When you picture Ransom Canyon, it’s hard not to imagine Texas skies stretching wide over rugged ranch land, the hum of cicadas cutting through the heat, and longhorns silhouetted against the horizon. After all, the Netflix series (led by Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, and James Brolin) takes place in the fictional town of Ransom Canyon, a namesake of the real-life Texas locale.
But despite its Texan heart, Ransom Canyon was almost entirely filmed in New Mexico. From sprawling cattle ranches in Santa Fe to the charm of Las Vegas (the one in New Mexico!), the series leans on its settings to create a world where love, loyalty, and land intertwine.
None of the core filming happened in Texas. Instead, New Mexico’s dramatic vistas provided the moody yet majestic backdrops fans rave about.
The real Ransom Canyon sets were at Blame Her Ranch, Dead Horse Ranch & more
Let’s start with Bar W Ranch, Davis Collins’s luxurious home base (Eoin Macken). It’s the Blame Her Ranch, located just 45 minutes outside Santa Fe at 7,000 feet above sea level. It features a custom-designed 7,900-square-foot lodge with scenic vistas, a cauldron hot tub, and seasonal ponds nestled in ponderosa pine. It’s no wonder the location manager Ashley Valdez called it “breathtaking” when describing it to House Beautiful.
Then there’s Staten Kirkland’s Double K Ranch, which was filmed at Dead Horse Ranch. This working 6,100-acre ranch between Santa Fe and Las Vegas offers everything from natural springs to professional equestrian facilities. Duhamel told Tudum that his love of land mirrored Staten’s: “It’s very much about family, legacy, and the land.”
For Cap Fuller’s (James Brolin) scenes, the expansive Buena Vista Ranch, which spans three counties, was used.
Quinn’s quaint wraparound porch home? That’s the Pond House at Bonanza Creek Ranch, initially built for the 1994 film Troublemakers. The historic ranch is still a cattle ranch and a coveted film set.
Las Vegas, NM & Albuquerque were used for town scenes
While the ranches hold the heart of Ransom Canyon, it’s the town scenes that give it life—and they were filmed in Las Vegas, New Mexico. According to its official website, the city has over 900 historic buildings and serves as a preserved architectural museum. From Quinn’s dance hall to small-town bars and main streets, the vibe is classic Americana with a Wild West edge.
Minka Kelly, who plays Quinn, shared with Tudum how deeply personal filming in Albuquerque was. “I hadn’t been there since childhood… but going back in this way took away the boogeyman,” she said. “There’s something divine about it.”
Meanwhile, actor Jack Schumacher raved about the authenticity of riding horses through these landscapes—”you feel like you’re really there with the characters.”
The show’s creator, April Blair, told Glamour UK, “Ransom is much more than just a town… It’s cowboys and lovers, grifters and thieves.” That sentiment echoes through the scenery as much as the storylines.
MORE: See The Trailer For Ransom Canyon On Netflix
