Business & Tourism | Cowboy State Daily

In an aerial view, an Amazon Web Services data center is shown. Getty Images. Inset: Gov Mark Gordon, Matt Idler

Wyoming Pitches Itself To Data Center Developers At Closed-Door Jackson Summit

Wyoming leaders and tech giants will discuss whether the state can capture a share of the exploding AI data center boom at a closed-door Jackson summit this week. Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon Web Services will all be attending the meeting.

David MadisonMarch 30, 2026

Holy Cow! Wyoming And Montana Bull Sales Up 30% From A Year Ago

Bull sales in the Wyoming/Montana region are up 30% from a year ago as the trend in high cattle prices continues. Most bulls are selling anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 more than last year. Bulls that go for the highest dollar go to semen companies.

Kate MeadowsMarch 30, 2026

Wyoming has become a top retirement destination, outpacing even Florida and Arizona. Affordability, open spaces, and friendly faces are among the attractions. Walter and Sharon Merschat are retired in Casper. They've salvaged a former notorious drug house in the city, moved it and turned it into an attractive Airbnb. Now it's providing supplemental retirement income for the couple.

Wyoming Ranked Number One Retirement Destination Due To Affordability, Open Spaces

Wyoming has become the top retirement destination in the country, according to a recent census study. Wyoming has 76% more retirees moving to the state than No. 2 South Carolina and 105% more than No. 3 Idaho. “The state’s been wonderful," one retiree said.

Renée JeanMarch 29, 2026

Wind River Canyon White Water Rafting & Fishing has operated for over three decades in Thermopolis, Wyoming. At first they only offered white water rafting trips but as fishing has grown in popularity, the company began guiding fishing trips.

Fishing Boom Creates Wave Of New Businesses On The Bighorn River In Thermopolis

Fishing tourism is booming on the Bighorn River in Thermopolis and that's created niche businesses from fly-tying stores to sandwich shops to shuttles, rentals and real estate. “We have become a destination,” said one fishing guide.

Jackie DorothyMarch 29, 2026

Though dude ranch owners feel pressure to modernize some amenities, like offering WiFi, ranch hands are still waking up in the pre-dawn hours to prepare horses for guests, just as they've done for the past 100 years. Here is the entrance to the A Bar A Ranch near Encampment, Wyoming.

Wyoming Has Half Of The West’s 26 100-Year-Old Dude Ranches

Wyoming has 13 100-year-old dude raches, half of the 26 centennial ranches in the West, according to the Dude Ranchers' Association. They're all featured in "100 Years of Dude Ranching," which documents the industry's century of Western hospitality.

Anna-Louise JacksonMarch 28, 2026

David Brockman, owner of The Coin Shop in Cheyenne, still has about 100 complete state quarters sets. He's been spending them, because he doesn't believe they will ever be worth much more than face value. However, if you happen across a rare "pooping horse" Wyoming quarter, that's worth much more.

Wyoming’s Rare ‘Pooping Horse’ Quarter Could Be Worth A Lot More Than 25 Cents

A die break on Wyoming’s 2007-P state quarter created an infamous error that makes the bucking bronco seem to be “pooping." As most state quarters remain worth face value, a “pooping horse” could be worth up to $100 and maybe more.

Renée JeanMarch 28, 2026

After the warmest winter in Wyoming's history, trees in southern Wyoming are starting to bloom. Shane Smith, former director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, said it's the earliest bloom he's ever seen. Here, a blooming plum tree in Cheyenne.

"Unprecedented": Cheyenne Trees Blooming More Than A Month Earlier Than They Should

After one of the warmest winters in Wyoming's history, trees in southern Wyoming are starting to bloom. Shane Smith, former director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, said it's the earliest bloom he's ever seen. "This is all unprecedented," he said.

Andrew RossiMarch 27, 2026

In the same family since 1895, the Antlers Ranch has huge swaths of pristine Wyoming woodland with trophy fishing streams and lots of room to roam.

Historic Antlers Ranch In Meeteetse Sells After 131 Years With Same Family

After 131 years in the May family, Meeteetse’s Antlers Ranch has new owners. Those close to the deal say the new owners want to preserve this storied landscape where bison herds still roam and has been in the same family for five generations.

Renée JeanMarch 27, 2026

Crook County Rancher Donates 2,500-Acre Ranch To Land Trust To Keep It Ranchland

Crook County rancher David Ellsbury promised his mother on the day she died that the fourth-generation family ranch would never be developed. By donating it to a land trust last week, he has fulfilled her wishes. “It will never be developed,” Ellsbury said.

Kate MeadowsMarch 27, 2026

Landry Mabry’s Grand Champion Junior Market Barrow pig sold for $505,000 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, beating last year’s record of $501,000. His was the top pig of 2,200 pigs in the show.

Holy Cow! Pig Raised By 15-Year-Old Sells For World Record $505,000

A 15-year-old Texas boy sold his champion pig for a record $505,000 at the Houston Livestock Show and gets to keep about 10%. Wyoming FFA's Stacy Broda says although the money is always fun, raising livestock is more about teaching responsibility.

Kate MeadowsMarch 26, 2026

Just in time for tourist season, Cassie's Steakhouse in Cody is having its grand reopening on April 17. The famous restaurant and former brothel has been closed since 2024, but now it's received an extensive remodel to enhance the experience while retaining its history.

Famous Cody Steakhouse To Reopen After Major Remodel

Just in time for tourist season, Cassie's Steakhouse in Cody is having its grand reopening on April 17. The famous restaurant and former brothel, closed since 2024, has received an extensive remodel. “Cassie’s is back," said co-owner Brian Walker.

Andrew RossiMarch 25, 2026

Downtown buildings that are vacant are examples of blight according to the study presented to the city council on Tuesday included a former Chinese restaurant.

Study Finds Blight In All 7 Areas Of Casper; City Council OKs Plan To Move Forward

The Casper City Council on Tuesday gave a study that designated all seven areas of the city with “blight” a thumbs up as a first step toward renovating rundown areas, generating potential revenue and sparking urban renewal.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 25, 2026

Darts Til Dawn — A Lovell Bar Owner's Campaign To Party All Night

Audrey Bay lobbied the Lovell Town Council to bring back a drink-until-sunrise tradition during the Wyoming town's biggest summer celebration. She got two extra hours — and a 24-pound alligator.

David MadisonMarch 22, 2026

A VisitAfton reel plays off viral Ohio memes to draw a few laughs — and 83,000-plus viewers — to show off Afton’s small-town charm.

Social Media Strategy Of Promoting Afton In Ohio May Be Odd But They Say It Works

If you live in Ohio, you may get served a video on social media that says, "If you’re ever in Ohio, we recommend seeing Afton, Wyoming, which is only 1,629 miles away.” Although it may seem quirky, tourism officials in Afton say it's working very well.

Renée JeanMarch 22, 2026

Cassandra Vincelette hands the mug to a patron preparing to attempt the heavy mug challenge at Square State Brewing.

Fun To Watch: Most People Fail 31-Pound Mug Challenge At Rock Springs Brewery

Watching people try to drink beer from a 31-pound mug is fun to watch. Most people who try the challenge at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs fail. “They think they can do it but once they grab it, it’s a whole different story," the owner says.

Tracie SullivanMarch 22, 2026

Guilty Dog Transport, owned and operated by Eric Huyffer of Jackson, hauls some of the most expensive cars in Wyoming to various locations in the United States. His main gig, Huyffer said, is getting exotic cars like the Ferrari and Porsche to their oil change appointments in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Man Who Hauls Exotic Multimillion-Dollar Cars For Wyoming’s Super Rich

Eric Huyffer of Jackson hauls multimillion-dollar cars for the wealthy. Ferrari and Porsche are the two brands he hauls the most. “They have to be serviced by a certified technician and the closest certified technician for both are in Salt Lake City.”

Jackie DorothyMarch 21, 2026

Cody Family Selling Their Ghostbusters Cadillac

A family from Cody is selling their 1965 Ghostbusters Cadillac. The vehicle used to promote a defunct pizza chain in the Bighorn Basin and now the Ecto-1 is looking for a Ghostbusters fanatic who wants the road-legal vehicle for paranormal elimination.

Andrew RossiMarch 20, 2026

Holy Cow! Tens Of Thousands Of Cattle Displaced In Nebraska Wildfires

With 750,000+ acres of agricultural land destroyed by wildfire, Nebraska ranchers are facing tough decisions about where to graze their cattle. Jim Magagna, of the Wyoming Stockgrowers, says as Wyoming is also in a drought, can’t offer much pasture.

Kate MeadowsMarch 18, 2026

Fugitive Linked To $220 Million Cattle Fraud Case Arrested In Los Angeles

A Missouri man who was listed as a most-wanted FBI fugitive for more than a month was arrested in Los Angeles for his alleged part in a $220 million cattle fraud scheme. One cattle rancher told Cowboy State Daily he lost $3.5 million in the scheme.

Kate MeadowsMarch 16, 2026

At Jackson Hole camp Wilderness Adventures, kids surrender their cellphones for weeks, trading TikTok for the Tetons and Yellowstone. It’s intimidating, but also life-changing for kids who have never known a life without smartphones.

Welcome To The Wyoming Adventure Camp Where Cellphones Disappear For Weeks

All the young people know that the minute they arrive at camp, they'll give up their smartphones and live without them for the duration, whether two weeks or six. No texting or Instagram. No TikTok, no news, no email, and no midnight YouTube.

Renée JeanMarch 15, 2026

It was once the “second front page,” the thing people talked about at coffee shops and backyard barbecues. Now some Wyoming papers say the laughs and entertainment offered by local police blotters aren’t worth the potential downsides.

Wyoming Newspapers Weigh The Cost Of Publishing Police Blotter Laughs

The police blotter was once the “second front page,” the thing people talked about at coffee shops and backyard barbecues. Now some Wyoming papers say the laughs and entertainment offered by local police blotters aren’t worth the potential downsides.

David MadisonMarch 15, 2026

Mike and Kat Tipton enjoyed running their food truck, Tip's Kitchen, before a hole took out their food trailer and retirement hobby business.

Giant Pothole On I-80 Puts Popular Rock Springs Food Truck Out Of Business

A giant pothole on I-80 and a stingy insurance company has taken out Tip’s Kitchen for good. It began as a hobby for the Rock Springs couple but turned in to a popular food truck. "There’s probably not going to be another one,” the owners said.

Tracie SullivanMarch 15, 2026

Cowboy Engineers Build Self-Driving Rodeo Robot For Steer Roping Practice

To streamline steer roping practice, people started pulling dummy cows with ATVs. Then a pair of cowboy engineers took it a step further and built the "Rope Hog," where a dummy cow is pulled along by an ATV controlled with an ordinary vehicle key fob.

Mark HeinzMarch 14, 2026

The Pitchfork Ranch is piloting technology that lets ranchers draw fence on a smartphone with a fingertip. The virtual fence reacts with collars the cattle wear. It’s working so well, fencing might disappear, bringing back Wyoming’s Wild West open range.

Virtual Fences And Smart Collars Could Revive Wyoming’s Wild West Era Open Range

The Pitchfork Ranch is piloting technology that lets ranchers draw fence on a smartphone. The virtual fence reacts with collars the cattle wear. It’s working so well they say, fencing could disappear and bring back Wyoming’s Wild West era open range.

Renée JeanMarch 14, 2026