What to see at Skywalker Ranch?
- Thread starter hyperdyne
- Start date
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Anyone else have a chance to visit in the last few years?
This would be awesome to visit!! Too bad I don't know anyone who can get me in
Anyone else have a chance to visit in the last few years?
This would be awesome to visit!! Too bad I don't know anyone who can get me in
cavx
Master Member
What is the actual story with this place? As I understand it, it is the home of George Lucas, but those involved in the creative side of film production can stay on "The Ranch" for the time they work on their project. back in the days when THX was still owned by LF, they used to conduct four days of training there.
It is also home to the Stag Theatre which is still considered to be one of the most advanced mixing/dubbing stages in the world, even today. That place was built back in the early 1980s, so really says something for the work of sound engineers like Tom Holman.
My interest in this place is purely technical. I am ISF certified and have been a fan of THX since the Home THX system in 1991. I have designed and built several sound rooms and to visit a place where you can hear your own heart beat would be pretty neat.
My own room is completely isolated from the house so sound waves can't be transmitted through walls and vibrate on the frame of the house.
It is also home to the Stag Theatre which is still considered to be one of the most advanced mixing/dubbing stages in the world, even today. That place was built back in the early 1980s, so really says something for the work of sound engineers like Tom Holman.
My interest in this place is purely technical. I am ISF certified and have been a fan of THX since the Home THX system in 1991. I have designed and built several sound rooms and to visit a place where you can hear your own heart beat would be pretty neat.
My own room is completely isolated from the house so sound waves can't be transmitted through walls and vibrate on the frame of the house.
KramStaar
Sr Member
George bought the land for Skywalker Ranch on Lucas Valley Road (a coincidence) in September 1978 with the money that was coming in from Star Wars and American Graffiti. Later he purchased another two ranches which resulted in a landholding of around 4,700acres. The construction of Skywalker Ranch began in early 1980 and the foundation of the main house was cast in 1981.
There are a number of clusters of buildings that make up the Ranch proper and the Main house and the Technical building (where Skywalker Sound is located) are the most recognised of them all. George does NOT live at the Ranch and he never has (he divides his time between living in San Rafael and Chicago) rather, the Ranch was built for the purpose of being his creative head office and hub for his productions. Although he has sold Lucasfilm, he never sold off his real estate and so the Ranch is still used for his own personal projects, as a place where other directors can come and work (Brad Bird's production offices for Tomorrowland were situated in the Stable House (behind the Main House), a home for the Archive building and for audio production being done at Skywalker Sound..
You are correct about Skywalker Sound being one of the top facilities in the world and many movie productions and music recording artists use the facility to record and mix their sound tracks.
As for staying there, this is reserved for only the very fortunate;
Friends of George, sometimes the folk from Lucasfilm who might be working up at the Ranch but mostly for artists, musicians, actors and directors who are using the sound facility. The Visitors centre is situated near the front of the complex near the main gate...
Regards
cavx
Master Member
Thanks for that. I have a Tee shirt (with a THX logo on in) that was given to me by someone that did the 4 day course at the range. Probably the closest I will get.
The only other THX certified facility I have been into was SoundFirm in Sydney (before they dropped the cert - apparently it cost them $30K a year) just after the release of SW2.
Once they were finished, I was allowed into the main mixing room and got experience the "sound of silence". I have been told that room is not as quite as Skywalker Sound.
The only other THX certified facility I have been into was SoundFirm in Sydney (before they dropped the cert - apparently it cost them $30K a year) just after the release of SW2.
Once they were finished, I was allowed into the main mixing room and got experience the "sound of silence". I have been told that room is not as quite as Skywalker Sound.
Skaught
Sr Member
Here are a few outside photos I took. I'm allowed to share these.
Outside the main house. They had a small cafeteria set up in the dining room. When I had lunch there, I watched George Lucas and Seth Green at another table eating cupcakes and signing happy birthday to a women with them. A bit surreal!
Skywalker Sound building:
The small vineyard outside Skywalker Sound:
Scott
Outside the main house. They had a small cafeteria set up in the dining room. When I had lunch there, I watched George Lucas and Seth Green at another table eating cupcakes and signing happy birthday to a women with them. A bit surreal!
Skywalker Sound building:
The small vineyard outside Skywalker Sound:
Scott
:eek I am envious!
Who do I need to kiss up to so I can get in there? :lol
Who do I need to kiss up to so I can get in there? :lol
The whole Ranch was intentionally designed to NOT look like an industrial workplace. George's idea was that it would be a relaxing place where creative minds could work without distractions. The parking is underground, the utilities are all underground, there are barns with farm animals, and the buildings are made to look like they've been there a long time.
In fact, each building has its own "history". None of the buildings are older than about 1980, but when they designed them, George created a pretend history of each building. For example: the Main House was "originally" built by a railroad baron in the 1800's, then the library was added on a few years later, and then the atrium was added on a decade after that, etc... It's all pretend history, but it gives each building a feeling like it has been around for a long time. (don't take my "dates" as accurate either. I'm trying to recall what I'd read 15+ years ago.)
Skaught- wish I'd known you were there, I was sitting about five feet from you, having some friends in for lunch, so ate at the Main House (Fit Ctr has the best kitchen, and BRRs was quite good)
I still have my print out of the history and flora/fauna of the whole area. So much has changed over all of Skywalker in the last few years though (mainly post- dropping the crew at BRR) but is an incredible place to work, I will say.
Many folks don't realize that it is also a working ranch, a few of GWL's own and he leases land for grazing as well. Add in requisite horses, chickens, donkey, rams, etc... all a good bit of fun to roam around. Wagyu beef burgers 2X/yr.The bulk is tucked in behind the archive building. Walking up and above the trails gives an excellent view of the area, and from the observatory you can see down to each campus.
The Main House serves as George's office, his production support offices, one or two producers, the ref library and their staff and holdings (considerable and formidable), the atrium, a/v room, third floor production area, kitchen, living room, dining areas (one private), music room/front parlor, etc etc. Other houses on the property serve as production space and quarters for folks there on a temp basis, you could also stay overnight as an employee, under certain circumstances... (long story) Add in the best theater in existence.
I still have my print out of the history and flora/fauna of the whole area. So much has changed over all of Skywalker in the last few years though (mainly post- dropping the crew at BRR) but is an incredible place to work, I will say.
Many folks don't realize that it is also a working ranch, a few of GWL's own and he leases land for grazing as well. Add in requisite horses, chickens, donkey, rams, etc... all a good bit of fun to roam around. Wagyu beef burgers 2X/yr.The bulk is tucked in behind the archive building. Walking up and above the trails gives an excellent view of the area, and from the observatory you can see down to each campus.
The Main House serves as George's office, his production support offices, one or two producers, the ref library and their staff and holdings (considerable and formidable), the atrium, a/v room, third floor production area, kitchen, living room, dining areas (one private), music room/front parlor, etc etc. Other houses on the property serve as production space and quarters for folks there on a temp basis, you could also stay overnight as an employee, under certain circumstances... (long story) Add in the best theater in existence.
cavx
Master Member
The Stag? I bet.
The Robot Chicken folks being up, part of the Detours travesty, and the HB singing.
Yeah, that was it.... turned out to be a couple of the writers, iirc. We laughed because at first we thought it was Green... apparently no one told him not to, or them not to... (same time as writers' conf for CW season) Anyway, the MH never really recovered, stank like all hell for a damn long time.
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