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Mystery buyer revealed of $79.5M Wyoming ranch that is bigger than Rhode Island

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Mystery buyer revealed of .5M Wyoming ranch that is bigger than Rhode Island


A Wyoming ranch bigger than the state of Rhode Island has a new owner, ending months of speculation over the mystery buyer.

Christopher Robinson, a local elected official, purchased the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches through his family-owned company, The Ensign Group L.C., according to KPCW.

The deal closed January 14 for the sprawling property that was listed last summer for $79.5 million. The final purchase price was not disclosed.

Stretching across four counties in Wyoming, Pathfinder Ranches encompasses roughly 1 percent of the state’s total land mass, according to KPCW. At 1,431 square miles, it is nearly the size of Delaware. By comparison, New York City spans about 300 square miles, while Rhode Island covers just over 1,000 sq miles.

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The property even eclipses the fictional Dutton Ranch from the wildly popular TV series Yellowstone, which was depicted as between 775,000 and 825,000 acres.

Stretching across four counties in Wyoming, the sprawling ranch is bigger than the state of Rhode Island

Stretching across four counties in Wyoming, the sprawling ranch is bigger than the state of Rhode Island (Google)

America’s largest private landowner in 2026 is Stan Kroenke, according to Land 100. Kroenke controls an estimated 2,700,000 acres across the country.

CNN founder Ted Turner is also in the top five largest private landowners with two million acres spanning the Southeast, the Great Plains, and the American West.

Robinson, a Summit County Council member who already controls roughly one million acres of land, acquired Pathfinder just four years after buying the neighboring 86,000-acre Stone Ranch.

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The ranch, named for 19th-century explorer John C. Frémont, is made up of four main properties spread across the Rocky Mountain region, and surrounds much of Pathfinder Reservoir, according to the Swan Land Company website. It contains over 20 miles of the Sweetwater River, and includes portions of the Pedro, Ferris, Seminoe, and Green Mountain ranges.

One of the most notable landmarks is Independence Rock, which is located along the historic Oregon, Mormon, Pony Express, and California Trails. Portions of the trails, which were trekked by early pioneers, weave through the ranch.

“The family from whom we bought the Stone Ranch used to own the heart of the Pathfinder, and they sold it in, say, 1975. And so we’re kind of reuniting it,” Robinson, CEO of The Ensign Group, told KPCW. “It’s now one big landscape.”

According to the Summit County website, Robinson is on the Summit County Council, a seat he has held since his election in 2008. In December, Robinson announced that he would not run for reelection.

Christopher Robinson, a local elected official, purchased the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches through his family-owned company

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Christopher Robinson, a local elected official, purchased the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches through his family-owned company (Summit County Utah)
The ranch is made up of four main properties spread across the Rocky Mountain region

The ranch is made up of four main properties spread across the Rocky Mountain region (Google)

Robinson said the Stone Ranch will serve as a key connector between the eastern and western sections of Pathfinder, allowing Ensign to operate the land as a single, self-sustaining livestock range, according to Cowboy State Daily.

“So, we’re kind of reuniting that, and we intend to, we’re operators,” Robinson told the outlet. “We’re not generally landlords. We’re going to, over time, grow into it, where we’re mostly running our own livestock on it.”

Robinson said the deal reflects both business interests and long-term conservation goals.

“We love land and water,” Robinson added. “We think it’s a good long-term investment, and we like the opportunities it affords us to be stewards over a piece of God’s creation.”

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March 31 Deadline For Wyoming’s ‘Becoming An Outdoor Woman’ Workshops

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March 31 Deadline For Wyoming’s ‘Becoming An Outdoor Woman’ Workshops


Gaining the knowledge to become an outdoorsy type of person isn’t easy. It takes time, dedication, and the desire to sometimes get out of your comfort zone. Sure, if you grew up in the outdoors, but it’s been a while since you’ve actually been out hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping, you may be a little rusty, but you have a leg up on those who haven’t.

If you’re in Wyoming, there’s a good chance that taking advantage of the incredible outdoor activities we have available has crossed your mind, but where to start is the big question. Asking others for help is one way, but there’s sometimes an element of intimidation or embarrassment involved.

If you’re a woman looking for that help and want to avoid the intimidation, you should really check out the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoor Woman (BOW) workshops this summer. It’s held at the Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp near Dubois, and everything you need to learn about the outdoors is provided, including food and lodging.

The registration deadline is March 31, meaning you have just a couple of weeks to apply for one or all of the offered workshops.

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There are multiple options available depending on your level of outdoor knowledge.

Basic BOW Workshop: Introductory level camp teaching outdoor survival, basic fly fishing, backpacking, how to shoot, outdoor photography, and more. There will be two of these workshops, June 5-7 and August 7-9. $150

Fly Fishing Beyond BOW Workshop: The focus here is on fly fishing. Learn the basics and then put them to use. This workshop runs July 30 – Aug 2. $150

Backpacking Beyond BOW: This workshop is all about backpacking, hiking, cooking on the trail, adjusting to the trail, and preparing for the trip. You’ll learn how to properly pack your bag, set up camp, and then head out on an overnight trip. July 30 – Aug 2. $150

Become a BOW Instructor: Here’s where you put your years of experience to work by sharing your skills and knowledge with others, helping them learn the tricks and tips of the outdoors.

Not only will these workshops help get you started on a life in the outdoors, but you’re likely going to gain some street cred with your family when you can teach them the skills they’ll need to get out and celebrate a Wyoming lifestyle.

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Snowpack In The South Laramie Range At Just Three Percent Of Normal Levels

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Snowpack In The South Laramie Range At Just Three Percent Of Normal Levels


The snowpack in the South Laramie Range in southeast Wyoming as of Monday was at three percent of normal, according to the Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service.

And while other mountain ranges in southeast Wyoming were not nearly that low in snowpack, they were still well below normal at last report.

The agency posted the following on its website:

February was yet another warm and dry month, continuing the pattern that has dominated our area since last fall. Mountain snowpack remains well below average in southeast Wyoming, especially in the Laramie Range where snowpack is at an all time record low. For the plains, some light snow fell last month, but it was not enough to keep from increasing seasonal snowfall deficits. Cheyenne is off to its 4th least snowy start to the season since records began in the 1880s, and Scottsbluff has received the 2nd least snow since record began in the 1890s. We are now approximately two-thirds of the way through the snow accumulation season, with a little more than one-third to go in March, April, and into early May.

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But the good news is that after a wet 24 hours on Monday night/Tuesday, more snow may be headed our way on Friday.

Cheyenne, Laramie Forecasts

Cheyenne Forecast

Tonight

A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 24. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday

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Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

A slight chance of rain showers after 11am, mixing with snow after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Thursday Night

Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday

Snow showers. High near 32. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday Night

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A chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 44. Breezy.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Breezy.

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Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Breezy.

Monday

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Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy.

Monday Night

A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.

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Laramie Forecast

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 48. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.

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Wednesday Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

A slight chance of rain and snow showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night

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Snow showers. Low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday

Snow showers. High near 31. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday Night

A chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.

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Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Sunday

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Sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.

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Monday Night

A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Tuesday

A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy.

2026 WHSAA Wyoming State Wrestling Championship

Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, TSM

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Search and rescue license plates raise $33K at auction for statewide fund

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Search and rescue license plates raise K at auction for statewide fund


WYOMING — New specialty license plates rolled out by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) at the beginning of 2026 raised over $30,000 for Wyoming search and rescue (SAR) organizations in a statewide auction. The auction for the new SAR specialty license plates, hosted by WYDOT, offered residents the opportunity to bid on low-numbered license […]



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