Where was Lifetime's Vanished in Death Valley filmed? All shooting locations explored
Lifetime's Vanished in Death Valley is set to premiere on January 5, 2025 at 8/7c. Directed by Kaila York, it tells the story of a family whose road trip through Death Valley becomes a nightmare when their car suddenly breaks down in the desolate desert, leaving their teenage daughter mysteriously missing.
Vanished in Death Valley is a thriller that explores human survival and family bonds in the harsh environment and desert setting. The stark, lonesome landscape plays a key role, intensifying the emotional and physical challenges faced by the characters.
To bring this story to life, the filmmakers chose Santa Clarita, California, as the primary filming location. Its rugged terrain and arid conditions mirrored the harsh desert setting central to the movie's narrative.
Vanished in Death Valley filming locations explored
1) Santa Clarita, California
Vanished in Death Valley was mainly shot in Santa Clarita, a city in northwestern Los Angeles County. Known for its geographical diversity, Santa Clarita provided the backdrop for the desert-themed thriller. The production crew utilized the area's versatile landscapes, from rugged terrain to open plains, to replicate the oppressive and arid atmosphere of Death Valley.
The city's mild desert-like weather further enhanced the authenticity of the outdoor scenes central to the movie's plot during the twelve-day shooting.
2) Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park
One of the main filming locations for Vanished in Death Valley was the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park near Santa Clarita. The striking rock formations and rugged beauty of the park lent an eerie, dramatic aesthetic to the movie. These natural features emphasize the isolation and danger faced by the family in the film, which is in line with the story's themes of survival and resilience.
The cliffs and winding trails created a visually compelling and treacherous backdrop for the abduction scenes. Vasquez Rocks' unique landscape is frequently used in productions, making it an ideal choice for the film.
3) Placerita Canyon Nature Center
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center, in the vicinity of Santa Clarita, was another prominent filming site for Vanished in Death Valley. The lush canyon trails and open terrain of the area made it possible for the directors to enter diverse settings in the desert story. Placerita Canyon also facilitated the safe execution of stunt-heavy sequences, providing varied terrain for intense action scenes.
4) William S. Hart Park
William S. Hart Park in Santa Clarita contributed to the outdoor aesthetic of the movie. The park's scenic trails and open spaces provided a calm yet unsettling environment that contrasted with the film's tense storyline. It offered a naturalistic setting that allowed the characters' emotional journeys to unfold against a backdrop of raw wilderness.
All about LIfetime's Vanished in Death Valley
Vanished in Death Valley is a thriller written by Dane K. Braun and Thomas Dolan-Gavitt that follows the disappearance of a teenage girl in California's infamous Death Valley. Kaila York directed the movie. The movie depicts the horror experienced by a family whose car breaks down in the desert and loses their daughter. As the family traverses through the deadly desert and meets unforeseen dangers, they must race against time to save their daughter.
The official synopsis of the movie on Lifetime reads:
"A teenage girl goes missing when her family’s car breaks down in Death Valley and her parents will need to make unlikely allies if they are to find their daughter before she disappears forever."
It features a cast including Aryè Campos, Matthew Pohlkamp, and Katherine Joan Taylor.
Watch Vanished in Death Valley as it premieres on Lifetime on January 5, 2025 at 8/7c.
