Business & Tourism

After an anonymous complaint about its bingo night, the Wyoming Gaming Commission ended the game at three Cody bars, including Brewgards.

State Shuts Down Bingo Nights At Cody Bars After ‘Illegal Gambling’ Complaint

Popular bingo nights at three Cody bars have been shut down by the Wyoming Gaming Commission after an anonymous complaint of “illegal gambling.” The agency says it’s following the law, while the bars call the move “absolutely ridiculous.”

Andrew RossiMarch 24, 2025

Meaghan Peterson grew up on a ranch in Montana and said after college and before her equine bodywork business she worked at ranches across the West.

It's A Real Job: Horse Bodywork Therapist

Meaghan Peterson knows all about the 700 muscles that control a horse’s movement. The Thermopolis resident is a certified equine sports bodywork therapist. Her clientele is mostly between Cody and Casper although she does travel to other states too.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 23, 2025

First seen in 2022, the “Make Bozeman Montana Again” billboard is back, igniting debate on social media about the soul of Bozeman.

The Local Man Behind The “Make Bozeman Montana Again” Billboard

Derek Aspinwall told Cowboy State Daily that Bozeman, Montana, is changing to be more like an Aspen or Vail, Colorado. So he put up a billboard pleading with the community to slow the development and get back to its roots before it's too late

David MadisonMarch 22, 2025

Neon is a big part of the culture at Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette, Wyoming, and it's building a new Neon Park to celebrate the art of neon signage. The museum has been rescuing iconic signs from around the state that would otherwise have been trashed.

Gillette Museum Rescues Iconic Signs From Around Wyoming For New Neon Park

Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette is building a Neon Park to house neon signs it’s rescuing from around Wyoming. They already have the Holiday Lodge sign from Lander, the Cheyenne Motel sign, Fox Theater sign in Casper, and the Moorcroft Motel sign. More will be added when restored.

Andrew RossiMarch 22, 2025

Plenty of Ford F-150s, and other pickup models, are front and center at Cheyenne's Ford dealership, which makes sense because the F-150 is Wyoming's most popular vehicle.

Wyoming’s Top Ride? No Surprise, It’s The Ford F-150, Followed By Pickups And More Pickups

Whether the driver wears a cowboy hat or not, the seasons, roads and terrain of Wyoming mean pickups are the choice for drivers in the state. And the Ford F-150 is number one.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 22, 2025

The $52 million WYO Sports Ranch opened in January and has already hosted more than 10,000 visitors and sports participants.

Huge 150,000-Square-Foot Sports Facility Brings $1M To Casper In First Weeks

In its first weeks of operation in Casper, the huge 150,000-square-foot WYO Sports Ranch has made a $1 million economic impact on the community. It’s already drawing attention to host state and national tournaments.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 21, 2025

Reid Rasner: The Visionary Behind the Bold TikTok Acquisition Bid

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the financial and technology sectors, Reid Rasner, CEO and Founder of Omnivest Financial, has emerged as the leading force behind a $47.45 billion bid to acquire TikTok.

Nebraska Town Offers $50,000 House Down Payment If People Move There

To stem the stream of locals and businesses leaving town, Pawnee City, Nebraska, is offering a $50,000 incentive to move to the hometown of Larry The Cable Guy. The money is a down payment on a house for people who move there.

David MadisonMarch 17, 2025

The Seven Wonders of Casper are, clockwise from top left: Spiral staircase to nowhere, Gravity Hill, the Egg Beater Tower, Natrona County Library echo chamber, murals around town, Lookout Point and the clock that doesn't tell time.

Casper’s ‘Seven Wonders’ Are Odd, Unusual And Gravity-Defying

While the Seven Wonders of Casper may not be as famous as other landmarks in Wyoming like Old Faithful, Devils Tower or Independence Rock, they are unusual, interesting and worth seeing in a couple of hours, scavenger hunt style.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 16, 2025

CleanSpark is standing up a new Bitcoin mining facility on Venture Drive in Cheyenne. The site is in addition to the one the company is building at a site near F.E. Warren Air Force Base that was previously owned by a Chinese company.

Rural Cheyenne Residents Have A Noisy New Neighbor — A Bitcoin Miner

A noisy new bitcoin mining operation is disturbing its rural Cheyenne area neighbors who moved outside the city for peace and quiet. The company says it’s working on mitigating the issue.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2025

For 64 years, Joe’s Liquor and Bar has been the go-to watering hold for generations of Rock Springs locals. One of only two Wyoming spots in the Dive Bar Hall of Fame, Joe’s has closed for good.

After 64 Years, Saying Goodbye To Joe's Liquor And Bar In Rock Springs

For 64 years, Joe’s Liquor and Bar has been the go-to watering hole for generations of Rock Springs locals. One of only two Wyoming spots in the Dive Bar Hall of Fame, Joe’s has closed for good.

Tracie SullivanMarch 16, 2025

Ski-Lift Accident Kills Montana Skier But Experts Say Fatalities Are Rare

A Billings skier died earlier this week after he fell out of a ski chair lift in Red Lodge, Montana. One expert told Cowboy State Daily that although accidents do happen, statistics show "chairlift fatalities are very, very, very rare."

Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2025

Country music stars Chancey Williams, left, and Toby Keith perform Keith's smash hit "Should've Been a Cowboy" at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Bot Attack Crashes First Day Of Cheyenne Frontier Days Concert Ticket Sales

A bot attack on Thursday crashed the first day of ticket sales for Cheyenne Frontier Days’ nighttime concerts, causing the organization to shut off ticket sales and postpone them until next week.

Leo WolfsonMarch 13, 2025

Rocky Mountain Power says wildfires are a driving force behind its most recent request for a double-digit rate increase. The Elk Fire was one of the worst from last season, buring nearly 100,000 acres across the eastern face of the Bighorn Mountains, threatening the small town of Dayton.

Wildfires Big Driver Behind Rocky Mountain Power’s Double-Digit Rate Hike

Wyoming’s wildfires have spurred higher insurance costs so much, Rocky Mountain Power says it's proposing another double-digit rate increase. It’s also considering self-insurance.

Renée JeanMarch 12, 2025

The Wyoming Public Service Commission meets in Cheyenne on March 11, 2025, to hear testimony about a proposed electricity rate hike from Rocky Mountain Power.

Rocky Mountain Power Makes Case For Rate Hike, Says Large Users Will Pay More

At a Tuesday public hearing for Rocky Mountain Power’s latest double-digit rate increase request, the company said residential customers won’t pay as much. Large power users like data centers would pay more.

Renée JeanMarch 12, 2025

Laramie County residents Sandra Merrill and Alex Kelly are both restricting their egg purchases to once a month. Merrill said she sometimes skips breakfast altogether these days, in part due to the high cost of everything and in part because she's never been big on breakfast anyway.

Wyoming Egg-Eaters Say Investigation Into High Prices Can’t Come Soon Enough

Wyoming senior citizens say they’re giving up on eggs for breakfast, or in some cases skipping breakfast altogether. They say an investigation into what’s happening with egg prices can’t come soon enough.

Renée JeanMarch 11, 2025

Rocky Mountain Power Wants Another Double-Digit Rate Increase

The Wyoming Public Service Commission has a hearing Tuesday for another double-digit rate increase request for Rocky Mountain Power. If approved, RMP rates will have increased more than 30% since 2024.

Renée JeanMarch 11, 2025

David Knudson converted his garage to accommodate equipment like a reverse osmosis machine for his business, Montana MapleWorks.

Montana’s ‘Maple Man’ Taps 300-Plus Trees To Make Maple Syrup In His Driveway

Known as “Maple Man,” a Missoula, Montana, resident taps 300-plus trees around town to grow his urban syrup business. He’s the state’s only commercially licensed maple syrup maker, and does it all in his driveway.

Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyMarch 09, 2025

Chad Madsen rides a horse named Doc as he sorts animals from his 2,500-head herd in Afton, Wyoming.

Chad Madsen Of Afton Owns Wyoming's Largest Horse Herd — And Knows Them All By Name

Chad Madsen runs a herd of 2,500 horses, the largest in Wyoming, on ranches in Pavilion and Afton. The horses end up at outfitters and dude ranches across the state as rentals for tourists and hunters. And Madsen says he knows them all by name.

Renée JeanMarch 08, 2025

Glen Chavez (right), Marcus Gallizzi (center), Rich Trujillo (left)

Cheyenne Barber Predicts Weeks Of Misery Because Of Daylight Saving Time

Longtime Cheyenne barber Glen Chavez was upset on Friday that the semi-annual time change was happening again on Sunday morning. Chavez says that 99.9% of the customers at Trujillo's Barbershop want the tradition ended and the "clocks locked."

Jimmy OrrMarch 08, 2025

Farmers and ranchers in eastern Laramie County are worried about whether huge data centers springing up in Cheyenne will leave them with enough water for their cattle and crops.

Cheyenne Farmers Worry Huge Data Center Will Suck Up Their Irrigation Water

Farmers and ranchers in eastern Laramie County are worried that a massive Facebook (Meta) data center, along with similar future projects, will suck up the water they need. Cheyenne's mayor reassures them it won't.

Mark HeinzMarch 07, 2025

The Frontier Bar, Montana’s unofficial hub of cold beer diplomacy.

Along Montana-Canada Border, Tariffs Could Spike Prices For Beer, Fishing Lures

A lot of commerce flows across the 545 miles of border between Montana and Canada. With promised 25% tariffs going into effect Tuesday, locals expect prices for all kinds of things to spike, including beer and fishing lures.

David MadisonMarch 04, 2025

President Donald Trump said Monday, March 3, 2025, there’s no more delaying 25% tariffs that will go into effect on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday. That’s expected to impact Wyoming, which does more business with Canada than any other foreign country.

Wyoming Businesses Wait To See Impact Of Tariffs, Going Into Effect Tuesday

President Trump on Monday said there’s no more delaying 25% tariffs that will go into effect on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday. That’s expected to impact Wyoming, which does more business with Canada than any other foreign country.

Renée JeanMarch 04, 2025

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, left, and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Lummis, Hageman Hail Trump’s Halt To ‘Burdensome’ Disclosures On Small Businesses

Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman are cheering a Sunday decision by President Trump’s Treasury secretary to halt “burdensome” disclosure rules for small businesses. They call the move a “major win” for small businesses across Wyoming.

Sean BarryMarch 04, 2025

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