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

Real Estate Ruling May Mean Lower Fees, But Buyers Could Have To Pay Up-Front

Wyoming realtors say a landmark real estate settlement could mean lower fees for homebuyers, but also could mean they have to pay up-front and could face unintended consequences.

Renée JeanMarch 19, 2024

At 75,000 square feet, the Buc-ee's that opened Monday in Johnstown, Colo., about 55 miles south of Cheyenne off I-25 is the world's largest.

World’s Largest Buc-ee’s Opens 45 Miles South Of Wyoming Off I-25

Monday’s much-anticipated opening of the world’s largest Buc-ee’s 45 miles south of the Wyoming border off Interstate 25, drew thousands to experience the 75,000 sq. ft. travel center on steroids — and all the Beaver Nuggets they could eat.

Renée JeanMarch 19, 2024

Here Come The Tourists! Wyoming Expecting Big Tourism Season With Taiwanese

International tourism to Wyoming has been slow to bounce back after the COVID-19 lockdown, but 2024 should be a good year. Two major airline routes are opening between the U.S. & Taiwan this summer and Wyoming will be a top destination.

Renée JeanMarch 17, 2024

The 117-year-old Mountain View Historic Hotel & Café in Centennial, Wyoming.

Wyoming’s Historic 117-Year-Old Mountain View Hotel Cafe Is Open Again

Centennial’s Mountain View Historic Hotel & Cafe has been welcoming visitors to the Snowy Range town of Centennial for 117 years. Back then it was for gold miners and railroaders. Now the cafe is open again thanks to a woman and her three daughters.

Renée JeanMarch 17, 2024

Laura Hoch holds up goldback bills she and her husband Chris intend to use to pay for their dinner at T-Joe's Steakhouse and Saloon in Cheyenne. The couple drove up all the way from Fort Collins for dinner at a place where they can spend their goldbacks.

Hedge Against Inflation? Alternative Currency "Goldbacks" Catching On In Wyoming

Wyoming wasn't the first state to get its own series of "goldbacks," but it's the tops in the nation for embracing them. The elaborate-looking currency, which has real gold in them, is traded in all 50 states and on every continent except Antarctica.

Renée JeanMarch 17, 2024

Bailey Nowak had never heard of the "Small Business Revolution" or Amanda Brinkman, right. But she was looking for answers to big questions after a recent medical diagnosis and Brinkman had just what she was looking for.

Wyoming Entrepreneurs Inspired By Reality TV Small Business Guru Amanda Brinkman

Wyoming small business owners say they’ve been inspired by Hulu reality TV guru Amanda Brinkman, who was in Wyoming touting the benefits of her mantra — do good to do well.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2024

The Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall in Laramie, Wyoming, which helped launch the career for country music star Chancey Williams. It's for sale, listing at $3.4 million.

For Sale: Laramie’s Cowboy Saloon, Where Chancey Williams Was Launched

Famous for its live country music and helping launch the career of Chancey Williams, Laramie’s Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall is up for sale. In fact, Chancey's annual White Trash Bash is set for April 6 at the Cowboy. The bar is listed for $3.4 million.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2024

A convoy of trucks loaded with Wyoming hay gather for the long drive south to wildfire-devastated Texas to help ranchers there.

Operation Lone Star: Wyoming Ranchers Convoy Hay To Wildfire-Ravaged Texas

A convoy of six trucks loaded with hay and other items donated by ranchers in Hawk Springs, Torrington, and Chugwater are running to and from Texas to help ranchers there burned out by a 1.1 million-acre wildfire.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2024

At the R&B Breakfast Club on Lincolnway in Cheyenne, it's always 1957 and Elvis — the King of Rock 'n' Roll — still rules.

Eating Wyoming: R&B Breakfast Club, Where Elvis And Supersized Meals Are King

The R&B Breakfast Club in Cheyenne has a collection of Elvis memorabilia that took 20 years to collect. The popular diner also serves Elvis-sized portions for breakfast and lunch, including fried peanut butter banana sandwiches (upon request).

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2024

A stand of Wyoming boxelder trees are tapped and collecting sap to make syrup.

Trash To Treasure: Box Elders Could Drive A New Wyoming Maple Syrup Industry

Those blue buckets on box elder trees in Rawlins are part of a feasibility study to see if syrup from the trees can be commercialized. Food critics say the syrup from maples - which are difficult to grow in Wyoming - and box elders is indistinguishable.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2024

Outdoor recreation around Jackson and Teton County is driving the area to be tops in the nation for its economic boom. Here, a skier and snowboarder carve some snow on Snow King Mountain above Jackson, laid out below.

Outdoors Is Driving Teton County’s Latest Nation-Leading Economic Boom

Not only is Teton County the wealthiest county in the nation with a whopping per capita income of $406,054 but leads the nation in a new type of economic model, the great outdoors. Out of the 10 wealthiest economic booms going on right now in the nation, Teton County is leading the pack.

Renée JeanMarch 10, 2024

Bob's Diner & Bakery in Greybull, Wyoming, will be featured on the popular "America's Best Restaurant" streaming series.

Bob’s Diner & Bakery In Greybull On ‘America’s Best Restaurants’ Tour

“America’s Best Restaurants,” a popular streaming series, will feature Bob’s Diner & Bakery in Greybull on its tour of America’s unique independent restaurants. Road trippers rave about the Reuben at Bob’s, but locals love the “angry sauce” omelets and burgers.

Renée JeanMarch 10, 2024

Other Authors

A south-facing roof made of polycarbonates like those used for greenhouses seals the walipini from the outdoors.

Year-Round Produce: Wyoming Gardener Outsmarts Winter With Underground Greenhouse

Sara Ross loves gardening but lives in Daniel, Wyoming, where there are only 57 growing days a year. So she's outsmarted Wyoming’s brutal winters by building an underground Bolivian greenhouse called a walipini.

Renée JeanMarch 10, 2024

The Wort house in Jackson, left, predates The Wort Hotel, right, but the English Tudor style of both can't be missed.

Jackson $4 million ‘Fixer-Upper’ Tied To Iconic Wort Hotel And Lynyrd Skynyrd

That 1,000 square-foot "fixer-upper" home in Jackson that's listed for $4 million has an interesting history. It was not only built by the founders of the Wort Hotel but was the home of Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington.

Renée JeanMarch 09, 2024

Ranger chases grizzly bears that get too close to Brooks Lake Lodge, earning him the nickname "Ranger Danger."

Meet Ranger, The Wyoming Cowdog That Chases Grizzlies At Brooks Lake Lodge

Guides at Brooks Lake Lodge affectionately call this black-and-white pooch “Ranger Danger” — and with good reason. Ranger has proven himself time and again by fearlessly chasing off grizzly bears. It’s not what Hangin’ Tree dogs were bred for, but with him, it’s instinct.

Renée JeanMarch 09, 2024

Sam Watt with Platte Hemp Co. at his booth at the 2023 Bear Trap Summer Festival in Casper.

Wyoming Company Will Sue If Gordon Signs Ban On Altered Hemp Derivatives

A law that seeks to close a loophole that has some entrepreneurs adding THC additives like Delta-8 is on Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk for his signature. At least one Wyoming company says it will sue if the bill becomes law.

Renée JeanMarch 06, 2024

A Decade In, Wyoming’s Food Freedom Law Opens Markets For Mom-And-Pop Producers

There are now 13 year-round farmer’s market-style stores in Wyoming since the state's Food Freedom law went into effect 10 years ago. Every one of them boasts dozens of producers, all with one-of-a-kind products that can’t be found anywhere else.

Renée JeanMarch 03, 2024

Samira Tennyson talks about coming to America and how deciding one day to share her great Swiss bread with people in southeast Wyoming led her to quit her day job and focus on baking beautiful loaves of butterzopf.

Swiss-Born Baker Taking Wyoming By Storm With Her Traditional Bread

A Swiss woman who lives in Carpenter, Wyoming, was feeling a bit nostalgic one day for the foods she grew up with. So she asked on Facebook: “Who wants some Swiss bread?” She got so many responses, she quit her job and became a full-time baker.

Renée JeanMarch 03, 2024

Whether it's with a seafood theme of crab legs or comfort food like a corn dog and grilled cheese, the Brooks Lake Lodge bloody mary is memorable.

Drinking Wyoming: The Brooks Lake Lodge’s Insane Bloody Mary Changes Every Year

The bloody mary at Brooks Lake Lodge near Dubois changes every year. This year's version has a huge crab claw jutting unapologetically up out of it, along with a fist-sized, deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwich

Renée JeanMarch 03, 2024

The duck has become chef Whitney Hall's favorite dish to make for Brooks Lake Lodge guests. It is absolutely delicious.

Foodies Get 5-Star Cuisine In Middle Of Nowhere Wyoming’s Brooks Lake Lodge

Brooks Lake Lodge in remote Fremont County Wyoming might be in the middle of nowhere, but it is a foodie heaven thanks to longtime executive chef Whitney Hall, who creates a 5-star dining experience for guests.

Renée JeanMarch 02, 2024

Held every five years, the International Pathfinders Camporee event draws tens of thousands of people. The last event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, had 55,000 attendees.

Gillette Camporee Expected To Bring 60,000 People To Event This Summer

The International Pathfinders Camporee is expected to bring 60,000 people to Gillette this summer which will shatter the record attendance of a single event in Wyoming. Everything is sold-out in Gillette and rooms were going for $800 a night.

Renée JeanMarch 02, 2024

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