Where the fuck is this "Epstein sex ranch" stuff coming from, and why is this the first I've heard of it?

@cstross I actively try not to read too deeply about this b/c it's so horrifying, but every time I do there are details that I am shocked that I had not heard before.

Like the girlfriend that he pulled strings for to get her into Columbia University's dental school, and then left $100 million to her in his will. Seems like kind of a big deal, but I'd never seen her mentioned in the news before.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/nyregion/columbia-epstein-dental-shuliak.html

@cstross Some information on the ranch and what has been alleged by multiple victims to have occurred there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_Ranch#cite_note-23

Allegations of bodies keep coming up in connection with the property. It and the surrounding park lands seem a near ideal location for body disposal. He had close to 10,000 acres at one point between what he owned and leased and some of the adjacent properties are similarly large and are owned by figures named in the Epstein files.

https://sourcenm.com/2026/02/10/nm-land-commissioner-seeks-probe-into-allegation-that-two-girls-were-buried-near-epstein-ranch/

@cstross There was also a large gun safe that was burgled at the property in 2018. My read of that event is that it seems likely the theft was targeted and done to remove blackmail materials.

@cstross

Yes, a ranch in New Mexico, the New York townhouse, the infamous island, and a number of other places, I believe.

I haven't read much about the ranch, but the New York house has been documented, somewhat.

@cstross @zrail Indeed. In which case the jet was thoroughly bugged and staffed with victims, neither of which could be done if the jet was on a rental.

@cstross I think we're about one news cycle away from learning that the fucker had a volcano base with a shark pool.

@angusm @cstross this would imply way too much taste

@cstross Alex Acosta gave h a sweetheart deal and buried the extensive indictment that the FBI had queued up because he was allegedly told that Epstein was a very well-connected intelligence asset and shouldn't be touched.

Acosta was given a cabinet position in Trump's first admin.

Him having multiple horror galleries is not surprising. He was well connected to a class of people who are utterly devoid of what most of consider basic morality.

@angusm @cstross Let's see. Epstein island is a volcanic island.
It may yet turn out that it does have a hollowed-out volcano, after all.

@georgebaily @angusm @cstross was about to say. Shark pools are rad and shark husbandry takes a lot of work. Give those Bond villains some credit!

@Uilebheist @angusm @cstross Thunderpedo 4, go for launch!

@cstross oh, yeah. The ranch has been a thing for a while. Like most things in New Mexico, nobody outside of New Mexico pays much attention to it…

We know people who have had a really hard time selling their own properties due simply to (relative) proximity with Epstein’s ranch (which also sat on the market for a very long time with no interest at all after his death).

@cstross @zrail I understand Mr. Epstein specifically insisted on his private jet being a Boeing 727. The 727 was the last passenger jetliner that allowed opening doors mid-flight. Everything newer seals doors with air pressure in the air. Only horrible things come to mind for why he'd want to regularly open his jet's doors aloft