Zorro Ranch, New Mexico
| Rancho de San Rafael | |
|---|---|
Entrance to Rancho de San Rafael in December 2025 | |
Location in the United States | |
| Town/City | 49 Rancho San Rafael Santa Fe County |
| State | New Mexico |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 35°16′02″N 105°58′11″W / 35.26726°N 105.96965°W |
| Established | 1993 |
| Disestablished | 2023 |
| Owner | Jeffrey Epstein (formerly) |
| Area | 10,000 acres (40 km2) |
| Status | Redevelopment |
Rancho de San Rafael,[1] formerly Zorro Ranch is a large private property located near Stanley, New Mexico, approximately 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 1990s until his death in 2019. Epstein is alleged to have committed sex crimes against minors there.[2]
Geography
Zorro Ranch is situated in the high desert of central New Mexico, encompassing approximately 10,000 acres of land.[2] It includes a variety of buildings, including a large main residence, guest houses, a pool, a firehouse, offices, a log cabin and a guest house.[2] The main house, often described as a sprawling hacienda-style mansion, was designed to accommodate large gatherings. The ranch's grounds include an airstrip and an antique railroad car and train tracks.[2]
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.[3]
History
The land that now comprises Zorro Ranch has a long history, dating back to the Spanish colonial era, when it was part of a larger land grant. Over the centuries, the property changed hands multiple times and was used primarily for ranching and agricultural purposes. Jeffrey Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993, reportedly for around $12 million, from the former New Mexico Governor Bruce King.[4] Epstein built a huge mansion at the ranch, with a living room the size of an average American apartment.[4] Epstein controlled the property through a shell company called Zorro Trust, later renamed Cypress, Inc.[2][5] The 10,000 acres included 1,200 acres leased from the Land Commission of New Mexico.[6]
The ranch was allegedly used as a location for sexual abuse and sex trafficking of minors. Annie Farmer, the sister of Marie Farmer, claimed as early as 1996 that she had been sexually abused by Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at the ranch. 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]
The ranch was under Epsteins ownership managed by a New Zealand couple named Karen and Brice Gorden. They also hosted sex parties and recruited local showgirls, according to a local stripper. Several times a year, big parties are said to have been held at the ranch. Later, the Gordons went into hiding, fearing for their life.[7]
At the ranch, Epstein received prominent guests. According to one of Epstein's housekeepers, Prince Andrew visited the ranch in 2001 for three days.[7] Former congressman and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was also among the visitors.[2] Celebrity visitors included Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn.[8]
In late August 2018, trespassers cut a perimeter fence, broke into several buildings, and stole a firearm safe believed to contain 30-40 guns.[9]
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][10]
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.[11] This is despite Virginia Giuffre stating that she experienced sexual abuse from Epstein and his associates at Zorro Ranch.[12] 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 rumoured to be far lower than the asking price in 2023.[4] The names of the new owners have not been disclosed, however the name of the ranch has been changed to Rancho de San Rafael.[1][13][14]
In 2025 state legislators in New Mexico pushed for an inquiry into the Zorro Ranch and Epstein's activities there.[15]
References
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Das geschah in Epsteins 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Lenghi, Mola (August 21, 2019). "Epstein's New Mexico ranch still hasn't been raided by federal agents". CBS News.
- ^ Brown, Andrew M. (April 25, 2025). "Virginia Giuffre, victim of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein who later accused Prince Andrew". The Telegraph.
- ^ "49 Rancho San Rafael, Stanley NM 87056". zillow.com. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kahn, Hamilton (November 10, 2025). "Legislators call for inquiry into activity at Zorro Ranch". koat.com. KOAT. Retrieved December 20, 2025.