Finding Partisan Rock: The Final Scene Location from Red Dawn (1984)

6 Feb

Where is Partisan Rock and is it real? Another SetJetters quest!

By Erik Nachtrieb, SetJetters CEO & Cofounder

For fans of *Red Dawn* (1984), the final scene at Partisan Rock is one of the most emotional moments in the film.
It’s where the Wolverines honored their fallen, and because it’s sacred film ground for many film fans, I was compelled to find the location of this scene and add it to the SetJetters movie location map.
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The Search Begins

Despite the film’s lasting impact, the actual location of Partisan Rock has remained a mystery. Countless fans have searched for it, yet no one seems to know exactly where it was filmed. The only clues available were the movie’s imagery and the fact that *Red Dawn* was filmed around Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Las Vegas, New Mexico as a Stand-In for Colorado

While *Red Dawn* is set in Calumet, Colorado, most of the movie was actually filmed in and around Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The town’s historic architecture and surrounding rugged landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for the fictional invasion. Key scenes, including the ambush at the gas station and the final battle at "Partisan Rock," were shot in the nearby mountains and mesas, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
When looking for this location, a distinctive mountain stood out in the background of the scene. After some map research, I identified it as Hermit Peak. With that information in hand, I started searching the surrounding hills for a possible match to that view of Hermit Peak.

Narrowing it down

After analyzing the terrain and movie stills, I identified a promising location: Johnson Mesa and Johnson Mesa Camp.
Not to be confused with “Johnson’s Mesa,” another filming site from the movie, this particular hill matched the general layout seen in the final scene.
However, I needed more proof.
To confirm, I looked at how the background lined up in the movie. The filming site had to have vehicle access, as the production crew would have needed to transport a lot of people and equipment to the location.
Checking satellite imagery and maps, I found a road leading up to the northeast side of Johnson Mesa Camp - exactly where the scene was shot, with Hermit Peak visible in the background.

Was Partisan Rock Real?

With the general location identified, the next question was: where is Partisan Rock itself?

Rumors suggest it was a prop, and there’s solid evidence to support that theory. The film featured extensive prop builds, and a close-up of the rock in the movie reveals texture lines consistent with a man-made structure.

Given the accessibility of the location and the practical nature of film production, it’s highly likely that the rock was built specifically for the scene and then later removed.

Confirming the location

Even without the rock, everything else in the scene aligns perfectly. The open landscape with sparse trees, the denser forest behind where the rock would have stood - it all matches.

To top it off, I found a hiker’s photo from the area that confirms the positioning of the mountains in the background, proving this to be the right spot.

A worthy pilgrimage

While Partisan Rock may have been a prop, the location itself is real and still worth visiting. It remains a place to honor the legacy of Red Dawn and the unforgettable final scene.

And here’s a cool detail you might not have noticed: before the final battle, Jed carves his and his brother’s names into the rock - a powerful moment of foreshadowing.

For those who love tracking down film locations, this is one site worth adding to your list. And if you’re on the hunt for more, try SetJetters’ movie map to explore filming sites from your favorite films. Have a location you want me to find? Challenge accepted - I’ll find it!