Where is the Yellowstone Ranch filmed? The real Dutton ranch and how to visit it

Where is the Yellowstone Ranch filmed? The real Dutton ranch and how to visit it

The Yellowstone Ranch from the hit series is filmed at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, a real working cattle ranch nestled in the Bitterroot Valley. Fans can visit by booking seasonal cabin stays, which include access to filming locations and guided tours.

The Yellowstone Ranch filming set in Darby, Montana.
The Yellowstone Ranch filming set is at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, USA. Photo: @sinmuchasfotos, @layner_costa on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • The fictional Dutton Ranch is near the Yellowstone National Park in Paradise Valley, Montana.
  • The Chief Joseph Ranch spans 2,500 acres and features the iconic log mansion and cabins used in the show, including Rip Wheeler's and Lee Dutton's cabins.
  • Fans can book seasonal cabin stays at the ranch, gaining access to filming locations, photo ops, and guided tours.
  • Shane Libel and his family own the ranch, and it is a popular tourist destination when filming isn't ongoing.

Where is the Yellowstone Ranch?

In the fictional world of Yellowstone, the Dutton family ranch is in Montana, just outside Yellowstone National Park. Filmmakers portray it as the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, nestled in the rugged wilderness of Paradise Valley, just outside Bozeman.

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Photos of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch
The Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, is the real-life location for the fictional Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Photo: @joelanthonygill on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Where is Yellowstone filmed?

Yellowstone is filmed primarily at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, which serves as the real-life location for the fictional Dutton Ranch. This working cattle ranch features the iconic log mansion and sweeping landscapes seen throughout the drama TV series.

Earlier seasons also used Utah locations, including sound stages in Park City and outdoor scenes in Ogden and Spanish Fork. From Season 4 onward, production shifted almost entirely to Montana, with additional scenes shot in Missoula, Hamilton, and the Crow Indian Reservation near Billings.

How to book a visit to the Yellowstone Ranch, Montana

The Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana.
The Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana, is the filming location for the Dutton Ranch in the television streaming show "Yellowstone". Photo: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

To book a visit to the real-life Yellowstone Ranch, officially known as Chief Joseph Ranch, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Chief Joseph Ranch cabins page to check availability, seasonal booking windows, and reservation details. You could also contact the ranch directly at 406-821-0894 or through their mailing address.
  2. Choose your cabin from the two available options, Lee Dutton's Cabin (from $1,400 per night for four guests) and Rip Wheeler's Cabin (from $1,700 per night for four guests).

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What city is Yellowstone Ranch close to?

The Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, as featured in the TV series Yellowstone, is located near the town of Darby, Montana. Darby is a small town nestled in the scenic Bitterroot Valley, not far from the Idaho border.

It's the closest city-like settlement to the ranch and serves as a gateway to the rugged landscapes that define the show's aesthetic.

Is the Yellowstone Ranch real?

The Yellowstone Ranch depicted in the Yellowstone series is fictional, but filmed at the real Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana. This working cattle ranch spans about 2,500 acres and features the iconic lodge, barns, and cabins seen on screen.

Who owns the Yellowstone Ranch?

The fictional ranch is owned by the Yellowstone legend Kayce Dutton, portrayed by Kevin Costner. The show's main filming location, known as Chief Joseph Ranch, is owned by Shane Libel and his family.

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How many acres is the Yellowstone Ranch?

The Yellowstone Dutton Ranch spans an estimated 775,000 to 825,000 acres in the series. John Dutton refers to it as the size of Rhode Island, which equates to approximately 776,900 acres. In reality, filmmakers shot the show at Chief Joseph Ranch in Montana, a much smaller property covering just 2,500 acres.

How much is the Yellowstone Ranch worth?

In the show's universe, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch is worth between $7.7 billion and $8.25 billion, based on a scene that implied a rate of $10,000 per acre.

In season 3, episode 8, titled "I Killed a Man Today", Market Equities offered $500 million for 50,000 acres, which sets the per-acre value used to estimate the ranch's worth.

For real-world context, the W.T. Waggoner Ranch (535,000 acres) sold for $725 million in 2016, making Yellowstone's valuation exceptionally high even by industry standards.

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Are the Duttons a real family in Montana?

The Duttons are fictional characters, not a real family in Montana. Yellowstone co-creators Taylor Sheridan and John Linson created the family, drawing inspiration from real ranching life and Western history.

The Dutton family members including Rip Wheeler, John Dutton III and his children Lee, Beth, Jamie, and Kayce
The creators of Yellowstone based the fictional Dutton family on real ranching families and the rich history of the American West. Photo: @yellowstoneofficialfans on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Can you stay on the Yellowstone Ranch?

You can stay at the Yellowstone Ranch, which operates as the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana. The property offers two cabins for rent: Lee Dutton's cabin and Rip Wheeler's cabin, when the show is not filming.

The real Yellowstone Ranch is the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, where the filmmakers shot much of the show. Nestled in the Bitterroot Valley, it's a working cattle ranch with stunning mountain views. Fans can book overnight stays in cabins featured on the series or join seasonal tours.

Yen.com.gh published a similar article about the filming locations of Bad Sisters, an Irish black comedy TV series. The creators based the series on the Belgian show Clan by Malin-Sarah Gozin, setting it in Dublin and filming it on location across Ireland.

Viewers eager to uncover the filming secrets behind Apple TV's Bad Sisters have sparked growing interest in its stunning locations. Explore the full article to find the complete list of filming spots featured in the series.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Chris Ndetei avatar

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a Diploma in ICT and has over four years of experience in SEO writing. Christopher specialises in lifestyle and entertainment coverage, with a focus on biographies, life hacks, gaming, and guides. He has completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques (2023) and earned the Google News Initiative Certificate (2024). In recognition of his work, he was named Yen Writer of the Year in 2024. You can connect with him via email at chrisndetei@gmail.com.

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