RED DAWN (1984) FILMING Locations (Las Vegas, NM)

[@JohnDefillipo-db8np]

Nice video. I was the Scenic Artist that painted the Welcome to Calumet Cowgirl in the opening scene. Also painted all the murals and Russian Banners in the Movie. It was 1983 and it was was extremely Cold we worked 12 hours 6 Days a week. The working title for the film was Ten Soldiers not Red Dawn. What’s sad someone repainted the Cowgirl with a different color Scheme, the colors I used was red white and blue to be Patriotic. Thanks for the memories. John De

[@marcjennings6267]

My favorite movie ever!!! You did an amazing job …

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@JohnDefillipo-db8np Thank you for sharing your contribution to an awesome movie. 👍

[@Zynda42]

Thank you for sharing. So glad the Cowgirl is still there. It gave me chills when I saw her in person and realized I was in the right place.

[@kytom89]

Awesome work John. I've seen the mural in person and it is something I don't think the city will ever take down. For good reason. It's good art.

[@kendallblanchard6840]

I'm glad someone took the time and energy to find the locations outside of town. Awesome job.

[@theensignschair]

Thanks Kendall, the gas station was also used in No Country For Old Men and I found that on a blog, the others were found by lining up landmarks!

[@kevinwillert2860]

Correction if I may? In the scene on the rocks, the kid that yells "Wolverines" is Doug Toby.

[@CGFIELDS]

Exactly 👍🏾 Arturo "Aardvark" Mondragon Doug Toby was 16 years old in 1984.

[@billypaulwilliams]

Hands down your then and now pics are the most spot on I've seen! I'm planning a trip to Las Vegas to scout these locations and hopefully camp at Johnson's mesa with my son this October. Your video will be indespensible when locating these film locations. (In 1984 I was in Basic Training at Ft Bliss and was given the oppurtunity to go see this movie as a reward or maxing my PT test. I will never forget the rush of going to see this movie in Basic no less. What a rush it was and 38 years later it still resonates with me.) Thank you for your effort!

[@ryanjordan7268]

Excellent video! This movie was instrumental in inspiring me to join the military 🪖. I enlisted in the USAF in 1986. My first duty station was Hahn AB, W. Germany 1987-1989. The Cold War was at its height. I took this movie on VHS when I deployed on a classified mission in the Middle East. Enjoyed watching it with our Israeli Allies. Thank you for doing this video. MSgt Ryan Jordan USAF/USAFR Security Police 1987-2015 (Retired).

[@theensignschair]

Thanks Ryan, and thank you for your service!

[@robertheath9606]

Best filming location video yet. Great job

[@theensignschair]

Thank you Robert!

[@cidlopez]

I went to memorial middle school in the 80s. We lived near the spot in the mountains where the wolverines were hiding out. Patrick was our neighbor later in the early 90s. Super nice guy.

[@nathanwilkins3039]

Thanks for presenting those filming locations. Makes me want to go back and re watch the movie.

[@KevininNC]

Superb video! The amount of effort this took does not go unrecognized. I really assumed that most of the locations would be gone by now and it is great to see how many were still there. I wonder if the rock with the names on it is either a) still there or b) just a movie prop like the Rough Rider statue. Great, great video!

[@theensignschair]

I have read that the rock was a prop, unfortunately I couldn't go up to Johnson Mesa to try to verify that due to the wildfire.

[@KevininNC]

@@theensignschair Yes, you mentioned about the mesa in the video. You have the best locations video by a mile for this film and I sure yours will be used as a reference for those who go out there in the future. Kudos

[@rodneyf8987]

My guess is that the jet at the drive-in was meant to be a Yak-38. Great video, I drove through Las Vegas NM several years ago but had no idea where the locations were.

[@MrIdasam]

It was.

[@paulconnors2078]

I just found your video in 2024 - the 40th anniversary of this movie and one I must have seen 10-12 times before it left the theaters and which is also in my collection.

[@TR-Mead]

Excellent video and awesome research!!!! This is definitely the best Red Dawn filming location video available.

[@paulvakay9980]

This video is pretty awesome and accurate. I was a lighting technician at MGM when this movie was crewing up and I was on the crew for all the New Mexico shooting. The order you went to the locations was the same order they were shot. We were in Las Vegas from early November of 1983 until late in January of 1984, when we moved to Santa Fe to shoot the last two weeks. We went back to L.A. at the first part of February. The sites you showed were great, but what would be hard to capture was how cold it was. When any of us talked about it in years to come, Johnson's Mesa always came up as the highlight of coldness, as it must of been 20 to 30 below up there.

[@theensignschair]

Thank you, that's awesome to hear! Wish I had been able to make it up Johnsons Mesa while I was there!

[@outdoorswitho5]

I believe that the classroom area in the opening shot was a set built by MGM that was demolished after filming. Great Video!

[@Ro6entX]

Always cool to see locations of movies, especially classic ones such as this one. Hopefully you can return at later time (if have not already) to try to find the spots unable to get to because of the fires. I could be wrong but I think that ranch that belonged to the Pat and Lisa, is where his ashes were spread.

[@theensignschair]

That's what's been reported, though it's strange that she would sell the ranch if his ashes are there.

[@allanseabolt3228]

Excellent job! I lived in Santa Fe and tried to find so many Red Dawn sites. Did you know the gas station in Red Dawn is the same one filmed in, No Country for Old Men?

[@georgemacgregor5437]

Will That was great. You are a true movie historian. Hope you are having fun at Wonderfest. Great Video.

[@theensignschair]

Thanks George! Great time at Wonderfest so far!

[@georgemacgregor5437]

Wish I was there too. One day maybe

[@seanryan8680]

Great job! Keep it up looking for more filming locations different movies from now on 😀👍

[@ralieghriddoch297]

Excellent work. My daughter and I travel each year around my birthday to visit these locations. This year we'll make it to Abiquiu for the first time and will have a better experience because of your work. Hope to have some footage of the spot where "Robert" fired his last rounds. Thanks for posting.

[@theensignschair]

Glad it will come to use! I was hoping to find that location as well but unfortunately it was getting late! Please share if you find the location for that!

[@ralieghriddoch297]

Also hoping to find Toni’s death location. Will let you know if I’m successful. Thanks again!!

[@ralieghriddoch297]

Update: spent last weekend in NM and found ALL scenes filmed in Abiquiu. Pretty easy actually. Robert's scene was about 50-60 yards right of the rocks where they ate the Russian food. Toni's scene is about 75-100 yards right of Robert's. I have some great pics.

[@MrGruffteddybear]

At 15:34 or so when you made the comment about them being under siege at that point in the movie they actually weren't. Calumet was 40 miles behind enemy lines at this time so while it was occupied territory the battle at the front lines was very far away. Thanks for this video, I want to visit Las Vegas, NM someday. Red Dawn was, and still is, in my top five favorite movies of all time. Serious crush on Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey to this day. 🥰

[@Zynda42]

I have seen a few of these videos and yours is the BEST! Thank you. I go there a lot, ever since we moved out west, and you helped me find some places we have yet to go to. We are heading up to stay in the Castaneda Hotel this weekend for the 10 Aug 40th Anniversary. I remember seeing the movie for the first time on 10 Aug 1984, Friday. I was under 13 but was able to sneak in because no one knew what PG13 really was. The first time I drove into town and saw the Cowgirl I was over 40 and I have to say I got a little chocked up. LOVE this movie! Thanks again.

[@theensignschair]

Thank you, I felt the same when I saw it as well. The gas station also gave me the same feeling!

[@Zynda42]

@@theensignschair I bet. This will be the first time we get out to the gas station and it's all because of your video. We never knew where that was. Took me about 20 minutes searching Google Maps imagery to finally find it from your description. Google marks it at 26.9 miles from the Castaneda Hotel.

[@Zynda42]

@@theensignschair You did not mention the location of the ambush site you visit right after the gas stations but I ended up finding it about 6 more miles west on 104. Just thought I would post that in case others were looking.

[@russbay2963]

Great Share and appreciate the time spent finding all the locations!

[@FightingRimbaud]

Amazing video! Been waiting for someone to do this because up until this, it’s been all Las Vegas stuff, which is cool, but these are the ones I’ve wanted to see. Thank you!

[@dougmasters4579]

Fantastic video. It's important to document films like Red Dawn, it's a special movie that can never be replicated. Regarding what was said at 19:39 about scenes filmed in the studio, I think I read somewhere that they filmed the nighttime campfire scenes on the set, presumably because of the cold? It's the scenes where Lea Thompson's character gets mad at Charlie Sheen and starts hitting him, and when Powers Boothe tells the kid that "all that hate will burn you up inside". I wonder if someone knows that for sure?

[@vernshumway5939]

I was on a fire team in Las Vegas during the time you were filming this. Really enjoyed it.

[@theensignschair]

Thank you for your service! I spoke with a few of you guys when I drove into the mountains.

[@nmelkhunter1]

Great video on one of my favorite movies. I've read that the winter of 1983-1984 was one of the coldest on record in NE New Mexico with temperatures below zero Fahrenheit. I bet filming this movie in those temperatures was great fun!

[@marcjennings6267]

I think Patrick Swazey got frost bite really bad in the filming

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@marcjennings6267 I didn’t know that. Obviously not good.

[@springstownewildcat]

Your ability to find those spots in the rocks is absolutely impressive 👏👏👏

[@seanryan8680]

Well done man!

[@C10Build]

I had no idea it was filmed in Las Vegas! My grandparents lived in Ocate, NM, about 40 miles north of there. I spent many a summer in that area. Oner of the reasons I loved Longmire was because it was filmed near there.

[@mikemcleod7816]

Do you have any idea where Partisan Rock is? I've wanted to find it ever since I saw the movie. Great video!

[@miketaylor7198]

Great job on this detailed filming locations of this movie. I also think it's cool to compare things from 40 years later

[@DRCHHBU]

Nice work! Just watched the original last night.

[@herberttsosie509]

You are awesome nice to see filming locations my favorite was red dawn great job you did thank you

[@theensignschair]

Thank you Herbert!

[@michaeltubbs4606]

It was a YAK-38 jump jet. Not a Harrier. Great video! Thank you for your hard work.

[@shogun2679]

They actually filmed a number of the scenes of the campfire gatherings in the old Safeway store.

[@MrIdasam]

Great video; a lot of effort went into this. You didn't mention, maybe you didn't know, that the gas station at 29:00 is where the “coin toss” scene from No Country For Old Men was filmed as well.

[@theensignschair]

I was aware but didn't think to mention it while filming. They also filmed the staircase at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas.

[@jaimejaimeChannel]

Very thorough - thanks. I was in that movie (as an extra) (Russian soldier in first scene) but didn't see the whole thing. I hoping they'll re-paint and preserve that "Calumet Says Howdy" sign.

[@kytom89]

People underestimate the power this movie has on the imagination of American men. I've paid homage to the movie by visiting here myself. One if my favorite trips I've made in recent years.

[@marcjennings6267]

Amazing , the best movie filming location I have ever seen…

[@rickysithappenedhere]

Absolutely amazing Video!

[@PaulChavez-ig6sg]

The class room that was shot was actually a prop they constructed for the movie … that building you see now was added to the school in that last 10 years. But it is in the exact spot that was filmed.

[@gcarter6663]

I went to school at Mora Middle during the filming of Red Dawn. The classroom they shoot up in the beginning wad a temporary building they built at the northwest corner. It was not part of the actually school. Had a paratrooper fall from a tree in front of me. His foam gun broke in half. Half dozen other paratroopers landed on top of the gym by mistake.

[@robertcompton5232]

Cool video. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released before Red Dawn and had a PG-13 rating. The rating had been suggested by Steven Spielberg

[@theensignschair]

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was and still is Rated PG, it was released 2 months before the PG-13 rating was adopted. Red Dawn was the first to be rated PG-13!

[@johnhammond9962]

Nice work dude. I just subbed.

[@vincenzomandala9563]

Great job, I enjoyed watching and got to enjoy seeing areas from a movie a lot of us were brought up with. I got to see all of this in a few min what took you hours/days to do, thanks.

[@GreatPlainsChaser]

Fantastic! I was working on a Google map with all the locations, but was having a hard time with some of them spots outside of Las Vegas. I would like to compare notes with you, to really lock them down. I would like to plan a road trip out that way. Maybe meet up if you want. I've done other movie locations, turning into a hobby. Let's connect! ~Chris

[@theensignschair]

Thanks for watching, I'd be more than happy to share what I have, I'd still like to try and get up to Johnson Mesa and nail down those locations!

[@jimmyjameslee7189]

great vid to compliment a great movie

[@shogun2679]

If those night scenes at the Castaneda looked, that's because it was FREEZING that night !!

[@Amil0905]

Hey what about the scene where the Russian Soldiers are taking pictures in front of the Arapaho National Forest? Where exactly is that?

[@theensignschair]

I believe that was another scene filmed around or on Johnson Mesa, yet another scene I was unable to verify due to the wildfire at the time preventing access.

[@brooksbrown580]

Great job ! Red Dawn is such a great movie, and you made it even better with your great Video about locations, and information, Thanks so much for all your hard work,

[@dioniciobustamante7741]

Wow! Very impressed with your scene location research! We are actually planning to go to Ruidoso, NM for two weeks and I have been wanting to do something similar to cross off my bucket list. One scene which I imagine will be hard to find is when Lea Thompson is apparently witnessing a dog fight in the sky where Powers Booth gets shot down and is huddling near a tree. Any idea where that could be? Also when Patrick Swayze is consoling Jennifer Grey after being shot and is looking down from a hill presumably at her before leaving with the other survivors. If you look at this scene there is a curious rock formation at 1:37:53 in the movie to the right of the the screen that looks like a space shuttle. Did you see it by any chance? Lastly, at 45:47 of your video can you confirm what appears to be a fence that is in front of the rock formation where they were attacked by the helicopters? If it is a fence, did you cross it? Can you specify the coordinates or mile marker where this is at? This is the scene where I would most like to visit but if there is a fence I would be hesitant to cross it as I assume it is private property? Again awesome work and hopefully we can visit these locations when we are close by!

[@theensignschair]

The scene with Lea Thompson crouched watching the plane crash was almost certainly filmed along the front range around Las Vegas but would be very difficult to locate as there are no good landmarks visible in that scene. However the scene where she is approaching Powers Booth laying on the ground after parachuting was filmed in the open land east of Las Vegas, this is obvious because Hermits Peak can be seen in the background as well as Tecolote Peak briefly. The Jennifer Grey death scene was filmed in Abiquiu but I did not attempt to locate it. There is a fence along the road but it's just a wildlife fence. To the best of my knowledge that land along the road is BLM land as there are hiking trails in the area!

[@dioniciobustamante7741]

@@theensignschair Thanks for the quick reply! Do you know the mile marker for Highway 84 for the helicopter attack scene?

[@theensignschair]

Milepost 223, there's a rest area across the street, that's where I parked!

[@dioniciobustamante7741]

@@theensignschair Thank you very much! Your information is priceless!

[@turtletouche]

Good video

[@jameskett5241]

The motor grader "tractor" was in that scene. It's been there the entire time too.

[@Cyberpunk2056]

Do you know where they shot the scene where they planted the arrow and and the soldiers were reading the monument sign

[@theensignschair]

That was more than likely headed up towards Johnson Mesa, but because of the fires I couldn't go up there.

[@lonewanderer4248]

Next time you come to Vegas you should do the no country for old men locations. Great content!

[@theensignschair]

If I'd had time I would have done them the same day, but I had to get to Abiqu so I was running tight on time, but next time I get out there!

[@andresdelgado1002]

Chingon tu trabajo good job 10000000000000000% like

[@ChristopherFreezeYT]

Any clue where Partisan Rock is/was?

[@theensignschair]

In my research I read that Partisan Rock was a prop built for the movie, however I was not able to go up to that area to confirm this and to try and locate where it was.

[@ChristopherFreezeYT]

@@theensignschair - I recently saw a Tiktok video that claimed the likely site was "Johnson Mesa" (not Johnson's), which is SW of Hermit's Peak, in the mountains NW of Las Vegas, NM... It too said it was likely a built prop...

[@theensignschair]

Yes I had that information but due to the wildfire they weren't letting people up there at the time.

[@judgepierce8356]

Where was the campsite they were at when they first came to the mountain? It's one of the nicest places in the movie.

[@theensignschair]

Unfortunately there's not alot to go on in terms of landmarks so I didn't try to find that location.

[@judgepierce8356]

@@theensignschair thanks for the reply.

[@andengrotary]

Sir, What about the intro that started with the mountain, forest and river (example) Shown on the screen in September. That's where you took it from courtesy. Thanks 🙏

[@sjTHEfirst]

Do they ever have event showings of Red Dawn at the drive-in?

[@theensignschair]

I do not know, wouldn't surprise me if they did since the drive in is still in operation.

[@Jp-ml8dm]

Where the building explodes at 41 minutes, I think you stated that a facad of building were built for the movie is incorrect. That was an actual historic building that occupied that whole lot. It was knocked down because of a fire and most of the building collapsed. I know this because I am a native Las Vegan and I was actually there when they filmed that scene.

[@theensignschair]

I wasn't sure which were existing and which were facades, thanks for the clarification!

[@grasshopper3930]

Great job with recounting And showing us What it look like then and now. However I'm a little confused why you can't drive down the road where the store used to be to the location Of the road block. You said the road is closed however there's cars driving up-and-down the road as you speak

[@theensignschair]

I'm not sure how far down the road I could have driven, but at some point, as with other roads I drove down, there would have been a police officer and they would only let people who have homes there to travel into the area.

[@andrewcastano7989]

Dude this video rules, thanks

[@trooper5157]

Is Partisan Rock in that area? No doubt the names are long gone, but it would be a cool site to visit. Thanks for sharing.

[@theensignschair]

Partisan Rock itself was a prop!

[@trooper5157]

@@theensignschair The flagpole and plaque, sure... but the entire rock mass, including the prominent Partisan Rock...a prop? It couldn't be...could it? That mass of rock would take so much material and effort to build, it'd have to been easier to just find a pile of rocks in the desert.

[@theensignschair]

That was one of the things I was looking to confirm by going up to Johnsons Mesa but everything I've researched says that the rock itself was a prop! Plus I have found no additional photos of the rock anywhere!

[@theensignschair]

Also keep in mind they were filming in a National Forrest, carving names into an existing rock would have been a big no no,

[@trooper5157]

@@theensignschair It appears that they used chalk, and that the carving was just the actors giving the appearance of scratching the rock. Could just be my wishful thinking tho. ... In the scene at the end that shows the rock prominitory, the shot pans from right to left and theres a fairly unique looking ridge in the distance... I was wondering if you may recognize that ridge and be able to take a guess as to where the Partisan Rock formation (real or prop) was positioned.

[@Edgar_99302]

Thank you for this! I always wanted to see the spot where the Spetsnaz were ambushed, any idea where that might have been?

[@theensignschair]

If your referring to the scene where the soilders are taking pictures at the National Forrest sign, that was up around Johnson Mesa!

[@LloydMcCoy]

This is an Awesome Vid

[@dirk6001]

I loved the movie. Joint the military in 1986 but that was already the plan and had nothing to do with the film. 😀

[@dereklucero5785]

Most of the in camp outdoor scenes were filmed in the Safeway, think of the night scenes.

[@dereklucero5785]

What you mean it was filmed in Mexico??? Just kidding. I was a 7th grader in Las Vegas New Mexico at the middle school where the paratroopers drooped at calumet HS (Wolverines)…..we were in the baseball field in case of a misdrop because the school had a bunch of skylights. If I remember correctly the shot up classroom was actually built on because that built on building the op is pointing out wasn’t there.

[@WyattGoulet]

But where's Partisan Rock at?

[@theensignschair]

It would be up Johnson Mesa if it exists, but I couldn't go up there to verify that!

[@MrIdasam]

I've always wondered the same thing.

[@libertycan6959]

Awesome

[@patricklee5576]

It was Ardvark yelling Waolverines

[@theensignschair]

Yes I had been corrected on that, I mistaking stated the wrong actor,

[@patricklee5576]

@@theensignschair It sounds exactly like C THomas Howell but I studied this for long time Compare Ardvark So glad you sharing so much of this Much appreciated for the vid!!!!!

[@jrnumex9286]

35: i would like some of those rocks for my landscaping.

[@bigtodd12159]

Isn’t that the gas station from no country for old men? That road grader looks familiar

[@theensignschair]

Indeed it is!

[@TimKline]

what about Patriot Rock?

[@theensignschair]

My research indicates it was a prop for the movie but I was unable to confirm that due to the fires. It would be up around Johnson Mesa somewhere.

[@TimKline]

@@theensignschair It would be great if it was real, looked like real rock. If it was real, the signatures would be there hopefully.

[@jimbotron70]

How could a PG-13 rated movie being considered the most violent movie ever made?

[@robsobieck4707]

This is no country for old men gas station scene too

[@donkeyslayer9879]

Why don't you wait until the fires are out to do this?

[@theensignschair]

Because I no longer live there and that time was the only time I could do this video prior to moving!

[@TedIntessimone]

they don't have weedeaters out there/..geeeze

[@eliezerroque334]

AWSOME VIDEO

[@359Joey]

Hey, the gas station at 30:00, it sure looks like the same one they used in No Country for Old Men. Do you happen to know if it was?

[@theensignschair]

Indeed it was, sorry I neglected to mention that. Then also filmed in town at the Hotel on the Plaza.