Zorro Ranch

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Rancho de San Rafael
GX-706 page1 - Zorro Ranch, NM - Aerial view of a large mansion in the middle of the desert.jpg
An aerial view of the ranch's main buildings from the northwest
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Location in the United States
Town/City340 Rancho San Rafael
Santa Fe County
State New Mexico
CountryUSA
Coordinates 35°16′02″N105°58′11″W / 35.26726°N 105.96965°W / 35.26726; -105.96965
Established1993
Owner
Area7,622 acres (30.85 km2)
StatusRedevelopment

Rancho de San Rafael, [1] formerly known as Zorro Ranch, is a large private property located near Stanley, New Mexico, about 30 miles southeast of Santa Fe. The ranch gained significant notoriety due to its association with financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who owned the property from the early 1990s until his death in 2019.

Contents

Geography

The entrance to Rancho de San Rafael in December 2025 Rancho San Rafael entrance gate.jpg
The entrance to Rancho de San Rafael in December 2025

Rancho de San Rafael is situated in the high desert of central New Mexico north of the Estancia Basin and encompasses over 7,600 acres of land. [2] The north edge of the property approximately follows a Tertiary period magmatic dike. [3] The ranch itself straddles a cliff demarcating the boundary between the Mancos Shale to the north and Quaternary period alluvial deposits of the Santa Fe Group to the south.

The ranch includes a large main residence, a pool, a firehouse, offices, a log cabin and guest houses. [2] The main house or mansion, current address 340 Rancho San Rafael, was built in 1999, in hacienda style. It was designed to accommodate large gatherings and has often been described as 'sprawling'.

The ranch's grounds include an airstrip and an antique railroad car and train tracks, [2] remnants of the "Frijoles Line" of the New Mexico Central Railroad. A helipad has been landscaped as a labyrinth garden.[ citation needed ]

North of the Zorro Ranch is the Cerro Pelon Ranch, where various movies have been filmed. The Cerro Pelon Ranch has been owned by fashion designer Tom Ford since 2001. The ranch is surrounded by land owned by the family of former New Mexico Governor Bruce King and the state of New Mexico. Members of the King family also appear in Epstein's “Little Black Book” of contacts, and Epstein donated money to the son of Bruce King, former Attorney General of New Mexico Gary King. [4]

History

The land within the ranch has a long history, with records dating back to the Spanish colonial era, when it was part of a larger land grant.[ which? ] Over the centuries, the property changed hands multiple times and was used primarily for ranching and agricultural purposes.

Epstein period

Jeffrey Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993, [5] reportedly for around $12 million, from the former New Mexico Governor Bruce King. [6] Epstein built a huge mansion at the ranch, with a living room the size of an average American home. [6] Epstein controlled the property through a shell company called Zorro Trust, later renamed Cypress, Inc. [2] [7] The 10,000 acres included 1,200 acres leased from the Land Commission of New Mexico. [8]

Epstein registered a brand for the ranch consisting of a conjoined J and E. [9]

The ranch was allegedly used as a location for sexual abuse and sex trafficking of minors. Annie Farmer, the sister of Marie Farmer, stated as early as 1996 that she had been sexually abused by Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at the ranch. [10] After Epstein was first convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008, he was not required to register as a sex offender in New Mexico. After his prison term ended, the state of New Mexico continued to lease him land. [2]

According to the New York Times Epstein planned to "seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his New Mexico ranch." [2] [11]

Owned by Epstein, the ranch was managed by a New Zealand couple named Karen and Brice Gordon. Big parties are said to have been held at the ranch several times a year. The Gordons also hosted sex parties and recruited local showgirls, according to a local stripper. Later, the couple went into hiding, fearing for their lives. [12]

At the ranch, Epstein received prominent guests. According to one of Epstein's housekeepers, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, at the time known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, visited the ranch in 2001 for three days [12] . His royal titles and style were later stripped. Former congressman and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson was also among the visitors. [2] Celebrity visitors included Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn. [13]

In late August 2018, trespassers cut a perimeter fence, broke into several buildings, and stole a firearm safe believed to contain 30-40 guns. [14]

Aftermath and new ownership

Don Huffines in 2021 Don Huffines (51370822589) (cropped).jpg
Don Huffines in 2021

In 2019 the Federal Bureau of Investigation acquired search warrants for other properties owned by Epstein, namely Herbert N. Straus House and Little Saint James, but there was never an FBI raid on the ranch. [15] This is despite Virginia Giuffre stating that she experienced sexual abuse from Epstein and his associates at Zorro Ranch. [16]

In the years following Epstein's death, the ranch had remained largely unused until it was sold to San Rafael Ranch LLC for an undisclosed sum rumored to be far lower than the asking price in 2023. [6] The ranch was purchased by the family of Texas businessman and politician Don Huffines. A former GOP state senator from Dallas, Huffines in 2026 is running a high-profile campaign for comptroller — a publicly elected position in Texas overseeing state financial matters. [17] The name of the ranch has been changed to Rancho de San Rafael, [1] [18] [19] and a spokesperson for Huffines relayed that it would be used as a Christian retreat. [20]

In 2025, state legislators in New Mexico pushed for an inquiry into the Zorro Ranch. [21] In 2026, the New Mexico Legislature's House prepared a truth commission, intended to yield initial findings by mid-2026. [22] New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard had recommended further investigation to determine whether Epstein had been using ranching as a cover for illegal activities at the site. Concerns grew after an anonymous source mentioned in files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act had alleged that there are bodies buried on the land. [23] [24]

References

  1. 1 2 Vitu, Teya (August 22, 2023). "Epstein's Ranch in Santa Fe County Sold". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe NM. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "As focus turns to Jeffrey Epstein's ranch, official says: "There is a story to be told in New Mexico" - CBS News". cbsnews.com. CBS Mornings. August 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ "EFTA00003655" (PDF).
  4. ↑ Terrell, Steve (August 10, 2019). "Epstein accuser says she was told to have sex with Gov. Richardson". Las Cruces Sun-News. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  5. ↑ Segarra, Curtis (January 4, 2024). "KRQE News obtains documents from New Mexico attorney general's Epstein investigation". KRQE News 13. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch is sold for an undisclosed price to a newly registered company". AP News. August 23, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Jeffrey Epstein Chose New Mexico for a Reason". The New Republic . August 15, 2019. ISSN   0028-6583. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lenghi, Mola (August 31, 2019). "Jeffrey Epstein: What's next for Zorro Ranch, his New Mexico estate where accusers say they were raped and trafficked - CBS News". cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "S4654". New Mexico Livestock Board.
  10. ↑ “Heartbreaking”: Journalist Vicky Ward on New Epstein Files & Survivors’ Fight for Accountability. Democracy Now!. December 24, 2025. But, you know, [...] I had to go to Jeffrey Epstein and to Ghislaine Maxwell with the allegations of both Maria Farmer as to what had happened, and her younger sister Annie, who had said very clearly on the record that she had been taken to New Mexico for a weekend and had [...] to have a topless massage from Ghislaine Maxwell.
  11. ↑ Stewart, James B.; Goldstein, Matthew; Silver-Greenberg, Jessica (July 31, 2019). "Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Das geschah in Epstein's Sex-Ranch in New Mexico". Blick (in Swiss High German). August 3, 2020. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ Tabachnick, Cara; Ruetenik, Daniel; Kates, Graham (October 31, 2025). "Jeffrey Epstein cultivated celebrity relationships for years. Many continued until his 2019 arrest for sex trafficking, documents show". cbsnews.com. CBS News. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ Ettinger, Marlon; Covucci, David (January 10, 2024). "Exclusive: Jeffrey Epstein was robbed of '30-40' guns in still unsolved New Mexico ranch case". The Daily Dot. Retrieved September 1, 2025. property managers Amber and Steve Chavez... Steve Chavez "immediately noticed" that a "very large gun safe located in the garage was stolen," wrote Burd, the reporting officer. In it were an estimated '30-40′ guns… residence north of the garage, they saw items had also been moved around, and two rifles were taken out of the closets in the bedrooms.
  15. ↑ Lenghi, Mola (August 21, 2019). "Epstein's New Mexico ranch still hasn't been raided by federal agents". CBS News.
  16. ↑ Brown, Andrew M. (April 25, 2025). "Virginia Giuffre, victim of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein who later accused Prince Andrew". The Telegraph.
  17. ↑ Bates, Clara (February 13, 2026). "Texas businessman running for office owns Epstein's Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County". Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  18. ↑ "49 Rancho San Rafael, Stanley NM 87056". zillow.com. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  19. ↑ Burkhart, Gabrielle (January 2, 2024). "New owners of Epstein's New Mexico ranch protest property value". krqe.com. Albuquerque NM: KRQE News. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ Bates, Clara (February 17, 2026). "Texas GOP politician Don Huffines plans Christian retreat at Zorro Ranch". Santa Fe New Mexican .
  21. ↑ Kahn, Hamilton (November 10, 2025). "Legislators call for inquiry into activity at Zorro Ranch". koat.com. KOAT. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  22. ↑ Romero, Andrea; Anaya, Marianna; Reeb, Andrea; Borrego, Cynthia (2026). A resolution creating and empowering a special committee of the House of Representatives to investigate allegations of criminal activity and public corruption for the purpose of securing information to determine whether legislation or other legislative action is necessary to provide for safety and welfare or to provide for public confidence in state government (Report).
  23. ↑ Lohmann, Patrick (February 10, 2026). "NM land commissioner seeks probe into allegation of two girls buried near Epstein ranch". States Newsroom .
  24. ↑ Betts, Anna; Bekiempis, Victoria (February 8, 2026). "From New York to New Mexico: new Epstein files shed light on his sprawling ranch outside Santa Fe". The Guardian .

See also

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