‘Yellowstone’ Creator Taylor Sheridan Just Expanded His Universe With a Very Real, Very Big Purchase
Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan signed a massive deal with CBS Viacom earlier this year to expand the Yellowstone universe. Due to the success of his western series on the Paramount Network, Sheridan will now be producing more content for the new streamer Paramount+.
The Texas native currently has the prequel Y:1883 in the works, along with the spinoff 6666. As a result of this huge new contract and the expansion of his TV universe, Sheridan has just made a very real, very big purchase.
The ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff is based on a real-life Texas ranch
The Yellowstone prequel Y:1883 will give fans a look at the history of the Dutton family. The series will follow John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) ancestors as they head west.
Fans will see the family settle down and homestead the land that eventually becomes the iconic (but fictional) Dutton Yellowstone Ranch. Also known as the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Meanwhile, the spinoff 6666 is based on the real-life Four Sixes Ranch in Texas. This massive property actually is one of the largest ranches in the United States. It spans 260,000 acres, the size and scope of an entire county.
Texas is at the heart of America’s ranch history.
Texas is where American cattle branding was born, as well as modern ranching itself. The famous Four Sixes ranch — located near Guthrie, Texas — is “synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are made.”
According to the 6666 series description, the ranch is still operating as it did two centuries before. When Captain Samuel “Burk” Burnett founded the ranch and Comanches still ruled West Texas.
“Still operating as it did two centuries before, and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing,” the 6666 series description reads.
The ‘Yellowstone’ creator just bought the Four Sixes Ranch
As it turns out, Sheridan didn’t just want to write about the legendary Texas ranch. He had much bigger plans. According to KCBD Channel 11, Sheridan has just purchased the real-life Four Sixes Ranch, which was put on the market in December. The director/writer is now under contract.
The ranch reportedly had an asking price of $347.7 million. However, the actual offer that was made on the property is unknown.
Sheridan actually shot segments of Yellowstone last year on the Four Sixes Ranch in the Guthrie and Borger County divisions.
Once the sale is finalized, Sheridan will be free to film his new spinoff anywhere he chooses on the property’s hundreds of thousands of acres.
This is the first time the ranch has been under contract in its ‘storied history’
This is the first time in The Four Sixes “storied history” — dating back to 1870 — that it’s been under contract. After Burnett died in 1920, he willed his estate to his daughter Anne.
The following year, oil was discovered on the ranch and fueled further expansion. Anne Burnett Marion passed away in February, and her will dictated that the ranch be sold.
Sam Middleton, Owner/Broker of Chas. S Middleton and Son Farm-Ranch Sales told The Texas Spur that Sheridan was “the face of the buyer group.” He said the new owners plan to continue running the working ranch and will offer employment to all current employees.
“It’s all one deal, 266,000 acres with all three ranches . . . cattle, horses, equipment, furniture, brand, name, everything,” Middleton said.
The legacy of the Four Sixes Ranch is important to the ‘Yellowstone’ creator
Sheridan wouldn’t comment on the pending transaction. But, he did say that the legacy of Four Sixes Ranch is “vital” to the ranch itself. As well as the “rich heritage of ranching in Texas.”
“This legacy is so important to me I chose to highlight it in the upcoming season of Yellowstone and will continue to further the legacy and preserve its operations in a manner consistent with that great vision,” Sheridan said.
Yellowstone season 4 is expected to premiere in June on Paramount Network. The premiere dates for the prequel Y:1883 and spinoff 6666 have not been announced.
