Actor James Van Der Beek purchased the sprawling Texas ranch that he and his family began renting in 2020, just one month before he died at the age of 48, following a battle with colorectal cancer.
The “Dawson’s Creek” star and his wife, Kimberly, moved to the picturesque 36-acre property, which is located in Spicewood, just outside of Austin, in 2020, when they relocated their family from Beverly Hills, CA, to the Lone Star State in a bid to give their children more opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature.
At the time, the couple chose to lease the lush ranch property, with Kimberly previously revealing that they had wanted to test out life in Texas before committing to laying down permanent roots in the area.
However, James and Kimberly quickly fell in love with the property—as did their six children—and it was on the ranch where the “Varsity Blues” star began treatment for cancer, which he revealed he had been diagnosed with in 2024.
Property records now show that James and Kimberly officially purchased the ranch for $4.76 million on Jan. 9, just over a month before the actor died.
The couple purchased the ranch through an LLC, which is managed by a California attorney.
It appears the deal took place off-market, and there is no record of the property being publicly listed before the sale was finalized.
Actor James Van Der Beek purchased the sprawling Texas ranch that he and his family began renting in 2020, just one month before he died at the age of 48, following a battle with colorectal cancer. (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
The “Dawson’s Creek” star and his wife, Kimberly, moved to the picturesque 36-acre property, which is located in Spicewood, just outside of Austin, in 2020. (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
The couple wanted to give their children more opportunity to connect with nature—citing this as one of the primary reasons behind their decision to move from California to Texas. (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
The 36-acre spread includes a main house, several cabins, a pool, and a backyard with views of the Pedernales River.
But it was the rolling fields and lush landscape that really appealed to the couple, who said after their move that they wanted their six children—Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4—to have ample room to run around as they grew up.
“The space available in Texas … where we’re at, it’s expansive and there’s a lot of space and I feel that for a big family … it was just really, really necessary for us,” Kimberly previously said in an Instagram Live video filmed at their home.
The 5,149-square-foot main house features five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It comes with a commercial kitchen, balconies with sky and river views, an outdoor living space with a pool, and a tram to the river. The grounds include a barn perfect for throwing a party.
The waterfront residence was previously described as being the perfect place to “channel your ‘hippie cowboy,’” according to an old listing.
Throughout his cancer battle, James regularly shared images and videos of himself taken at the ranch—and several of his celebrity friends, including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Alfonso Ribeiro, revealed that they had traveled to the property to spend time with the actor before he died.
“I’m so broken right now with the passing of my friend [James] today,” Ribeiro, who was named godfather to James’ daughter Gwen, wrote on Instagram, while sharing a photo of himself with the actor sitting outside of the home.
“He was my true friend brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer. His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back. I’ve learned so much from James.
“He and [Kimberly] changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family. He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children.
The 36-acre spread includes a main house, several cabins, a pool, and a backyard with views of the Pedernales River. (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
Kimberly described their home—and its stunning natural surroundings—as having the “capacity to heal … to hug you and heal you.” (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
The waterfront residence was previously described as being the perfect place to “channel your ‘hippie cowboy,’” according to an old listing. (Instagram/James Van Der Beek)
“I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life. I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.”
When the couple first moved to the dwelling, Kimberly gushed about how accommodating and supportive their landlords had been throughout their move, noting that the family had been given ample freedom to make the ranch their own.
“We’re going to try Texas out for a year and really give a lot of love to this property,” she said on Instagram Live.
“We have incredible landlords, they’re magical, so they’re really letting us dip into it and really steward the land as if it’s our own and go wild with it. Which is really cool,” she said.
After she revealed the tragic news of her husband’s passing, Kimberly also opened up about the toll that the actor’s medical bills had taken on her family—sharing a link to a GoFundMe page that was set up by her friends in a bid to lessen her financial burden and ensure that she and her kids can remain in their home.
“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future,” the page description reads.
“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.
“The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.
“Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Kimberly and her family find hope and security as they rebuild their lives. Thank you for considering a gift to support them.”
The GoFundMe, which was launched with an initial target of $500,000, has since raised more than $2.3 million, with stars such as Stephen Spielberg and Zoe Saldana contributing to help the family in the wake of James’ passing.