Business and Tourism Reporter

Renée Jean

Renée Jean is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

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Latest from Renée Jean

The historic Sheridan Inn is considered one of Wyoming's most haunted hotels. Now that may have some science behind the claim, as it's part of a study of five of the state's most haunted hotels.

How A Huge Hail Mary Saved The Sheridan Inn From Caving In

Now a Wyoming showpiece, the historic Sheridan Inn was six months from caving in about 20 years ago. It took unusual resolve and a huge Hail Mary to save it — and some help from its ghosts.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

Wyoming’s historic Spear Ranch is where Ernest Hemingway found the solitude and seclusion he needed to finish “A Farewell to Arms.” It’s also near Wyoming’s oldest polo field, and can be had for $29 million.

Historic Spear Ranch, Where Hemingway Finished ‘A Farewell To Arms,’ Lists For $29 Million

Wyoming’s historic Spear Ranch is where Ernest Hemingway found the solitude and seclusion he needed to finish “A Farewell to Arms.” The Big Horn property is also near Wyoming’s oldest polo field, and can be had for $29 million.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

Despite widespread distaste for lab-grown meat in Wyoming, ranchers see problems with bans like the ones instituted in Montana and Nebraska. What they want instead are clear labels.

Why Wyoming Isn’t Joining The Ban On Lab-Grown Meat

Despite widespread distaste in Wyoming for lab-grown meat, ranchers see problems with bans like the ones instituted in Montana and Nebraska. Rancher Tyler Lindholm said of the ban, "It’s authoritarian as hell.” What they want instead are clear labels.

Renée JeanJune 06, 2025

Hoop dancing demo at Wyoming Historical Society's Summer Trek in Thermopolis

Delinquent Tax Paperwork Preceded Implosion Of Wyoming History Groups

More details are emerging over the rift that has grown in a decades-long partnership between three of Wyoming’s most prominent history groups. Records show problems leading to their split began much earlier than February.

Renée JeanJune 05, 2025

Social media meme (left). Newly installed Wyoming Historical Society Executive Director Aley Philp (right)

Wyoming Loves Its History But Its History Groups No Longer Love Each Other

A slow-motion blow-up is happening between three long-time history organizations. The resulting implosion is threatening to split Wyoming’s historical community in two.

Renée JeanJune 04, 2025

Wyoming-based Airloom Energy has developed novel wind energy technology that uses a "clothesline" model turbine to generate power. It's an example of a high-growth startup.

Figuring Out Why So Many High-Growth Business Startups Fail In Wyoming

Wyoming has an enviable overall success rate of up to 77% for startup businesses that are still active after one year. But that stat hides a big problem — high-impact, growth-oriented companies have a success rate that’s much lower

Renée JeanJune 01, 2025

F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a secret underground world full of soldier-created artwork that most people have never seen.

The Secret Underground World Of F.E. Warren Air Force Base Murals

F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a secret underground world full of airmen-created artwork that most people have never seen. Set to disappear after the Minuteman III missiles are replaced, former missileer Jim Warner is determined to save them.

Renée JeanJune 01, 2025

A barn at the JO Ranch in Carbon County.

Carbon County's JO Ranch A Throwback To An Untamed Wyoming

Only the hardiest of souls ever lived at the now-abandoned JO Ranch in southern Carbon County. The ranch’s stone buildings, built in 1890, are as old as the state and still standing, a throwback to an untamed Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2025

A Laramie couple sold their home and bought a cabin on board a luxury cruise ship. Now they’re spending four years cruising around the world for the same cost as their lifestyle in Wyoming. Here they're on deck of The Odyssey in Acapulco, Mexico.

Wyoming Couple Trade Home In Laramie For Four Years On Luxury Cruise Ship

A Laramie couple sold their home and bought a cabin on the luxury cruise ship Odyssey. Now they’re spending four years cruising around the world for the same cost as their lifestyle in Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2025

The CK Gold Project about 20 miles west of Cheyenne in Laramie County is close to securing permitting, which comes at a good time with high gold prices.

At $3,300 An Ounce, Prices Prime For Southeast Wyoming’s CK Gold Project

With gold prices trading high at $3,300 an ounce, timing may be prime for the CK Gold Project in Southeast Wyoming. It’s completed most of its state permitting, with a Laramie County hearing for local permits next month.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2025

The newly unveiled Lincoln Locomotive 1616 and Big Boy 4014 will meet up twice this summer in Greeley, Colorado, for a whistle stop.

Union Pacific’s Big Boy Has A Date With Newly Unveiled Lincoln Locomotive

The newly unveiled Abraham Lincoln commemorative locomotive No. 1616 and Cheyenne's Big Boy No. 4014 will meet up twice this summer in Greeley for a whistle stop. Four cab rides will also be auctioned for rides on Big Boy between Cheyenne and Denver.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2025

Hot Springs County Rallies To Boost Tourism During Prolonged Star Plunge Closure

Hot Springs County is rallying to save its tourism season despite what’s become a prolonged closure of the popular Star Plunge hot springs pools. To do that, it’s putting the spotlight on attractions outside the park — fishing, new trails and more events.

Renée JeanMay 27, 2025

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Former Sheridan broadcast pioneer and business owner Kim Love died Saturday. Friends and family recall him as outspoken, never afraid to say what was on his mind, and a stalwart economic and civic backer of Sheridan known as a “genius at” philanthropy.

Sheridan Mourns Kim Love, Broadcast Pioneer And Philanthropist

Sheridan broadcast pioneer and business owner Kim Love died Saturday. Friends and family recall him as outspoken, never afraid to say what was on his mind, and a stalwart economic and civic backer of Sheridan known as a “genius at” philanthropy.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Chad Brown poses in front of a section of about 480 barrels in the backrooms of Pine Bluffs Distillery.

Pine Bluffs Distilling Wins International Award With Wyoming-Grown Whiskey

Pine Bluffs Distilling’s straight rye whiskey won a prestigious double-gold medal at an American Distilling Institute international competition. It’s a big win for a small-town craft distillery that makes whiskey with Wyoming-grown ingredients.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Artifacts that date back to 16,000 years ago have been recently found in Sunrise, Wyoming, older than the site’s previous 14,000-year-old find. That’s the oldest yet evidence of people in the Western High Plains.

Wyoming Ghost Town Site Gives Up Evidence Of People From 16,000 Years Ago

Artifacts that date back to 16,000 years ago have been recently found at the ghost town site of Sunrise, Wyoming — older than the site’s previous 14,000-year-old find. That’s the oldest evidence yet of people in the Western High Plains.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Kevin Deneen poses outside the Eishenhower Building in Washington, D.C., before a forum on artificial intelligence with Trump White House policymakers.

Wyoming Businessman Talks Artificial Intelligence Policy With Trump White House

Jackson businessman Kevin Deneen is cofounder of Moterra Campervans. He’s one of five small business owners from across America tapped to discuss artificial intelligence policy with Vice President JD Vance and the Trump White House.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Rock Springs Teacher’s Crazy Costumes Make A Serious Point — Laughter Is Learning

Not all learning comes from a textbook — some of it comes from laughter. That’s inspired Rock Springs teacher Weston Lamb-Costantino to wear a lot of silly costumes to school, which his students love.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

An expanding greenhouse in Sublette County takes its name, Silver Stream Farm, from a Grateful Dead song written on a Wyoming ranch in Cora, just 15 miles away.

Huge Wyoming-Grown Greenhouse Embraces Grateful Dead Connection

The Grateful Dead and fresh produce might not sound like they go together, but they do at Silver Stream Farm northwest of Pinedale. The huge 25,000-square-foot greenhouse takes its name from a Grateful Dead song reportedly written in Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens buys tulip bulbs by the thousands. They do well in Cheyenne, which has similar climate and geology as their ancestral region in Central Asia and the Mediterranean, where they typically grow on mountain slopes and steppes.

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Buys Tulips By The Thousands, And They Last For Years

Holland may be famous for its tulips, but they’re all over Cheyenne as well each summer. The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens buys them by the thousands, and they thrive in southeast Wyoming, some lasting for a decade.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

Wyoming’s Popular Crazy Woman Canyon Unexpectedly Closed For The Summer

Crazy Woman Canyon is a draw for Wyomingites and visitors to Johnson County, but it’s been unexpectedly closed for the summer. It’s a blow for tourism and locals who count the canyon as a favorite outdoors getaway.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

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1.2-GW Wyoming Data Center To Help Pioneer New Battery Less Likely To Catch Fire

A new battery system could solve the runaway thermal problem that makes lithium batteries burst into flames. A 1.2-gigawatt data center near Evanston, Wyoming, is going to help a startup prove its new battery system.

Renée JeanMay 23, 2025

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