There are so many reasons to love Yellowstone. Viewers can’t get enough of the Paramount Network show’s gripping drama, complicated romances, and star-studded cast lead by Kevin Costner. If the ongoing conflict and incredible acting weren’t enough to rope lasso people in, Yellowstone’s jaw-dropping setting would definitely do the trick.
Dutton Ranch’s distinctive landscape makes it the perfect backdrop for the intense western series—but does it actually look like that in real life? Here’s what you need to know about where Yellowstone is filmed.
All of the natural scenery is real.
Many of Yellowstone’s episodes show off breathtaking views of the great outdoors—and everything you see is 100% authentic. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, 70-75% of the first three seasons of the series were filmed in more than 20 locations across Utah, including Park City, Ogden, and Spanish Fork.
“I don’t think we ever tire of seeing running rivers, valleys, and mountains. If you can set a drama against all that, it’s fun,” Kevin told CBS This Morning.
You can visit the Dutton family’s ranch.
The Yellowstone cast also spends time in Montana to film on a real-life ranch. The Dutton family’s gorgeous log cabin is actually a 5,000-square foot mansion located on Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana—and it’s just as beautiful as it looks on TV.
“On the ranch, we’re actually filming where it’s actually set. It’s almost like the most central character,” Kevin said in an interview with Vanity Fair. “You step outside and you see running horses and men working and the weather dictates what you do.”
When Yellowstone is not filming on the 2,500-acre ranch, the owners rent out some of the cabins on the property to visitors. Guests can spend their time fishing, horseback riding, and hiking through the area’s beautiful mountains. (All while fantasizing about Kevin showing up, of course.)
Most of season 4 was filmed in Montana.
Season 4 is sure to feature plenty of new drama—but there’s also going to be a change of scenery. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the upcoming season will be filmed almost exclusively in Montana. The decision to stop production in Utah was largely financial, because the state’s “limited tax incentive program will not provide [the show] with the same rebates” they previously received.
With most of the filming now taking place in Montana, Yellowstone is going to be more authentic than ever before.
But the cast and crew of ‘Yellowstone’ was also spotted somewhere else.
Yellowstone fans in Texas got the surprise of a lifetime when the show’s cast and crew showed up in their small town to shoot at a local cafe last fall.
Mary Anderson, the owner of Mary’s Brazos Cafe in Parker County, North Texas, “couldn’t believe it was actually happening.”
“The street on the other side [of the cafe] was lined up with my customers watching and trying to see what was going on,” Mary told Outsider. “It was awesome.”
When asked why he decided to film at Mary’s, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan told local news it was “because that’s where we have breakfast when i am here.”
Of course, this begs the question: What was Taylor and the rest of the Yellowstone crew doing in Texas in the first place? We’ll have to wait until season 4 to find out!
