Business & Tourism
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Scary-Good Wyoming Cake Decorator Is On Food Network’s “Halloween Wars”
Lovell cake designer Shannon Mayes is appearing on the Food Network's “Halloween Wars,” which premieres at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Superstar chef Guy Fieri was so impressed by a cake she made during a filming of “Guy’s All-American Road Trip,” she was invited to participate.
Amber SteinmetzSeptember 22, 2024

Eating Wyoming: The Divide Brings Fine Dining To Rural Encampment
Fine dining in Encampment? Yes! A high-end steakhouse called The Divide Restaurant & Lounge features the former general manager of the world-renowned Brush Creek Ranch and an executive chef who previously worked with a celebrity chef off of “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Renée JeanSeptember 22, 2024

Looking For A 1947 Snow-Thrower Truck? McKim’s In West Laramie Has It, And Many Other ‘Oddball’ Items
All manner of “oddball” things passes through Gary McKim’s sales shop in Laramie. Still, he can’t seem to sell a 1966 Ford Ranchero – which he said is a lesson in “don’t drink and bid” at auto auctions.
Mark HeinzSeptember 22, 2024

French Tourists Are Discovering Wyoming And The Wild West
They’ll be learning French this winter at the TA Ranch near Buffalo. It’s preparation for an expected onslaught of French tourists. There's been a 40-50% increase in the number of French tourists this year and next year, it's expected to be much larger.
Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2024

Drinking Wyoming: Lamp Lounge Cleans Up Its Act, But Still A Cheyenne Dive Bar
The Lamp Lounge on Cheyenne’s south side has new owners and is shedding its notorious and violent reputation. But new co-owner Michael Jordan says don't worry, it's still a dive bar.
Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2024

Legislators Upset Wyoming Bankers Are Against Custodia’s Fight With Fed
Wyoming legislators are upset with the Wyoming Banking Association for supporting the Federal Reserve in its fight with Wyoming-based Custodia Bank. “I mean, talk about failing to ride for the brand,” said state Sen. Chris Rothfuss.
Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2024

Wyoming Homebuyers Shocked, Pleased By Whopping Half-Percent Interest Rate Cut
Homebuyers and sellers in Wyoming were shocked and pleased with Wednesday’s whopping half-percent Federal Reserve interest rate cut. That means some great deals for prepared homebuyers, while many are still on the fence.
Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2024

Former Chinese Crypto Mine Near Cheyenne Air Force Base Has New American Owner
A Chinese-owned cryptocurrency mining operation a mile from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne was forced to sell. Now it has a new American owner, who told legislators Monday that the company has big plans for Wyoming.
Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2024

Box Of Yellowstone Animal Cookies Comes With A Disclaimer, Threat Of $30K Fine
At a store in Yellowstone National Park, buying a box of animal cookies comes with a verbal disclaimer from a cashier. Not only are people told not to feed the cookies to wildlife, they’re threatened with a $30,000 fine.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 17, 2024

Wyoming Ripe For the Dark Side Of Tourism Success — Suddenly Viral Over-Tourism
All it takes is one 'wow-factor' moment shared by an influencer with millions of followers to flood and overwhelm an area. It already happened in Ten Sleep and it could happen to many other places in Wyoming too.
Renée JeanSeptember 16, 2024

Sheridan 12-Year-Old Launches Line Of Wyoming-Branded Golf Wear
Declan Jacobson, a Sheridan, Wyoming, 12-year-old, has launched his own line of golf wear. It’s uniquely branded for Wyoming and promotes the “awesomeness” of the sport and state.
Amber SteinmetzSeptember 16, 2024

Wyoming Has Been Quietly Testing Technology That Connects Vehicles To Roads
Wyoming has been quietly testing highway safety technology called V2X -- an acronym for "vehicle-to-everything," for a decade now. The technology connects roads, traffic lights, and other infrastructure that could enable advanced vehicle safety features to prevent crashes and improve traffic flows.
Andrew RossiSeptember 15, 2024

How Two Wyoming Women Turned A Hobby Into Largest Wool Mill In The West
Two women from Buffalo turned their hobby making wool yarn and crafts into the largest wool mill in the West. Mountain Meadow Wool processes 60,000 pounds of wool annually -- that's more than 54,000 miles of wool.
Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2024

Wyoming Art Dealers Experience Massive Slump Each Presidential Election Year
It hits like clockwork every four years — as the presidential election season heats up, sales for Wyoming artists and dealers cool off. Although the famed Buffalo Bill Art Show in Cody seems to be immune to the pattern.
Andrew RossiSeptember 15, 2024

Eating Wyoming: How A Vietnamese Restaurant Helped Save The Dubois VFW
Everything about The V Cafe in Dubois is interesting. From how the owner's family were kidnapped on the high seas by pirates while fleeing communism to their journey to Wyoming to how their restaurant saved the local VFW from folding. Plus, they've got great food.
Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2024

Riverton Man’s El Camino Sketch Launched Renowned Auto Art Career
Riverton's Shannon Watts didn’t intend to make a career out of drawing cars. But his sketch of a 1964 El Camino turned his life upside down. Now he sells over 400 of his designs in car shows across the country and his metal signs are being sold in Hobby Lobby Stores and other big box stores.
Jackie DorothySeptember 14, 2024

Buffalo’s Historic Occidental Hotel Draws Workers From All Over The World
For the past 20 years, the Occidental has hired students from around the world to work the summer tourist season at the historic hotel that’s also a certified museum. This year, they’ve come from Belarus, Albania, Thailand and Taiwan.
Renée JeanSeptember 14, 2024

Atlas Carbon Continues To Struggle With Repayment Of $15 Million State Loan
Six months after the state of Wyoming threw a lifeline to Gillette-based Atlas Carbon on a $15 million loan, it continues to struggle with repayment. The state says making interest-only payments is keeping the company in “good standing.”
Pat MaioSeptember 13, 2024

Billionaire Ricketts Buys Granite Creek Ranch, Rare Jackson Wilderness Inholding
Billionaire Joe Ricketts has bought Granite Creek Ranch, a rare wilderness inholding in Teton County near Jackson. Local officials say there’s likely too many hurdles for him to realize his dream of “Little Jackson Hole” there.
Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2024

Ranking Says Wyomingites Have Least Credit Card Debt In United States
According to a national economic study, Wyoming citizens carry less credit card debt than anywhere else in the U.S. Economic analysts believe the state’s low tax rate and overall conservative mindset to not rely on debt are part of the reasons why.
Pat MaioSeptember 10, 2024

First Public Dunkin’ Franchise In Wyoming Opens
The first public Dunkin’ franchise in Wyoming opened Monday morning. The popular coffee and donuts spot is inside the new Horse Palace Swan Ranch in Cheyenne. The only other location is on F.E. Warren Air Force Base and not accessible to the public.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 10, 2024

Big Lots Files For Chapter 11, Wyoming Will Lose At Least One Of Two Stores
The Big Lots in Cheyenne was already liquidating even before Big Lots officially announced Monday that it’s filed for bankruptcy. The Casper store is so far not listed for closure, but it’s too soon to say it’s safe.
Renée JeanSeptember 09, 2024

Aaron Turpen: How To Avoid Some Common Auto Repair Scams, And Some That Aren’t
Automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes, "There are a lot of scams, many of which are legal, in the car selling and repair business. Luckily, it doesn’t take a lot of knowledge to avoid most of them."
Aaron TurpenSeptember 07, 2024

Wyomingites Have Lots Of Questions About USPS Rural Mail Plan, Get Few Answers
The U.S. Postal Service’s public forum on Thursday was long on questions and short on answers. Wyomingites showed up in force to complain about a proposal that likely means longer delivery times across much, if not all, of the state.
Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2024
