MONTANA: Singer Jimmy Buffett’s Montana Connections

Livingston CREDIT Montana Office of Tourism

Popular American singer Jimmy Buffett, best known for songs “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday” and “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” (with Alan Jackson), includes Montana locations in several of his songs. In “Come Monday,” he sings about missing his girlfriend in Montana: “Remember that night in Montana when we said there’d be no room for doubt.” He refers to her “enjoying the scenery, I know that it’s pretty up there.”

Buffett has also written songs about the small town of Livingston because of his visits to family there. His sister married Livingston author Thomas McGuane, who asked him to write the music for his 1975 film “Rancho Deluxe.” Buffett performed the song “Livingston Saturday Night” in the film. It’s chorus includes “rocking and a rolling on a Livingston Saturday night“ and refers to this town’s wild bar scene.

Many believe “Cheeseburger in Paradise” refers to a small burger restaurant called The Pop Stand just south of Livingston near Paradise Valley. Mark’s In & Out Burgers, an iconic Livingston drive-in (still in existence), also might have been an inspiration.

Other Montana references include “Ringling,” about a small town of that name located north of Livingston, and Missoula in his song “Miss You So Badly.”

For more information on Montana, visit VISITMT.COM.

Billings Has Served As A Set For Hollywood Films

You wouldn’t ordinarily think of a historic railroad station as a source of fame for a destination, but in Billings, that’s precisely where Montana’s largest city made major appearances on the big screen. In 1993, renowned producer Ron Howard filmed portions of “Far and Away” at the Historic Billings Depot. The film, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, is a story about Irish immigrants seeking fortune in 1890s America.

Then in 2013, Hollywood returned to the Historic Billings Depot for the filming of “Nebraska,” a comedy-drama starring “Saturday Night Live’s” Will Forte and Bob Odenkirk of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” The black and white picture follows an elderly Montana man and his son on a journey to claim a million-dollar sweepstakes prize.

While the Billings Depot has served as the set of major motion pictures, visitors today can enjoy classic and contemporary Hollywood hits at other historic locations in the city. The ArtHouse Cinema showcases movies every week in a quaint setting, and the Babcock Theatre – built in 1906 to address the high demand for entertainment resulting from the mining boom and an influx of rail travelers – is a unique venue that offers a modern take on a Western treasure.

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.

Fulfill Your “Yellowstone” Fan Dreams in Western Montana

Fans of the Paramount TV series “Yellowstone,” starring Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes and Wes Bentley, have been showing up in Western Montana trying to get a glimpse of the life of John Dutton and his – shall we say, complicated – family and their Yellowstone Ranch.
Before season four began filming, the entire production was relocated to Western Montana, where Dutton’s ranch resides – also known to the locals as Chief Joseph Ranch. Different locations and various businesses have been utilized for filming around Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula.

For those fans who have asked for locations to visit on their next trip to Western Montana, we’ve got you covered. Please be respectful of those who live and work at these establishments as you are fulfilling your Yellowstone fan dreams through the region. See the self-drive itinerary including the “Train Station” here. And for those who really want to take your Yellowstone fandom to the next level, overnight stays are allowed at Chief Joseph Ranch when they are not filming the show.

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

*Source: Caroline Davidson - Davidson Communications – Account Manager RMI AUNZ, CONTACT FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST: AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND caroline@davcomm.com.au