Yellowstone

YELLOWSTONE … Is a 1936 black-n-white movie starring Henry Hunter and Judith Barrett. It’s murder mystery, a detective story, a family drama, and a vision into the National park during the olden days. It was also knows as The Great Geyser Murder Mystery. It was filmed at the Old Faithful Inn and inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP. Little has changed and the scenery and vision of 1930s Yellowstone was amazing.

YELLOWSTONE … is a current family drama based out of the Dutton Ranch and stars Kevin Costner and multiple A-list actors. Drama, thriller, western, 21st century Bonanza … who knows how to classify it. But it has a rampant following.

YELLOWSTONE … the world’s first national park. 2.2 MILLION (yes, million) acres with a wide variety of wildlife, flora, geothermal sites, and more. I have been a few times and like many who have been there – words fall short, pictures fail to grasp, stories can never give it her true credit, and memories are always incomplete to the everything she offers.

I’ve stayed at the historic Inn, driven the scores of miles of roadways, shopped at the gift shoppes, experienced the geysers-mud pools-hoodoos-forest-water falls-vistas. I have seen the bison, the moose, the bears, the bald eagles, the deer, the elk, the wolf and more.

LESSONS …

But what were some of the unusual LESSONS I have now looking back …

• You are in the park long before you think you are in the park. The entrance way is 20 miles before you get to the gate. LESSON – things worth experiencing, worth protecting, worth getting to takes effort, takes time, takes patience. This is hard in an instant gratification culture, but it’s true.
• The loop around and through the park is over 140 miles. And the speed limit is NOT highway speed. LESSON – enjoying and experiencing something of value takes patience, takes planning, and takes preparation (know where the bathroom stops are for one.)
• Instagram pics, posted FB pics are not always reality. Yellowstone does have multiple visitors. Do not think you are going to be alone and have this one-on-one with nature. LESSON – learn to share beauty, share experiences, and be patient for your turn for photos. We are not on this world alone.
• If you want to experience historical, don’t expect modern. Twice, I stayed in the original wing of the historical Yellowstone Inn. The rooms had no AC (you could open the window) … had no plumbing in the rooms (shared showers and bathroom on the hall) … and no internet, TV or phones. LESSON – we sure do have a lot of expectations in this modern world. (The 1936 movie has it pretty much he same as 2024)

Tips … Know before you go (study as much a possible, talk to those who’ve gone before, get the audio park guide downloaded so you can listen as you drive. This gives little hidden gems, quick stops and more. Unless you go for weeks, plan on returning, for you can’t see it all in a few days.

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YELLOWSTONE … more than just one thing. But that is life. So many things are multi-dimensional. So enjoy it, all of it.