Film History in Borrego

Borrego Springs and the Anza Borrego Desert have caught the eye of many film makers over the years. As far back as 1920, Nell Shipman (1893-1970), filmed the first commercial film using our Badlands in the eastern part of the Borrego Valley and the mountains east of the Borrego Valley. It was called SOMETHING NEW (120)

Since those early beginnings, the major studios have come to make many iconic war, drama, romantic and comedic films. The television studios came to do many episodes of their series like X-FILES (2000, 2002) who came and stayed many weeks filming their iconic stories. FROM EARTH TO THE MOON (1998) filmed their only episode outside of Florida of their Emmy Winning series, here in the Borrego area.

Even silent era films like BEGGERS OF LIFE (1928) with Wallace Beery and Louise Brooks on the Carrizo Railroad line. Comedy teams like Wheeler & Wooster who filmed THE RAINMAKERS (1935) using scenes of the Carrizo Railroad in their chase sequences.

Only one western was filmed here, CATARACT GOLD (2017) filmed near Salton City east of the Borrego Valley, the Palm Canyon Resort located in Borrego Springs and outside scenes from Green River Utah.

Independent film makers have been using our locations for their short films. They have been submitted for competition in the Borrego Springs Film Festival over the last 8 years. 

Overall, filming movies, television, independent films have been and continues to be a viable part of the artistic environment that is Borrego Springs and its environs.

Mentioned Films



• Beggars of Life (1928) - Available for viewing on Internet Archive. Watch Beggars of Life

• Something New (1920) - A classic film featuring Borrego Springs' landscape, available on Internet Archive. Watch Something New

• X-Files Episodes Filmed in Borrego Springs (2000, 2002) - Blog post detailing the filming of "X-Files" episodes in Borrego Springs, hosted on the Borrego Springs Film Festival website. Read about X-Files in Borrego Springs

• The Rainmakers (1935) - IMDb page for this comedy film that used scenes from the Carrizo Railroad. Visit IMDb page for The Rainmakers

• Cataract Gold (2017) - IMDb page for the Western filmed near Borrego Springs. Visit IMDb page for Cataract Gold

• From the Earth to the Moon (TV Mini-Series 1998) - IMDb page for the series that includes episodes filmed in Borrego Springs. Visit IMDb page for From the Earth to the Moon