Where Was ‘Dark Winds’ Filmed?

Dark Winds, the TV show adapted from the beloved Leaphorn and Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, recently premiered its third season on AMC+. Starring Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon as Leaphorn and Chee, respectively, the series follows them and another Navajo Tribal police officer in the Four Corners area of the American Southwest in the 1970s.

The show’s first two seasons have been critically acclaimed, not only because of it being a good adaptation of the book series, but also because it brings Native American representation to light.

The New Mexico Film office director Amber Dodson said back in 2021 in a press release during filming of the first season that “We are ecstatic that AMC is being so intentional about telling this story in an authentic way by creative talent whose work speaks for itself, with a Native American director from New Mexico, as well as Native American writers, actors, and locations.”  For things not shot on location, the cast and crew used Camel Rock Studios, a Native American owned film and television studio located in Santa Fe.

Where was Dark Winds filmed?

Dark Winds is primarily filmed in Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. It is also filmed just north of the capital in Tesuque Pueblo, one of the smallest Pueblos in the state that has a lot of artists. Española is another popular filming location, and it holds the title of being the capital of the first European settlement in the U.S, having an interesting mix of Native, Spanish and American cultures.

AMC also shared that 70% was shot at Camel Rock studio and 30% at Cochiti Pueblo during season 1 and onwards. Shots of the landscape are from the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

The creators of the show, director, most of the cast, and all of the writing team are Native American. Executive producer Graham Roland of the Chicksaw tribe said back in 2022;”What was unique about it was the opportunity to tell a story in the Native community without a white character bringing you into the community and experiencing it through the white character’s point of view,” Roland said. Instead, the perspective is that of the Native character “who grew up there, lived there, and polices that environment.”

Dark Winds Season 3 is now available to stream on AMC+ for $6.99/month. Season 3 contains 8 episodes, more than season 1 and 2, with one episode released per week up until April 27th.

Troy Juhn is a 21 year old journalist originally from Minneapolis but currently residing in NYC. He can be found @JuhnTroy on X probably ranting about Minnesota sports.