Netflix’s Ransom Canyon captures the rugged beauty and emotional depth of Jodi Thomas’s beloved novels—but not everything is quite what it seems on screen.
While the series is set in the windswept Texas Hill Country, filming took place hundreds of miles away, in some of New Mexico’s most cinematic landscapes.
Blending modern Western drama with multigenerational tension, Ransom Canyon stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly and was created by April Blair (Wednesday, All American). It follows three powerful ranching families vying for control of their land—land rich in legacy, secrets, and betrayal. And while the story may be fiction, the locations are very real, with each backdrop carefully selected to evoke the dusty realism and wide-open feel of a rural Texas town.
Here’s a look at where Ransom Canyon was really filmed—and how each location helped bring the world of Staten Kirkland, Quinn O’Grady, and the residents of Ransom Canyon to life.
Where Was Ransom Canyon Filmed?
Despite the real-life Ransom Canyon being a town in Texas, the Netflix series was filmed entirely in New Mexico. Production ran from late January to June 2024 and used a mix of studio and on-location settings across Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas, NM.
Bar W Ranch
Blame Her Ranch features Davis Collins’s Bar W Ranch, played by Eoin Macken, situated roughly 45 minutes from Santa Fe.
Double K Ranch
Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) runs the expansive Double K Ranch, portrayed by Dead Horse Ranch. Spanning over 6,100 acres, the ranch is between Las Vegas and Santa Fe.
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Fuller Ranch
The filming for Cap Fuller’s (James Brolin) ranch took place at a part of Buena Vista Ranch. This vast ranch spans several counties, specifically San Miguel, Mora, and Colfax in northeastern New Mexico. According to the ranch’s website, filming for Ransom Canyon occurred at the main quarters, situated about 90 miles from Santa Fe.
Quinn’s O’Grady Farm
Quinn’s delightful residence, featuring a wraparound porch, is represented by the Pond House at Bonanza Creek Ranch. Situated in Santa Fe, this ranch boasts several structures designed for filming, which continue to be in high demand as production sets. The two-story Pond House was built in 1994 for the film Troublemakers , also known as The Fight Before Christmas. This location also served as a backdrop for the Netflix movie News of the World.
POND HOUSE: This captivating two-story structure features a variety of rooms, including a kitchen and three generously sized downstairs spaces. A charming hallway leads to a cozy bedroom on the upper floor. Downstairs you’ll find a welcoming fireplace and throughout, the floors and stairs are made of wood plank. The house also includes a wraparound porch with a view of a serene, spring-fed pond that is set against the backdrop of grand cottonwood trees.
THE ASTRO BARN SET as Quinn’s Barn is another set in the Bonanza Creek Ranch
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Elli’s home uses another property in the Bonanza Creek Ranch: Range House.
RANGE HOUSE: This single-story structure, ideal for both interior and exterior filming, can function as a residence or even a storefront. It’s situated a short distance off to the side of the Pond House, just across the road. Upon stepping onto the small covered porch, you can access the interior through double doors, revealing hardwood-style plank floors and two generously spaced rooms.
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Yancy and Ellie’s Wedding Chapel
Locally referred to as “Cowboys & Aliens” Cabin is a quaint country cabin explicitly built for filming, always set in the Bonanza Creek Ranch.
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The Town: Las Vegas, New Mexico
The heart of Ransom Canyon’s town scenes—including Quinn’s dancehall and the restaurant where she dines with David—was filmed in Las Vegas, NM, particularly around Plaza Park and Plaza Street. The town’s authentic architecture and preserved 19th-century charm provide a believable setting for small-town drama.
Las Vegas, NM boasts five historic districts and over 900 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a favorite among filmmakers for period and character-driven series.
While Ransom Canyon may be fictional, the places that bring it to life are very real. From sweeping ranchlands to centuries-old streets, New Mexico provides the visual soul of the Netflix adaptation. Each location helps shape the emotional tone of the series, just as much as the script or performances.
For fans of the show, visiting these sites is like stepping into the pages of the novel, only through the lens of the camera.