Gene Hackman’s Secluded Santa Fe Home Sparks New Buzz

Nearly a year after a deeply disturbing tragedy, Gene HackmanThe quiet hillside estate outside Santa Fe is attracting new attention.

Once a private retreat, the property has returned to the public conversation thanks to an unexpected real estate announcement.

The Return of the Lonely Home blends celebrity legacy, unanswered curiosity, and the restless fascination that often follows places marked by loss and lingering memory.

The Santa Fe property once owned by Hackman is officially back on the market, listed for $6.25 million, according to Realtor.com.

Perched on a picturesque hillside and surrounded by stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, this southwest-style ranch is already generating interest despite its dark history.

Real estate experts suggest the listing price may just be a starting point. An agent candidly described the property’s appeal, telling the Daily Mail: ‘The house is large, elegant and has great bones, so it will attract interest.’

They added: “Even if two people died in the house, there will still be plenty of offers.”

The agent also noted that celebrity ownership often raises the profile of a home, regardless of the circumstances attached to it. Situated in a gated community but spread across six acres, the estate balances privacy and prestige. Its location offers both seclusion and proximity to the cultural heart of Santa Fe, a combination that continues to attract buyers looking for something distinctive.

The house itself reflects a distinctly Southwestern aesthetic. Designed as a Pueblo-style ranch, it underwent extensive renovation in 1990 and was later featured in Architectural compendiumcementing its architectural importance.

At the time of the tragedy, however, the interior told a different story. Investigators documented cluttered rooms filled with clothes, boxes, diapers and dog crates. The house was also found to be infested with rats, in stark contrast to his polished public image. Despite these conditions, health officials later clarified that indoor living spaces had no active rodent presence.

Nestled among piñon and juniper trees, the property is like other properties in the area, where wildlife and mice are common due to the surrounding landscape.

Despite this, the size, design and views of the estate continue to define it as a rare offering in the Santa Fe market.

Hackman and his wife, Arakawa, were found dead inside the home on February 26, 2025.

Hackman, 95, died of heart disease with complications of Alzheimer’s disease about a week after Arakawa, 65, who succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Footage released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff revealed a haunting scene. Officers entering the residence were greeted by the couple’s German Shepherd, who was visibly distressed and remaining near their bodies. The moment underscored the isolation of their final days and added an emotional layer to an already devastating discovery.

Authorities later determined that both deaths were due to natural causes. Data from Hackman’s pacemaker showed an abnormal heart rhythm on Feb. 18, likely the day he died.

Although the exact timelines remain unclear, authorities concluded that the deaths occurred about a week apart.

Her emails, phone calls and internet searches revealed concerns about flu symptoms and breathing techniques. Between February 8 and the morning of February 12, she researched COVID-19 illnesses and potential treatments.

Investigators noted that Arakawa contacted a medical concierge service in Santa Fe on Feb. 12, although the call lasted less than two minutes. A missed call later in the day went unanswered.

In a previous email to her masseuse, she explained that she had to reschedule her appointment because Hackman had woken up not feeling well.

Body camera footage showed no signs of forced entry or disarray beyond the mess already noted. Prescription medications were observed on a bathroom counter and one of the couple’s dogs was found dead in a cage near Arakawa.