Inside the Real Homes of ‘Ransom Canyon’—and the Dark History of One Major Character’s Ranch

Netflix:Bonanza Creek Ranch:Dead Horse Ranch:Buena Vista Ranch

Netflix’s new Western saga, “Ransom Canyon,” has quickly lassoed fans with its sordid tales of cowboy love triangles, land disputes, small-town drama, and jaw-dropping properties—leaving some viewers lusting after a life on a similarly opulent Texas ranch.

The 10-episode series, which stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, hit screens on April 17 and is set in the real-life Texas town of Ransom Canyon, which is within Lubbock County and has a population of 1,159, per the 2023 Census.

However, when it came to choosing filming locations for the show, producers decided not to shoot the series in its titular locale, instead opting to travel about five hours northwest of the area in search of a more luxurious looking backdrop.

The chosen set? New Mexico—specifically Santa Fe and Albuquerque, which have long been used as one of Hollywood’s favorite spots for Western-themed productions, thanks to the state’s intriguing architecture and vast desert landscapes.

Many of the scenes even took place in Las Vegas, which is just east of the fictional town the series branded Crossroads.

Speaking about the filming locations, showrunner April Blake explained that, while the show is named after a real-life place, what producers wanted to capture with the location was more of an “idea,” which they believed could be better portrayed in a different area.

“At its core, Ransom Canyon isn’t just a town, it’s an idea,” Blake told Netflix’s Tudum. “It’s the painful longing for your first love. It’s the burning desire to protect your family—Ransom has it all.”

She added, “Most of New Mexico is adobe architecture, and there’s this one little old mining town in northern New Mexico very close to the Texas border called Las Vegas, ironically, that just looks like an old Texas town. It has all the old turn-of-the-century architecture and storefronts.”

While some may be disappointed to learn that a trip to the real-life Ransom Canyon will not, unfortunately, land them at the heart of a Netflix filming set, there is a silver lining to that cloud.

Namely the fact that many of the properties used in the series are very much real—and some can even be rented by guests who are seeking to turn their Ransom Canyon dream into a reality.

Blame Her Ranch

One of the ranches seen in the Western show is Blame Her Ranch, which is located at the southernmost tip of Glorieta Mesa, which is just 45 minutes away from Santa Fe.

The property sprawls across 2,000 acres and is adjacent to the Santa Fe National Forest.

The ranch sleeps up to 44 people thanks to its nine bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms.

The main lodge home boasts 30-inch logs, 28-foot-high ceilings, a great room, a dining room, a pantry, a chef’s kitchen, a home theater, an office, a gym, a pool, and saunas.

Inside the ranch, there are also expansive windows that allow natural light to flood in.

The barn guesthouse features a queen-sized bed, a bathroom, 19 flat screens, a projector unit, and a security system.

Additionally, there is a 1,750-square-foot dance hall, a 1,500-square-foot ceremony, a 1,800-square-foot porch, three fireplaces, a large lawn, multiple fountains, two fire pits, and a golf driving range.

In the series, Blame Her Ranch stood in for Davis’ W Ranch.

Dead Horse Ranch

Dead Horse Ranch is situated on over 6,100 acres and features four residences.

There are also 11 wells, a natural spring, two ponds, a water storage tank, and 11 miles of durable pipe fencing.

Furthermore, the grounds include a rustic log cabin, a stone barn, a hay barn, an equipment barn, a wood shed, and an office with bunk rooms.

On its site, the ranch is described as “an unrivaled equestrian haven.”

“From the everyday routines of seasoned ranch hands to the grand excitement of horsemanship clinics, cutting competitions, and roping events, these facilities represent the perfect blend of tradition, craftsmanship, and modern utility – making Dead Horse Ranch an unrivaled equestrian haven,” the site reads.

In the series, Dead Horse Ranch acted as Staten’s Double K.

Buena Vista Ranch

Buena Vista Ranch, which is in Mora County, NM, stood in for Cap Fuller’s home in the series.

The real-life ranch includes luxury amenities, a chef’s kitchen, lush landscaping, and plenty of outdoor lounging areas.

According to the website, there is also high-speed internet, billiards, an outdoor fire pit, and an expansive living area.

The area has acted as peak hunting grounds for several years.

Bonanza Creek Ranch

Bonanza Creek Ranch has served as Hollywood’s favorite Western filming set for over seven decades.

It is nestled in Northern New Mexico and is spread out across thousands of acres.

According to the site, the ranch “features a large Western Town set, three separate homestead sets, one of which overlooks a natural pond, and a Spanish Fort set, with a dugout structure hidden in the side of a hill in the near distance.

“More than 150 movies, as well as various videos, commercials and catalog shoots have been filmed here!”

The ranch also comes complete with sweeping views, cottonwood trees, and over 24 structures.

The property also houses a cattle ranch known as the Jarrott Ranch.

In “Ransom Canyon,” the pond house at Bonanza Creek acts as Quinn’s home.

Although the ranch has acted as the backdrop for over 100 Hollywood films, it also has a dark history.

Bonanza Creek Ranch is the same place where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot during filming for the movie “Rust” starring Alec Baldwin.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Baldwin faced involuntary manslaughter charges; however, they were later dismissed.

Following the shooting, the ranch temporarily closed to the public and suspended tours.

After authorities investigated the shooting, the ranch was then permitted to reopen the grounds.