The Lost Bus is a powerful survival drama based on real events. Directed by Paul Greengrass and co-written with Brad Ingelsby, the film brings to life one of the most harrowing stories of courage during a national tragedy. If you’re curious about where this gripping movie was filmed, we’ve got you covered here on NetFilming.
Inspired by Lizzie Johnson’s nonfiction book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, the film tells the incredible story of Kevin McKay, a school bus driver, and teacher Mary Ludwig. Together, they guided 22 schoolchildren to safety during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California—the deadliest wildfire in California’s history.
The film features a strong cast led by Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, along with Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson, and Spencer Watson. While the real story took place in California, the filming actually happened entirely in New Mexico. Here’s a detailed breakdown of all the locations used to recreate the fiery chaos of Paradise.
Where Was The Lost Bus Filmed?
The production team picked New Mexico because it has a lot of different types of scenery and is cheap to film in. The film was shot from April to August 2024, and various small towns were employed to stand in for the places in the movie. Take a closer look at each one:
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Ruidoso, a beautiful mountain town with lush forests and winding roads, was one of the key places where the movie was filmed. It was a great fit for moments when the bus drove through woods full of smoke and got away from fires that were moving quickly.
Ruidoso has also had its own problems with wildfires in the past, which helped the crew show the sights in a real and respectful way. The area’s natural landscape and contemporary filmmaking gear made it possible to safely reproduce violent action scenes.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was very important to the filming process. Garson Studios, which is part of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, did most of the work on the project. The studio is noted for its excellent equipment, such as big sound stages, editing suites and workshops for making sets.
It is possible that a lot of important internal shots, emergency shelters and classroom scenes were filmed here. Santa Fe has been a center for TV and movie projects for a long time since it has both skilled crew and modern facilities.
Española, New Mexico
Española, which is roughly 25 miles north of Santa Fe, was another important place to shoot. This small town has vast space, rolling hills and rural backgrounds that are perfect for outdoor scenes and sequences depicting the town’s outskirts during the evacuation.
There are also a lot of Native American and Hispanic elements in Española, which adds depth and richness to the movie’s small-town setting. The filmmakers were able to keep the emotional intensity of the original story because it was real.
Truchas, NM
Truchas is a peaceful community in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that is recognized for its beautiful views and old-world charm. Truchas looked like a rural location; thus, it worked well as a stand-in for the more remote parts of Paradise. Its rural roads, old buildings and pristine landscapes made scenarios of villages cut off by fire and disaster look exactly right.
Truchas also gave the crew a quiet place to film emotional scenes without the noise and distractions of the city.
Glorieta, New Mexico
Filming also happened at Glorieta Camps, a Christian retreat center with a lot of open space, woodlands, and camp buildings. These places were used to securely film high-risk wildfire scenes, like bus evacuations, emergency situations, and scenes with a lot of smoke and fire effects.
The filmmakers were able to film perilous scenes with appropriate safety procedures in place on Glorieta’s big, private acreage. They were able to make a realistic wildfire without putting the cast or crew in real danger by using controlled burns and special effects.
When Was The Lost Bus Filmed?
Filming began in April 2024 and wrapped up in August 2024, covering about five months in total. The team used spring and summer to capture a variety of natural light conditions and safely shoot scenes involving controlled fire, smoke, and evacuations.
This schedule also gave the filmmakers time to move between locations and capture footage across different terrains—from the deep forests of Ruidoso to the open valleys of Española and the sound stages in Santa Fe.
The Lost Bus Behind The Scenes
Filming The Lost Bus was more than just capturing wildfire drama—it was a deep dive into real human resilience. Director Paul Greengrass brought his signature immersive style, steering clear of flashy effects and focusing on raw, documentary-style emotion. “The Lost Bus is the story of quiet heroism—of people coming together in the face of the unthinkable. I’m honored to have been entrusted with this story,” Greengrass shared when Apple released the first teaser in June 2025. This statement highlights how the production aimed to respectfully portray the true story behind the 2018 Camp Fire.
On set in New Mexico, Greengrass employed handheld camera techniques to immerse the audience in the frightening experience of escaping roaring flames. This stylistic decision created raw energy that made the scenes feel immediate. That choice made scenes feel raw and immediate, not staged.
Producer Amber Dodson of the New Mexico Film Office also reflected on the deeper value of the project: “This project will create thousands of jobs for New Mexicans, on and off set, and will showcase regions across the state,” including Ruidoso and Española. Her remarks particularly highlight how the cinematic production artfully juxtaposed local engagement, providing employment for hundreds of crew and background performers from the area.
Matthew McConaughey completely inhabited the role of the heroic bus driver, Kevin McKay. During filming in early April 2024, local residents spotted him portraying the character in Ruidoso. By situating much of the shoot in places still feeling wildfire’s shadow—just like Ruidoso—the cast and crew cultivated authenticity without jeopardizing anyone’s safety.
Behind the scenes, the crew worked closely with local authorities to rehearse evacuation drills and set up controlled burns at Glorieta Camps. This technique ensured that the scenes depicting fire and smoke were realistic but safely contained, maintaining fidelity to the narrative’s urgency without any actual risk to participants.
The Lost Bus Official Trailer
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