Bozeman, MT, November 12, 2019 – Mystery Ranch, the industry-leading pack company built on a heritage of comfortable load carriage, function and durability for people who have a mission to accomplish, is honored to support the creation of a new film, Zion Forever, as part of Zion National Park’s centennial celebration. The film, by production team Local.Studio, will take viewers into Zion National Park and follow the voices and experiences of many different keepers of this amazing sanctuary. The park was established on November 19, 1919 as Utah’s first National Park and is one of the most popular parks in the United States.
“Our mission to protect Zion is one that we take seriously,” said Kacey Jones, Assistant Director of Development at the Zion National Park Forever Project. “Mystery Ranch has committed to that mission, and their partnership and gift will ensure that our message is shared with millions as we move into Zion’s next 100 years. Without their partnership, the new Zion Forever film would not have been possible. Their gift to the park means that Mystery Ranch is committing to preserving Zion not just today, but for future generations to come.”
There will be two cuts of the film. A twenty-minute version of the film will greet visitors at Zion Visitor center for the next 20 years and will be seen by just under half a million visitors to the park every year. A longer documentary length film will be released in Spring 2020 and is currently being submitted to several annual film festivals and tours.
“As a maker of backpacks which enable our customers to explore wild spaces, protecting public lands like Zion has been a priority of Mystery Ranch since its inception,” shares Alex Kutches, Vice President of Mystery Ranch. “The Zion Forever film challenges the viewer to make the shift from simply being a visitor to the park to becoming a steward of the land, which is something we wholeheartedly support.”
The film seeks to empower visitors with a sense of responsibility for the land and also the importance of cultivating and developing the next generation of public land stewards. Mark Preiss, Director of the Zion Forever Project feels the new film leads Zion into the next century. He states, “This film resets the definition of traditional movies about national parks. Through the voices of diverse characters, visitors will be offered a chance to truly connect with the land and realize that being a keeper of Zion doesn’t stop when you leave the park gates. It’s a deeper commitment to do whatever you can to protect these precious resources now and forever.”
Zion National Park Forever Project, Zion National Park’s official nonprofit partner, is hosting a Centennial celebration event on November 19, 2019. Zion National Park’s community of rangers, patrons and fans from around the globe will gather to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved natural treasures with a private screening of the new Zion Forever Film by Local.Studio, a screening of a poem by American cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell and live American desert music by 3Hattrio. The event is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets to the event can be reserved online at zionpark.org.
