Yes, You Really Can Rent Properties on the ‘Yellowstone’ Ranch: Here's How
Updated June 28 2020, 4:32 p.m. ET
The cattle rancher series Yellowstone on Paramount Network is in its third season of high drama, and fans are obsessed. So much so, in fact, that the show already has the green light for Season 4.
The show got its start in summer of 2018. And the must-watch battles rages on along the shared borders of the Dutton family’s large cattle ranch (the largest in the country, actually,) an Indian reservation, and the national park by the same name — in addition to strife with eager land developers.
But is the 'Yellowstone' ranch real?
On the show, the ranch — which is located in Montana and borders Yellowstone National Park (hence the show's name) — is described as "the largest ranch in the U.S."
Plenty of people wonder if Yellowstone is a real, operational ranch, and the answer is yes! It’s called Chief Joseph Ranch, just outside of Darby, Mont. And it’s currently owned by Shane and Angela Libel, who leave the Montana-based ranch during the months when Yellowstone is filming.
The Dutton family house so often showcased in the series is an actual, 5,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1917 as mega-millionaire William Ford’s summer house.
"The studio wanted to have [the home's] location in Utah, where most of the filming was done," shares the Yellowstone location manager Mark Jarrett. "There was a war-room meeting: Do we go up to this ranch or do we Scotch-tape locations together?
"Find a ranch. Find a mountain. Once we all got to Montana, there was no hesitation. It was so obvious," he says, adding that, “the ranch is one of the main characters on the show and its scope and scale make it that way."
The backdrops definitely add to the show's overall appeal and drama, so we couldn't agree more.
And part of the 'Yellowstone' property is available for rent.
That’s right — part of the property is available to the public for rent. There are two one-bedroom log cabins, much smaller than the main one, that give renters a taste of life on the ranch.
And they’d be experiencing a piece of cinematic history, too. According to the New York Post, Yellowstone has confirmed use of the house for five seasons with certain limitations, and the pricing structure grows from there.
But most of ‘Yellowstone’ isn’t filmed at the ranch.
To date, most of the series has actually been filmed in Utah for financial reasons. In fact, up to 75 percent of the show has been.
Tax rebates are always a big consideration in Hollywood, and Yellowstone is no exception — the show spends an estimated $80 million in Utah and receives $7 million in tax breaks for each season.
Beyond Utah, the show has reportedly made stops at more than 20 locations between Utah and Montana. It has also relied on three different sound stages at Park’s City’s Utah Film Studio for many interior scenes.
Still, change is in the air. Season 4 will be shot almost exclusively on location in Montana, reports say, because of a new $10 million incentive that was passed this year.
We'll be watching!