The Minden Whitewater Preserve will be one of the locations used for filming season five of Reacher on Amazon Prime.
The season – production title Honcho – will adapt Lee Child’s 20th novel, Make Me, and is expected to premiere in late 2027 or 2028.
The preserve announced earlier this month the campground and trails would be closed Aug. 24-30 for filming.
The Township of Minden Hills said on Monday (Aug. 17) that JRS5 TV Productions Ltd. said they plan to film exterior scenes for Honcho at Harrington Park and Whitewater Ontario with crews on site starting Aug. 20 to potentially as late as Sept. 4. The township said temporary lane occupancy and intermittent traffic control may occur on Horseshoe Lake Road.
Preserve director, Dave Gillespie, said the film production company has rented the private property site, owned by Whitewater Ontario. The Township of Minden Hills has also given permits to close Harrington Park and the lower trail by the footbridge. Gillespie said there would be large trucks, heavy equipment, 100-150 people, and security on site.
The show stars Alan Ritchson as main character, Jack Reacher. Gillespie told The Highlander they were contacted by a scout, looking for locations to match the script.
Season five to air in late 2027 or early 2028
That scout “identified the Minden Whitewater Preserve as a possible site that had clean water and access on the shore of the river and had a community that could fit in their scale of operation.”
He said when the scout came for a preliminary site meeting, “his eyes popped open.”
Gillespie said the preserve has a lot of pluses: “providing great access, trails on both sides of the river, and the volume is managed by the Trent Severn Waterway, which allows the film crew to have some degree of expectation for what the flow is like that time of year, or that particular day.” Gillespie added the preserve’s neighbours “seem to be understanding. The community is supportive.”
Potential for future films
It’s not the first time the preserve has had a television audience. It served as the official canoe and kayak slalom venue for the 2015 Toronto Pan-American Games.
Gillespie noted when Roger Parsons identified the site back in the 1960s, they raised money to purchase it and renovate with money from a movie shoot. In the last 15 years, there have been Toyota commercials, other TV shows, and a Hallmark Christmas movie.
“We’ve gone from hosting the PanAmerican Games to national championships and some local, smaller, events. In recent years, we’ve been hosting weddings, and birthday parties, because people can rent the property and we are happy to be part of the community in that way,” he added. Gillespie said they’d also become a training site for rescue agencies.
He said the rental fees from the show are a significant boost to their river rehabilitation fund, and for other site projects.
“We’re looking to do things to enhance the river experience for all users, including anglers, painters, and photographers… trying to think big picture … how to do things that will support a broader community.”
Being featured in Reacher is definitely a step up, Gillespie said. “We’re very excited.”
As for economic impact, Gillespie added that while film crews tend to bring their own mini-villages, there have been, and will be, some accommodation rentals, dining out and shopping.
County manager of tourism, Angelica Ingram, said they’re also pleased with the opportunity to showcase “the distinctive landscapes and visitor experiences found throughout the Haliburton Highlands.”
She said the County’s tourism team has been working with preserve staff to support production planning and help address logistical needs where possible.
“We continue to see strong potential for future film activity in the region and have created a dedicated webpage to help production companies access key information and answers to common questions.”
