Skywalker Ranch is a movie ranch and the workplace of film director, writer, and producer George Lucas located in a secluded area near Nicasio, California, in Marin County. The ranch is located on Lucas Valley Road, named after an early-20th-century landowner in the area of no relation to George Lucas. The ranch is not open to the public.
Overview
The principal operation of the facility is as a motion picture sound mixing and recording facility. Other Lucasfilm properties provide animation and visual effects; Skywalker handles sound, music, and allied services.
In September 1978, George Lucas purchased the first parcel of land, and named it Bulltail Ranch, which in subsequent years became Skywalker Ranch. Lucasfilm acquired 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of adjoining land for a total of over 4,700 acres (1,900 ha). Only 15 acres (6.1 ha) have been developed. Residents of the area have fought his plan to build a larger studio on the property, citing light and noise pollution.
thumb|right|Ewok Lake, a man-made lake at Skywalker Ranch
The Ranch contains a barn with animals, vineyards, a garden with fruits and vegetables used in the on-site restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and fitness center with racquetball courts, the man-made "Ewok Lake", a hilltop observatory, a 300-seat theater called "The Stag" as well as theater screening rooms, and parking that is mostly concealed underground to preserve the natural landscape. Skywalker Sound was moved onto the ranch in 1987, now occupying the Technical Building. The Main House has a company research library under a stained-glass dome. Starting in 2026, there is a General Store at those headquarters, a short walk from the Yoda Fountain, selling Star Wars products and merchandise as well as wine and food items from Skywalker Ranch.
The George Lucas Educational Foundation is based at the Ranch. Skywalker Sound remains based at the Ranch, for which Lucasfilm pays a rental fee to George Lucas, who remains the property's owner. Although Lucas maintains his offices there, he does not reside at the Ranch.
Nearby Lucas properties
Big Rock Ranch
thumb|Summit Skywalker Ranch
Big Rock Ranch is a later Lucasfilm development in Marin county at 3800 Lucas Valley Road and construction was completed in August 2002. However, in November 2004, Lucas announced that the 250 employees of the ranch were to be moved to the Letterman Digital Arts Center.
The ranch comprises 1,061 acres (429 ha), of which 43 acres (17 ha) are developed with 317,000 sq ft (29,500 m<sup>2</sup>) of office space.
In 2018, Big Rock Ranch was renovated into an opulent, 56-room resort called "Summit Skywalker Ranch". The facility hosts exclusive corporate retreat events.
Others
Starting in 1988, Lucasfilm sought approval to develop another nearby property called Grady Ranch at 2400 Lucas Valley Road.
Lucas also owns McGuire Ranch (3801 Lucas Valley Road