Skywalker Ranch

An aerial view of the ranch The workplace of George Lucas, the film director and producer, is called Skywalker Ranch. It is situated in a remote, yet open, area close to Nicasio, California, within Marin County. It can be found on Lucas Valley Road, although Lucas shares no familial connection with the road's namesake, who was a landowner from the turn-of-the-century in that region. The Ranch maintains a discreet presence from the road and is not accessible to the general public.

Prior to the 1800s, the Coast Miwok Tribe inhabited the land that would eventually become Skywalker Ranch. The rhyming of "Miwok" with "Ewok" has sparked speculation about whether the Ewoks—a secluded society threatened by a colonial power, the Galactic Empire in their case—were inspired by the experiences of indigenous populations. George Lucas himself has verified that this connection was deliberate. Lucina Thomas-Vidauri, a member of the Miwok tribe, expressed her enthusiasm for this potential link to Star Wars Insider, hoping that Star Wars enthusiasts would gain a deeper understanding of her culture as a result. Skywalker Ranch, assembled piece by piece since September 1978, has reportedly cost Lucas up to US$100 million, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Following complaints from neighboring ranchers regarding environmental pollution attributed to Skywalker Ranch, Lucasfilm acquired an additional 3,000 acres (12 km²) of adjacent land, bringing the total area to over 4,700 acres (19 km²). Only 15 acres (60,000 m²) have been developed.

The main house at Skywalker Ranch The Ranch features a barn populated with animals, vineyards, and a garden cultivating fruits and vegetables that are utilized in the on-site dining establishment. In addition to these, it boasts an outdoor swimming area, a fitness center equipped with racquetball courts, the artificially created "Lake Ewok," an observatory situated atop a hill, a 300-seat auditorium known as "The Stag," numerous theater screening rooms, and parking facilities primarily located underground to maintain the integrity of the natural scenery. Skywalker Sound relocated to the ranch in 1987 and currently occupies the Technical Building. Within the Main House, one can find a company research library situated beneath a stained-glass dome. Skywalker Ranch also houses its own fire station, which operates as part of the Marin County Mutual Aid system and often provides assistance to firefighters in the neighboring community of Marinwood. Lucas also conceived a fictional history for the ranch, depicting it as "once owned by an old sea captain." In 2007, Lucas obtained permission from Marin County to construct two additional screening rooms and a bridge spanning Bull Tail Creek.

The Main House includes a secure vault where legal documents containing Lucas's Star Wars notes are stored. A time capsule, buried in 1981, lies beneath its foundation, holding a letter from Lucas's attorney confirming the agreement with 20th Century-Fox. A barn adjacent to a horse corral showcases props, scale models, costumes, and artwork from the Star Wars films, including lightsaber hilts, Luke's landspeeder, and the carbonite slab. Another building is dedicated to housing storyboards, concept art, and various illustrations.

Lucas, drawing inspiration for his Star Wars films from the scholarship of Joseph Campbell, played a role in the creation of the 1988 documentary that explored Campbell's works in The Power of Myth. This series consisted of six hour-long interviews between Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers, which were filmed at Skywalker Ranch. In the inaugural episode, Moyers delves into Campbell's relationship with Lucas and the influence of his scholarship on Lucas' Star Wars films (Episodes IV, V, and VI).

Skywalker Ranch is designed to function more as a "filmmaker's retreat" rather than the central hub for Lucas's business endeavors. The headquarters for Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and LucasArts are situated within Lucas's Letterman Digital Arts Center located in the Presidio of San Francisco. Lucas himself does not reside on the Ranch.

Following the premiere of the 2005 movie Revenge of the Sith, Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy, visited the Ranch and was inspired by the "sense of peace and escape" he experienced. Subsequently, he took a hiatus from Hollywood and acquired a farm in the Canadian countryside.