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

Sheridan’s Warehouse Gastropub Founded On Supper Club Concept

The idea behind Sheridan's Warehouse Gastropub supper club concept is diners get a ticket for a four or six-course dinner with a wine pairing. During dinner, there's a show with nationally-known entertainers. The next supper club is Oct 17 & 18.

Renée JeanOctober 15, 2023

Guests at the historic Acme Theater, in the background, sometimes report seeing a figure watching movies from the balcony.

Wyoming People: Alma Law, Keeper Of Riverton’s Haunted History

From reports of people seeing ghostly figures watching movies in Riverton's old historic Acme Theater to the town's famous and mysterious midnight jogger, Alma Law has become the unofficial keeper of the town's haunted history.

Renée JeanOctober 15, 2023

Rare Element Resources CEO Brent Berg, center left, with Wyoming state, national and local officials at Monday's groundbreaking for the company's rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming.

The $44 Million Bet To Make Upton, Wyoming Ground Zero For Rare Earth Elements

A demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, is a $44 million bet that a process developed by Rare Earth Elements will help the U.S. become a leader in processing rare earths and loosen China’s stranglehold on a vital market sector.

Renée JeanOctober 10, 2023

Wyoming Paying Less At The Pump Even As Oil Prices Surge

The Hamas attack on Israel boosted oil prices to $86 per barrel in trading Monday. But gasoline prices in Wyoming, meanwhile, are on a downward trend that some analysts are predicting will continue through November.

Renée JeanOctober 10, 2023

While it's not the original building of the J.W. Hugus Co. Mercantile, J.W. Hugus Restaurant & Catering is a nod to the owner's great-great-great-grandfather.

On The Road With Renee: Saratoga’s Favorite Breakfast Spot Has Roots 143 Years Deep

J.W. Hugus Restaurant & Catering named for owner’s great-great-great-grandfather, who was one of Saratoga, Wyoming's, early founding businessmen who built up the town from 1870 on.

Renée JeanOctober 09, 2023

Historic Plains Hotel In Cheyenne For Sale For $5.85 Million

After sinking $3 million into Cheyenne’s historic Plains Hotel, the hotel’s owner told Cowboy State Daily she’s run out of money to convert the hotel to an extended-stay facility.

Renée JeanOctober 08, 2023

Harvey Deselms with his dog pose outside of his Cheyenne art gallery, which he believes is haunted. Not only was this where filmmaker Allen Ross was murdered, a woman in her 80s was raped and murdered in an upstairs room.

Haunted Wyoming: Cheyenne Art Gallery Home To Multiple Murders

Cheyenne art gallery owner Harvey Deselms says he has made peace with spirits whom, he believes, inhabit his building. One such ghost is filmmaker Allen Ross who was found in the basement five years after his wife murdered him, because she was convinced he was a zombie.

Renée JeanOctober 08, 2023

The J.B. Okie Mansion isn't readily visible until visitors are right up on it thanks to 100-year-old cottonwood trees.

Wyoming Man On Mission To Restore Middle of Nowhere Mansion Of Sheep King JB Okie

The giant mansion Wyoming “Sheep King” J.B. Okie built in 1901 in the middle of nowhere was opulent and had an aviary with more than 140 exotic birds. Zane Fross’ mission is to restore the remote Cowboy State landmark.

Renée JeanOctober 08, 2023

Amelia, which is part of the Riverton Museum's collection, may be the creepiest doll in Wyoming.

Haunted Wyoming: Riverton Museum Keeps 'Disturbing ' Doll Hidden In Basement

Hiding away in the basement of the Riverton Museum is a 120-year-old doll with human hair named 'Amelia.' Her appearance is so unsettling some employees are reluctant to touch her because of a well-known 'supernatural' experience.

Renée JeanOctober 07, 2023

Skydivers in formation set a new world record jumping from more than 38,000 feet over New Mexico.

Wyoming Meteorologist Don Day Helps Set World Skydiving Record

Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day helped set a new world skydiving record last week in Roswell, New Mexico, as part of the Alpha 5 team that jumped from the world’s largest hot air balloon at 38,067 feet.

Renée JeanOctober 07, 2023

Setting up a tipi outside the Arapaho Ranch mansion.

Wyoming’s Arapaho Ranch, Where American Heritage Meets Italian Villa

Located just off of Highway 170 between Thermopolis and Meeteetse, the 350,000-acre ranch is home to rich Wyoming heritage and history for the Arapaho Tribe. And, of late, it’s been undergoing a revival.

Renée JeanOctober 01, 2023

A row of stores has been rebuilt at the Little Snake River Museum in Savery and show commerce much as it would have been in the Little Snake River Valley.

On The Road With Renee: Little Snake River Museum Is World Class

Guests, many of whom are world travelers, often tell Little Snake River Valley Museum Director Lela Emmons that the museum in tiny Savery, Wyoming, is one of the best they’ve ever been to.

Renée JeanOctober 01, 2023

Other Authors

Wyoming’s Retro Motel Revival Continues With Saratoga’s Riviera Motor Lodge

Riviera Motor Lodge in Saratoga, Wyoming, is close to completing an all-around outdoor-indoor upcycle that includes a nice community gathering spot by the river as well as a room-by-room renovation.

Renée JeanOctober 01, 2023

The historic and uniquely Wyoming Occidental Hotel in Buffalo.

Buffalo’s Occidental Hotel: A Western Wyoming Original, Bullet Holes And All

The Occidental Hotel is a registered museum where guests sleep in themed rooms with period Old West furniture. The adjacent saloon still has bullet holes and its original backbar imported from Scotland.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2023

The historic Sheridan Inn is considered one of Wyoming's most haunted hotels.

UW Researcher Takes Scientific Approach To Studying Wyoming’s Haunted Hotels

Debbie Cobb has long had a fascination with ghost stories. Now the University of Wyoming researcher is putting that fascination to work on a study of Wyoming’s most haunted hotels.

Renée JeanSeptember 24, 2023

True Wyoming Mountain Man Jim Baker Beat Impossible Odds On Battle Mountain

Wyoming’s own “Honest” Jim Baker has never been featured in a movie like Kit Carson, but even Carson would often tell of the mountain man's ingenuity and bravery on Battle Mountain.

Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2023

The Ferris Mansion at 607 W. Maple St. in Rawlins, Wyoming.

From Ruin To Regal, A Wyoming Family’s Mission To Save The Ferris Mansion

A showpiece when it was built in 1903, the Ferris Mansion in Rawlins had fallen into ruin when the Lubber family bought it in 1979. It took 25 years to restore it to its regal roots.

Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2023

The old railroad depot is one of the jewels of downtown Rawlins, Wyoming.

Rawlins Residents Scoff At YouTuber's Criticism Of Town

Rawlins' residents rolled their collective eyes at a so-called YouTube "influencer" and his criticism of their town in his video entitled, "I went to the worst place to live in Wyoming." They all know a town that is a great place to raise a family and comes together to help those in need.

Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2023

Of the 413 stores Kroger and Albertsons plans to sell to C&S Wholesale Grocers are 12 Wyoming Albertsons outlets.

Who Is C&S Grocers, Which Is Buying 413 Stores Across US, 12 In Wyoming?

C&S Wholesale Grocers, buying 413 stores as part of a proposed $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons — including 12 in Wyoming — is one of the largest grocery wholesalers in the U.S.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2023

The Herbert Hoover couch looks like it should be sitting on a curb as trash instead of having an honored place in the historic Occidental Hotel. It was once owned by President Herbert Hoover, and popular lore has it the rips and tears in it were caused by fishhooks Hoover would keep in his pockets.

That Old, Ripped Couch At Buffalo’s Occidental Hotel Was Herbert Hoover’s

That worn-out and ripped couch in the Occidental Hotel’s library will never be repaired or replaced. It was owned by President Hoover, and legend has it the rips were caused by fishing hooks in his pockets.

Renée JeanSeptember 17, 2023

Savery, A Speck On Wyoming’s Map, Throws One Heck Of A Big End-Of-Summer Barbecue

Ringed by mountains just north of Wyoming’s border with Colorado, Savery boasts only a few locals, but draws many times that to its legendary annual summer barbecue.

Renée JeanSeptember 17, 2023

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