Curt C.
Yelp
Hangin' with Willie!
This is Willie Nelson's Ranch! They built it back in the 80's as a set to film the western movie, Red Headed Stranger, which Willie starred in. They were supposed to burn down the town at the end of the movie, but Willie stepped in and wanted to buy the quaint town, and had them rewrite the script so that the town was saved! He's built a stage where the windmill was, and puts on live concerts!
There's plenty of port-a-potties, and it's nice that they're lit with Christmas lights. They were clean, and had outdoor hand washing facilities.
Drinks were pretty expensive- it's a shame that Willie's town doesn't sell Lone Star Beer. They had $15 cocktails. The only beers they had were Bud light, Michelob, and Karbach products. White Claw sponsors the church area, which is kinda funny.
For being a concert venue, it seems that some work still needs to be done. The post office is right in the way of where people should be standing to see the stage, and probably needs to be moved across the street to allow more people to see.
This is the first concert venue I've ever seen that doesn't have "Security." Instead, they're clearly marked, "Safety." They have more of an attitude of helping people have fun and be safe than enforcing laws or looking menacing.
Parking was a mob scene. There were parking attendants who were directing us to park in a unpaved parking area that meandered around the ranch. When we left at the end of the show, it took 45 minutes to get out. This event was the most I've ever paid for parking in my entire life.
Other than the concert stuff, there was an art pavilion, food trucks, a saloon, merch, and a church to hang out at. It's like Luckenbach, but without any real residents, other than Willie and the family.
Willie also uses this ranch to rehabilitate old horses! Be sure to wave at them when you come on in.
This place is pretty awesome overall! I'm so glad I got to come here! Thanks to Willie and the Family for having us out!
If you're headed out here, you gotta watch the movie, Red Headed Stranger first to get some context.