75 Years Later: Famous Wyoming Cabin From “Shane”

Ernie Wright’s cabin, originally used in the filming of the 1953 western “Shane”, still stands east of the Teton mountain range near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

While not much of the original cabin remains, it is still recognizable.

“Shane”, a 1953 American Technicolor Western film, starred Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, and Van Heflin. It was released by Paramount Pictures.

The filmmakers chose the stunning Teton landscape in Wyoming as their backdrop.

The film is celebrated for its cinematography, editing, performances, and contributions to the Western genre.

Produced and directed by George Stevens, the screenplay was written by A. B. Guthrie Jr., based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Jack Schaefer.

The cinematography, crafted by Loyal Griggs, won an Oscar for its excellence.

In 1993, “Shane” was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

It’s been 75 years since the cabin was featured in the movie. So, what does it look like today?

The roof is gone, and so are the doors and windows. All that remains are the walls, which are sagging.

The lot, however, looks remarkably similar with the Teton mountains in the background, which have changed very little.

Here is a visual contrast of the cabin as it appeared in “Shane” and its current state.

The vine that once grew up the wall and onto the roof is no longer there. The chicken that featured in the movie scene also is long gone.

The cabin was designed to look humble yet inviting, a goal it certainly achieved.

This iconic spot is near Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, the Teton Range, and Kelly in the Jackson Hole Valley.

Below you will find recent images of what the cabin looks like today.