Question
What is Epstein’s Zorro Ranch and what was it used for?
Answer
Zorro Ranch is a large ranch property located in Stanley, New Mexico, approximately 30 miles southeast of Santa Fe. Jeffrey Epstein established the property in the 1990s and used it for multiple purposes over the decades.
Scale and features: The ranch covered approximately 10,000 acres of desert terrain. The main compound included a large residence, staff quarters, airplane landing strip, and developed outbuildings. Its remote location made it private and difficult to observe from public land.
Victims’ accounts: Multiple Epstein survivors — including Virginia Giuffre — have stated they were abused at the New Mexico ranch. The remote location made it particularly suitable for abuse with limited risk of outside observation or intervention.
Scientific gatherings: Epstein used Zorro Ranch as a venue for social gatherings involving scientists and academics from his intellectual network. Guests reportedly included prominent researchers who were unaware of the abuse occurring at the same property. The ranch served as a backdrop for the kind of intellectual salon environment Epstein cultivated to build credibility in academic circles.
The transhumanist breeding project: Perhaps the most unusual use Epstein envisioned for Zorro Ranch was a reported plan to use the property as the site for a program to “seed the human race” with his genetic material. Reports in 2019 documented that Epstein had discussed with scientists a plan to impregnate multiple women simultaneously at the ranch — a manifestation of his eugenicist beliefs about improving the human species using his own genetics.
Post-death: The ranch was listed for sale as part of estate proceedings, and was marketed for approximately $27.5 million.
Sources
- Court filings, multiple civil cases referencing New Mexico abuse
- New York Times reporting on Epstein’s eugenics plans (2019)
- Estate probate proceedings