Business & Tourism
News

Bearded Bison Advocate Started His Own Buffalo Ranch North Of Yellowstone
Matt Skoglund is a bearded bison advocate who left a law career in Chicago for a Western ag lifestyle. Now his bison ranch north of Yellowstone has become a model of natural ranching that serves customers in Montana, Wyoming and as far away as Florida.
David MadisonJuly 13, 2025

Meet Dr. Cowboy, The Animal Chiropractor Putting More Buck Into Rodeo Bulls
When a rodeo bull refuses to buck, Dr. Cowboy uses his animal chiropractic tools to bring them back to life. He has successfully convinced even the most stubborn cowboy that this newfangled tool and technique is just the cure for their ailing bulls.
Jackie DorothyJuly 13, 2025

How A Young Cuban Exile Became A Wyoming Ag Hall-Of-Fame Rancher
Once an 11-year-old exile from Fidel Castro’s Communist Cuba, Juan Reyes was recently named to the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. Juan Reyes knew nothing about the U.S. when he arrived, but says ranching in Wyoming became his American dream.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 13, 2025

Fluff And Fold With Culture: Dubois Buffalo Skull Laundromat To Host Art Exhibit
A pair of artists in Dubois are planning an art show in an unusual space. Instead of a gallery, their show is going inside the town’s famous laundromat, the one with the giant buffalo skull entrance.
Renée JeanJuly 13, 2025

Visitors Can’t Find Rooms In Dubois, So Military Museum Owner Is Building A Motel
Despite a number of mom-and-pop motels and 90-some Airbnbs in the area, Dubois is often out of rooms for tourists in the summer. It was impacting growth for the National Museum of Military Vehicles, so owner Dan Starks is building a new 70-bed motel.
Renée JeanJuly 12, 2025

$9.95M Jackson Home Once Fequented By Payton Manning Is Perfect For Golfers
A luxury Jackson, Wyoming, home perfect for an avid golfer and once frequented by Peyton Manning has hit the market for $9.95 million.
Renée JeanJuly 11, 2025
Casper’s $7.3M Cardio Lab Will Save People Hours Of Travel For Simple Treatments
A new $7.3 million lab has opened at Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper that targets the electrical part of the heart. It will save central Wyoming heart patients hours of travel, sometimes out of state, to get 15-minute procedures.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 10, 2025

Wyoming Data Center Hires Public Service Commissioner Mary Throne
Prometheus Hyperscale, a new data center project in western Wyoming, has hired Wyoming Public Service Commissioner Mary Throne to help it navigate the regulatory environment. Throne starts Aug. 1 and will step down from her role at the PSC.
Renée JeanJuly 10, 2025

Lightning Not Only A Wildfire Threat, It Also Kills A Lot Of Cows And Livestock
People were stunned by the death of a local animal celebrity, Larry the camel, who was stuck and killed by lightning last week but animal deaths from lightning are more common than many people might think.
Mark HeinzJuly 10, 2025

Gravel Mine Developer Appeals State Land Board Denial Of Casper Mountain Leases
The company pushing to mine gravel on state-owned land at the base of Casper Mountain isn’t giving up. After the State Land Board denied renewing the leases for Prism Logistics, the company this week filed a judicial appeal of the land board’s decision.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 09, 2025

Town Of Shoshoni In Talks For State-Of-The-Art Cardiology Clinic
The town of Shoshoni has a population of less than 500 people but its town hall sits on one of the state's busiest crossroads. To attract economic development, the city offered it for sale. A cardiology clinic has proposed building a 7,620-square-foot clinic there.
Renée JeanJuly 06, 2025

Employment Boom: Wyoming Unions Say Thousands Of Electricians Needed
Jerry Payne with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 322 told Cowboy State Daily he has a project in Kemmerer that will need 540 electricians. His counterpart with Local IBEW 415, Truett Thompson, needs another 400 to 500 electricians. That's just the tip of the iceberg, they say.
Renée JeanJuly 06, 2025

Drinking Wyoming, Montana Edition: Knights, Kilts, And Dragon Steaks At Captain Scurvy’s
Captain Scurvy's Black Dragon Den in Billings, Montana, is a blast back to medieval times and the Renaissance. Cosplay is encouraged — 10% off if you’re in costume — while you devour turkey legs and “dragon” steaks.
David MadisonJuly 05, 2025

As Medical Imaging Tech Advances, Wyoming Has A Shortage Of People To Operate It
Technology for medical imaging is advancing at a frantic pace, but there aren’t qualified experts to put them to use in Wyoming. A new study shows Wyoming has 9 radiologists per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 13.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025

Her Parents Fled Vietnam. These Veterans Fought There. Now They Eat Together
People have told V Cafe Owner KimChi Vu that her Vietnamese restaurant inside the Dubois VFW post is surprising or ironic. This short documentary explores how the cafe owners, veterans, and the community forge strong bonds over delicious food.
Reilly Strand & Hannah BrockJuly 05, 2025

Ian Munsick’s Line Of Western Accessories Sells Out In Nashville
Wyoming native Ian Munsick is one of country music’s fastest rising stars. He’ll headline Cheyenne Frontier Days for the first time this summer, and his new line of buckles, bolos and other Western accessories has sold out in Nashville.
Renée JeanJuly 04, 2025

US Ballistic To Start Churning Out 155-mm Military Artillery Shells In Cody
A building in Cody that was once used for pharmaceuticals, then eyed by Kanye West as a shoe factory, is on track to start assembling artillery shells. US Ballistic Labs says it picked Wyoming for its patriotic and firearms-friendly culture.
Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

Historic Sheridan Rodeo Ranch, Now A Working Angus Operation, For Sale
The P.K. Ranch hosted a rodeo that went head-to-head with Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1928 and still attracted 17,000 people from 28 states. The historic property, today known as the Cato Ranch, is going up for sale.
Renée JeanJuly 04, 2025

Wyoming Being Considered For Location Of Another Huge New Data Center
A partnership between OpenAI and Oracle could lead to the construction of another large data center in Wyoming. Cheyenne is a very popular location for national data centers because of its location and the availability of the necessary power.
Matthew ChristianJuly 03, 2025

Cheyenne Restaurant Owner Makes A Gay Joke On Sign — LGBTQ Group Borrows It
When a Cheyenne restaurant owner posted a PG-rated gay joke on his roadside sign, Wyoming’s top LGBTQ advocacy group decided to run with the joke — and call for more.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025

Wyoming Farrier Goes From Shoeing Horses To Crafting High-End Steel Cookware
Paul Angiolillo started out shoeing horses, then he dreamt up a new career as a blacksmith specializing in carbon steel cookware. "I actually started having dreams about anvils in my sleep," he said. Now the Freedom, Wyoming, man is gaining a following for his high-end creations.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

There’s Love — And Hundreds Of Baseball Caps — In The Air At The Chico Saloon
The Chico Saloon north of Yellowstone is a funky honkytonk legendary for its weddings and hundreds of baseball caps hanging from the rafters. It’s also where actor Jeff Bridges was famously rejected by a server who would later become his wife.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

No Income Tax, Dynasty Trusts Draw Wealth To Wyoming — And Not Just Jackson
No income or capital gains taxes, 1,000-year dynasty trusts and Wyoming’s cowboy culture and national parks are drawing more wealth than ever to the state. And not just to Jackson Hole.
Renée JeanJune 29, 2025

Teen Is First Cody High Student To Graduate Already Licensed To Drive Trucks
McCoy Banks walked across the stage for his Cody High School graduation last month and walked into the world already qualified for a high-paying job. He’s the first CHS student to graduate having already earned a commercial driver’s license.
Amber SteinmetzJune 29, 2025

Robotaxis Are Here, But Can’t Yet Handle A Wyoming Winter
Driverless taxis are rolling out in urban areas across the nation and going viral for their miscues. Don't expect them in Wyoming anytime soon as robotaxis can't handle winter weather. But industry analysts say autonomous driving is coming.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

Welcome To Voghera: Cheyenne’s Sister City In Italy
Did you know Cheyenne has a sister city in Italy? It’s Voghera, where Napoleon once stood and you can see the gun that shot Mussolini. It also has a Western soul and familiar feel, including a cowboy-inspired theme park and Frontier Days posters.
Anna-Louise JacksonJune 28, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: Shoshoni’s Lucky 5 Is A Whisky And Beer Dive That Has Your Back
At the Lucky 5 Lounge in Shoshoni, the regulars can tell you’re an out-of-towner the second you walk through the door. “You’re not from around here, are you?” they ask when you order wine. This is a whisky and beer bar but they won't hold that wine order against you.
Zakary SonntagJune 28, 2025

Notorious Montana Mansion Rescued By A Couple From Meeteetse Can Be Had For $27M
A Billings mansion known as “The Castle” is notorious for a massive fraud that involved a fake kidnapping and rogue biker gang. It was rescued by a couple from Meeteetse and is now back on the market for $27 million.
David MadisonJune 28, 2025

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

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 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

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

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 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
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

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

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
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

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

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

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

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

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