What started as a typical Sunday evening in late July quickly turned extraordinary for Albany County rancher Kelly McGuire. She received an unexpected call from a location scout representing country music star Lainey Wilson.
The scout, parked at the end of McGuire’s driveway, was searching for a picturesque location to film the music video for Wilson’s new single, “Whirlwind,” the title track of her fifth studio album. The scout asked, “‘Can I come on down and look around?’” McGuire, a fan of Wilson’s music, eagerly agreed.
The scout was specifically looking for “a grassy field near some buildings,” and McGuire’s Oxford Ranch seemed a perfect fit. Located about 8 miles south of Laramie off Highway 287, the ranch, established in 1887, boasts a rich history, including a horse barn listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Despite its appeal, McGuire wasn’t certain her property would be chosen, knowing that other locations in the area were also being considered.
However, by Tuesday, the Oxford Ranch had been selected as the primary shooting site for the video. Filming began the next day, featuring actors portraying a love-struck young couple on the run from the law. Real-life Albany County Sheriff’s Deputies Rebecka Lubbers, Damian Olaveson, and Garrett Hodgden played the roles of the pursuing officers in one of the video’s key scenes.
Additional scenes were filmed in Laramie, showcasing well-known local landmarks like the Cowboy Saloon, J’s Prairie Rose Café, and the Garfield Street footbridge over the Union Pacific railroad tracks.
By Thursday, Lainey Wilson herself arrived at the ranch to shoot her scenes, bringing the project to a close. The collaboration between the Wyoming ranch, local deputies, and a country superstar adds an authentic Western flair to Wilson’s latest music video, sure to resonate with fans.
