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

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

Nathanial Trelease, left, with a statue of Tom Horn, and Harvey Deselms with a statue of Princess Blue Water, right, at Deselms’ studio in Cheyenne. The two statues are the next bronzes that will be installed as part of Cheyenne's bronze project, which has 62 statues in it and counting.

62 Bronze Sculptures All Around Wyoming Capitol Began As A Dream 15 Years Ago

Cheyenne’s 62 bronze statues — with more on the way — immortalize Wyoming history and culture all around the neighborhood of the Wyoming State Capitol, the realization of a dream Cheyenne art dealer Harvey Deselms had 15 years ago.

Renée JeanDecember 31, 2023

Wyoming grown and made Red Pony Salsa is at the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas. It's the recipe of Richard Rhoades, far left, and the favorite salsa of Wyoming author Craig Johnson.

Wyoming’s Own Red Pony Salsa Is Author Craig Johnson’s Favorite And Growing Fast

Clearmont gardener Richard Rhoades' Red Pony Salsa is about to go big time. He’s one of only two Wyoming producers invited to the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, where thousands of retailers go to look for their next bestseller.

Renée JeanDecember 30, 2023

Customers line up in the U.S. Post Office on Converse Avenue in Cheyenne.

Postal Service Hears Big Outcry Over Plan To Move Mail Processing Out Of Wyoming

One thing is for certain: Wyoming is not going down without a fight. The Postal Service's plan to move mail processing and distribution to other states is getting big pushback from Wyoming residents and the bureaucrats are hearing it.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2023

This new Big Boot at the entrance to the Wyoming National Guard honors the Guard's service to Wyoming.

Cheyenne’s Newest 8-Foot Cowboy Boots Honor Wyoming’s Military Legacy

F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the Wyoming Air National Guard have joined Cheyenne’s fun and quirky Big Boot trail, with two giant, 8-foot-tall boots of their own. Now there are more than 30 gigantic 8-foot cowboy boots all over Cheyenne.

Renée JeanDecember 25, 2023

Scooter's Coffee stands are popping up all over Wyoming.

The Next Little Thing: Tiny Scooter’s Coffee Kiosks Popping Up All Over Wyoming

Scooter’s Coffee is caffeinating Wyoming at a rapid pace, recently opening shops in Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, and soon in Douglas, Jackson and Sheridan. One franchisee is planning another 12 - 17 more in the Cowboy State.

Renée JeanDecember 25, 2023

The Presidential Barbershop on West Lincolnway in Cheyenne.

The Presidential: A Cheyenne Barbershop Making Christmas Happen For Local Families

Families worried that Christmas wasn’t going to happen for them found a real-life angel in Angel Maldonado, owner of The Presidential Barbershop in Cheyenne. His impromptu toy and gift drive proves the spirit of Christmas is still alive.

Renée JeanDecember 25, 2023

Steve "Shakey" Chadwick has been restoring and researching sheep wagons for more than 50 years.

Wyoming People: Shakey Chadwick’s 50 Years Of Sheep Wagon Wizardry

Wyoming invented sheep wagons, and they are an essential thread of state history. Steve “Shakey” Chadwick has spent more than 50 years preserving wagons and their Western legacy.

Renée JeanDecember 24, 2023

The Shell Store has had many names over the last 125-plus years, but now Emily Clark is serving her mind-blowing French pastries out of the revived cafe and general store.

Pastry Chef Breathes New Life Into 125-Year-Old Shell Store In Shell, Wyoming

Who says you can’t quit your day job and do something completely different? Emily Clark credits a trip to New Zealand as the lightbulb moment to change the course of her life. Now she’s a pastry chef at the 125-year-old Shell Store in Shell, Wyoming.

Renée JeanDecember 24, 2023

The Halleck Creek site in Wyoming, now called the Cowboy State Mine site.

Wyoming Rare Earths Deposit Near Wheatland Has Potential To Be World’s Richest

On the heels of other Wyoming rare earth discoveries and breakthroughs, one high-grade deposit owned by American Rare Earths near Wheatland, Wyoming, has the company thinking it has potential to be the world’s richest.

Renée JeanDecember 24, 2023

Rick Ramos as Santa takes a break from riding around downtown Cheyenne.

Cheyenne’s Harley-Riding Santa Really Came From North Pole

Santa has been spotted riding a Harley in Cheyenne lately. This particular Santa’s helper happens to actually be from North Pole, Alaska, and knows more about reindeer and Kris Kringle than most.

Renée JeanDecember 23, 2023

Go Pokes! 10-Foot Santa Riding Steamboat Celebrates Christmas & Wyoming Cowboys

Mary Meyer’s house in Cheyenne gets a lot of attention this time of year. That’s because of the custom-made 10-foot steel Santa riding a bucking bronco that celebrates Christmas and the Wyoming Cowboys.

Renée JeanDecember 22, 2023

Other Authors

The Albertsons store in Gillette is another of five in Wyoming that would be sold if a merger with Kroger goes through.

FTC To Delay $25 Billion Albertsons - Kroger Merger; Study Says It Could Hurt Market

The Federal Trade Commission in court filings suggests it will take until Jan. 17 to make a decision about the $25 billion Kroger - Albertsons grocery merger. At the same time, a new study suggests it would hurt the labor pool.

Renée JeanDecember 20, 2023

Rocky Mountain Power Customers To Get $9 Million Rebate On Overpaid Costs

Wyoming Public Service Commission approved an 11th-hour settlement Tuesday that will refund $9 million in overpayments to Rocky Mountain Power customers, lowering a rate hike for the first six months of 2024 from 8.3% to 5.5%.

Renée JeanDecember 20, 2023

Wyoming's historic Pitchfork Ranch outside Meeteetse is for sale, listing at $67 million.

Wyoming’s Famous 96,000-Acre Pitchfork Ranch Is For Sale For $67 million

The storied and historic Pitchfork Ranch that’s older than the Cowboy State itself has been posted for sale by a real estate company in Thermopolis with a list price of $67 million. This will be only the third time in history that the 96,000-acre ranch has changed hands.

Renée JeanDecember 19, 2023

Historic Stanley Hotel Sells For $475 Million, Ghosts Included In Deal

The historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, made famous by Stephen King’s horror novel and movie “The Shining,” is selling to an Arizona nonprofit in a $475 million dollar deal that will include 58 new apartments and the construction of a film center.

Renée JeanDecember 19, 2023

A new Big Boot in Cheyenne's collection celebrates F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the USAF in Wyoming's capital city.

Wyoming Military Officials Don’t Believe Report Sentinel Missile Program Could Be Cut

Wyoming officials and military experts don’t buy a recent Bloomberg report suggesting the Sentinel missile program, which is set to replace aging Minutemen III missiles overseen by F.E. Warren, is in danger of being terminated.

Renée JeanDecember 18, 2023

Daniel Steward, aka Riverton's "Mushroom Man."

Riverton’s Mushroom Man Taking His Funky Fungus Drinks To Huge Vegas Show

Daniel Stewart, aka Riverton’s “Mushroom Man,” hopes an invite to one of the world’s largest food shows in Las Vegas will help launch his High Country Fungus line of mushroom coffees, cocoas and chai lattes.

Renée JeanDecember 17, 2023

Barry Cole of Encampment questions the necessity of proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service in Cheyenne and said he doesn't believe mail will arrive any faster if it has to go to Denver first.

Postal Service Likely To Move Cheyenne’s Mail Processing To Denver, Casper’s To Billings

At a public forum in Cheyenne on Tuesday, the postal service said it is likely to move mail processing from Cheyenne to Denver and is considering moving some mail processing in Casper to Billings.

Renée JeanDecember 13, 2023

A postal customer mails Christmas buckeyes to family and friends Monday at the U.S. Postal Service office on Capitol Avenue in Cheyenne.

Postal Service Moving Mail Processing To Denver From Cheyenne

The United States Postal Service is spending $40 billion to “modernize” the nation’s postal system. That’s going to mean moving some mail processing operations to Denver from Cheyenne, and it could mean losing your local postmark unless you ask for it.

Renée JeanDecember 12, 2023

Several processing facilities are working at one time to produce finished products, including baking soda, which will get shipped all over the country.

Wyoming’s Trona Mines Prepare For Fight Over BLM’s Rock Springs Management Plan

Sweetwater County’s trona mines are among mining sectors upset by the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, and they’re getting ready to fight about it.

Renée JeanDecember 12, 2023

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