A REVIVAL OF YELLOWSTONE'S LIVING HISTORY
A live storytelling and film series that brings Yellowstone’s human history to the stage—one unforgettable night at a time.Each week, audiences gather inside a historic rail lodge to experience the untold stories of Yellowstone’s past—of generalist rangers who did it all, naturalists who sparked wonder, fire crews and trail crews, maintenance workers who kept the park running, concessionaires and bus drivers, wildlife encounters, and the everyday stewards who shaped the visitor experience.Every evening features:
• A short cinematic film, built from archival footage, vintage photos, and curated sound
• A live storyteller sharing a personal account from life in the park
• A permanent archive, recorded for future generationsMore than nostalgia, it’s a revival—
of memory, of place, of connection.Think Ken Burns meets National Geographic Live, in the legendary Union Pacific Dining Lodge—within the glow of a towering indoor campfire.
WHY IT MATTERS
The stories of Yellowstone’s people—the ones who shaped its legacy across generations—are quietly slipping away.Not because they don’t matter.
But because no one thought to capture them.We’re changing that.Yellowstone Ranger Stories™ preserves the human heart of the park experience—through short films, archival imagery, and real voices told live.It’s a revival of awe, presence, and connection in a time that needs them most.
10 Themes. 20 Evenings. One Unforgettable Season.
Each week, a new storytelling focus takes center stage—from generalist rangers to concessionaires,
naturalist interpreters to tour guides and trail crews.From fire lines to grizzly run-ins,
from backcountry patrol cabins to the rangers who stood watch when wolves came home,
from midnight rescues to register drawers and restocks in Yellowstone’s oldest stores—these are the people who lived the park, and kept it alive.Each evening pairs a short cinematic film with a live storyteller—
then becomes part of a permanent archive.Every night is filmed.
Every voice preserved.
A living record of the people who helped define the park—for this generation, and the next.
The Story Behind the Stories
I grew up with the quiet hum of ranger life in my bones.My father wore the flat hat for 35 years in Yellowstone. My grandfather ran Camp Trails, a backcountry youth camp in the park from 1928 to 1958.This place shaped my family—and now, this project is my way of giving something back. At its core, it’s a cultural revival.A way to hold onto the presence, memory, and voice of those who knew the park by heart.I’m just one storyteller.
But I carry the echoes of many.—Lori Nuss, Founder
WATCH THE TRAILER —
A Glimpse Into One Night
This trailer captures the spirit of a single storytelling night in the series—honoring the Golden Era generalist rangers who helped shape Yellowstone’s soul.But they’re just one part of the story.The full season will unfold across ten themes, ten chapters of Yellowstone’s living history.
Yellowstone Ranger Stories™
Season One: A Return to the Campfire
This project grows with every voice.
Share a memory, a story, or let us know how you’d like to be involved.
Yellowstone Ranger Stories™ and The Real Yellowstone™ are original projects created by Lori Nuss.© 2025 Lori Nuss. All rights reserved.🎬 Trailer Directed and Written by Lori Nuss | Cinematography and Edit by Braeden Meyer | Narration by retired Yellowstone Ranger Jerry Ryder