming ski resorts have been hard hit by an unseasonably warm December and light snow, pushing their opening dates back a month. A lack of snow and staff has closed Sleeping Giant Ski Area in Cody for the season.

Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2024

The Albertsons grocery store at 5800 Yellowstone Road in Cheyenne.

As Shoppers Revive Challenge Of $25B Albertsons - Kroger Merger, Some States Also May Sue

As a group of shoppers have revived their challenge of the $25 billion mega merger of Albertsons and Kroger grocery stores, now some states are considering filing their own lawsuits to block the merger.

Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2024

A lot of trains move through Cheyenne, and a proposal being floated would use the rail lines to also add passenger service through Wyoming and the West.

Plan Would Add Passenger Rail Service On Freight Lines Through Wyoming, West

Wyoming is in the middle of a big dead zone of passenger rail service in the U.S. West, but a group wants to use $66 billion from the so-called "Jobs, Infrastructure, and Investment Act" to add passenger rail service along existing freight rail lines.

Renée JeanJanuary 09, 2024

James Clare rocks out on his huge soundstage in the barn on his Rock and Roll Ranch at Lake De Smet in Johnson County, where he's converted his 3,200-square-foot barn into a powerhouse 25,000-watt soundstage.

Wyoming Barn Converted Into 25,000-Watt Karaoke Retreat On Rock And Roll Ranch

When James Clare moved to Buffalo, he didn’t have any furniture, but brought all of his sound equipment. So, he built a 25,000-watt karaoke retreat in a barn on his land near Lake De Smet he calls Rock and Roll Ranch.

Renée JeanJanuary 08, 2024

For the first time in a half-century, the historic Lost Creek Ranch in Teton County is for sale.

Teton County Ranch Makes Top Five List For Most Desirable Real Estate Listings In World

Teton County’s Lost Creek Ranch has been named one of the five most desirable real estate listings on the planet in 2023, according to premier real estate firm Mansion Global. The ranch was listed last year for $39.5 million.

Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2024

Wyndy and Jack are a pair of the older horses at the Davissa Ranch near Cheyenne.

Out To Pasture: Cheyenne Couple Turns Ranch Into Haven For Older Horses

David and Melissa Wilson of Cheyenne didn’t mean to start a horse refuge, but the Davissa Ranch has evolved into a haven where Wyoming’s grittiest older horses don’t have to be put out to pasture.

Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2024

Brennan Westby describes how her brewery system arrived in "a million little pieces" with absolutely no instructions or numbering system to guide her in assembling it. That was stressful, but with help from Wyoming's friendly master brewer community, the system is all put together now, and Brennan knows her system backwards and forward.

How A Serious Science Geek Became Wyoming’s Newest Master Brewer

Brennan Westby is a serious science geek who’s also Wyoming’s newest master brewer, operating at Cheyenne’s newest brewery scene, Westby Edge Brewing Company.

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2024

Other Authors

L&H Industrial in Gillette, Wyoming, could be on the front lines of making mining equipment for use in space. The idea of mining asteroids for known — and as-yet-undiscovered — minerals and metals is fast moving from being science fiction to fact.

Wyoming Could Be A Space Pioneer When — Not If — We Start Mining Asteroids

The idea to mine asteroids in space is picking up steam as plummeting costs has companies seriously considering it. And with Wyoming’s mining expertise, the Cowboy State is poised to pioneer space mining when — not if — it happens.

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2024

Tiffany and Scott Sink take a selfie before hiking to Laramie Peak in southcentral Wyoming.

Why Wait? Wyoming Couple Hits All 50 States During Their ‘Pretirement’

A Cheyenne couple decided not to wait for retirement to enjoy their golden years, so they’ve been traveling all over Wyoming and all 50 United States during what they call their “pretirement.”

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2024

Caitlin Long custodia bank founder 2 20 23

Wyoming-Based Custodia Bank Goes For Jugular In Lawsuit Against Federal Reserve

Wyoming-based Custodia Bank is asking a federal judge for a summary judgment in its lawsuit with the Federal Reserve because there’s clear and compelling evidence the Fed was influenced by politics when it denied Custodia’s master account.

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2024

When Lake De Smet hasn't frozen over by New Year's Day, like this year, everyone runs into Lake De Smet at once for the annual polar plunge.

Dozens Endure A Frigid Lake De Smet For Annual New Year’s Day Polar Plunge

What started as a double-dog dare nearly 40 years ago to jump into the frigid waters of Lake De Smet near Buffalo, Wyoming, has become an informal New Year’s Day tradition. On Monday, there was no ice, but dozens endured the icy water.

Renée JeanJanuary 02, 2024

Gary Shaklee at his Clean Eatz franchise in Cheyenne.

Fast, Tasty And Cheap: Cheyenne's "Clean Eatz" Restaurant Is Healthy And Affordable

The build-a-bowls, wraps, flatbreads, and burgers at Cheyenne's "Clean Eatz" are all made fresh and ready in about the same time it would take for a burger and fries at a fast-food chain, all at a price point that’s competitive.

Renée JeanJanuary 01, 2024

LeAnn Miller surveys an abundance of produce for Eat Wyoming.

Casper Doctor Couldn't Find Fresh Enough Produce So He Launched "Eat Wyoming"

Dr. Jesse Miller of Casper and his Mom couldn’t find produce fresh enough in Wyoming supermarkets, so he went to another source — the state’s small growers. That began Eat Wyoming, which delivers super-fresh local produce -- even produce no one thinks is grown in Wyoming.

Renée JeanJanuary 01, 2024

Casper-based Disa Technologies has developed and patented separation process that can be a game-changer for extracting rare earths and remediating abandoned uranium mines.

Wyoming Company Pioneers Game-Changing Process For Rare Earths, Uranium

Casper-based Disa Technologies has patented a new mineral separation process that can make mining and extraction processes much more economic, which could be a breakthrough for the state’s rare earths and uranium industries.

Renée JeanJanuary 01, 2024

Green River baker Dusty Collar is a finalist in the $10,000 online 2023 Greatest Baker competition.

Green River Baker Advances To Finals In 2023 Greatest Baker Competition

Green River's Dustee Collar has made her way into the finals of 2023 Greatest Baker competition which pits 1,000 bakers from around the world. Collar, who has baked professionally for 7 years, credits her grandma for her success.

Renée JeanDecember 31, 2023

Finally Some Visual Progress At Cheyenne's Old Hitching Post Inn Site

Walls are going up for two hotels being built at the former site of Cheyenne's legendary Hitching Post Inn. Everhome Suites is one of the two hotels under construction, along with a recently signed corporate headquarters for a company that has yet to be revealed.

Renée JeanDecember 31, 2023

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