Growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, birthdays often came with a special treat. My mother would take my brother and me horseback riding through the rugged hills surrounding Camel Rock, one of Northern New Mexico’s most recognizable landmarks. Those rides left me with memories of adventure, freedom, and the breathtaking beauty of the high desert landscape.
Today, that same area has become known for a different kind of storytelling. Located between Santa Fe and Los Alamos, near the former Camel Rock Casino, the region serves as a filming location for the acclaimed television series Dark Winds. Whenever a new season is being produced, the area comes alive with cast members, production crews, equipment trailers, and vintage cars and trucks that transport viewers back in time.
What makes the series especially meaningful to many New Mexicans is its deep connection to the culture, history, and landscapes of the Southwest. The show was developed with the involvement of acclaimed actor and filmmaker, the late Robert Redford, who served as one of its executive producers and helped bring the vision of the series to television audiences.
Every time I drive past the filming activity and see those classic vehicles parked against the backdrop of Camel Rock, I find myself remembering those childhood horseback rides. The production may be creating stories for television, but for me, the area tells a much older story—one of family, adventure, and growing up in a unique corner of New Mexico.
Camel Rock remains a place where the past and present meet. It stands as both a treasured landmark of Native American heritage and a backdrop for modern storytelling, reminding us that every landscape holds stories waiting to be told.
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