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July 19, 2002 - Clint Dantinne was given an
exclusive tour of Skywalker Ranch and personally met George Lucas,
creator of
Star Wars
and
Indiana Jones.
Skywalker Ranch is located in Marin County, California (just north of
San Francisco). |
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Clint Dantinne in front of the Victorian
House of Skywalker Ranch
and
Lucasfilm Ltd |
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Clint Dantinne in front of
Skywalker
Sound |
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Skywalker Ranch is the name of the
well-disguised workplace of film director and producer George Lucas in
secluded but open country near Nicasio, California. Curiously it is
located just off Lucas Valley Road. There is no relation between Lucas
and the road's name "Lucas"; instead, the road was named for a former
landowner in the area at the turn of the century. The Ranch and
production facilities are not open to the public. Die-hard fans present
occasional problems to perimeter security. When President Ronald Reagan
requested a tour of Skywalker Ranch, shortly after Lucasfilm lost a
court battle to have the U.S. government refrain from calling the
Strategic Defense Initiative, "Star Wars," a visit could not be
arranged.
Assembled parcel by parcel, Skywalker Ranch consists of over 4,700 acres
and has cost Lucas up to 100 million dollars, according to a Wall Street
Journal feature. Over the objections of neighboring ranchers that
Skywalker Ranch was polluting the environment, Lucasfilm acquired four
neighboring ranches adding more than 3,000 acres to the Skywalker Ranch.
All but 15 acres remain undeveloped.
The Ranch contains a barn with animals including a donkey named
"Burrito" and a pot-bellied pig named "Betty Boop", vineyards, a garden
with staff who cultivate fruits and vegetables that are used in the
staff restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool and fitness center with
racquetball courts, its own fire department, man-made "Lake Ewok",
hilltop observatory, multiple theater screening rooms, and parking
(concealed underground to preserve the natural landscape). It is also
the location of Skywalker Sound. The main house has a small company
research library under a stained-glass dome.
A few of the props used in the Star Wars movies are displayed in the
main house. [source:
Wikipedia]
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