The new Netflix show RANSOM CANYON takes place in a world where rough landscapes, family secrets and love all come together. The show was made by April Blair and is based on a popular book series by Jodi Thomas, who has written several New York Times bestsellers. Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which promises big love stories, intense drama, and a western setting that looks and feels real.
April Blair serves as writer and executive producer, along with Dan Angel. Blair, who previously worked on Gossip Girl and All American, describes RANSOM CANYON as a mix of romance, mystery, and the classic drama of old westerns — all centered in a fictional Texas town full of secrets and emotional tension.
THE STORY OF RANSOM CANYON
RANSOM CANYON is set in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and tells the story of three strong ranching families as they deal with love, betrayal and the fight to protect their land. Staten Kirkland played by Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Love, Simon), is the show’s main character. He is a tough rancher who runs the Double K Ranch. Still grieving the loss of his wife, Staten finds hope in Quinn O’Grady, portrayed by Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights, Euphoria), a childhood friend turned piano-playing dancehall owner.
Quinn returns to Ransom Canyon after time away in New York, hoping to start fresh. The emotional center of the show is their relationship, which is full of history and unresolved feelings. People like Ellie Estevez (Marianly Tejada), Yancy Grey (Jack Schumacher), Reid (Andrew Liner), Lucas (Garrett Wareing) and others live in the town and add to its complicated dynamics with their own problems and stories.
Things are getting more dangerous because outsiders are putting the land and the families who live on it in danger. Staten has to find a way to deal with his grief, his feelings for Quinn, and his determination to keep the Double K Ranch safe from people who want to destroy it.
IS DOUBLE K RANCH FROM RANSOM CANYON A REAL PLACE?
Double K Ranch is an important part of RANSOM CANYON. The main character, Staten Kirkland, lives there and a lot of the tense events happen there. People might think that the ranch is in Texas since the show takes place in the Texas Hill Country. But surprisingly, that’s not the case.
While the fictional town of Ransom Canyon is based in Texas, none of the show’s scenes were filmed there. Instead, production took place in New Mexico — specifically Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the Bonanza Creek Ranch.
Bonanza Creek Ranch, used for many of the show’s exteriors, is a legendary film location in Santa Fe. With over 150 films shot there, including The Man From Laramie and Silverado, it’s no stranger to westerns. It includes sprawling acreage, several homestead sets, and even a large Western town setup. This location helped bring the fictional Double K Ranch to life on screen.
SO, IS DOUBLE K RANCH REAL?
In real life, the Double K Ranch name actually belongs to several locations — but none of them are used in the show.
One Double K Ranch is in Missoula, Montana. It operates as a restaurant and deli. Another is a cozy bed and breakfast in Tucson, Arizona. There’s even a Double K Rustic Ranch, a wedding venue in Texas, and a well-known Texas hunting ranch in Menard County. This last one — a fully game-fenced operation with high-end deer breeding and elite hunting opportunities — is perhaps the closest in spirit to the show’s depiction of Staten’s ranch. But none of these properties served as actual filming locations for the series.
Instead, the Double K Ranch in RANSOM CANYON is a beautifully designed set, carefully placed in the rolling New Mexico landscape to replicate the rugged essence of Texas Hill Country. While audiences are led to believe they’re seeing West Texas terrain, it’s the New Mexico desert doing all the heavy lifting.
The real-world hunting ranch — the Texas-based Double K — has its own fascinating history. It was started by Ken McDonald and is known for having some of the biggest bucks ever bred in the area and for being very good at managing its herd. Specialized feeding programs and a breeding system using a DMP (Deer Management Permit) Pen show that the ranch is one of the best places for serious hunters to go. But this property has nothing to do with the show other than sharing a name and possibly giving the fictional ranch its gritty, real feel.
There are several real-life versions of Double K Ranch, but none of them are connected to Netflix’s RANSOM CANYON. It’s not realbut the ranch in the show is meant to represent the Kirkland family’s history, pride and emotional weight. It stands for love, loss, and the fight to keep history and home alive.
So, Double K Ranch does exist in the real world but the one in RANSOM CANYON is only there to help tell the story. The beautiful scenery of New Mexico and the skillful set design bring it to life.
It looks like RANSOM CANYON will be a dramatic and romantic Western with both touching moments and wide views. With a great cast that includes Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, James Brolin, Lizzy Greene, and Eoin Macken, and an interesting setting, it takes viewers into a world of cowboys, secrets, and love that spans generations.
Don’t forget to check back at tvacute.com for more exclusive RANSOM CANYON news, cast information, and recaps that you won’t want to miss.
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