Out with ‘Yukon Men,’ in With ‘The Stan Project’
Russ Chastain 02.13.19
There’s a new Alaska filming project in the works about Stan Zuray, known as “The Stan Project.” It’s being undertaken by a husband-and-wife team who wish to show us more about the tough old guy who’s been everything from crook to loner and has grown to become a central figure in a remote Alaskan community.
When the Discovery Channel’s ‘Yukon Men’ first aired, I began watching it. From the beginning, I was struck by much of the show’s content… and most of all by a man named Stan Zuray. As the show developed, it became clear that among other interesting people on the program, Stan was the man. He has a better backstory, he can do just about anything (including veterinary work on his dogs or building machinery from bits and pieces of other machines), and he’s probably the only rugged Yukon man you’ll ever find who speaks with a strong Boston accent.
Stan’s the Man
In short: Stan grew up in a good home but the neighborhood wasn’t great. He ran with gangs, stole cars, and did some drugs. Then he realized he needed a dramatic change in order to stay alive (and out of jail). So he headed north, spent some time in Canada, and finally settled in Alaska, where he built a cabin in the middle of nowhere and carved out a life for himself, which eventually grew and expanded to include folks in and around the remote village of Tanana.
Unfortunately, Yukon Men sometimes stooped to fake drama in an attempt to entertain us. Through it all, Stan stayed the same: a leader of men and dogs who was just as happy teaching kids at fish camp, helping out in town, or hunting & trapping deep in the wilderness with only his dogs for company. And then the show was cancelled.
The show went away, but Stan did not. He maintained a presence on Facebook, posting photos and videos to give fans a feeling of attachment to a hard lifestyle that isn’t easy to attain for anyone — and which he is still enjoying at age 69. I was happy when he recently reached out to me via email to let me know of an upcoming video project. Personal emails from Stan the man? Life is good.
The Stan Project
The Stan Project has completed pre-production, but needs more funding in order to move forward. Their new Kickstarter page describes it as “A thoughtful documentary series showcasing a different way to look at life through the eyes of Stan Zuray.” They’re seeking $20,000 and so far they’ve garnered $2,821 from 43 backers.
In the video at the top of the page, we hear from Ryan (director/cinematographer) and Kari (co-creator and producer), the folks who are making a go of this project. Ryan first met Stan in 2012 while working on Yukon Men and became enamored of Stan’s lifestyle. He and Kari were dating at the time, and her visits to Tanana were life-changing for the self-described city girl.
We also see Stan at his best in the video, in the end simply stating:
Hello, I’m Stan Zuray. I live a subsistence lifestyle in interior Alaska near a little village called Tanana. You should watch my movie.
Well, I’m sold. How about you?
In a Facebook post yesterday, Stan said, “This could be as big as people/fans want it. It will be very real and close up.” I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Big News – here's the "something may be happening soon" that I mentioned a few time lately. One of the best…
Posted by Stan Zuray on Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Pledge rewards vary from your name appearing in the credits under “supported by” for $10 all the way up to a visit to Tanana (not including airfare) and a day trip with Stan if you pony up $10,000, with many options in between.
Visit the Kickstarter page to make a pledge — as Stan says, “check it all out to make sure you feel comfortable with it all” before you do.
You can also check out and like The Stan Project Facebook page and help spread the word by sharing their posts.
I know Stan will be grateful for the chance to help spread the word about community, integrity, and self-reliance. And I will really enjoy seeing this project come to fruition.
