Santa Fe Movie Sets

Thursday, March 31, 2011

by Susan Orth

If you’ve seen a movie in theaters over the past couple of years, you may have noticed some Santa Fe landmarks you recognize. Santa Fe has become a popular location for major motion picture filming. The city’s vibrant art scene, varying landscape and quality production spaces attract filmmakers from around the world.

This past summer, you may have seen Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford in Santa Fe on location for their film Cowboys and Aliens which is due to be released this July. Thor, due out in May 2011, starring Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman and other notable actors and actresses, was filmed at popular Santa Fe bar Cheeks last spring. Where are these movies filming, and how do you get a peek at some of Hollywood’s most famous? Here are a couple of popular filming locations in Santa Fe.

Garson Studios
These state-of-the-art sound stages are located on the campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design right in the heart of Santa Fe. Major motion picture producers are drawn to the Studios’ two large stages with ample room for production staff, wardrobe facilities and more. Notable films which have most recently been filmed in these studios include True Grit, starring Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges, Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men starring Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem and Terminator Salvation starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. There always seems to be something going on at Garson Studios, so keep an eye out when you’re in that area of Santa Fe!

Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch
Located eight miles south of the heart of Santa Fe is Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch. Built in the 1950s, this location is ideal for the filming of Westerns with its 1850’s movie town and two home sets. Unlike many movie sets, the buildings in Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch are four-sided and have running water and electricity. 3:10 to Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale was filmed at the ranch, as was the comedy Wild Hogs starring Tim Allen, John Travolta and others. Because this is a working ranch, Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch is able to accommodate visitors who want to see the movie sets by appointment only.

Because there are always movies being filmed in Santa Fe, you’re bound to see an actor or two if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. To make your run-ins with movie stars more frequent and less of a coincidence, check out On Location Vacations to see up to the minute details on who is filming what and where in Santa Fe.

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