By now you’ve probably seen the new Dutton Ranchtrailer and found yourself wondering, “Wait, where did Beth and Rip buy a ranch?” Well, the answer is Texas, and since that’s where they’ve moved, that could mean their way of life and style of ranching might—most likely will—change. Below, we dive deep into Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler’s (Cole Hauser) move, and share what it could mean for the future of the Yellowstone universe as a whole.
Where did Beth and Rip buy a ranch?
As seen in the Dutton Ranch trailer, Beth and Rip bought a ranch in Texas, not Montana like viewers initially thought. As of publication, it’s unclear why they decided to move, but viewers do have their theories. Some think they went there simply to get away from their complicated Montana past, whereas others believe that it might have just been to mix up the plot and keep things entertaining. No matter the reason, one thing’s for sure: Dutton Ranch will have the exact same vibes as Yellowstone.
Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly in ‘Dutton Ranch’
Emerson Miller/Paramount+.
“A lot of the people involved with Dutton Ranch really felt like they were making Yellowstone Season 6,” director Greg Yaitanes told Collider earlier this month. “Dutton Ranch has the best parts of what I loved about Yellowstone. That cast is just so terrific. It’s artful. It’s just a different kind of show. It’s much more of a drama and a soap.”
Is Texas ranching different from Montana ranching?
When it comes to ranching, both in Montana and Texas, most cowboys and cowgirls will corral the same thing: Cattle, a.k.a cows. The food they feed, breed, sell and even turn into beef. The only real difference between the two—aside from geography, of course—is the weather. In Montana, winters can be brutal and sometimes ranchers have to cover their cattle’s land with windbreaks to protect them from the snow. In Texas, ranchers don’t have that problem. They do however have extreme heat to deal with, which can dry out the grass the cattle eat and might even result in the animals overheating. Texas ranches also have to deal with heavy rainfall and resulting floods, which could result in their ranch—and maybe even their cattle—getting washed away. All of these issues could potentially be dealt with in Dutton Ranch Season 1.
Is it better to ranch in Texas or Montana?
Is it better to ranch in Texas or Montana? The answer isn’t so simple—and it’s one that sits at the heart of what makes Dutton Ranch so compelling. Each state offers its own advantages. In Texas, ranchers often have the opportunity to run larger herds, which can translate into greater profits. Montana, on the other hand, offers wide-open land that’s often more affordable—and undeniably more scenic, with landscapes that feel pulled straight from a Western.
Of course, ranching isn’t limited to those two states. Places like Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho have long been part of the ranching tradition as well, though they bring a slightly different balance of modern life and frontier roots.
Will Beth and Rip’s move impact the ‘Yellowstone’ universe ?
As a whole, it’s safe to assume that Beth and Rip’s move to Texas will impact the Yellowstone universe as a whole—mainly in the sense that it will be harder for there to be a crossover with Marshals, the other spin off show centered around Beth’s brother Kayce (Luke Grimes).
“I feel like Kayce should go to Dutton Ranch. That feels like something that I would lose my sh*t over as a fan. That would be pretty cool,” Yaitanes told Collider. “I just don’t know, in the world of what Marshals is, if Beth would fit into that quite as well. Kayce would just naturally fold into Dutton Ranch because there’s a tonal similarity to the original Yellowstone.”
