Zoe De La Paz left a $75,000 corporate engineering job in Chicago to pursue her passion for sewing by moving to Yellowstone National Park, where she now works as a seamstress for Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the concessionaire operating many park services. At 26, she shares a dorm room in Mammoth Village and earns $19.25 an hour repairing and tailoring uniforms for the park’s seasonal employees. This change allows her a more creative and fulfilling career while living in one of the most scenic places in the world, even though her pay is lower than before.

Her daily routine includes taking an early shuttle to her tailoring job in Gardiner, Montana, where she manages urgent repairs and alterations, especially during the busy summer season. The work can be intense, sometimes requiring quick fixes on dozens of uniform items in a day. Beyond basic tailoring, De La Paz and her team also engage in creative projects, like upcycling old backpacks into fanny packs, reflecting a team with diverse backgrounds and a close-knit dynamic within the park community.

De La Paz pays just $96 monthly for employee lodging, which includes utilities and Wi-Fi, and $359 for a meal stipend covering dining options on site. Despite some additional discretionary spending, including gifts and personal meals, her overall expenses remain low compared to city living. She also maintains an emergency fund of nearly $11,000 and invests regularly while accessing affordable health services through the park’s employee clinic.

While her seasonal contract ends in September 2026, De La Paz plans to continue developing her sewing career in larger cities like Los Angeles or New York, considering opportunities in film, theater, and concert costuming. Her transformative experience living and working in Yellowstone has ignited confidence and a renewed sense of possibility, encouraging her to embrace future creative projects while staying connected to nature.