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 building going up on Main Street in Hulett is the first new construction there in 40 years. It's being built with an old time look to fit in with other businesses on Main Street.

Wyoming Places: First New Building On Main Street In Hulett In 40 Years

Something is going on in Hulett, Wyoming. Local resident Tom Coronato just built the first new new building on Main Street in 40 years. Down the street, a couple from Arizona is rethinking the hardware store.

Renée JeanAugust 19, 2023

White Wolf Saloon -- Douglas, Wyoming's Oldest Bar For Sale, Includes Free Ghost

Founded in 1887, the oldest bar in Douglas, Wyoming, is for sale. Included in the sale is at least one ghost, a working telephone booth, and Don Johnson's pet alligator from Miami Vice.

Renée JeanAugust 19, 2023

The movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind plays every night at the Devils Tower KOA Campground

Devils Tower KOA A 'Close Encounter' With America's First National Monument

Devils Tower KOA is one of the most popular overnight stays in the national campground system, perfectly situated between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. It also shows "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" every night.

Renée JeanAugust 19, 2023

Researchers at the Powars II red ochre mine archaeological site may have discovered an even older red ochre mine.

Groundbreaking: Even Older Red Ochre Mine May Have Been Found At Powars II In Wyoming

Researchers from around the world at Wyoming’s Powars II Paleoindian archaeological dig have found what could be a much older red ochre mine on the site. The original site contains one of the oldest paleoindian mines ever discovered.

Renée JeanAugust 19, 2023

Still Fighting Federal Reserve In Court, Wyoming’s Custodia Bank Opens 2 Services

While continuing to fight the Federal Reserve in court, Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long has opened two services at the Wyoming-based digital bank that digital asset industries are clamoring for — money market mutual funds and dollar deposits.

Renée JeanAugust 14, 2023

Around Wyoming: An Unusual Adventure In Hulett At Bob Coronato’s Rogues Gallery

Western artist Bob Coronato has made a name for himself with iconic rodeo posters and a controversial portrait of the late Native American activist Russell Means. But his Rogues Gallery store also houses a number of cool, hard-to-find Western artifacts in a miniature museum that’s worth a look.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2023

Artist rendering of completed observatory.

Snow King Mountain In Jackson Builds First-Of-Its-Kind $5 Million Observatory

Snow King Mountain wants to capitalize on rising stargazing tourism with a $5 million observatory dedicated to tourism. The observatory will be completed this fall for a soft opening.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2023

Caesar the Allosaurus at Sheridan College

Who Really Ruled The Jurassic: Gearing Up For A Bigger Dinosaur Hunt In The Bighorns

There’s a place in the Bighorns near Buffalo that is a paleontological gold mine. It has already yielded Caesar the Allosaurus and other rare finds, but this is just scratching the surface of what’s waiting to be discovered.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2023

Sheryl McLaughlin poses with a table full of her beadwork and jewelry. She's been a mainstay vendor at the Beartrap Summer Festival for 25 of its 30-year run.

Around Wyoming: 25 Years At The Beartrap Fest For The Bead Lady

Sheryl McLauglin has been a fixture at Casper's Beartrap Summer Festival for 25 of its 30 years. She’s watched the festival grow up, and has grown as an artist right alongside it.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2023

Tourists from Texas take turns looking at the star Vega through a telescope set up by Wyoming Stargazing on the edge of Grand Teton National Park.

Wyoming Stargazing Is Bringing Astro-Tourism To The Edge Of Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming Stargazing offers a private star party that’s out of this world. It’s a new dimension for tourism that has potential across the Cowboy State, as stargazing tourism rises in popularity.

Renée JeanAugust 12, 2023

The tiny town of Hulett, Wyoming, was a little crowded Wednesday for the annual Ham-N-Jam.

Hulett’s Famous Ham-N-Jam Grows Up With Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The tiny town of Hulett hosts more than 25,000 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bikers for its annual Ham-N-Jam, a main street party that’s aged as gracefully as the rally.

Renée JeanAugust 12, 2023

Taco John's and Taco Bell have numerous locations across Cheyenne and Wyoming.

Taco Bell Wastes No Time Launching Its Own $5 Million ‘Taco Tuesday’ Campaign

Taco Bell, fresh from muscling much smaller rival Taco John’s out of its Taco Tuesday trademark, is opening a $5 million tab to pay for people ordering Mexican food, even from competitors.

Renée JeanAugust 09, 2023

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The crowd seats itself in front of the stage where the artists perform, plunking down their chairs wherever there's an open spot.

Around Wyoming: Casper's Beartrap Summer Festival Draws Music Lovers From All Over

East-Coasters, West-Coasters and Midwesterners in between agree that the Beartrap Summer Festival on Casper Mountain is one of the nation’s coolest musical festivals.

Renée JeanAugust 07, 2023

Sheila and Russell Klein, left, had no clue they were honeymooning in the heart of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally after they married 40 years ago. Now they've returned to celebrate their anniversary. The annual party has hosted many biker weddings over the decades, right.

40 Years Ago, Honeymooners Learned About Sturgis Rally The Hard Way

Forty years ago, newlyweds Sheila and Russell Klein thought they had found the perfect secluded campground to celebrate their honeymoon. Then thousands of bikers showed up. Turns out that secluded campground was right in the heart of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Renée JeanAugust 06, 2023

Buffalo’s TA Guest Ranch Preserves Wild West Legacy On Working Cattle Operation

The TA Guest Ranch is pure Wyoming Wild West with horseback riding, history tours and gourmet food on a working cattle ranch.

Renée JeanAugust 06, 2023

The moment before impact when a pair of knights attempt to impale each other with lances.

On The Road With Renee: Knights Of Valor Bring Full-Contact Jousting To Sheridan

Sheridan went medieval recently with the Knights of Valor, who pride themselves on competing in full-contact jousting, charging each other on 2,000-pound war horses.

Renée JeanAugust 06, 2023

Cutting into a delicious lamb roast seasoned with garlic, onion salt and pepper.

Eating Wyoming: Foodies At All Levels Rediscovering Cowboy State Lamb

Wyoming lamb producers are riding a wave of popularity sparked by the pandemic, which started a renewal of interest in lamb as cooks had to become more adventurous in the kitchen.

Renée JeanAugust 05, 2023

The Cowboy Bar in Meeteetsee is Wyoming's most famous outlaw bar, and it's for sale, listing for $395,000.

Meeteetse’s Cowboy Bar, An Outlaw Joint Like No Other In Wyoming, Is For Sale

One of Wyoming’s most famous outlaw bars, the Cowboy Bar in Meeteetse, is up for sale. The bar can make a boast few other bars can. In each of the last three centuries, it has hosted one of America’s most wanted men, including Butch Cassidy, for a drink or three.

Renée JeanAugust 05, 2023

For Shane Adams, captain and owner of Knights of Valor, being a knight is more than a weekend hobby, it's a code for how to life with honor and valor.

Modern Medieval Knight Is Leading Effort To Bring Back Full-Contact Jousting

Shane Adams, who holds holds 17 international jousting titles, leads Knights of Valor, a modern-day group of knights dedicated to bringing back the sport of full-contact jousting.

Renée JeanAugust 05, 2023

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort To Sell To Local Ownership Group

Jay Kemmerer and family are selling Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to Eric Macy and Mike Corbat, two JHMR board members. Kemmerer has said he will remain an active member of its board and executive committee.

Renée JeanAugust 04, 2023

Jeff G started out last week in South Dakota took a trip through Glacier National Park, and now he's headed back to Sturgis with plans to stop in for about one day of the rally before heading back home.

Sturgis Means Big Business For Wyoming Towns On Devils Tower Loop

Hulett, Sundance, Aladdin and Moorcroft are on what South Dakota’s Sturgis Rally promotes as the Devils Tower Loop, and they all win big when thousands of bikers roll through on Wyoming Wednesday during the Sturgis Rally.

Renée JeanAugust 04, 2023

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