Where Netflix’s ‘The Boroughs’ Was Filmed and Its Eerie Retirement Community Inspiration
Netflix has introduced a new supernatural series that captivates viewers with its unsettling charm. ‘The Boroughs’ is set in a picturesque yet strangely eerie retirement community in New Mexico, where the sun-soaked perfection conceals something sinister lurking beneath. With manicured lawns and pristine golf carts, the show creates an atmosphere that feels both inviting and deeply unsettling.
The narrative revolves around a group of elderly residents confronting otherworldly threats, exploring themes of lost time and mysterious beings that haunt their isolated enclave. Whether you’ve binge-watched all eight episodes or are just starting, you might be curious about the reality behind its setting. Here’s everything you need to know about where ‘The Boroughs’ was filmed and the inspiration behind its fictional backdrop.
The New Mexico Film Office announced that ‘The Boroughs’, an eight-episode supernatural mystery from Netflix, was filmed in and around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The production fully embraced the state’s dramatic landscapes, which are vividly showcased on screen.
Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, served as the primary filming location, featuring its unique blend of dusty deserts, rugged mountains, and suburban streets, particularly around the Sandia Foothills. The historic Old Town Albuquerque, known for its narrow streets and adobe architecture, also appears, along with Santa Fe, especially Canyon Road and Los Cerrillos.
Filming commenced on September 6, 2024, at the Aperture Plaza in Albuquerque and wrapped up five months later on February 8, 2025. This extensive production time in the New Mexico landscape is evident throughout the series.
‘The Boroughs’ joins a growing list of successful dramas filmed in New Mexico, including ‘Eddington’, ‘Honey Don’t’, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, ‘Better Call Saul’, and the iconic ‘Stranger Things’. The state has become a highly sought-after filming location for the genre.
Not everything depicted in the series was sourced from existing New Mexico neighborhoods. Production designer Ruth Ammon, recognized for her work on ‘Station Eleven’ and ‘Pachinko’, led a team that meticulously crafted the fictional retirement community. The scale of her work is truly impressive.
Creator Jeffrey Addiss detailed the construction process, revealing that the team built eight houses on a back lot, including Sam’s cul-de-sac and the entire downtown Boroughs shops. Each storefront was fully functional, complete with operational coffee machines.
Addiss described this achievement as a remarkable feat, highlighting the beauty of the result and the meticulous attention to detail by the production crew. This dedication to creating a tangible, immersive world contributes significantly to the show’s eerie, authentic atmosphere.
The production employed over 2,000 New Mexicans, including 275 crew members, 32 principal actors, and 1,934 background performers, making it a vital economic contributor to the region’s flourishing film industry.
Interestingly, while ‘The Boroughs’ is not based on a specific retirement community, it shares similarities with various retirement villages across the U.S. and beyond, reflecting a growing trend tied to the aging population and Baby Boomers seeking active, wellness-oriented lifestyles in their later years.
The creators drew inspiration from classic senior-themed shows like ‘The Golden Girls’ and films such as ‘Cocoon’ while developing the concept. The influence of Ron Howard’s beloved 1985 film is openly acknowledged by the entire creative team.
The Duffer Brothers expressed their excitement for the project, noting they had long wondered why no one had created another film in the spirit of ‘Cocoon’. When Addiss and Matthews pitched the idea for ‘The Boroughs’, they envisioned a story about retirees and monsters that treated aging with respect, portraying its characters as real individuals facing genuine challenges alongside supernatural ones.
The Duffer Brothers have a well-known affinity for rural paranormal settings, from the fictional Hawkins, Indiana, to the New Mexico desert. ‘The Boroughs’ fits seamlessly into this tradition while exploring new territory.
One of the creative motivations for placing the mystery in a retirement setting was the notion that retirees, much like teenagers, are often overlooked and dismissed, making them ideal protagonists for a monster story where their claims might not be believed. This clever genre logic adds significant thematic depth to the series.
Described as the best of the three Netflix series the Duffer Brothers have produced since ‘Stranger Things’, ‘The Boroughs’ shares that franchise’s blend of horror and heart, excelling at humanizing characters that Hollywood frequently caricatures. The show’s setting, both real and constructed, plays a crucial role in delivering that emotional impact.
Creator Jeffrey Addiss characterized the series as an adventure with a dangerous puzzle at its core, filled with real scares and genuine peril, while Matthews humorously remarked that he would gladly reside in ‘The Boroughs’ if it weren’t for the pesky monster issue.
Now that you understand how much of that world was meticulously crafted in the New Mexico desert, we want to hear your thoughts: does knowing that the Boroughs retirement community was primarily built on a back lot enhance its impressiveness, or does it alter your perception of the show’s unsettling ambiance?