SilverStrand Ranch

SilverStrand Ranch is a roughly 200-acre film-location property in the Val Verde/Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County. Secluded canyon terrain, mature oak trees, rolling hills, broad valleys, ranch roads and rustic buildings make it a working option for Westerns, period productions, television, commercials, music videos and still photography.

Western terrain and horseback filming

The ranch offers open valley floors, dusty trails, rugged sandstone-colored hills and elevated viewpoints. Its natural landscapes can support horseback sequences, frontier scenes, rural road approaches, expansive establishing shots and dramatic exterior coverage. Productions should confirm access to specific trails, the use of horses or other animals, wrangler requirements and any restrictions on the terrain.

On location: AFI thesis film Cowboy Pecan Pie

The AFI thesis film Cowboy Pecan Pie filmed at SilverStrand Ranch. Behind-the-scenes photographs from the production document saddled horses and riders, trail scenes, a camera crane, daytime camera and lighting setups, and nighttime production activity. They illustrate the ranch’s versatility and the grip, camera and lighting work behind a Western-style production.

Production photo gallery — Cowboy Pecan Pie

Original behind-the-scenes photographs from Cowboy Pecan Pie — AFI Thesis Film, filmed at SilverStrand Ranch.

Ranch structures and practical sets

The owner describes a Santa Fe-style ranch house dating to 1911, with three bedrooms, two baths and a wood-burning fireplace, set back approximately 2,000 feet from the entrance. The property also advertises a rustic Western cabin, a smaller miner’s cabin with a removable wall, and a gas-station filming area. Check which structures and exterior areas are available for the planned shoot and whether additional location charges apply.

Basecamp, equipment access and locations logistics

Published ranch information identifies four large basecamp areas, parking for hundreds of vehicles and heavy equipment, a helipad and elevated pads suitable for lighting and camera positions. Some panoramic viewpoints are described as being around 2,000 feet in elevation. During technical scouts, production teams should verify truck access, ground conditions, generator and power arrangements, lighting restrictions, wildfire precautions, weather exposure, set safety and suitable areas for cranes or other camera-support equipment.

Los Angeles Studio Zone classification

The ranch advertises its location as part of the Secondary 30-Mile Zone. The California Film Commission separately recognizes Castaic as one of the special locations generally treated as included in the Los Angeles 30-Mile Studio Zone. Crew travel, per diem and other work rules must be checked against the exact address, the current Contract Services maps and applicable union agreements; this directory does not make a labor-contract determination. See the California Film Commission’s studio-zone guidance and the ranch’s own zone page.

Address and booking contact

SilverStrand Ranch
31513 San Martinez Road
Castaic, CA 91384, United States (Val Verde area)
Owner / booking / contracts: Carlos Rodriguez
Phone: (818) 612-0411
Email: carlos@silverstrandranch.com
Official website: silverstrandranch.com
Official location galleries: Ranch locations, Cabins, Gas-station set.

Photo attribution: Cowboy Pecan Pie — AFI Thesis Film. This is an independent directory entry, not an AFI endorsement.