You're riding through the humid, mosquito-infested woods of Scarlett Meadows, minding your own business, when you see a big guy sitting on a porch. He looks friendly. Too friendly. He invites you in for dinner. His sister, Tammy, is inside, and she’s already got the stew going.
Most players get a bad vibe immediately. Honestly, you should. The Aberdeen Pig Farm RDR2 encounter is easily one of the most disturbing moments in Rockstar’s masterpiece, but it’s also one of the most strategically important locations in the game.
Whether you're looking for a way to save Arthur’s hard-earned cash for the epilogue or you just want to know why these two are so weird, there’s a lot more to this farm than just a bad meal.
What Really Happens at Aberdeen Pig Farm?
If you accept the invitation from Bray and Tammy Aberdeen, you're in for a trip. They’ll offer Arthur a drink. Then another. And another. If you keep drinking, Arthur blacks out.
You wake up in a ditch. It's a mass grave, actually. You’re surrounded by skeletal remains, and every single cent of your money is gone. Most people immediately sprint back to the house to blow Bray’s head off with a Pump-Action Shotgun.
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That’s a valid reaction.
But if you’re smart, you’ll wait. This "robbery" is actually the only way to perform the famous Aberdeen Pig Farm RDR2 money transfer trick.
The Real-Life Inspiration: The Bloody Benders
Rockstar didn't just pull these creeps out of thin air. They’re based on the "Bloody Benders," a real family of serial killers from Kansas in the 1870s. Just like Bray and Tammy, the Benders ran an inn and would kill travelers for their valuables, burying them in an orchard.
The game mirrors this by having a shallow pit nearby. If you hogtie Tammy and bring her to that pit, she starts sobbing and apologizing to her mother. It’s dark stuff.
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The Aberdeen Pig Farm RDR2 Money Trick Explained
If you’ve played through the story before, you know what happens to Arthur’s wallet at the end of Chapter 6. It vanishes. While John inherits Arthur’s guns and clothes, the thousands of dollars you spent hours hunting and looting are usually lost to the void.
This is where the farm comes in. Basically, the Aberdeens act as a sketchy, unofficial savings account.
How to transfer money to the Epilogue:
- Play through Chapter 6 until you're right near the end (before the mission "Our Best Selves").
- Ride to the Aberdeen Pig Farm RDR2 location (northeast of Bluewater Marsh, near the border of New Hanover).
- Accept their dinner invite and keep drinking until you pass out.
- Wake up in the ditch, but do not go back for your money.
- Finish the main story as Arthur.
- Once you reach Epilogue Part 1 and have free roam as John Marston, ride back to the farm.
When you walk into the house as John, it'll be abandoned. Go to the front room and look for the portrait of the Aberdeens' mother. Behind it, you’ll find the hidden safe. All of Arthur's money—every single dollar—will be sitting there waiting for you.
Secrets Most Players Miss
There's a "secret" room on the south side of the house. Most players think the front door is the only way in, but you can actually climb through a window or find a side door that leads to a small storage area. Inside is a lockbox with about $60.
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If you visit the farm in Red Dead Online, the experience is totally different. Bray and Tammy are still there, but they’re mission givers. They’re still gross, but they won't drug you. They usually want you to go kill people or steal wagons. It's a weird bit of continuity that shows they've been doing this for a long time.
The Mother’s Mystery
If you explore the upstairs of the house, you'll find a human skull in an armoire. There’s also a picture of their parents where the eyes have been scratched out. It's heavily implied they killed their folks long before Arthur ever showed up.
If you're feeling particularly vengeful, you can actually find their mother’s bones in the pit. It's one of those "only in RDR2" details that makes the world feel lived-in and horrifying.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're currently in the middle of a Red Dead Redemption 2 run, here is how you should handle this encounter:
- Check Your Balance: Before visiting the farm in Chapter 6, sell all your gold bars and valuables to a fence. Cash is what stays behind the painting; gold bars in your satchel do not carry over to John.
- The Point of No Return: Make sure you visit the farm before the mission "Our Best Selves" in Chapter 6. Once you start that sequence, you're locked into the finale.
- Don't Kill Them (Yet): If you want the specific dialogue where John recognizes the house or mentions Arthur's "inheritance," let them live as Arthur. You can always deal with them as John later if they're still around, though the house is usually empty by 1907.
- Loot the Room: Don't forget that side room for the extra cash. Every little bit helps when John is trying to pay off that mortgage at Beecher's Hope.
The Aberdeen Pig Farm RDR2 encounter is a perfect example of why this game stays relevant years after release. It's a mix of historical horror and a clever mechanical loophole that rewards players who pay attention.
Just... maybe don't eat the stew.