Overview
Zorro Ranch was Jeffrey Epstein’s largest private landholding — a sprawling property of more than 10,000 acres located near Stanley, New Mexico, approximately 40 miles south of Santa Fe. The ranch served multiple roles: a retreat for science and intellectual gatherings, a site where Epstein hosted prominent visitors, and — according to victims and prosecutors — a location where trafficking occurred.
The Property
Epstein acquired the New Mexico property in stages during the 1990s. The 10,000+ acre ranch included a main residence, guest accommodations, an airstrip for private aircraft, and outbuildings. The property’s scale and remoteness made it both a dramatic retreat and a location with limited external oversight.
The property was named “Zorro Ranch” — a reference to the masked fictional character — and Epstein used a branded Zorro insignia associated with the property.
Role in the Trafficking Network
Annie Farmer testified at Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial that she was brought to Zorro Ranch in 1996 as a 16-year-old and was abused there by Epstein, with Maxwell present. Her testimony placed the ranch’s role in the trafficking network at the same time as Epstein’s other operations — making the New Mexico property part of a multi-site operation spanning Palm Beach, New York, the Virgin Islands, and New Mexico.
Science and Intellectual Gatherings
Epstein also used Zorro Ranch for intellectual events. He invited researchers, academics, and scientists to the property for informal gatherings and conferences. The remote setting and expansive accommodation made it suitable for extended retreats.
The mixing of trafficking victims with legitimate academic gatherings at the same property was consistent with Epstein’s pattern at other locations — the co-presence of legitimate and criminal activity made clean separation difficult and served as social cover.
Estate and Sale
After Epstein’s 2019 death, Zorro Ranch was included in the estate’s assets and sold. The sale, along with other property liquidations, contributed to the pool funding victim compensation.
Sources
Annie Farmer’s Maxwell trial testimony; property records; estate inventory; coverage of the New Mexico property’s role; science gathering accounts by attendees.