Where Was Outer Range Filmed? Every Major Location Explained

As a gamer, I’d say I thoroughly enjoyed Amazon Prime Video’s “Outer Range” during its brief two-season journey. This unique, genre-blending series, starring Josh Brolin as the rancher Royal Abbott, kept me hooked with its captivating storytelling against the backdrop of picturesque towns and breathtaking landscapes.

The narrative was a gripping tale about family, land, age-old feuds, and a peculiar hole with intriguing temporospatial characteristics. The show followed the Abbott family as they grappled with an extraordinary collection of challenges on their ranch nestled in the Teton mountain range’s shadow. If you’re a fan of horror and fantasy-tinged Westerns seeking something more refined, this binge-worthy series is just what you need!

In this unique blend of neo-Western sci-fi, the atmosphere plays a pivotal role. The story unfolds in the tiny, gossip-ridden town of Wabang, Wyoming, where minding your own business is nearly impossible due to everyone knowing each other’s affairs. However, you might find it intriguing that “Outer Ranger” wasn’t actually shot in Wyoming; instead, the principal filming locations were found near Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dive into the following details to learn more about the buildings and places featured in the series.

Abbott Ranch was built in New Mexico near I-25

The production team for “Outer Range” erected the entire Abbott family home on the expansive Buena Vista Ranch, situated at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, spanning three counties close to Interstate 25, not far from Albuquerque. This location was convenient as it housed the studios where the series’ interior scenes were filmed over six soundstages. Marcia Calosio, the show’s set decorator, shared with Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA), “Our skilled construction team meticulously crafted an entire ranch from the ground up in northern New Mexico on private land.” The construction was not limited to basic framework; instead, they built a two-story farmhouse with insulation, a large barn complete with stalls, and various other structures found on the property such as “extensive fencing,” Royal Abbott’s workshop, and tack room.

In an interview with Den of Geek, Cyndy McCrossen, the location manager for “Outer Range”, thanked local ranchers for their role in production. To minimize the impact of filming on the land, especially since the show was filmed on a pristine part of Buena Vista Ranch without any buildings prior, the team recreated an exact studio replica of the farmhouse’s ground floor. This allowed them to lessen their footprint on the grasslands and work efficiently in unfavorable weather conditions during shooting. McCrossen explained that they utilized existing roads on the ranch as much as possible, even creating a driveway for the show near the house, but always tried to stay within those paths. She emphasized that it’s crucial to avoid leaving any trace if possible.

Las Vegas, New Mexico stood in for the small fictional town of Wabang, Wyoming

As an avid fan, I’d like to share that neither Wabang nor Amelia County are actual places on Earth. The team behind “Outer Range” ventured to Las Vegas, New Mexico, a quaint town nestled about two hours northeast of Albuquerque with a population close to 13,000. As Cyndy McCrossen, the location manager and scout, explained to Den of Geek, “It’s not a metropolis, but it has its charm.” At the time, some of the hotels and merchants were struggling due to COVID-19, so their warm welcome was invaluable. With around 80% of local hotel rooms taken up by our crew, we certainly gave the local economy a much-needed boost!

Las Vegas, New Mexico, boasts a rich history dating back to 1835 and boasts over 900 buildings listed on the National Historic Registry. Its unique charm, characterized by an otherworldly sense of timelessness, made it an ideal choice for the series. More specifically, its atmosphere of a place that seems disconnected from any particular era was crucial in creating the dreamy, timeless feel desired for Wabang. This quality, as McCrossen explained, is essential for a science fiction series with time travel at its core. She added, “It becomes clear that it is set in the present, but there’s an allure to its ‘lost-in-time’ aspect.” The production of “Outer Range” adds to the long list of TV shows and films that have utilized Las Vegas’ timeless aura. Notable productions filmed here include “Longmire,” “Red Dawn,” “Easy Rider,” “Ransom Canyon,” “Paul,” “Natural Born Killers,” and even the Coen brothers’ masterpiece, “No Country For Old Men.

Las Vegas, New Mexico’s Bridge Street features heavily in Outer Range

As I strolled down Bridge Street in Las Vegas, New Mexico, I felt like I had stepped into the heart of Amelia County for “Outer Range.” The historic architecture here is a treasure trove, with structures dating back to the late 1800s, such as the Aniceto Baca Building. What’s fascinating is that this street served as a stand-in for downtown Wabang in the show. If you pay close attention during those main scenes, you’ll notice an abundance of diverse architecture styles, including Italianate (which draws inspiration from the palazzos of the Italian Renaissance) and California Mission architectural designs. It’s like stepping into a time machine!

Since “Outer Range” was primarily filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the production team essentially claimed control over the main street while creating one of Amazon Prime Video’s top original series for 2022. Finding excellent locations requiring minimal set decoration proved to be relatively straightforward. As location manager and scout Cyndy McCrossen explained to Den of Geek, Las Vegas boasts numerous buildings on the historical register, many of which were experiencing economic instability at the time.

An art gallery was transformed into a drugstore

In episode 3 of “Outer Range”, Autumn (Imogen Poots) makes her way into town to get her lamotrigine prescription at Wabang Drugs, a quaint pharmacy on Bridge Street. As she strolls through the store and confides in the pharmacist, “This isn’t my first time with lamotrigine…I need to stay balanced”, we notice the modest size of the store interior, characterized by a handful of narrow aisles and a counter area where the pharmacist keeps the potent medications.

123 Bridge Street’s drugstore is situated within an old Las Vegas, New Mexico building that was previously used as an art gallery. The drugstore itself was set up inside the gallery entrance. Prior to this, the location housed a couple of stores selling bohemian items, such as Mariposa, a natural goods and gift store, and at some point, Unique, a head shop and piercing studio. A production truck from the series can be seen in front of the store in Google street view images captured in March 2021.

Las Vegas, New Mexico’s Community 1st Bank became Bison Valley Bank of Wyoming

In the TV series “Outer Range,” the Bison Valley Bank of Wyoming appears multiple times, which is actually a fictional representation of The Community 1st Bank located in Las Vegas, New Mexico. This real-world bank can be found at 518 Douglas Avenue. Interestingly, this bank has a rich history, having been situated at various locations within the charming town. It initially opened its doors back in December 1949 under the name First National Bank, with its first location being 517 6th Street. The bank later altered its banking charter from national to state in 2005 to better serve northeastern New Mexico. On June 27, 2011, the bank moved its main office just 100 yards up the street to 600 Douglas Ave., occupying the entire Crockett Building.

Originally built by Rapp and Rapp, who later became famous for designing Chicago’s renowned theaters, the Crockett Building was initially home to Murphey’s Drug Store. During its peak, this drugstore boasted a soda fountain and communal seating area where residents would gather over a Coca-Cola with friends. After falling into disuse for some time, the bank took over the location, which required extensive renovation. They preserved key historic features such as the tin ceiling and exposed brick, resulting in a restoration that showcases their dedication to preserving the building’s heritage. As seen in “Outer Range”, this revitalization effort stands as a tribute to their conservation efforts.

Odessa’s Cafe is at 516 Grand Avenue in Las Vegas

In episode 2 of “Outer Range,” Rhett Abbott (Lewis Pullman) visits Maria’s workplace and proposes a conversation. She suggests they talk at a cozy diner situated across the street, named Odessa’s as per the sign on the window. This tiny eatery, reminiscent of the Double R Diner from “Twin Peaks,” features spacious booths and a compact interior, creating an eerily familiar ambiance to that surreal drama. Marcia Calosio, set decorator for “Outer Range,” shared with SDSA that the diner is a “small-town eatery where all locals dine.

In many instances with TV show filming locations, the real-world layout doesn’t match up as expected – for instance, Maria claims the diner is “on the opposite side of the road,” but it isn’t. Although the diner at 516 Grand Avenue is relatively close to the bank, it’s actually a block away and turns a corner. It seems that the diner wasn’t operating during our visit, but previously was State Cafe. As of February 2024, the location still retains some signage from “Outer Range” featuring their offer for a free birthday sundae.

A tiny railroad town named Lamy was used for background shots

Among the striking filming locations for “Outer Range” is a quaint Old West railway town nestled by the Sangre de Cristo mountains, which seems to be permanently stuck in yesteryear: Lamy. This small settlement derives its name from Jean-Baptiste Lamy, a French-American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Santa Fe following his voyage across the Atlantic. Situated approximately 18 miles south of Santa Fe itself.

As a fan, I can share that the place I’m drawn to was first established during the era of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF). It gained notoriety as a stop on the spur line leading to Santa Fe. Before the railroad arrived in 1909, it was just open pasture for goats. Today, with fewer than 100 residents, this town retains much of its original charm and can still be accessed primarily by railway, giving it a sense of timeless allure that harks back to its humble beginnings.

A historic Lamy restaurant was used for Weil and Grady’s Saloon

In the fourth episode of “Outer Range” Season 1, titled “The Loss”, I found myself at Weil and Grady’s Saloon, joining Royal and the folks of Wabang for a funeral gathering in remembrance of the questionable Trevor Tillerson (Matt Lauria). This saloon was a sight to behold, adorned with intricate stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and alluring 19th-century charm. I stepped into the Legal Tender Saloon and Eating House, a place steeped in history as it’s New Mexico’s oldest operating bar. Today, you can visit this very spot for an affordable meal in a breathtaking atmosphere. The Legal Tender proudly boasts on its website that it stands “where the pavement ends and the West begins”, and I couldn’t agree more – the place truly embodies the spirit of the Wild West.

The Legal Tender, initially known as Pfluegger’s Mercantile, started its operations in 1881, serving as a vital general store for the small town of Lamy. Today, this building, featuring original adobe and stone structures, stands as an enduring symbol of Lamy’s captivating history. As Allan Affeldt, who facilitated the acquisition of The Legal Tender from the Lamy Railroad and History Museum and transformed it into a functional bar and restaurant, told Route magazine, “It embodies the architectural history of construction during the 1880s to early 1900s in this area. However, additional dining spaces were added in the 1970s, and a substantial kitchen was built, all while maintaining an authentic Western frontier town aesthetic on the exterior. It’s like stepping onto a film set, but it’s actually real life.

University of New Mexico’s PAIS building doubled as the University of Wyoming’s geology department

When Royal Abbott suspects something fishy is happening at the Abbott Ranch, he jumps into his truck and drives to Laramie, Wyoming, to consult with geologist Dr. Nia Bintu (Yrsa Daley-Ward) at the University of Wyoming. Upon parking his vehicle outside, directly in front of the large dinosaur fossil displayed in the department’s window, Royal has a meeting with Bintu in her office. There, he receives valuable information about mining company BY9. Although this scene is captivating, locals have noted that this building actually belongs to a different university.

In reality, this particular scene was shot at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where the Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science (PAIS) building served as a stand-in for the geology department of the University of Wyoming. As Cowboy State Daily reports, if the Abbott Ranch is near the Tetons, this short road trip would actually take around 12 hours in total. Journalist Jake Nichols explains that despite Abbott’s brief encounter with the professor, it would be unrealistic to expect him to make it home for dinner unless he left at 6 a.m. and truly enjoys long drives.

The Teton mountain range was created digitally

The “Outer Range” production team found it challenging to replicate the Grand Teton National Park in real life; instead, they incorporated the mountain range digitally using CGI. While this visual effect is impressive, those who are familiar with the actual Tetons might find it less convincing, as one Reddit user, u/PrincessLeafa, noted. She reminisced about spending her childhood near Jackson Hole airport and downtown, and discovered that the show was primarily filmed in New Mexico, with the Tetons added digitally. This doesn’t negatively impact the overall quality of the show, but it did slightly disappoint her personally.

In the context of the series featuring a vast, time-traveling ranch in Wyoming with an unusual hole, it’s not just the strange occurrences that stand out, such as the Abbott’s Tetons home radio mysteriously tuning into a Cheyenne FM station. As reported by Cowboy State Daily, this radio appears to possess extraordinary range, capable of picking up signals from Cheyenne, a distance of nearly 500 miles, as noted by writer Jake Nichols. Quite an impressive transmission indeed!

The sound design team went above and beyond

The team behind “Outer Range” went to great lengths, even bending geographical boundaries slightly, to deliver one of the top sci-fi series of the 2020s. In terms of sound design, they were meticulous. As Andrea Bella, the supervising sound editor, shared with Post Perspective, their strategy was to focus on each layer individually. They made sure every detail, from the local prairie winds to the specific insect and bird populations, was accurate to the region to preserve the authenticity of Wyoming’s landscapes.

Bella observed that these particular sounds were crucial, as they were absent only near the hole’s edge, contributing significantly to the eerie atmosphere in the scenes. This detail might appear subtle initially, but it greatly enhances the otherworldly ambiance. Brian Watkins, the show’s creator, was insistent on this aspect, and Bella underscored, “At the hole’s edge, nature ends.” Tom Pelphrey, portraying Perry Abbott, noted that the actual wind they encountered during filming in New Mexico was highly unpredictable. In an exclusive interview with Looper, he shared, “The weather conditions were incredibly extreme,” Pelphrey said. “Whether it’s visible to viewers or not, it felt like a challenging physical test for us. This experience drew the cast closer and made our on-set environment feel more authentic rather than like a typical TV set.

If you’ve finished watching “Outer Range” and are searching for another series to dive into, take a look at Looper’s compilation of the most engaging science fiction shows that are perfect for binging.

2025-06-07 22:31