A month before the unfortunate passing of the late James Van Der Beek, the renowned “Dawson’s Creek” actor purchased a vast ranch in Texas with his family. The family relocated to Spicewood, leaving the Beverly Hills life behind to be closer to nature.
James Van Der Beek and his family relocate to Texas
In 2024, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, before tragically passing away age of 48 on February 11, 2026.
Throughout his cancer battle, Van Der Beek regularly shared images and videos of himself taken at the ranch with several of his celebrity friends, including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Alfonso Ribeiro. Riberio was named godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwen and expressed the last moments he had spent with James on his ranch with his family and friends.
The actor and his wife, Kimberly, along with their six children, quickly fell in love with living on the ranch. The couple officially purchased the property for $4.76 million on Jan. 9 through an LLC. Featured on the property is the main house, several cabins, a pool and a backyard with rolling fields.
Kimberly said in an Instagram Live, “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.” The pair wanted plenty of space for their six children, Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 7; and Jeremiah, 4, to explore.
Features of the ranch
The 36-acre property features a 5,149 square-foot main house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as a charming barn. A commercial kitchen, along with balconies, an outdoor space with a pool and a tram to the river, is also found on the property.
The landlords were incredibly accommodating with the family and allowed them to personalize the property to their liking. They granted them freedom to creatively express themselves with the ranch.
Creating a GoFundMe after the actor’s tragic passing
Friends of Kimberly created a GoFundMe page after her husband’s tragic passing. The page was created to lessen her financial burden and for the family to continue living in their home.
The page 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.”
Stars such as Steven Spielberg and Zoe Saldana have contributed, and the GoFundMe has already raised more than $2.3 million surpassing their initial goal of $500,000.
