James Van Der Beek helped his family lay down some serious roots in Texas before his death … he bought the ranch they’d been renting for years and sealed the deal just one month before he died amid a cancer battle.

The late “Dawson’s Creek” star bought the sprawling Spicewood ranch back on January 9 for $4.76 million … according to a new report from Realtor.com.

James moved to the ranch in 2020 with his wife and six children … they were renting it, fell in love with the place, and one of his last acts was buying it.

TMZ broke the story … James died died Wednesday morning after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was diagnosed in mid-2023 and in November 2024 he publicly shared his fight.

The ranch is a massive 36 acres with a 5,149-square-foot main house that features 5 bedrooms and three bathrooms. There’s also cabins and a pool on the ranch, plus sweeping views of the Pedernales River.