The Area - Two Feathers Ranch

Location

The Bitterroot Valley is located in southwestern Montana, south of Missoula. The area is that part of the western boundary of Montana that looks like a face on the map – specifically, the nose on the face. Flanked by the Sapphire Mountains and Continental Divide to the east and the Bitterroot Mountain Range to the west, the Bitterroot is a lush valley with a freestone trout river running north through the middle of it. The spectacular scenery, mild mountain climate, and friendly small western communities define the area.

Getting here is easy with the (MSO) Missoula International airport, a mere 45 + minute drive from the Valley. The 53,000 residents come from all walks of life and varied lifestyles. Land uses include neighborhood homes, small farms, and large agricultural ranches. Many of the larger parcels in the Valley are protected from development through voluntary conservation. Surrounded by 1,850 square miles of public forest lands, there is no shortage of room to roam. The County seat of Hamilton offers medical services at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital with its new ICU and Birthing Center. Community medical clinics serve residents as well as nearby Missoula medical facilities which offer specialty care to the entire region.

The new Bitterroot College of the University of Montana located in Hamilton offers a wide selection of coursework to prepare students for unfolding job opportunities. Principle industries include agriculture, science and technology, log home construction, and entrepreneurial businesses.

Elevation, Precipitation, Climate

The Bitterroot Valley has an average elevation of 3,700 feet and a dry climate with low humidity. The average rainfall is 13.3 inches per year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees and the nights are cool. Winter days are the mildest in Montana due to the influence of pacific climate patterns. The Valley experiences very little wind. The growing season in the Bitterroot Valley is Zone 5 to 6, allowing for market vegetables, berries, some fruits, short season corn, hay and grain.

The Community

FOOD, FUN, FRIENDS & FAMILY. DIVERSE CULTURES WITH A COMMON BOND

The Two Feathers Ranch is located near Darby, just a few miles south of Hamilton, Montana. Hamilton is an upscale western community of approximately 8,000 residence. The vital downtown main street speaks to the health of the community with local businesses thriving and providing dining and services. Marcus Daly Hospital is rated in the top 100 urgent care facilities in the nation. Stock Farm Club, founded by Charles Schwab in the late 1990’s, offers members an 18 hole Tom Fazio designed golf course as well as other amenities on 2,600 acres. There is always something to do in and around Hamilton, from Farmer’s Market, music festivals, holiday events, and sportsman dinners. The friendly folks in the Bitterroot Valley make it easy to be a newcomer. People wave at you on the roads and show kindness to others.

The neighboring university town of Missoula, less than an hours drive away, plays host to numerous events, excellent breweries, dining and concerts. The area is a hub for contemporary musicians and has also attracted many top name artists such as; The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, B.B. King, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills & Nash, ZZ Top and Bob Dylan to name a few.

The people who choose to call the Bitterroot Valley "home" come from diverse backgrounds and share different histories. One thing they all have in common is their love of the area and deep appreciation of it's peaceful beauty. Far from the hustle and bustle of stressful, overcrowded communities, the only "f" words you're likely to hear are "food, fun, family, fishing, faith and freedom"... and of course, "Fantastic!"

The Paramount "Yellowstone" TV Series

Yellowstone is a drama series that first premiered on June 20, 2018, on the Paramount Network. Created by Taylor Sheridan, a filmmaker and writer known for his work on Sicario and Hell or High Water, the show follows the Dutton family, landowners of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, located in Montana. The series explores family drama, power struggles, and conflicts over land, with sweeping landscapes and high-stakes narratives set against the rugged backdrop of the American West.

The Show's Origins and Success
Taylor Sheridan had the idea for Yellowstone based on his love for the West and his belief in its symbolism as both an idea and a place of tension. Sheridan, a Texas native, is deeply interested in the stories of individuals and families grappling with change, and Yellowstone served as a way to explore the evolving concept of the American frontier. The Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner), is central to the show’s exploration of land ownership, power, and the fight to protect the values of the American West.
From the outset, Yellowstone was a hit, resonating with audiences who appreciated its mix of traditional Western themes, modern sensibilities, and gripping family drama. The show’s success is also rooted in its high production values, its talented cast, and Sheridan’s skillful storytelling. It quickly became one of the highest-rated cable dramas in recent years, spawning prequels such as 1883 and 1923 (both set in different historical periods of the Dutton family's history), and expanding the Yellowstone franchise into a full-blown cultural phenomenon.

Filming in Montana and the Town of Darby
While the fictional Yellowstone Dutton Ranch is a massive and sprawling property that exists mostly in the world of the show, much of the series is filmed on location in Montana. One of the notable filming locations is the town of Darby, a small but picturesque community in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana. Darby, with its charming rural vibe, majestic mountain views, and proximity to the famed Bitterroot National Forest, has provided the perfect setting for the series’ exterior shots, including ranch scenes and wilderness settings.
In the show, Darby and its surroundings stand in for the vast, untamed landscapes of the American West. For those familiar with the region, the real Darby, while small, captures the essence of the rustic, frontier spirit that Yellowstone aims to portray. Its scenic beauty and proximity to the dramatic peaks of the Bitterroot Mountains make it a compelling backdrop for a story about land, legacy, and survival.
Despite Darby’s small size—its population hovers around 800 people—the town has had a significant impact on the production of Yellowstone. Local businesses, ranchers, and residents have often found themselves part of the show’s ecosystem, whether through on-location shoots, or by providing services, equipment, and local flavor to the production.

Darby Today
As of now, Darby remains a small and tight-knit community, where residents are proud of their heritage and their connection to the land. Though the town has been transformed in some ways by the attention that Yellowstone has brought to the area, much of its character remains unchanged. Visitors can still experience the raw, untamed beauty of the Bitterroot Valley, go hiking in the surrounding forests, or take in the views of the Sapphire Mountains just as they might have done before the cameras rolled into town. Darby’s main street is lined with old-fashioned storefronts, and the nearby ranches continue to operate as they have for generations, albeit with more eyes on them than ever before.

Chief Joseph Ranch

DEEP TIES TO MONTANA'S HISTORY

The acreage of the Two Feathers Ranch is 357+ acres in size. This constitutes approximately 15% of the acreage of the original CJR and is one of the largest of the remaining undeveloped parcels. Here is the history of the CJR provided by a quick online search.

The Chief Joseph Ranch, now famous as the filming location for Yellowstone, has a rich history tied to the Ford-Hollister family, Luke Weiss, and later, Mel Pervais. Originally, the land was homesteaded in 1880, and its prominent phase began in 1914 when William S. Ford, a glass tycoon from Ohio, acquired the property along with federal judge Howard Hollister. They expanded the ranch to 2,500 acres, with Ford investing in an ambitious three-year project to build an impressive 6,000-square-foot lodge. Designed by Bates & Gamble, the lodge and its extensive barns set a new standard for log architecture in the West. The Ford family later transitioned the ranch from an apple orchard to a dairy operation, and eventually, a Hereford cattle ranch, before opening one of the first guest ranches in the West after Ford’s death in 1935.

The ranch was renamed Chief Joseph Ranch in the 1950s, paying homage to the Nez Perce leader, who had crossed the land in 1877 during his people's retreat from U.S. forces. In 1987, Melvin Pervais, an entrepreneur and member of the Ojibwa Nation, purchased the deteriorating property. He dedicated substantial effort to restoring the ranch to its former glory, including the lodge and barns. He added personal touches, such as a pet bobcat named Toma, after Chief Joseph's wife, and focused on preserving the historical authenticity of the estate. Pervais eventually sold the ranch to multiple buyers which created the opportunity for Two Feathers Ranch to be born as the southern portion including Tin Cup Creek frontage and USFS access.

The Valley History

A RICH AND RUGGED WESTERN HERITAGE

The valley was the ancestral home of the Salish tribe of the Flathead nation.

In early September 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed Lost Trail Pass from present-day Idaho in order to connect with the overland route through the Rocky Mountains. Passing down Camp Creek and the East Fork, they followed the Bitterroot River northward to the point where it connects with the Nez Perce Trail and Lolo Creek. Before continuing their difficult journey to the west, they named their camp Traveler's Rest. Returning to this site in early July of the following year, they split their Corps of Discovery, furthering their explorations both to the northeast (Lewis) and to the south (Clark).

The first 'white' settlement in the valley was the founding in 1841 of St. Mary's Mission, near present-day Stevensville, by Father DeSmet. Fort Owen was established nearby in 1850, and difficult relations occurred between the white settlers and the Salish until 1891, when the native tribes were relocated to the north. In 1877 Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe passed south through the Bitterroot Valley, fleeing the U.S. Army. They exited the East Fork via Gibbons Pass, near where they fought at the Battle of the Big Hole.

The Bitterroot Valley had nearly a million apple trees in the early 1900s, and was one of the world's largest producers of MacIntosh apples at that time. Irrigation was provided by about 80 miles of canals. Although the Bitterroot Valley's orchards became less competitive with apple orchards in Washington State after hailstorms in 1922 and 1923, it is still home to one of the nation's largest cider orchards.

Settlement has continued since that time. The population of Ravalli County in the 2000 census was 36,070; 40,212 in the 2010 census, and 53,000 in recent the estimate. The major industries are ranching, agriculture, forestry, and tourism.