Overview
Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch encompassed approximately 8,000 acres near Stanley, New Mexico, roughly 40 miles southeast of Albuquerque. Purchased in the early 1990s, it was one of Epstein’s largest properties and served as a secluded retreat far from urban scrutiny.
Physical Features
The ranch was far from a simple rural getaway. Its infrastructure included:
- A private airstrip capable of accommodating Epstein’s fleet of aircraft
- A main residence (the “ranch house”) with multiple bedrooms
- A guesthouse where staff and visitors were housed separately
- Extensive outbuildings, stables, and recreational facilities
The remote desert location offered extreme privacy. The nearest town, Stanley, had a population of roughly 1,000 people. Law enforcement access was limited, and neighbors were sparse.
Role in Abuse Network
Victims who gave depositions described being flown to Zorro Ranch and abused there. The ranch appeared in flight logs alongside Little Saint James as a primary destination. Multiple volumes of lawsuits reference the property as a location of criminal activity.
Virginia Giuffre described traveling there. Other Does named it in civil litigation. Physical evidenceincluding massage tables and items connected to the abusewas documented by investigators.
2023 FBI Investigation
In August 2023, the FBI conducted a search of the property, drilling into the ground on portions of the estate. The Bureau declined to specify the nature of the search, fueling speculation about buried evidence or additional victims. No charges resulted from the search.
Sale After Death
Following Epstein’s August 2019 death, his estate moved to liquidate the ranch. The property sold in 2022 for approximately .85 milliona fraction of its assessed value given its remote location and association with the scandal.
Significance
Zorro Ranch illustrates the geographic breadth of Epstein’s operation. By maintaining properties across multiple jurisdictionsNew York, Florida, New Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and ParisEpstein divided and complicated potential law enforcement action. The ranch’s remoteness gave him a location where abuse could occur with little risk of local interference.