The Most Misleading Aspect of 'Yellowstone' Is Right Before Your Eyes

Yellowstone, the hit TV series created by Taylor Sheridan, has breathed new life into the neo-Western genre and gained popularity on CBS. With its prequels, spinoffs such as 1883 and 1923 featuring acclaimed actors Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, and an upcoming sequel led by Matthew McConaughey after Kevin Costner's departure, Yellowstone is set to endure long after Costner's character, John Dutton. However, despite the show's devoted following, it is evident that Yellowstone does not always accurately portray Montana's Paradise Valley. In fact, there is a significant amount of embellishment within the series.

Costner once described Yellowstone as a "postcard for Montana," and it undeniably impacted the state's population. The series has reportedly injected over $700 million into Montana's economy, according to a report by NBC Montana earlier this year. However, despite the financial benefits, many long-term residents associate the show with the recent population changes and substantial increases in the cost of living. Regardless of the truth behind these claims, it remains evident that Yellowstone does not consistently represent Montana accurately. Furthermore, there is one key aspect of the state, referred to as the Treasure State, that the Paramount series consistently misrepresents.

'Yellowstone' Doesn't Depict Montana's Harsh Winters

 Image via Paramount

Montana's summer is warm and beautiful, but the winter can be a different story. Park County, named for its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, receives an average of 96 inches of snow per year, far more than the snow-less days in Yellowstone. In fact, Montana experiences a lot of snow, much more than what the Paramount series portrays. The state typically has snow on the ground for most months of the year, with July and August being the least likely to have any. Despite the cold winters, many visit Montana for skiing, and college students continue to flock there. As someone who attended Bozeman's Montana State University, I can attest that winters in Montana are usually the longest part of the year, lasting approximately eight months. While Yellowstone occasionally shows melted snow in the background, the series primarily films during the summer. The show is actually filmed in the Missoula area, which still receives a significant amount of snowfall.

'1883' Is More Accurate With Weather Conditions Than 'Yellowstone'

As the Yellowstone Universe progresses, it has made a more sincere attempt to portray the winter landscape. Fans will notice the flagship show's flashbacks to 1893, as well as episodes of the prequel series 1923, which better showcase the Montana winter. However, even then, the snowfall is not exceptionally deep. Filming a television series in winter is undoubtedly more challenging than in summer. Nevertheless, it would significantly enhance the series' authenticity to the Montana way of life.

Image via Paramount 

The University of Montana states that Montana holds the national record for extreme cold, with a temperature reading of 70 degrees below zero. During the winter months, it is not unusual for temperatures to drop to 20 degrees below zero, which can lead to frozen pipes, dead car batteries, and power outages. As an author, I have personally experienced the inconvenience of such events. The National Weather Service in Great Falls, Montana reported in March that travel can become extremely difficult or even impossible, with some vehicles requiring tire chains. Those planning to venture into the backcountry should ensure they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and gear, and it may be wise to consider alternative plans.

Yellowstone often mentions wintertime, but it fails to truly delve into this aspect, which is quite unfortunate. Even 1883 managed to acknowledge the challenges faced by travelers on the Oregon Trail, such as crossing treacherous rivers, enduring fierce tornadoes, and braving terrible storms. Although much of this happened in Texas or during the journey northwestward, if Sheridan can depict these harsh climates, why not do the same for Montana?

The Montana winter is no joke, with wind chills dropping to -50 degrees and icy conditions making mountain passes extremely hazardous. For those inexperienced in driving on ice or snow, it is best to proceed cautiously or avoid traveling through the state altogether. However, this is not always the case. Bozeman, for instance, offers plenty of winter activities for outdoor enthusiasts, and even in the freezing cold, it remains one of the most breathtaking places in the country. If only Yellowstone could showcase some of this winter scenery and acknowledge the occasional harshness, perhaps local Montanans would be more accepting of Sheridan's portrayal.

'Yellowstone' Actually Gets a Few Things Wrong About Montana

 Image via Paramount

In addition to the climate, Yellowstone presents a few inaccurate portrayals of Montana. Firstly, Bozeman and Paradise Valley are not located in the same county, although they are in close proximity. Moreover, there is no Broken Rock Indian Reservation in the vicinity. The closest Native American reservation to the supposed homeland of the Duttons is actually the Crow Indian Reservation, situated in the southeastern part of the state near Billings rather than Bozeman.

While the inclusion of a fictionalized reservation offers a valuable perspective on Montana's diverse Native American population (which consists of eight tribes and seven reservations), the series falsely highlights a nonexistent land dispute. Although individuals may own land adjacent to Yellowstone Park and contend with land developers eager to construct million-dollar ranch homes, Native conflicts are not a part of everyday life in Paradise Valley.

Beyond that, it has been duly noted by viewers that in order to effectively manage a ranch as vast as Rhode Island, a team of more than six ranch hands would be required to tend to the extensive grounds and the substantial number of cattle. In comparison, the renowned King Ranch in South Texas, which served as the inspiration for the Dutton homestead, employs a workforce of over 700 individuals. Given filmmaker Taylor Sheridan's own background in ranching, one would assume he would acknowledge the implausibility of John Dutton operating his empire with only a handful of workers. Since 2021, Sheridan has become the owner of the historic 6666 Ranch situated in Guthrie, Texas, a place that Yellowstone fans may recall from Season 4 when the beloved character Jimmy Hurdstrom (portrayed by Jefferson White) visited and eventually relocated to the ranch on a permanent basis. Naturally, even a popular series like Yellowstone would struggle to support a cast of such magnitude.

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ and ‘Tulsa King’ Are Taylor Sheridan’s Other TV Hits

Image via Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone universe continues to gain momentum, despite the disparities between the neo-Western fantasy and real life. With successful prequel spin-offs like 1883 and 1923 already under its belt, and more projects in the works, the buzz surrounding the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. This is further amplified by the recent addition of Matthew McConaughey to the cast, as he takes on the lead role previously held by Kevin Costner. While he may not match up to John Dutton, McConaughey's star power is sure to inject new life into the Yellowstone continuation and ensure its longevity. (Who knows, perhaps the spinoff will even introduce a winter setting...) However, Sheridan's creative prowess extends beyond the Yellowstone universe. He is also the force behind Mayor of Kingstown, featuring Jeremy Renner, Tulsa King, starring Sylvester Stallone, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, with David Oyelowo, and Special Ops: Lioness, which boasts an ensemble cast including Zoë Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman. Overall, Sheridan, Paramount, and the Yellowstone franchise have a promising future ahead, even without the presence of snow.

The Big Picture

Despite the inaccurate portrayal of Montana's winter, Yellowstone continues to be a successful franchise, with prequels, spinoffs, and a sequel series in the works.

The show's impact on Montana's economy surpasses $700 million, yet its influence on population changes and rising costs of living has drawn criticism from certain residents.

Yellowstone fails to accurately depict Montana's harsh winter conditions and heavy snowfall, as the show primarily films during the summers, missing out on the authentic Montana experience.