The true story behind the real-life Dutton ranch where Yellowstone is filmed

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery The ranch in the series is emblazoned with a large ‘Y’ on the front of one of the barns Viewers will identify the property as Dutton Ranch, easily recognized by the giant ‘Y’ plastered on the front of one of the barns – that stays up all year round even when the film crew isn’t there – yet to locals, it is known under a different name: Chief Joseph Ranch. open image in gallery The ranch’s lodge and barns was built in the early 1900s Before there was ever a film crew – or even a ranch for that matter – the lands were previously inhabited for hundreds of years by the Salish Native American tribe, Chief Joseph Ranch’s website says. By 1880, the 2,500-acre property became homesteaded by settlers, and was originally known as the Shelton Ranch, before businessman William S Ford, along with federal judge Howard Clark Hollister from Ohio, bought the ranch for a summer hideaway in 1914. open image in gallery The grand stone fireplace inside the main lodge The 6,000-square-foot log structure, along with three large barns, was built under the name the Ford-Hollister Lodge by 1917. open image in gallery The Chief Joseph ranch is a working, family-owned farm in Montana There are two 1916 guest cabins on the ranch, nicknamed after Lee Dutton and Rip Wheeler who each spent time in the cabins in the show, but in real life, they once housed domestic staff who worked for those living in the main lodge.