The crew behind the Netflix reboot of "Little House on the Prairie" has undertaken a comprehensive effort to recreate the 19th-century world from the ground up, including constructing two massive 96,000-pound log cabins.
Production designer Jonah Markowitz shared that over 200 members of the art department and 32 in the costume department were involved in creating the show's props and attire. The approach aims to honor the expectations of the show's established fan base while presenting a new interpretation. "When you have a show with a fan base like this…it’s sort of a razor-thin line to walk. You want to honor the things that the fans are expecting… but also you’re doing a new take on it," Markowitz told The Post.
The attention to detail extends to the garments, with hand-sewing of buttonholes and handcrafted shoe nails. Even damaged clothing can be repurposed within the narrative, such as a dress ripped in the first episode potentially becoming a doll's outfit or a dish towel later in the season.
Unlike many period pieces that utilize existing backlots, this production filmed on a high-grassed prairie. "Usually when you do a Western or something of this genre at this scale, you go to a backlot and you sort of change some things or add some buildings… there is no backlot here," Markowitz explained. He spoke to The Post from the show's set in Winnipeg while filming Season 2.
Building Independence
A significant challenge for the production was the design and construction of the town of Independence, Kansas, a location featured in Laura Ingalls Wilder's books but not in the original series. Markowitz recalled starting with a snow-covered field for the site. "We started with a field full of snow that I came to on my first scout here… They said, ‘What do you think about putting the town here? And I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s under this snow.’"
The log cabins were built following descriptions from Wilder's novels, emphasizing historical accuracy such as the use of notched logs without nails and wooden pegs for doors, mirroring how her father constructed their home. The actual building process of the cabin was also incorporated into an episode, requiring intricate planning for depicting its various stages of completion. "So then we had to have all these meetings about how are we going to do these stages of the cabins as we go through the episode," Markowitz said.
Season 1 of the series was filmed in Winnipeg, Canada, from June to September. The production team navigated challenges that are often considered difficult in filmmaking, such as working with animals, children, and water. Markowitz noted that these elements, despite their complexity, are handled routinely on set.
Relocating for Season 2
For Season 2, the Ingalls family relocates to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, necessitating the creation of entirely new sets. "Everything was new for us, 100%. It was starting completely clean again," Markowitz stated. He added, "It’s actually kind of fun to come back… and build a whole new world, but for the characters you’ve already come to know." The animals on set, including horses, dogs, and cats, are reported to bring a calming presence, offering levity and playfulness to the demanding production environment. "To go and get to walk over to a horse and have it nuzzle against you when you’re stressed out and working… I think it just adds a real levity and playfulness to the set that’s really beautiful," Markowitz said.