Storied New Mexico movie ranch transitions into a new era 

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico movie set that served as the backdrop for several iconic Western films and attracted Hollywood stars—including the Duke himself, John Wayne—is getting a new lease on life.

Cowboy, saddlesmith, and stuntman Clint Mortenson staked his claim on a property that is better known by locals and film producers as Eaves Movie Ranch. The Santa Fe-area ranch was originally constructed for the James Stewart and Henry Fonda Western “The Cheyenne Social Club” in 1969.

J.W. Eaves was tasked with building out the location that features both interior and exterior set pieces, including everything you need in an old western town: a saloon, general store, and sheriff’s office, among others. “Lots of great actors been here, Johnny Cash out here, and Kirk Douglas, and man, that’s been pretty iconic,” said Mortenson.

Other big names who have been on set include Tom Hanks, Emilio Estevez, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Peter Fonda. You may also recognize the set from films such as “The Cowboys,” “Every Which Way but Loose,” “Young Guns 2,” “Easy Rider,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Silverado,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” “Lonesome Dove,” “News of the World,” “Butch and Sundance: The Early Days,” and “The Staircase,” just to name a few.

After J.W.’s passing in 2001, his son Craig inherited the property. However, a diversity of projects in the younger Eaves’ life made upkeep on the movie ranch tough. Seeing the opportunity to live out a childhood dream and restore the legendary set, Mortenson offered to purchase the property in 2024, taking ownership six months ago.

“I started out, just never thought I’d ever work in movies at all. I come from South Dakota, and I guess I lived in Paris, France. I was working in a Wild West show over there for Euro Disney in Paris, France. I was a performer at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, and then I moved back here and never expected to work in movies,” said Mortenson.

Mortenson first worked as a livestock wrangler on the movie “3:10 to Yuma.” The filmmaking bug sunk its teeth in him, taking on various jobs with horses, building custom saddles and props, and ultimately landing in front of the camera as an actor and stunt double for Taylor Lautner on the Netflix comedy “The Ridiculous Six.”

“Sometimes I’ll be working on a movie, and they go, ‘We need these certain spurs of this hat band. We need something to match this.’ And I go home, make that at night, bring it, and work on the movie the next day,” Mortenson explained.

But movies aren’t the only thing Mortenson hopes to bring to the ranch, now called the Mortenson-Eaves movie ranch. Clint said he’s opening up the property for private parties, special events, photo shoots, and weddings.

“I got to pinch myself in the wrist. I don’t think it’s so. So I’m just neat. And everybody has a good film and I bring people here. They just, their childhood comes out, and they just feel so good just looking around and stuff. It’s just a cool feeling,” said Mortenson.

Mortenson and his team said they’ll add links for the community to voice their ideas about the ranch on their new website, which should be online later this year.