Business & Tourism | Cowboy State Daily

Sugar beets being harvested near Lovell, Wyoming.

Wyoming Farmers And Ranchers Worry Farm Bill Won’t Get Senate Vote Before Deadline

Wyoming farmers and ranchers say they worry about whether the 2026 Farm Bill will reach the full Senate in time for a vote before it expires Sept. 30. Once there, the Farm Bill will need 60 votes to pass.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 17, 2026

National High School Finals Rodeo Is Returning To Gillette Cam-Plex A Year Early

The National High School Finals Rodeo will be returning to Gillette in 2027, giving it three consecutive years before the event moves to Oklahoma in 2030. The NHSFR has a $25 million economic impact on Gillette, which has hosted it more than any city.

Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2026

The State of Wyoming paid $1.8 million for Star Plunge in Hot Springs State Park. Now it might need to spend $1 million to demolish it.

Wyoming Paid $1.8 Million For Star Plunge — And Might Spend $1 Million To Demolish

Wyoming spent two years and $1.8 million in public money to buy the historic Star Plunge water park in Hot Springs State Park. Now severe electrical problems and gas leaks mean it might have to spend another $1 million just to tear down the property.

Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2026

Camporee, Giant Youth Camping Event That Brought 60,000 To Gillette, Won't Return

International Pathfinder Camporee, a youth camping event that brought more than 60,000 people to Gillette in 2024, is headed back to its longtime home in Wisconsin, leaving a $1.6 million amphitheater and a $125,000 deposit behind.

Renée JeanSeptember 14, 2026

The Durham ranch in northeast Wyoming is the state's largest bison ranch with about 3,000 head. The ranch's bison meat and other products are sold across the country.

Bison Have Rebounded From Brink Of Extinction To Become Big Business In Wyoming

American bison have rebounded from the brink of extinction to become one of the West’s great conservation stories. It happened in part because Wyoming ranchers, showmen, and entrepreneurs figured out how to make bison big business.

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2026

What began as Dwight Koehn's desperate attempt to help feed his cattle nearly a decade ago by growing hydroponic lettuce has ballooned into a new business. Now Greybull Valley Produce sells its produce to stores, restaurants and schools.

Struggling Greybull Cattle Rancher's Gamble On Hydroponic Lettuce Pays Off Big Time

What began as a Greybull rancher’s desperate attempt to help feed his cattle by growing hydroponic lettuce has ballooned into a new business. Now his company produces tons of greens every year and distributes them to stores, restaurants and schools.

Jackie DorothySeptember 13, 2026

Stone Drug, Jackson’s go-to pharmacy for 50 years, survives with a wildly diverse front-end to fight sky-high housing local housing costs and razor-thin medication margins. It also has a loyal following of its store dogs, Zuri and Lucy.

Stone Drug’s Secret Prescription After 50 Years In Jackson Are Two Lovable Dogs

Jackson Hole's longtime independent pharmacy Stone Drug is celebrating 50 years in business. Its strategy blends dog-powered customer service with a wildly diverse front-end to outlast sky-high housing and razor thin medication margins.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

West End Apartments is the first new apartment complex completed in Cheyenne's downtown in a long while. It has 101 luxury apartments, and is already 60% pre-leased.

Cheyenne Is Reshaping Housing Market With New Upscale Apartment Complex On West Side

The West End Apartments, with its 101 units, is the first major apartment complex completed in Cheyenne's downtown in many years. Another 97-unit building will open soon on Cheyenne's east edge. It's estimated Cheyenne will need up to 7,000 homes by 2030.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Alyssa Lenell-White is creating unique custom-made cowboy boots that start at $3,500 and can take months to finish. There was a time when the Cheyenne woman swore up and down she would never make a cowboy boot, now that’s all she does.

Cheyenne Woman Once Swore Off Cowboy Boots, Now Her Custom-Made Boots Start At $3,500

A Cheyenne woman is creating unique, custom-made cowboy boots that start at $3,500 and can take months to finish. There was a time when Alyssa Lenell-White swore up and down she would never make a cowboy boot, now that’s all she does.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Steve Ingber, — aka the MileHighCook — is bringing white-glove fine-dining to Wyoming’s poshest and wildest places as Jackson Hole has discovered the young chef as his fastest-growing market. His high-end mobile chef business is part of a growing industry trend.

Jackson Is A Booming Market For MileHighCook And His High-End Mobile Kitchen

The MileHighCook is bringing white-glove fine-dining to the outdoors with his high-end mobile kitchen — like the ranch wedding for 124 people in a remote area with no electricity. Jackson is his fastest growing market with people who own second homes.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2026

Chuck Harter of the McCarty & Sons construction firm in Denver finishes knocking down the twin chimneys at the historic Twin Chimneys Motor Court built in the 1950s in Cheyenne on Tuesday. A 7 Brew Coffee stand will be built on the site.

Once-Iconic Twin Chimneys Motel In Cheyenne Torn Down To Make Way For Coffee Shop

The once-iconic Twin Chimneys Motor Court that marked a once-popular Cheyenne motel on the historic Lincoln Highway lasted for almost 90 years, but the chimneys came tumbling down in about 30 seconds this week to make way for a coffee shop.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 12, 2026

At 23 feet tall sitting down, a pair of South Dakota chainsaw artists have created the world’s biggest bigfoot, making it impossible for the mythical monster to hide.

Good News! The World's Largest Bigfoot Is Only 60 Miles From Wyoming

Although the Guinness-verified world's largest Bigfoot won't likely replace Mount Rushmore as South Dakota's top tourist spot, this gigantic Sasquatch — created by two local chainsaw artists — is drawing plenty of visitors. And, it's only 60 miles from Wyoming.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 12, 2026

Battle Lake is a natural 22-acre alpine body of water formed by a moraine dam in Carbon County.

Saving Battle Lake: How A Small Carbon County District Outbid Luxury Developers

When the Little Snake River Conservation District in Carbon County saw luxury real estate developers circling scenic Battle Lake to subdivide, a coalition worked to outbid them. "We were able to pull it together and make it happen,” said one resident.

Renée JeanSeptember 11, 2026

Hilltop Bank Shutdown Just Confirms Why Wyoming Needs Gold, Lawmaker Says

Sen. Bob Ide didn't want to say "I told you so," because he empathizes with customers and businesses agonizing over Hilltop's cybersecurity shutdown this week. But this is exactly why he's pushed bills to bring gold and silver into Wyoming's economy, he said.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 10, 2026

Hilltop Bank shut down all branches and offices Wednesday after experiencing a "cybersecurity incident" and then disconnected itself from the internet to contain the issue.

Customers Shocked As ‘Cybersecurity Incident’ Shuts Down Hilltop Bank Across Wyoming

Customers were shocked Wednesday to find Hilltop Bank closed across Wyoming and unavailable over the internet. The bank said it had a 'cybersecurity incident' and went offline to contain the issue and has no timetable for reopening.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 09, 2026

The historic Snake River Lodge in Teton Village has reopened as Faraway Jackson Hole.

Jackson Hole's Snake River Lodge Gets A New Name And Ultra-Luxury Makeover

A northwest Wyoming destination for 26 years, Snake River Lodge has a new name — Faraway Jackson Hole — and has been given an ultra-luxury makeover. The parent company's renovation somewhat echoes how Faraway Martha’s Vineyard was developed.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

Engines are being assembled at this station, and will be moved into place as the engine further down the line is moved onto the assembly line.

New $70 Million Evansville Plant Making Generators To Meet Surging Need For Power

A new $70 million, 220,000-square-foot facility has opened in Evansville, Wyoming, making generators as America’s need for more power is surging. Mesa Power Solutions plans to build up to 6,000 generators a year.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

Wyoming Couple Fell In Love At Laramie’s Cowboy Saloon — Then Bought The Place

Trevor and Trinity Thatcher had their first date at Laramie’s iconic Cowboy Saloon and Dance Hall. Now the Wyoming couple has bought the country honkey-tonk where they fell in love. “We still get goosebumps every time walking in the door," Trinity said.

Renée JeanSeptember 06, 2026

The Worland team who salvaged the bowling alley in Louisiana and brought it up to Worland

Hurricane Lanes: Destroyed By Louisiana Hurricane, Bowling Alley's New Life In Worland

Why would a bowling alley in Worland, Wyoming, be named "Hurricane Lanes?" It's because the bowling alley was once in Louisiana but destroyed by Hurricane Ida. A Worland group made a 3,400-mile roundtrip to salvage the wreckage and give it new life.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 05, 2026

After saving Pinedale's Stockman’s Steakhouse and Saloon from the wrecking ball and restoring its historic charm over a past decade, the owner is ready to retire. The 6,180-square-foot landmark is for sale for $4.85 million.

Pinedale Man Who Saved Landmark Stockman’s Steakhouse & Saloon Selling For $4.85M

After saving Pinedale's Stockman’s Steakhouse and Saloon from the wrecking ball and restoring its historic charm, the owner is ready to retire. The 6,180-square-foot landmark is for sale for $4.85 million.

Renée JeanSeptember 05, 2026

After winning four consecutive national titles at the Buffalo Wings Festival in New York, Laramie-based Weitzel's Wings has elected not to defend its titles at this year's competition.

4-Time National Buffalo Wing Champ Sat Out This Year To Give Others ‘A Chance’

Laramie-based Weitzel’s Wings didn't defend their unprecedented four straight national Buffalo Wing Fest titles last weekend in New York. “As much as I love winning, I want other people to have a chance to win, that’s how I am," said Trent Weitzel.

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 05, 2026

Broderick Thomas, the Becks' son, prepares a cut of meat alongside his father, Dana, and ranch hand Quinton Boyles.

Uinta County Ranch Family Builds USDA Meat Processing Plant From The Ground Up

After years of hauling cattle and beef to Utah, a Uinta County ranch family decided to take matters into their own hands and build a USDA-inspected meat processing facility on their ranch. The plant will have its final USDA inspection on Friday.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 01, 2026

Maria Vargas styles hair at her salon on North Cache in Jackson. Vargas had to move out Monday because of a new hotel and residences project.

Jackson Hair Stylist Gets Booted For Gigantic 309,000-Square-Foot Hotel Project

Maria Vargas was exhausted and crying as she dismantled her hair salon stations in downtown Jackson on Monday. She was among a handful of remaining business owners who had a deadline to move out for an incoming 309,000 square-foot hotel project.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2026

Driskill Blasts Trump Meeting World's Largest Meatpacker Before Beef Import Deal

Crook County rancher Sen. Ogden Driskill is unhappy about President Trump's meeting with a Brazilian meatpacking billionaire a day before he announced 300,000 tons of beef imports. Driskill said it is costing Wyoming producers millions.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 01, 2026