How Missoula Real Estate Agent Katie Ward Helped "Yellowstone" Find Its Footing For Season 4

Hold on to your hat, Montana is about to see some serious economic impact from the film industry!

Taylor Sheridan, the series’ co-creator, executive producer and writer, confirmed that the filming of Season 4 of the hit Paramount Network series will take place entirely in Montana. Between 70-75% of the first three seasons was filmed in and around Park City, with production based at the Utah Film Studios.

“We’re going to shoot exclusively [in Montana] this year,” Sheridan said in an interview with Deadline.

Utah and Summit County will miss out on the money “Yellowstone” pumped into the Utah economy, which Marshall Moore Utah Film Studios vice president of operations estimated at between $20 million and $30 million a year according to The Salt Lake City Tribune. 

Katie Ward, Commercial Real Estate Broker with PureWest Christies Real Estate in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley received an email from the production’s Senior Site Selection Manager outlining the type of space required for such a move to the area. He listed over 100,000 sq. ft. of space including warehouses, offices, transportation sites and more. 

“Finding large warehouse space with appropriate ceiling height, construction quality, ample power and the right location was not easy.”  Said Ward.

After calls to the airport, county commissioners, bank presidents, and local building owners who might lease versus sell their buildings, Ward was able to find locations that worked well.  

“Buildings that had been vacant for years or under-used are now occupied by a great tenant.  With the current outdoor shoots taking place in Darby and throughout the valley relocating the production offices, accounting, costume department, indoor sets and much more to the area made total sense,” Ward commented. “What really made it happen was House Bill 293, the “Media Act” which became effective July 1, 2019 and extends through 2029.” 

“It was an honor to be of assistance to this production team. The economic impact to the communities like Missoula, Lolo, Stevensville, Hamilton and Darby will be amazing. We will see new revenue from housing upwards of 300 people, to their meals, gas, and the huge impact of investment into the buildings and local purchases, “ stated Katie Ward.  “It’s in full swing now!”

According to the Economic impact study completed by EConsult Solutions, productions that have filmed in Montana the first year January 2019- June 2020 totaled 117 productions with local spending at $23.9 Million,  total impact $47.6 Million, total FTE Jobs , and employee compensation $17.6 Million…and this was before Yellowstone moved its Park City operations to Montana. The complete report is available here. 

Katie Ward, Broker, specializes in site selection, commercial investment property, development land as well as the Ranch and Land market. Katie has been a real estate broker since 1996.  Visit Katie’s website here.  Her phone number is 406-596-4000 and her email is [email protected].