Business & Tourism | Cowboy State Daily

This silver coin is a piece of eight, so-named because it could be cut into eight pieces for trading. The coin's collectible value is still worth more than its mere metal value. The silver is worth $70 or so dollars, but as a collectible, the coin is worth about $600.

Record Prices Have Wyoming Silver Owners On Alert As Global Demand Surges

With prices for silver hitting record highs as the year closes out, some in Wyoming are selling their silver. But other silver bugs are holding on, expecting prices to continue climbing.

Renée JeanDecember 30, 2025

The stuffed emperor penguin on display at the Green River Little America started its journey to Wyoming from Antarctica alive and died during transport. The plan was to keep a living penguin at the hotel, but it was doomed from the start. The bird was taxidermied and arrived stuff, and it remains on display at the first Little America.

Little America Wyoming’s Plan To Keep A Living Penguin Was Doomed From The Start

Back in the 1930s, an ill-advised plan was hatched to keep a living penguin at the Little America hotel in southwest Wyoming. The emperor penguin started its journey from Antarctica alive but died during transport. The stuffed penguin is still on display there and another at the Little America hotel in Cheyenne.

Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025

The County Road 104 bridge over the Salt River traces its design roots to World War II.

Crumbling Bridge Near Alpine Replaced In Days With WWII ‘Erector Set’ Tech

When a crumbling bridge over the Salt River near Alpine was failing, engineers turned to an “Erector Set” concept invented during WW II. It comes together in days, and could be used more across Wyoming with nearly half the state’s bridges past their prime.

David MadisonDecember 27, 2025

The research happening at Wyoming’s supercomputer facility in Cheyenne is about much more than climate change. It’s led to fundamental breakthroughs that have made many pursuits safer, ranging from fighting wildfires to flying jets.

Researchers Fight To Keep Wyoming's NCAR Supercomputer Alive

Researchers, many of whom are Trump supporters, say the president is getting bad advice about defunding Wyoming's NCAR supercomputer. They say NCAR is responsible for breakthroughs that have made many things safer, ranging from fighting wildfires to flying jets.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2025

Shawn Norby holds a sign explaining the Star Plunge water park and hot springs in Thermopolis was closed Jan. 14, 2025, a day earlier than expected, as a dispute continues between the state and the facility's owners/operators.

One Year Later, Star Plunge Hot Springs Still Closed As Legal Stalemate Continues

Almost a year after the popular Star Plunge at Hot Springs State Park abruptly closed, it remains shut. A legal stalemate over who will operate the attraction continues.

Renée JeanDecember 26, 2025

An investment broker is flooding Facebook with ads insinuating NVIDIA may be coming to Kemmerer and that the small Wyoming town is ground zero for minting the nation’s next millionaires. A Wyoming finance watchdog says don’t bet the farm on it.

Despite Aggressive Facebook Hype, No Evidence NVIDIA Is In Or Coming To Kemmerer

An investment broker is flooding Facebook with ads insinuating NVIDIA may be in or coming to Kemmerer and that the small Wyoming town is ground zero for minting the nation’s next millionaires. A Wyoming finance watchdog says don’t bet the farm on it.

Renée JeanDecember 24, 2025

After strong winds blew more than 100 stacked freight cars off BNSF Railway tracks near Cheyenne on Friday, crews mobilized to clean it up. Within 18 hours, the tracks were clear again.

Crew Clears 100+ Derailed Freight Cars From Track Near Cheyenne In 18 Hours

After a massive derailment near Cheyenne on Friday, the BNSF Railway was left with an enormous task — clearing more than 100 blown-over freight cars and getting trains moving again.

Andrew RossiDecember 23, 2025

The goal for Aaron King and Michael Armagost who created Arcade Laradise is to offer a social and competitive pinball space on par with Pinball Jones in Fort Collins.

New Laramie Arcade Aims To Put Wyoming On National Competitive Pinball Map

Earlier this year, Wyoming was the only state not to send someone to the North American Pinball Championship. Arcade Laradise, a newly-opened arcade in Laramie hopes to change that by hosting tournaments that could qualify players for national championships.

David MadisonDecember 22, 2025

The Grand Theater at 250 Main St. in Lander is for sale, listing for $1 million. Locals hope the historic theater, built in 1929, will remain a community space for movies and performances, but a new owner might see more value in the land it sits on.

Lander's Historic Grand Theater For Sale, But Locals Worried It May Be Torn Down

The Grand Theater in Lander is for sale, listing for $1 million. Locals hope the historic theater, built in 1929, will remain a community space for movies and performances, but they're worried a new owner might see more value in the land it sits on.

Andrew RossiDecember 21, 2025

Closing the huge Tyson Foods beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska, has left locals “mad, sad, and numb.” It also has the town’s hospital and school district in limbo with the potential for 3,200 families to leave.

Nebraska Hospital CEO: Tyson’s “Spreadsheet Decision” Will Devastate Health Care

In a scathing letter to Tyson CEO Donnie King, Lexington hospital CEO Jason Douglas said the company’s decision to leave will devastate health care in the area. “You made a spreadsheet decision … and 3,200 families became nothing more than a line item.”

Greg JohnsonDecember 21, 2025

Freddie Johnson entertaining folks during a tour of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. He will bring his shtick to Yellowstone National Park’s wilderness in a glass-walled tasting room where the buffalo roam.

Holding A Whiskey-Tasting In A Glass Box In The Middle Of The Wyoming Wilderness

Kentucky-based Buffalo Trace Distillery is holding a whiskey-tasting in a custom-built room with floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the Wyoming wilderness near Yellowstone this summer. They say the secret location will be in the middle of a bison herd.

Renée JeanDecember 21, 2025

‘A Gut Punch’: Nebraska Town Shell-Shocked By Tyson Closing Huge Beef Plant

About 3,200 of Lexington, Nebraska’s 11,000 residents work at a huge Tyson Foods beef processing plant — for another month. News that the plant will close next month was an unexpected “gut punch” many fear will devastate this rural cow town.

Greg JohnsonDecember 20, 2025

The former owners of a house on Thorndike Avenue in Casper and a journalist who wrote a story on it have gone public warning potential bidders to beware of the property.

Casper ‘House From Hell’ Once Covered In Deadly Mold Heads To Auction

A mold-infested Casper home with a failing foundation, once owned by a former councilman, is headed to auction with no inspections allowed. The ex-owners and a reporter are warning bidders it could be a financial and health disaster.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 18, 2025

Ford announced Monday it is discontinuing the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup after just three-and-a-half years in production, taking a $19.5 billion write-down as part of a major strategic pivot away from large battery-electric vehicles.

Rocky Mountain Auto Dealers Not Surprised Ford Discontinues Electric Pickup

Auto dealers in the Rocky Mountain region said they weren't surprised with Ford's announcement that the company was discontinuing its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup. "I saw this coming. So we greatly scaled-back our ordering," one dealer said.

David MadisonDecember 17, 2025

Inside A Jackson Hole Family's Fight To Keep The Diamond Cross Ranch Going

A Wyoming family shares an inside view of their struggles to ranch in pricey Jackson Hole and pass their ranch on to the next generation. It’s part of a new eight-part Cowboy Channel documentary that started Sunday.

Renée JeanDecember 16, 2025

Trump Targets Tractor Regulations, Promising Relief For Wyoming Farmers

President Donald Trump says he’ll cut environmental rules he says make tractors too costly and hard to fix. He backs new EPA changes that give farmers more time before diesel equipment is slowed or shut down.

David MadisonDecember 15, 2025

Wyoming’s infamous winter winds were in full force this week, leaving dozens of blown-over semitrailers littered across the state’s highways. Just off I-25 in Chugwater, it was even too windy to pour a cup of coffee.

Just Off I-25 In Chugwater, It’s Too Windy Even For A Cup Of Coffee

Wyoming’s infamous winter wind was in full force this week, leaving dozens of blown-over semitrailers littered across the state’s highways. Just off I-25 in Chugwater, it was too windy even to pour a cup of coffee.

Renée JeanDecember 13, 2025

Nebraska ranchers built a producer-owned beef plant that’s reviving North Platte’s shrinking economy. Wyoming ranchers like the idea but say it’s challenging to copy in the Cowboy State.

Cattle Ranchers Revive Nebraska Town With Bold Producer-Owned Beef Plant

Nebraska’s new producer-owned packing plant opened in May and is among the first to be built in America in a generation. It’s also an experiment that’s already rewriting the future for a small western town that was once the fastest shrinking community in Nebraska.

Renée JeanDecember 13, 2025

Longmire Author Craig Johnson Embarks On Annual Christmas Story Tour

A real-life skunk encounter inspired Wyoming author Craig Johnson’s annual ‘Longmire’ Christmas story this year. Johnson will read the story at libraries across Wyoming and Montana, a tradition more than 20 years old.

Renée JeanDecember 12, 2025

Massive Tree Damages Broadway Theater in Downtown Rock Springs

In what theatre critics would call an overblown performance, Tuesday's windstorm knocked over a massive tree behind the Broadway Theater in downtown Rock Springs. The tree went "through the roof," but the Christmas shows will go on, they say.

Andrew RossiDecember 10, 2025

Cheyenne Foundation Purchases Outlaw Saloon, Will Turn It Into Rec Center

The future of Cheyenne’s Outlaw Saloon, Wyoming’s largest bar, is settled. The Maury and Bonnie Brown Foundation purchased the building and will turn it into a rec center. Peaches Tyrrell, who's overseeing the project, says it will be a "YMCA on steroids."

Renée JeanDecember 10, 2025

If you purchased a Cowboy Draw ticket at the Daniel Junction Foodmart in Sublette County recently, you’ll want to check your numbers.

Daniel Junction Foodmart Store Sells $2.2 Million Wyoming Lottery Ticket

Someone who bought a Cowboy Draw ticket at the Daniel Junction Foodmart in Sublette County is $2.2 million dollars richer. The winning ticket was pulled on Monday at the outpost in Sublette County.

Jimmy OrrDecember 09, 2025

Riverfront Jackson Hole Lodge Lists For $39.5M With Grand Teton Views

A 21-acre Jackson estate in a coveted neighborhood has just hit the market for $39.5 million. It offers private Snake River frontage, as well as winding creeks full of trout, cinematic views and serene wilderness. Plus, it's just 5 minutes from downtown.

Renée JeanDecember 08, 2025

Statue honoring the nation’s first female justice of the peace, Wyoming’s Esther Hobart Morris, in state capitol on Dec 8, 2025

It's Over: Wyoming History Groups Finalize Split, Chart New Independent Paths

Two of Wyoming’s most influential historical organizations say they have finalized their split with the Wyoming Historical Society. The Wyoming Historical Foundation and WyoHistory.org say they will move forward together without the society.

Renée JeanDecember 08, 2025