Naman Shrestha
With Tailiah Breon at the helm, Hallmark’s ‘Romance at Hope Ranch’ is a romantic drama movie that centers on a young woman named Hope Morgan, who decides to make her childhood dream of owning a ranch come true. After a drastic life change, she makes an impulsive purchase of a New Mexico ranch, hoping it will give her life more meaning. Hope travels to the picturesque town and begins running her newly purchased ranch.
During her time there, she also works to revive a beloved community gala called Giddy Up Gala. Meanwhile, Hope runs into her ex-fiancé, Jack, who wants her back and tries to prove to her that he has changed. As she spends more time at the ranch and with the people of the community, she finds herself falling in love with the town of Ruidoso, which becomes an additional character helping her gain a renewed sense of purpose and love.
Where Was Romance at Hope Ranch Filmed?
The production for ‘Romance at Hope’ was conducted entirely on location in Ruidoso, New Mexico, adding a layer of authenticity to the romantic tale. According to reports, principal photography for the film commenced in the first week of September 2025 and continued for the next few weeks before wrapping up within the same month. The shooting employed more than 90 New Mexicans, including 30 crew members, 12 principal actors, and 50 background performers, leading to a significant economic uplift in the area. New Mexico’s rural film incentive also worked in favor of the makers. Stephanie Beran took to social media to express her gratitude for being a part of the movie, stating, “It takes a village 🩷 So grateful for this incredible cast & crew. So much heart went into bringing Romance at Hope Ranch to life.”
Ruidoso, New Mexico
‘Romance at Hope Ranch’ has a layer of authenticity in its narrative as all the pivotal sequences were lensed on location in and around the village of Ruidoso. Situated in Lincoln County, it allowed the makers to transform its streets and other areas into film sets. The Director of the New Mexico Film Office, Steve Graham, told Film New Mexico, “Ruidoso’s community has shown incredible resilience, and we are proud that ‘Hope Ranch’ is bringing jobs and positive economic activity to the area. This project is a powerful testament to the value of our film uplift, which successfully brings these high-impact productions to our beautiful rural communities.”
A cast member, Scott Martin, also showed his excitement about shooting in New Mexico. “We have had great experiences, the crews have been fantastic, and the town of Ruidoso is incredibly welcoming. The beautiful locations around Ruidoso are the perfect backdrop for this fun romcom,” he stated. Besides ‘Romance at Hope Ranch,’ Ruidoso has hosted the production of numerous movies and TV shows over the years, including ‘The Christmas Classic,’ ‘Don’t Blink,’ ‘Casey’s Shadow,’ and ‘The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.’
Romance at Hope Ranch Cast Details
The cast of ‘Romance at Hope Ranch’ is led by the chemistry-filled performances from Alison Sweeney and Gabriel Hogan. Both have plenty of experience working with each other as they feature in numerous ‘Hannah Swensen’ movies, including ‘Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery,’ ‘Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,’ ‘Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery,’ ‘One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,’ and more, as Hannah Swensen and Norman Rhodes.
Alison Sweeney as Hope Morgan
Alison Sweeney essays the character of Hope Morgan, the ranch owner who works to revive the beloved gala, in ‘Romance at Hope Ranch.’ Besides portraying Sami Brady in ‘Days of Our Lives,’ Alison has showcased her acting prowess in other TV shows, such as ‘A Brand New Life,’ ‘Bay State,’ ‘Mercy,’ and ‘Las Vegas.’ As for her film credits, she features in ‘To Barcelona, with Love’ as Erica Olsen, ‘This Time Each Year’ as Lauren, ‘Love & Jane’ as Lilly Thorpe, and ‘The Wedding Veil Inspiration’ as Tracy Serchio.
Gabriel Hogan as Jack
Gabriel Hogan portrays Jack, Hope’s ex-fiancé, who tries to win her back, in the Hallmark production. Also known for being an improv comedian, Gabriel is widely recognized for his portrayals of Ike Crystal in ‘Tacoma FD,’ Boyd Ferris in ‘Condor,’ Joosep in ‘Prince of Peoria,’ Peter Morris in ‘Heartland,’ and Officer Collins in ‘The Lincoln Lawyer.’ He also stars in several movies, including ‘My Christmas Hero,’ ‘Quasi,’ ‘Sea Change,’ ‘Christmas List,’ and ‘Last Chance for Christmas.’
Alison’s daughter, Megan Sanov, also shares the screen with her mother in ‘Romance at Hope Ranch.’ Other talented actors who play supporting yet important roles in the romantic film include Scott Martin as Tom Grayson, Stephanie Beran as Lori Bennett, Stephen R. Estler as a Rancher/Hope’s friend, Craig Fones as Inspector Dave, Angela McAllister as a Coffee Shop Customer, Dodie Montgomery as Mayor Winona, and Jack Sheehan as a Cowboy.
Read More: The Stars Between Us: Filming Locations and Cast Details
