Yellowstone Tourist Gets Cold Welcome in Darby

Erin West (@erin.west21 on TikTok) has now discovered what plenty of tourists are also learning the hard way: Montana is not quite as excited about all this Yellowstone hype.

In a video shared to her account, West said she took a four-hour detour just to get a peek at the Dutton Ranch in Darby, aka the Chief Joseph Ranch featured in the hit TV show.

She spent five minutes outside her car, followed all the posted rules, and still ended up on the receiving end of two honks and a middle finger. All while wearing the sort of glasses that scream, “I am most certainly not from around here.”

You have to give her credit. She didn’t trespass, didn’t make a fuss, and admitted that "Looky Lous" like her were bound to show up once Hollywood turned a working ranch into a television landmark. Even so, the Bitterroot locals didn’t exactly roll out the welcome wagon. Not much of a shock to anyone who’s glimpsed housing prices or traffic around here in the years since the show blew up.

@erin.west21 #yellowstonetv #duttonranch #montana ♬ original sound - Erin West

But the tale doesn’t stop in Darby. After some honk-harassment, West was off to Butte, where her Yellowstone-themed visit got a different reception. The man sitting next to her at the Bozeman airport bar told her it was the best thing that’s ever happened to Butte. The "1923" production brought in millions, helped restore the community center, and even gave a local rancher the financial support to care for her husband after a stroke.

@erin.west21 #yellowstonetv #duttonranch #montana #darby #butte ♬ original sound - Erin West

So yeah, Yellowstone is still mixed in Montana. Some folks want it gone yesterday. Others are cashing checks and offering departing tributes to the cast.