Epstein's New Mexico Ranch Faces Renewed Scrutiny

Authorities in New Mexico launch investigation into alleged criminal activity at Zorro Ranch, one of Jeffrey Epstein's most secretive properties.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jeffrey Epstein's sprawling 30,000-square-foot New Mexico mansion, known as Zorro Ranch, has long evaded thorough investigation despite claims from some of Epstein's victims that they were trafficked there. Now, nearly 7 years after Epstein's death, New Mexico lawmakers have impaneled a bipartisan 'truth commission' equipped with subpoena power to probe the history of the remote property. The state's attorney general has also reopened an investigation that was closed shortly before Epstein's death in 2019.

Why it matters

Zorro Ranch has been one of the least scrutinized of Epstein's properties, with New Mexico officials saying there has never been a thorough investigation of potential criminal activity that may have occurred there during the 26 years Epstein owned the property. This new investigation aims to uncover how Epstein was able to operate the ranch without accountability.

The details

The 30,000-square-foot mansion on Zorro Ranch sits on thousands of acres of remote southwestern land south of Santa Fe. Some of Epstein's victims have claimed they were trafficked to the ranch, and there are unverified tips that Epstein may have concealed the deaths of abused girls by burying them on the property. The ranch featured a private runway, helicopter pad, airplane hangar, and barbed-wire fencing with hidden cameras. Though locals saw the frequent air traffic and glaring lights at night, most did not know who lived there or what was happening inside.

  • Epstein purchased the ranch near the town of Stanley in 1993.
  • In 2019, the New Mexico attorney general's office was interviewing witnesses about Epstein's possible wrongdoing at the ranch, but federal prosecutors asked them to stop their work and share their findings.
  • Epstein died in 2019.
  • The property was sold in 2023 to a new owner, Dallas real estate magnate and former state senator Don Huffines.
  • Last month, New Mexico lawmakers voted unanimously to impanel a bipartisan 'truth commission' to investigate Zorro Ranch.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

The convicted sex offender who owned Zorro Ranch for 26 years until his death in 2019.

Don Huffines

The Dallas real estate magnate and former state senator who purchased Zorro Ranch in 2023 and is now running for comptroller of Texas.

Andrea Romero

A New Mexico state representative from Santa Fe who is leading the newly formed 'truth commission' to investigate Zorro Ranch.

Hector Balderas

A former New Mexico attorney general who urged federal authorities in 2020 to seize Epstein's New Mexico assets, but did not receive a reply.

Stephanie Garcia Richard

New Mexico's public lands commissioner who canceled Epstein's leases on 1,200 acres of public land adjacent to Zorro Ranch in 2019.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We need to find out how he was able to operate without any accountability. We have to understand what allowed this to happen.”

— Andrea Romero, New Mexico state representative (The New York Times)

“There should have been more convictions that were tied to conduct in New Mexico.”

— Hector Balderas, Former New Mexico attorney general (The New York Times)

“New Mexicans, we pretty much leave people alone. That's why movie stars like to come to Santa Fe. Nobody bothers them.”

— Mike Anaya, Former county commissioner (The New York Times)

“I feel like New Mexico was chosen specifically because of its obscurity.”

— Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico public lands commissioner (The New York Times)

What’s next

The newly formed bipartisan 'truth commission' in the New Mexico State Legislature, equipped with subpoena power, will continue its investigation into the history and activities at Zorro Ranch. The state's attorney general has also reopened an investigation that was closed shortly before Epstein's death in 2019.

The takeaway

This case highlights how one of Jeffrey Epstein's most secretive properties managed to evade thorough investigation for decades, despite claims from victims and unverified tips of potential criminal activity. New Mexico officials are now determined to uncover the truth about what happened at Zorro Ranch and how Epstein was able to operate there without accountability.