The HEI Ranch is a plot of land currently owned by the Amato Group. It was previously owned by Toni Newman's family, the Newmans,^[1] followed by Tim Heidecker. Originally proposed as a campus for the HEI Network, including workspaces and entertainment, it was eventually turned into a lithium mine by the Amato Group. It was the filming location for 9th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special.

A few months after the launch of Tim Heidecker's television network, the HEI Network, Heidecker was looking for new opportunities to expand HEI as a company. Two ideas he proposed were HEI Points, a new digital crypto currency, and the HEI Ranch, a sprawling new campus for the company, including studios, music venues, and a theme park. Heidecker announced on Season 12 of his movie review show, On Cinema at the Cinema, that a parcel of land had been secured via HEI Points. It later came to light that this land was owned by the family of Heidecker's wife, Toni Newman.^[1] Construction slowly began on clearing the land for the ranch.

After Season 12, Heidecker announced that the 9th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special, traditionally held in a studio, would instead be held outdoors on the ranch. A stage, restrooms, and a food court were temporarily erected, and Heidecker partnered with QwikBite to establish a new chili brand that would operate on the campus, the HEI Noon Chili Saloon. However, during the special, the hosts, guests, and crew were terrorized by an unknown group, firing shots and shining laser pointers at the set, attempting to scare off the special. It is unknown who these assailants were, however it could be speculated that they were the Newman family, who may still have had legal ownership of the land during the special, or they were disgruntled neighbors, disturbed by the noise of the production.

After the special, Heidecker announced that as part of his divorce with Newman, he had gained full control of the ranch. Soon after, Heidecker entered into a business arrangement with the Amato Group, a business organization he had been getting close to. Heidecker had tested the water on the land and found it contained lithium, and he signed over the land to the group so they could mine the mineral, in exchange for a cut of the mineral rights. Joey Patrocelli, an Amato Group executive, later stated in an interview that the mineral rights were worthless, and executed a clause in the agreement with Heidecker to buy his stake in the rights for HEI Points, which they felt were also worthless.