Watching the hit TV series “Yellowstone,” you might feel like you’re in Montana with the famous Dutton family. But did you know you could turn that feeling into reality?
One of the show’s primary shooting locations is open to the public for a price. You can see where they film the show, and you may even spend the night there. It’s an opportunity to see the rustic splendor the show’s fictional family has enjoyed for decades.
Let’s find out more about this popular television drama and the exact location of its fantastic scenery.
About the TV Show ‘Yellowstone’
In many ways, “Yellowstone” is a classic western set in modern times. Kevin Costner stars as the patriarch of an influential ranching family in Montana. Other members of the powerhouse cast include Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Wes Bentley, and Gil Birmingham.
Costner plays an influential rancher, John Dutton III, who enters politics and becomes the governor of Montana. The show’s ongoing theme is how the Dutton family has fought for generations to maintain their way of life. That includes fighting to hold on to hundreds of thousands of acres of land bordering Yellowstone National Park.
The show debuted in 2018 on the Paramount Network and has launched two spinoff series, “1883” and “1923.”
Where Can I Watch All the Seasons of ‘Yellowstone?’
Because the show is on Paramount, you might think you can binge-watch through Paramount+ or Netflix. That’s not the case, however.
Peacock TV, NBC’s streaming service, has exclusive rights to “Yellowstone.” Because of this arrangement, you can watch the new episodes via Paramount through services like SlingTV and Philo.
For earlier seasons, however, you’ll need to subscribe to Peacock or purchase them on Amazon Prime.
What Is the Dutton Family Ranch?
Much of the action in “Yellowstone” takes place at the Dutton’s huge cattle ranch. It’s in a fictional area of Montana called Paradise Valley.
This is where the Dutton family’s magnificent log cabin-style mansion sits on hundreds of thousands of acres east of Bozeman. We’re not sure exactly how big their spread is, but in an early episode, they say it’s the size of Rhode Island. That’s nearly 800,000 acres!
Who Really Owns the Yellowstone Ranch?
Locals know the iconic 5,000-square-foot and surrounding acreage as the historic Chief Joseph Ranch. This landmark property is much smaller than it appears on TV but still sizable at around 2,500 acres. It’s south of Darby, Montana, in the Bitterroot River Valley.
William S. Ford and Howard Clark Hollister built the massive lodge from native materials beginning in 1914. There have been a few other owners since then.
The current ones, since 2012, are Shane Libel and his family. They live there full-time and welcome overnight guests when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Can You Visit the Dutton Family Ranch from ‘Yellowstone?’
Driving down Appaloosa Trail off Highway 93, you can’t miss the imposing lodge or the ranch’s familiar white barns.
You may also see a crowd of people outside the gates to the ranch. These are likely fans of “Yellowstone” wanting in on the action, or at least to see where it takes place.
The ranch’s owners are familiar with the attention by now, so they don’t mind visitors. But to get past security and see inside the gates, you’ll need to be a guest with a reservation.
Can You Stay at the Dutton Yellowstone Ranch?
Before the Libel family owned it, the ranch was a bed and breakfast. These days, the main lodge is private, but two cabins on the property are available as overnight accommodations.
They may look familiar to “Yellowstone” viewers, too. One of them, the Fisherman Cabin, got lots of screen time as Lee Dutton’s cabin during the first two seasons.
It dated to 1916 and was originally quarters for the ranch’s domestic staff. The other, the Ben Cook Cabin, was where the character Rip spent much of his time in the show’s first season.
If you spend the night at the ranch, you won’t be confined to your cabin. Each reservation includes a tour of the ranch and all the filming locations on the property. You can also do some fishing, as the ranch has more than a mile of direct access to the Bitterroot River.
HOT TIP
If you want to visit the splendor of Yellowstone National Park, you need to know about the best RV campsites in the park.
Cabin Features
Each of the Chief Joseph Ranch’s guest cabins sleeps up to eight guests and has a full kitchen and a propane grill.
The Fisherman Cabin, or Lee Dutton’s Cabin, has two bedrooms and a loft. There’s one king-size bed, two queens, and two twins. There’s a spacious living room, two full bathrooms, and a closed-in porch.
The Ben Cook Cabin, also Rip’s Cabin, has two bedrooms and a loft. It has three queen-sized beds and two twins. The cabin includes two full baths, one with a bathtub and two porches.
Each cabin has a washer, dryer, Wi-Fi internet service, and DirectTV.
Nightly Cost
The introductory rate for the Fisherman Cabin is $1,200 per night for up to four guests. It’s an extra $50 a night per guest for each additional guest up to eight.
For the Ben Cook Cabin, the base rate is $1,500 per night. The same extra fee of $50 applies to each additional guest.
Reservations
Three nights is the minimum for staying at the cottages, and there are discounts for five nights or more. You must pay a deposit upfront but can get a refund if you cancel more than 90 days out.
You may want to check the ranch’s website or call the reservation line for more details.
Is Visiting the Dutton Family Ranch from ‘Yellowstone’ Worth It?
If you’re a super fan of “Yellowstone,” spending a few nights on set is nothing less than a dream come true. It’s a no-brainer if you have the money to spend. Even if you’re as rich as the Duttons, you’d surely be impressed with the ranch and its surrounding natural beauty.
But as more casual watchers of the show, we’d probably be content to mingle with the other curious folks outside the gates. Especially with the three-night minimum, staying overnight is a pretty substantial investment. We wouldn’t mind driving by while enjoying other places in the area, including the namesake national park.
Would you like to stay overnight at the real-life Dutton family ranch?
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