So I was trying to look up Skywalker Ranch on the ol' Google Satellite Maps link everyone has been spreading around the DU forums the past week or two... Unfortunately, I haven't managed to find Skywalker Ranch just yet (I know it's somewhere in or around San Rafael, CA). However, I did come across this interesting tidbit of information:
At the time of our visit in 1986, no members of the press had been admitted. Our tour guide for the drive related that Ronald Reagan, then President of the United States requested a tour of Skywalker Ranch but was denied. Lucasfilm lost a court battle to have the U.S. government refrain from calling the Strategic Defense Initiative, "Star Wars." I suspect this ruling didn't help President Reagan's chances for a visit.
I've posted Lucas' newsmeat.com links to his political donations and lines from Episode III that *scream* "Palpatine = Bush," so this is no surprise... especially when Lucas named one of his main baddies after Reagan/Gingrich in Episode I (Nute Gunray = Newt Gingrich or "Raygun").
I just found it a bit hilarious that the
then most powerful man in the world was denied entrance to land of Lucas, in California, his former state of all places. :D
Anyways, back to my search...