benini sculpture ranch

Another person who had just never bothered to check this place out...my mistake, soon to be remedied because I know I'm going to be back every chance I get! The ranch is full of amazing giant outdoor sculptures ---- some a wonder, some wonderful, some wonderfully huge, all just a wonder that they found such a great home in one spot. You can drive the sculpture tour or hike it. The ranch is dog friendly and, yes, it is a ranch, complete with hills, trees, ponds, wildlife and enjoyable fun. The indoor gallery is stunning. The new owners have excellent ideas for the sustainability of the ranch, just what we need so we travellers can continue to find enriching experiences every visit.

What a wonderful day! We've passed by this location for 14 years & finally made a special trip jyst to be able to see the sculpture ranch. Wow, it was so much more than we ever expected. You need to hurry so you can enjoy this experience as the Benini's will be moving to a different location in the near future. Sadly they have sold this beautiful ranch, but will be opening in another location close to Marble Falls before long. At present the sculpture ranch and gallery are only open the first weekend of each month. Be sure to double check the open days & times before heading out or you'll find the gate locked like we did a couple of times. We never dreamed we'd see so many lovely works of art from so many different artists. And getting to visit with the Benini's was icing on the cake. We felt like lifelong friends by the time we headed out from the gallery to finish our tour of the sculptures and ranch. The views of the hill country are breathtaking from their lovely home. How many people do you know that will give anyone who stops by free roam of their ranch? I just can't say enough about the joyful day we spent at the Benini's Sculpture Ranch. It's a true treasure in the hill country and free to anyone who stops by. How could anyone ask for more?

I have lived in Texas for 24 years. Apparently, this amazing place has been here for 14 years. I can't believe it took us this long to find it. You simply must go. Even if you just want an interesting hike and could care less about art....this is a great place.And if you do like art, WOW. There is a wonderful gallery (rivals much of what we have seen in Europe, NYC and Santa Fe) and a lovely outdoor ranch with acres of incredibly beautiful land and sculptures. What is really great is that you can enjoy the outside art from your car or from your feet. Good place to take those Texas visitors who can't stand the heat and don't want to walk.There are plenty of places to have a lovely picnic on the land should that be your thing. We will do that next time. And i think you would do fine with young kids. Lots of space for them to run around and not bother any one.Johnson City is just a few minutes away and if you want to eat and are not into a picnic, we went to Pecan Street Brewing last time we were there and found it to be pretty good. If you are beer lovers and willing to drive 30 minutes, head back toward Austin and go to Jester King for beer tasting and fabulous pizza.

If you like Art, you will enjoy this place. Kind of out of the way but worth the trip. Great stuff in the gallery and lots of sculptures along the drive thru. As the gallery is up for sale you have to call ahead to tour.

Today, we drove fron DFW, to see Benini Sculpture Ranch. We arrived to "closed gates". I was heartbroken to see the ranch was for sale and the gates closed. My son encouraged me to call the number on the gate. I called, a woman answered, who I assume was the gracious, Lorraine, I told her we cam a long way and it was my birthday weekend!This wonderful woman allowed us to come in, see the art gallery and drive the trails to see the sculptures! We had a chance to visit with Benini, he was such a wonderful man and artist. He took the time to talk about his life and art.This was the best birthday present ever, to see his beautiful artwork and the acres of sculptures! They could have turned us away, but they didn't! Thank you for this special day!

We were driving back to Austin from Fredericksburg and stopped just west of Johnson City to take a picture of a wonderful chrome & steel Longhorn sculpture on the side of the road. We saw a sign for the Sculpture Ranch 5.2 miles. What's a Sculpture Ranch? Let's go see!The drive through the hill country was beautiful with wild turkeys and white tailed deer along the way. When we got to the ranch we drove along the lane where the well marked art lined the road. We went to sign in at the gallery dreadfully expecting some sales pitch, but no such thing. Mr. Benini smiled and waved us in and we wandered through the airplane hanger sized gallery. The space was well lit and the collection of art was better than any I had seen in Austin.As we were getting ready to leave the gallery he chatted with us a little about his history and handed us a guide to the rest of the ranch. We had only seen the tip of an artistic ice berg. This place was huge. More art lines the road curving up the hill to his home. From the yard surrounding his home we could see for miles in every direction. The beautiful Texas Hill Country at it's best!Mr. Benini and his wife Lorrain were gracious hosts and they offer this opportunity free to the public! They are considering moving soon so they only have the ranch open the first weekend of each month. Don't miss it!

We were driving back from Fredericksburg and my wife saw a metal bull sculpture by the highway. She wanted a picture so we turned around and went back. While taking a photo we saw a sign for the Benini Sculpture Ranch. It is open the first weekend of each month until 6PM. It was 5:30 but we wanted to see what we could so we drove back to the ranch, about 5 miles. The sculptures start at the gate of their property. We got to the hanger about 5 minutes til 6. I went in to sign the register as the signs requested intending to leave since it was closing time. Benini's wife invited us in even though it was late. We were very impressed with the paintings in the gallery. Afterwards we continued our drive through the sculptures scattered around their ranch.A very pleasant and unexpected surprise addition to our visit to Texas. Be sure to include this if your are here on the first weekend of each month.

Benini and his wife live on 140 acres with an indoor museum and a huge sculpture garden.The museum is a renovated hangar that has been totally redone and air conditioned. It is full of Benini paintings and sculpture as well as other artists. there is NO CHARGE to visit. After viewing the museum, you are invited to DRIVE through a very large area of outdoor sculpture. Last and certainly not least you may drive up the hill to he and his wife's house and look out for MILES and MILES....captivating view! Open on the first weekend of each month.

This ranch is huge and the sculptures are located outside as well as inside the gallery. The outside sculptures require driving around the ranch so give yourself at least 2 hours to view all. Fantastic!!!

Discovered this little gem a few weeks ago. It's located in Johnson City en route to Fredericksburg and makes for a wonderful pit stop. You don't even have to get out of your car, entrance is FREE. We stopped by the museum and met the artist, very nice fellow (located on the property)! I highly recommend this place.

No need to make it your only destination but if you are driving by, it is worth the about 2 hours to see everything. It's about a 2 mile drive to get to the location. The inside gallery is nice. The outside art as you drive onto the property is nice. Very interesting items.

Who would think that Johnson City, Tx (read President LBJ) would also be the home of a sculpture ranch that can't be described, it must be seen. Featured works from selected artists line the Texas Hill Country landscape. Inside the studio gallery, Lorraine and Benini will continue to provide a fascinating view of art and the ranch.

The Sculpture Ranch is by far one of the best things to visit while your in Johnson City. Benini and his wife Lorraine are a class act and will treat you like gold! The art is fantastic and very diverse to interest everyone in your party. What a joy to have in Hill Country!

A bigger-than-life stainless and iron longhorn teases visitors at the turn-off to the Benini Sculpture Ranch. If sculpture that good sits on the side of the highway, what waits ahead? Six or so miles later, more sculptures appear alongside the caliche road--sculptures ten feet tall or taller and strong enough to withstand Texas winds. Sheltering in clumps of trees and climbing arid hills, 110 sculptures beckon visitors down a 1 1/2 mile long trail through hills that were once part of Lyndon Johnson's ranch. It's magic.Some of the sculptures belong to noted painter Benini and his wife Lorraine but most were placed by local, national and international sculptors for public display. The sculptures are contemporary, but created in a range of materials. Styles vary from severe to flowing and abstract to representational, something for every viewer. Visitors are free to walk or drive the trail and get out to enjoy 360 views of an art-lovers and photographer's paradise.Open Friday-Sunday 10am-6pm, free. Get directions from the website: http://sculptureranch.com/Sign in at the gallery-building--and while you're there, take the opportunity to see Benini's amazing paintings, marvels of light and depth. The Benini Studio and Sculpture Ranch, 377 Shiloh RoadJohnson City, Texas 78636, 830-868-5244. http://sculptureranch.com/

Once you find this property, you won't believe it. Formerly an LBJ hideaway, the rolling hills divulge a huge gallery/studio in a quonset hut housing Benini's stupendous works, set amid acres which serve as appropriate settings for outdoor sculptures by Benini and others. You can follow Benini's career as he dabbled with patriotic themes, romantic roses, abstracts, and on and on.The real treasure here is of course Benini himself and his charming wife Lorraine, photographer extraordinaire. They are both so very interesting. Lorraine maintains a butterfy garden just outside the studio.They welcome you into their property with true Texan hospitality, and do not charge for this opportunity.Look for the stainless steel longhorn at a crossroads just outside of Johnson City on the way to Fredericksburg and turn there. Follow the road almost 2 miles to Stelle d'Oro.Have fun y'all.