Business & Tourism

Dave Belote, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is one of Airloom Energy's national advisors and has been helping the company ensure it's specs are in line for military service.

Laramie-Based Airloom Energy Gets Pentagon Thumbs Up For Innovative Turbine Tech

Laramie, Wyoming-based Airloom Energy already counts Bill Gates as an investor and believer in its innovative horizontal wind turbine technology. Now it also has an endorsement from the Trump administration’s Pentagon for military use.

Renée JeanJune 26, 2025

The Weatherby firearms company in Sheridan hopes that its new Model 307 Alpine hunting rifle will help reinvigorate slumping gun sales.

One Reason For Firearms Sales Lag Could Be That ‘Everybody Who Wanted One Has One’

While the firearms industry is cyclical, the current slump in gun and ammo sales might defy the usual explanations. The owner of a Riverton tactical shooters training company says AR-15 sales could be down because “everybody who wanted one has one.”

Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025

Crypto Whale Kraken Moves Headquarters To Wyoming From California

Kraken, a nearly $3 billion cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it has moved its headquarters to Cheyenne. The CEO told Cowboy State Daily they picked Wyoming because of its commitment to individual liberty, regulatory clarity and innovation.

Renée JeanJune 24, 2025

Wyoming exports 15 times more energy than it consumes but is falling behind in providing power for its own economic development, like data centers.

Wyoming Exports 15 Times More Power Than It Uses, But Is Struggling With In-State Needs

Wyoming has long been one of the nation’s largest energy producers, exporting 15 times more power than it consumes. But the state is struggling to provide power for its own economic development.

Renée JeanJune 22, 2025

The Cody Theatre on June 20, 2025, after its sagging marquee was raised over a foot and set in place by a new steel support structure inside the existing marquee that has been floating on the front of the theatre since it opened in 1937.

Historic Cody Theatre Marquee Was Falling Off Building Until It Was Saved Last Week

The 88-year-old marquee of the historic Cody Theatre had been sagging downward for decades and threatened to fall off the building. The owners said it would have been far easier to get rid of it and replace it with a modern sign but they couldn't let that happen.

Andrew RossiJune 22, 2025

Honeybee operations in Wyoming have been scrambling to get ready for the honey to flow with unusually large colony losses earlier this year. The Honey House in Dubois says it’s ready — just barely — for a new tourism season.

Huge Honeybee Losses Have Wyoming Beekeepers Scrambling As Season Starts

It’s been a difficult year for the Honey House in Dubois. The bee farm that supports the store, located in Crowheart, lost 67% of its colonies this year. The loss was part of a wave of unusually large-scale honeybee losses throughout the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions.

Renée JeanJune 22, 2025

Wyoming Rancher Was At The Birth Of Certified Angus Beef — Drinking Highballs

The Certified Angus Beef program was the first of its kind, and when Wyoming rancher Jack Schmidt first heard the idea over a highball, he thought it was silly. Then he watched the industry turn upside down as Black Angus became the breed of choice.

Jackie DorothyJune 21, 2025

Kemmerer Mayor Robert Bowen digs for dinosaur bones near the small Wyoming town.

Kemmerer Mayor Digs For Dinosaur Bones While Town Waits For Housing Boom

The mayor of Kemmerer — aka Fossil Town USA — is closely watching the local real estate market. He thinks the current housing stock meets today's needs but warned that won't last long. A housing explosion is expected as TerraPower makes Kemmerer a nuclear boom town.

David MadisonJune 21, 2025

Jerry Tam is talking about getting out of a family business that's made Butte, Montana, home to the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S. Pekin Noodle Parlor is an institution, but Tam now is thinking about retiring.

Montana Owner Of Oldest Chinese Restaurant In America Considers Closing

You might think the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S. would be in San Francisco or New York. Actually, it's in Butte, Montana. Jerry Tam is the owner of the Pekin Noodle Parlor and is the great, great grandson of the first owner.

David MadisonJune 21, 2025

Wyoming Closer To Using Gold And Silver As Legal Currency

Wyoming is No. 1 in the nation when it comes to sound money policy, a movement to return gold and silver as legal currency. Wyomingites also don’t have to pay sales tax when buying or selling the precious metals.

Renée JeanJune 20, 2025

Thunder Plains just south of Cheyenne had planned to open Wyoming’s first privately-owned horse racing track in the fall. A backlog in getting electricity to the site, and a soggy spring, have delayed that opening timeline.

Wyoming’s First Private 1-Mile Horse Racing Track Faces Delays

Thunder Plains just east of Cheyenne had planned to open Wyoming’s first privately-owned horse racing track in the fall. A backlog in getting electricity to the site, and a soggy spring, have delayed that opening timeline.

Renée JeanJune 18, 2025

Jackson Council OKs 244,000-Square-Foot Hotel Complex, Largest Ever For Town

Jackson Town Council on Monday approved the town’s largest ever hotel and condo complex, a massive 244,000-square-foot development by Mogul Capital. It’s a third smaller than the company’s original proposal and will take up a city block.

Renée JeanJune 17, 2025

Two of Wyoming’s top three industries — agriculture and hospitality — have long had a reputation for relying on undocumented workers. President Trump may soften his immigration crackdown for those industries.

Trump May Soften ICE Crackdown For Two Of Wyoming’s Top Industries

Two of Wyoming’s top three industries — agriculture and hospitality — have long had national reputations for relying on undocumented workers. President Trump may soften his immigration crackdown for those industries.

Renée JeanJune 16, 2025

Devils Tower National Monument in northeast Wyoming is one of the state's busiest places during the summer tourism season.

International Tourism To Wyoming Drops But Domestic Visitors Are Up

While there are reports of fewer international tourists scattered across Wyoming than previous years, domestic visitors are flocking to the state — earlier than usual. Tourism officials believe they could help make up the difference.

Renée JeanJune 15, 2025

A Japanese Black cow with zebra stripes painted onto its body as part of a Japanese study. The cow might look ridiculous, but scientists found that the stripes were a significant deterrent to biting flies, which led to the cows displaying fewer defensive behaviors when painted.

Should Wyoming Ranchers Paint Zebra Stripes On Their Cows? Science Says Yes

A team of scientists has shown that painting zebra stripes on cattle reduces the biting flies landing on them by more than 50%. Should Wyoming ranchers start painting their cows? The science says it would work, but ranchers see it as a last resort.

Andrew RossiJune 13, 2025

A train carrying six Boeing 737 fuselages derailed July 4, 2014, sending three of the huge passenger jet plane bodies into the river below. It wasn't the worst Western derailment, but it was one of the most unusual and costly.

That Time A Load Of 737 Fuselages Ended Up In A Montana River On The Fourth Of July

A train carrying six Boeing 737 fuselages derailed July 4, 2014, sending three of the huge passenger jet plane bodies into the Clark Fork River near Missoula, Montana. It wasn't the worst Western derailment, but it was one of the most unusual and costly.

Andrew RossiJune 08, 2025

Why So Many Brands Name Products For Montana, But Not So Much Wyoming Or Colorado

Branding experts say there’s a reason you’re more likely to see Montana-named products on store shelves than other Western states like Wyoming or Colorado.

Anna-Louise JacksonJune 08, 2025

In the late 2010s, golf was on a downswing. But post-pandemic, golf has boomed to become a $147 billion real estate bonanza that’s creating a new real estate niche in Wyoming.

Catering To Golfing Lifestyles A Growing Real Estate Niche In Wyoming

In the late 2010s, golf was on a downswing. But post-pandemic, golf has boomed into a $147 billion real estate bonanza that’s become a growing real estate niche in Wyoming.

Renée JeanJune 08, 2025

A new glamping experience at Brush Creek Ranch near Saratoga is among the most expensive tent stays in Wyoming at $4,500 a night. It’s being marketed as a more affordable price point for the high-end resort.

Brush Creek Ranch’s Glamping Tents Cost $4,500 A Night And Include A Private Chef

Brush Creek Ranch near Saratoga has an international reputation for high-end luxury and adventure. A new glamping experience there starts at a whopping $4,500 per night, complete with a private chef. They say it's marketed as a more affordable price point for the high-end resort.

Renée JeanJune 08, 2025

If you're looking for a fun place to grab drinks and mingle on a Saturday night in Wamsutter, Wyoming, population 193, here are two words for you: Good luck. There’s one option, the Desert Bar.

Drinking Wyoming: At The Desert Bar In Wamsutter, You’re On Your Own

If you're looking for a fun place to grab drinks and mingle on a Saturday night in Wamsutter, population 193, here are two words for you: Good luck. There’s one option, the Desert Bar.

Zakary SonntagJune 08, 2025

Sgt. Phil Johnson with the Park County Sheriff's Office, center, takes a victorious photo with the French tourists outside their broken-down bus in Meeteetse. The Cody Trolley Co. got them to Cody, Bubba's B-B-Que gave them a hot dinner, and CoveredGround Tours got them to Gardiner, Montana, so they could continue their tour of northwest Wyoming.

Cody Rallies To Rescue Bus Load Of French Tourists Stranded Near Meeteetse

Marquis de Lafayette and King Louis XVI of France sent soldiers and ships to help the American Colonies in their revolution. Nearly 250 years later, the generosity of the Cody businesses rallied to rescue 45 French tourists after their bus broke down.

Andrew RossiJune 07, 2025

Sean Patrick Higgins, right, and his partner at Story House Montana, James Brown III.

Wyoming Filmmaker Building 47-Acre Studio In Montana, Will Produce First Film This Year

Sheridan resident Sean Patrick Higgins is building a 47-acre film studio in Missoula, Montana, with a schedule to produce its first film this year. Higgins said because there are no tax incentives in Wyoming, he moved his film production operations to Montana.

David MadisonJune 07, 2025

It’s been more than three years since Cromwell Island on the west side of Flathead Lake in northwest Montana went on the market. Will anyone buy their own private island for the $72 million asking price?

Will Anyone Buy This $72 Million Private Island In Montana?

If you want your own private island that’s accessible year-round on Montana’s Flathead Lake, you’ll need $72 million. It’s been more than three years since the 350-acre island with a huge unfinished, 45,000-square-foot French-style villa was first put on the market.

Anna-Louise JacksonJune 07, 2025

The historic Sheridan Inn is considered one of Wyoming's most haunted hotels. Now that may have some science behind the claim, as it's part of a study of five of the state's most haunted hotels.

How A Huge Hail Mary Saved The Sheridan Inn From Caving In

Now a Wyoming showpiece, the historic Sheridan Inn was six months from caving in about 20 years ago. It took unusual resolve and a huge Hail Mary to save it — and some help from its ghosts.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

News