THE REAL YELLOWSTONE™
A hidden American culture existed inside Yellowstone—
and it is quietly disappearing.
THE REAL YELLOWSTONE™ reveals the people, stories, and way of life that shaped
Yellowstone from the inside.
THE WORLD INSIDE YELLOWSTONE
A hidden world existed behind the public image of Yellowstone.It was carried by the people who lived and worked there—the rangers, families, park staff, concessionaires, outfitters, interpreters, and communities connected to it.Much of it was never formally recorded. It was learned by doing, passed from person to person, and shaped by daily life in one of the most extraordinary places in America.THE REAL YELLOWSTONE primarily explores the generations who shaped Yellowstone from the 1950s through the 1990s — an era when much of the park’s culture was still learned on the ground and carried forward through firsthand experience and mentorship.
Being a park ranger wasn’t just a job for us, it was home.
— Les Inafuku, Yellowstone Ranger
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
The landscapes of Yellowstone remain. But much of the culture, knowledge, and lived experience that shaped life inside and around the park is quietly disappearing.There was a time when much of this knowledge was passed on through mentorship, storytelling, shared work, and daily life inside Yellowstone’s interconnected human ecosystems.Some of the places where these stories were once shared — like the evening campfire talks and amphitheater programs — have grown quiet.As many of the people who carried this world are now gone or in their later years, much of what they knew risks being lost with time.THE REAL YELLOWSTONE exists to help carry those stories, experiences, and traditions forward—while the voices are still here.
Ranger Dale H. Nuss, 1953-Yellowstone Lake
The inaugural gathering —
A RETURN TO THE CAMPFIRE
Inspired by Yellowstone’s evening campfire tradition, THE REAL YELLOWSTONE comes to life through intimate gatherings of firsthand storytelling, photographs, and short documentary film.These evenings are designed to bring people back into the atmosphere where stories, knowledge, and connection to the park were once shared person to person.Beginning Fall 2026 in Montana’s Paradise Valley.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
Lori Nuss, FounderI grew up with the quiet hum of ranger life in my bones. My father wore the flat hat in Yellowstone for 35 years, and my grandfather owned and operated Camp Trails, a backcountry youth camp in the park, from 1928 to 1958.My memories of growing up in Yellowstone so often return to stories around campfires—ranger tales, close calls with grizzlies, backcountry patrols, and the occasional tourist mishap.THE REAL YELLOWSTONE™ continues that tradition, carrying the lived knowledge of the park forward through the voices of those who know it best.I’m just one storyteller.
But I carry the echoes of many.
Braeden Meyer is a filmmaker whose work explores the relationship between people and the natural world.Working in an observational documentary style, he brings a steady, thoughtful lens to stories shaped by place, memory, and lived experience.
Linda Howard is a lifelong caretaker of public lands, with decades of experience in interpretation and storytelling.She brings a deep understanding of people, place, and memory to the work—helping shape the voices and stories at its center.
FOUNDING LEGACY SUPPORT
THE REAL YELLOWSTONE™ is carried forward with the support of those who feel a deep connection to Yellowstone.Pat and Ginger Povah, of the Hamilton Stores legacy, are the founding legacy supporters of this work.Their connection to the park spans generations—reflecting a long-standing presence in the life of Yellowstone and the people who have experienced it.This work continues to take shape with others who share that connection.
If this resonates, there are a few ways to take part.
For individual or business partnerships:
STAY CLOSE TO THE FIRE
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