"Back in the '70s, we started out collecting sea shells and fossils down at the beach, and pretty soon that evolved into old gas station pumps and business signs around town, and it just never stopped," Woolley said.
Now, in the heart of Bee Cave, Woolley owns of one of the largest film prop houses in the country that sits on Star Hill Ranch—a 31-acre historic town replication and event venue.
The overview
Visiting Star Hill Ranch can feel like stepping into the distant past of horse-drawn wagons, dirt roads and saloons, Woolley said.
Since purchasing the property in 1998, the ranch has become a destination for thousands of weddings, events such as the Texas Whiskey Festival, and a film set for popular TV shows, such as "Fear the Walking Dead."
Woolley created the town by relocating and restoring old buildings from throughout Central Texas.
The property has chapels, school houses, a barn, old homes from downtown Austin and even Bee Cave's first post office.
With over 30 years in the prop industry, Woolley has also decorated some of the buildings with antiques, such as old advertisements, jukeboxes and mid-century knikknaks.
Quote of note
"Even though we've seen a lot of new development here in Bee Cave over the years, I think people still love to come here and feel like they are in a simpler time where the buildings are smaller and more human sized. It's really comforting," Woolley said.
The specifics
Woolley said he sees Austin becoming a major film production hub in the near future, thanks in part to venues like his.
"Austin is a growing city, but you can still drive out 30 minutes to a place like this that's more rural, with beautiful hills. That's really appealing for film crews," Woolley said.
With an office and full utilities on site, Woolley is able to cater to larger crews that need storage, meeting rooms and multiple filming locations during production.
- 15000 Hamilton Pool Road, Bee Cave
- www.starhillranch.com
