Business & Tourism | Cowboy State Daily

Historic One-Of-A-Kind Property For Sale Near Sunrise Once Home To Early Pioneer

A five-bedroom house near the abandoned company mining town of Sunrise, Wyoming, in the Hartville area is chock-full of history — and for sale, listing for $809,000. It was home to an early pioneer, and the sale includes the Guernsey Cabin.

Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025

The historic Johnson’s Corner restaurant about an hour south of Cheyenne is closed for a refresh and rebranding. It won’t be Johnson’s Corner anymore, but the cinnamon rolls that made it famous will still be on the menu.

Iconic Johnson’s Corner Along I-25 Closed, To Become Chain Restaurant

The iconic Johnson’s Corner restaurant about an hour south of Cheyenne is closed for a refresh and rebranding. It won’t be Johnson’s Corner anymore, but the cinnamon rolls that made it famous will still be on the menu.

Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 19, 2025

A starter castle designed to mimic the luxurious Amangani resort next door is turning heads, even in swanky Jackson Hole. The “Petite Aman” can be yours for a cool $18 million.

Even In Jackson Hole, Listing For $18M “Petite Aman” Estate Is Turning Heads

A starter mansion designed to mimic the luxurious Amangani resort next door is turning heads, even in swanky Jackson Hole. The “Petite Aman” can be yours for a cool $18 million.

Jake NicholsJanuary 19, 2025

First United Methodist Church in Casper, Wyoming.

Service Project On MLK Day Seeks Hygiene Items, Winter Clothing For Homeless

A Casper service project sponsored by ServeWyoming for Martin Luther King Jr. Day needs hygiene items and winter clothing for the homeless. A project to bag the items for distribution is planned for noon Monday at First United Methodist Church.

January 19, 2025

The bartender at Le Reve Restaurant and Raw Bar adjusts the flow of water from an ornate fountain, part of the ritual involved in serving a glass of absinthe.

Drinking Wyoming: Absinthe, Spirit Of Murder And Madness, Is Back In Wyoming

Absinthe was illegal for nearly a century, branded by the wine industry as a spirit of murder and madness. But it’s making a comeback, and a handful of Wyoming venues serve this once-forbidden liquor.

Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2025

More Funerals Include Casket Branding, The Most Cowboy Way To Say Goodbye

A growing trend in Western funerals is for family and loved ones to put hot cattle brands to wooden caskets. It’s the most cowboy way for ranching families and others in the West to say goodbye.

Andrew RossiJanuary 18, 2025

Fire air operations drop fire retardant on flames from the Palisades Fire along Mandeville Canyon in the Brentwood community of Los Angeles, Calif.

Why California Wildfires Could Spike Already-High Wyoming Insurance Rates

The wildfires devastating residential areas of Southern California aren’t only going to impact those homeowners. Wyoming residents also can expect to see a spike in their already-high insurance rates.

Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2025

The Granite Creek Ranch, which was listed for nearly $9 million in Jackson, Wyoming, has been bought by billionare Joe Ricketts.

Billionaire Joe Ricketts Plans Luxury Resort With Teton County Ranch He Bought

Billionaire Joe Ricketts has announced his plans for the Granite Ranch in Teton County, which he bought last fall. It will be a swanky luxury resort, echoing many of the same themes as his abandoned Homestead Resort project in Bondurant.

Renée JeanJanuary 15, 2025

Star Plunge water park and hot springs in Thermopolis closed Tuesday, a day earlier than expected as a dispute continues between the state and the facility's owners/operators. Here, Roland Luehne turns away Joy Erickson, son Dayton Yaple and Annette Withinton, Lander customers who misunderstood that the pool was closed.

Soakers Show Up To Find World Famous Star Plunge Closed Sooner Than Expected

The world famous Star Plunge pool and hot springs in Thermopolis, Wyoming, has been on a legal collision course with the state. It had been expected to close Wednesday, but soakers showed up Tuesday to find it suddenly closed earlier.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025

A new policy has gone into effect at Denver International Airport where people can't pay for parking with cash.

DIA Stops Taking Cash As Payment For Parking At Airport Lots

DIA has stopped accepting cash at its parking lots to speed up the exit process. The airport joins an increasing number of businesses and services that are doing away with cash, including the National Park Service and the University of Wyoming.

Justin GeorgeJanuary 13, 2025

In the fall, a side shelf was added called the Jam Stand which includes a variety of canned items.

Honor System Works For Tiny Unmanned Worland Roadside Farm Stand

A cabinet full of products on the side of a road, trusting people not to steal everything in it may seem naïve in today’s world. But it works in Worland where a tiny unmanned roadside farm stand is thriving on the honor system.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 12, 2025

Java Moon owner Megan Cook makes a specialty coffee drink at her Sheridan cafe.

Inside Sheridan's Java Moon Coffee Shop Where Mooncakes Are King

Somewhere over the Java Moon in Sheridan is where you’ll find Megan Cook. The former financial accountant took a moonshot leap of faith from a comfortable job to owning her own business. It’s been a roller coaster, but she has no regrets.

Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025

Blue Federal Credit Union location at East 7th Street and Warren Avenue in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

No, Jimmy Carter’s Funeral Didn’t Delay Workers From Getting Their Paychecks

Some Blue Federal Credit Union customers in Cheyenne woke up Friday to shock that their paychecks hadn’t been deposited. Although told it was because the Federal Reserve was closed for Jimmy Carter’s funeral, it was an electronic transfer glitch.

Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025

Grain Weevil Robot Aims To Keep Farmers From Risking Their Lives In Grain Bins

A Nebraska company has developed a pioneering robot called a Grain Weevil that can do everything in a grain bin a human with a shovel might need to do. Wyoming farmers say it could be a revolutionary development for safety.

Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2025

Like It Or Not, Self-Driving Semi-Trucks Are Inevitable; Montana Company Leading The Way

Self-driving technology for the trucking industry is evolving quickly. Many of those advances originate in Montana through a company that researched autonomous trucking technology on the treacherous Lone Peak in Montana.

David MadisonJanuary 11, 2025

Gaslight Social customer John Lee, center, believes the Surgeon General should look at the substances banned by Europe and allowed in the United States rather than go after an updated alcohol warning label. With him at left is Cave Derell of Casper, and right, Charlie Chapin.

Wyomingites Not Thrilled With Surgeon General's Call To Add Cancer Warnings To Beer

Most Wyomingites Cowboy State Daily interviewed scoffed at the U.S. surgeon general's call to add cancer-labels to beer cans. Sen. John Barrasso, a doctor, said labeling beer cans is not the answer.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 11, 2025

Since September, thousands of rural ZIP codes have been paying a surcharge on packages that has been quietly put into U.S. Postal Service merchant agreements with companies like eBay.

Wyomingites Pay More For Rural Postal Service Deliveries Through Sneaky Surcharge

The U.S. Postal Service has quietly initiated a surcharge on package deliveries to rural areas, which includes much of Wyoming. The up-charges have been quietly slipped into Postal Service agreements with merchants like eBay.

Renée JeanJanuary 10, 2025

A large U-Haul facility in east Cheyenne, Wyoming.

People Keep Leaving California, But Fewer Moving To Wyoming, U-Haul Reports

Fewer newcomers made their way to Wyoming and Montana in 2024, but the stream of transplants continues into Idaho. That’s according to data reported by U-Haul, which also reports California is the place people most want to leave.

David MadisonJanuary 08, 2025

South Dakota-based Aerostar is testing high-altitude balloons with NASA and the U.S. Forest Service for supporting wildland firefighting efforts by giving cellphone service and other observations and data.

Those Aren't Chinese Balloons Over Wyoming, They're Helping Firefighters And More

Some of the balloons people see floating over Wyoming aren’t Chinese spy efforts, they’re from South Dakota. One balloon was a floating cellphone tower for a demonstration project that could dramatically improve logistics for wildland firefighters.

Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2025

Ski Patrol members at Park City Mountain picket in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.

Park City Ski Patrol Strike Has Divided Ski Industry In Western States

Striking ski patrol workers at the upscale Park City Mountain Resort in Utah have skiers who want to pay big bucks for a luxury experience crossing a picket line. It’s also divided the ski industry in Western states, including Wyoming.

Leo WolfsonJanuary 07, 2025

Along with a main house, there are a handful of other homes and residences on the Antlers Ranch.

Two Multimillion-Dollar Wyoming Properties Are In Top 5 Most-Viewed Luxury Listings

Two multimillion-dollar Wyoming properties have made Mansion Global’s annual list of top five viewed luxury listings for 2024. The $9 million Granite Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole is No. 1, while the $85 million Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse is No. 4.

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2025

Even when it's 20 degrees and snowy outside, the business in Mort's Bagels in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, is brisk on a Sunday morning, Jan. 5, 2025.

Bagels Are Temperamental, But That Hasn't Stopped Couple From Running Bagel Shop

Any cook who’s ever tried to make bagels can tell you just how temperamental they can be. A Cheyenne couple who purchased Mort's Bagels found that out the hard way. But they've learned that lesson and love running their own business.

Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2025

"Can I take your order?" Margaret Lovato asks with a smile at Diamond Horseshoe Cafe in Cheyenne, where she has worked for almost 50 years.

Margaret Lovato Has Been Serving Customers For 50 Years At Cheyenne's Diamond Horseshoe

Regulars at the Diamond Horseshoe Cafe describe it as Cheyenne’s Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name. At the center of that is Margaret Lovato, who’s been serving customers there for almost 50 years.

Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

City National Pawn's coin master Joe Bohlinger looks at the tail feathers of a 2000-P Sacagawea coin, to see if it is a "Cheerios" coin. It wasn't, but if it had been, it would have been worth around $6,600 if in mint condition.

Pocket Change Can Be Worth Big Money If You Know What to Look For

While many of the most valuable coins aren’t in circulation anymore, there are still millions of coins changing hands every day. A Wyoming coin dealer says there’s big money in pocket change if you know what to look for.

Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

Embattled Star Plunge Park Remains Open Ahead Of Jan. 14 Deadline

While many media outlets reported the historic Star Plunge would close Dec. 31, it remains open. While its lease expired then, the facility has an extension through Jan. 14 while negotiations for its sale and a court case continue.

Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

When billionaire Joe Ricketts bought White Pine Ski & Summer Resort near Pinedale, Wyoming, people speculated the goal was to turn it into an upscale Jackson Hole-like resort. So far, fans of the ski area say it hasn’t changed yet.

Fans Say White Pine Unchanged So Far In First Season Under Billionaire Ricketts

When billionaire Joe Ricketts bought White Pine Resort near Pinedale, Wyoming, people speculated the goal was to turn it into an upscale Jackson Hole-like resort. So far, fans of the ski area say it hasn’t changed yet.

Renée JeanDecember 30, 2024

Artillery World is one of at least a half dozen fireworks warehouses off Interstate 25 just across the Colorado border.

Most Of Wyoming’s New Year’s Fireworks Sales Are To Folks From Other States

Wyoming fireworks stands report steady business from Colorado ahead of New Year’s Eve, but some stores say the upcoming New Year’s holiday is a dud.

David MadisonDecember 30, 2024

Kayleen Harding has been an EMT with Frontier Ambulance since November 2022. She recently began working to improve communication between EMS professionals and members of the Wind River Reservation.

Riverton Woman “Dumbfounded” To Be Named One Of The Best EMTs In The Nation

Kayleen Harding is dedicated to saving lives in Fremont County and the Wind River Reservation as an EMT for Frontier Ambulance in Riverton. She said she was "dumbfounded" to be awarded as one of the best EMTs in the nation.

Amber SteinmetzDecember 29, 2024

Uphill travel and ambitions continue to expand at Montana’s Big Sky Resort, where the new Lone Peak Tram and Powder Seeker Six Pack try to thin crowds by quickly dispersing skiers around the resort.

Montana’s Big Sky Resort Surges Ahead Of Jackson Hole In Lift Capacity Race

Big Sky Resort in Montana continues to compete with nearby Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for upscale ski clientele. It has surged ahead of its Wyoming neighbor with the opening of Madison 8, the longest eight-place chairlift in the world.

David MadisonDecember 29, 2024

Casper’s Backwards Distilling Co. makes its own liquors, then turns them into show-stealing cocktails. Many of the creations — and atmosphere — are inspired by the circus.

Drinking Wyoming: Cocktails Steal The Show At Casper’s Backwards Distilling Co.

Casper’s Backwards Distilling Co. makes its own spirits, then turns them into show-stealing cocktails. Many of the creations — and atmosphere — are inspired by the circus.

Zakary Sonntag for Cowboy State DailyDecember 29, 2024

Scissorbills Saloon in Big Sky, Montana.

Gallatin County, Montana, Is Drunkest County In America

A new CDC study shows that 27% of people who live in Gallatin County, Montana, drink to excess, making it the drunkest county in America. Nearby Teton County in Wyoming isn't far behind, dubbed the booziest in the Cowboy State.

David MadisonDecember 28, 2024

Beef steers graze on a ranch in Dillon, Montana. The machine nearby releases a seaweed supplement while also measuring the cattle's methane emissions.

Rupert Murdoch Feeds His Montana Cows Seaweed To Make Them Burp And Fart Less

Cattle are a gassy lot, but seaweed has been shown to reduce the methane in their burps and farts on Rupert Murdoch’s Montana ranch. The Fox News mogul is testing the approach on a mix of Angus and Waygu cattle.

David MadisonDecember 27, 2024

Wyoming Businesses Don’t Have To Disclose Owners After Whiplash Court Ruling

The on-again, off-again mandate for small businesses to disclose their ownership is off again after a Thursday whiplash ruling by a federal court. It halts the Corporate Transparency Act, which calls for jail time, $10,000 fines for noncompliance.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2024

The Megamillions lotto drawing Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, has an estimated jackpot of $1.15 billion.

Ticket Sales Explode As $1.15B Lotto Jackpot Has Wyomingites Feeling Lucky

There’s nothing like a jackpot pushing past $1 billion to make people start feeling lucky — or at least greedy. Ticket sales for Friday’s $1.15 billion Mega Millions jackpot are exploding around Wyoming.

Greg JohnsonDecember 27, 2024

Lines were long at the U.S. Postal Service office at Capitol Avenue in Cheyenne in this file photo.

Wyoming Mail Goes Hundreds Of Extra Miles Before Delivery

Wyoming mail is getting ping-ponged around the region, traveling hundreds of extra miles before finally being delivered. Tracking packages online is leaving customers beyond frustrated. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service says it will look into the issue.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2024

Small businesses make up the backbone of Cheyenne's downtown district.

Wyoming Business Owners Could Get Jail, $10,000 Fine For Not Disclosing Ownership

Small business owners face jail time and fines of up to $10,000 for not reporting who their owners are. They have until Jan 13, but Chuck Gray wants Wyoming to fight the rule in court.

Renée JeanDecember 26, 2024