Bonanza Creek Ranch, originally known as the Jarrott Ranch, first caught Hollywood’s attention in 1955 when it became the filming location for The Man from Laramie starring Jimmy Stewart. According to local lore, it was Louie Clifford, a former chauffeur to Mary Pickford, who later started a cab company in Albuquerque, who introduced Hollywood producers to the property. They were captivated by its lush pastures fed by an artesian spring, a serene cottonwood-lined pond, and a century-old apple orchard nestled beneath Cerro de la Cruz.

In 1958, the ranch was featured in Cowboy, starring Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon. By 1984, a film set was constructed for The Legend of the Lone Ranger, though it was later dismantled. A major turning point came in 1989, when an Italian producer proposed building a permanent Western Town set for the European television series Lucky Luke, starring Terrence Hill. The town, named Daisy Town, was built around a two-story Victorian house originally created for Silverado (1984), which was later modified into a mercantile and appeared in Lonesome Dove.

In 1994, Terrence Hill returned to Bonanza Creek to film The n/Fight Before Christmas, an Italian-German co-production. For that project, a large ranch house was constructed by the pond—now known as the Pond House Set.

Since then, both the Western Town and Pond House sets have remained iconic and in high demand, solidifying Bonanza Creek Ranch as one of the most versatile and historically rich film locations in New Mexico.