alamo village

TSSD

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Virginia Francis Webb Shahan

Feb 15, 1916 - June 23, 2009

"Virginia Francis Webb Shahan, age 93, entered into rest June 23, 2009, at
her residence in Brackettville, Texas. She was born February 15, 1916 in
Del Rio, Texas. She was a long time pioneer rancher, along with husband "Happy" Shahan and their family."

"Owner of The Movie Set and tourist location ALAMO VILLAGE"

CLICK BELOW

NOTES, QUOTES and COMMENTS

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ALAMO VILLAGE

BRACKETTVILLE, TEXAS

HOME OF THE JOHN WAYNE ALAMO

AND

COMPLETE WESTERN TOWN MOVIE LOCATION

( see the "Dripping Springs" Alamo - from the 2004 Movie - shown below )

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SIEGE OF THE ALAMO

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Alamo Village is located approximately 140 miles west of San Antonio, Texas ( where The Real Alamo is located ) off of Highway 90 West. The drive from San Antonio is very pleasant ( 4 lane road ) and you pass through such Texas Towns as Castroville, Hondo ( "This is God's Country - please don't drive like Hell through it" !! ), and Uvalde. Since I currently live in SoCal, ( land of expensive real estate ), I was amazed to see signs for: "15,000 ACRES For Sale, or 10,000 ACRES For Sale" !! A lot of land out there!!

After you reach Brackettville, which is also home to Historic Fort Clark and Museum, you drive another 7 miles on a 2 lane road with majestic views of The West Texas Landscape ( not a desert ) to reach the entrance to "The Village".

Now "The Village" is actually located on a huge working ranch owned and operated by Mrs. Virginia Shahan. So as you drive through the entry gate you are met by a "Real Cowboy" ( admission is about $ 7.00 ) who will hand you a map showing the locations of all of the buildings, and also a long list of all of the motion pictures that have been filmed there. ( Lonesome Dove for one )

The road changes from asphalt to dirt and gravel as you drive into the ranch. Nothing can be seen except trees, scrub and cacti - where is The Alamo? Signs say "25mph - Cattle Have the Right-of-Way". You pass Texas Longhorn Cattle with HUGE sets of Horns, Horses, Burros and more - all of which are walking along the road, unfenced. I was thinking: "it's a good thing I'm in a Rental"!!

Just around the 3rd bend in the road, and just past the Ranch Headquarters which sits atop a hill, you spy your first glimpse of "Hollywood" - some old props from movies gone by, scattered amongst the cactus.

Then you see it - The North Wall is right there to the left of the road!

- then the long West Wall - the Chapel comes into view - the Main Entry Gates

the Gun Ramps - WOW!! Right there - in the middle of nowhere ( and with no one else around ) - The Entire Alamo Fort !!!!

You proceed on down a slight slope to "The Town" - which is a fabulous reincarnation of a Spanish/Western Town and a working Motion Picture Location. There are some terrific buildings for "Form Tech" or others to produce !! You park where ever you want - under a tree - on the grass and gravel.

You can see the Large and Beautiful Cathedral where Santa Ana hoisted his

flag, the Cantina, Saloon, Western Hotels, Undertaker, Sheriff's Office, Stage Coaches & Wagons, Supplies, General Store and more - a lot of buildings!!

Looking East on Main Street - Rear Entry Road - Another Street Scene - The Cathedral with Grandma TSSD

But here's the Cool Part - there isn't anyone there to greet you, bother you, sell you something - no rides, no neon lights, no tourist stuff - just an Alamo and a Town. You can get something to eat and drink ( they actually made DeAnna a root beer float! ) at the Cantina ( used in many, many movies ), and they do have a bathroom in one of the Movie Buildings. But that's it.

"Cowboy Bob" serenades DeAnna - "Gunfighters prep for a robbery - One of the town's hotels - entrance to "Boot Hill" on the right

The last time I was there they were actually filming a Western Movie soon to be released ( "Jericho" ) - this time they were preparing for the 2nd Annual "Gunfighters" Competition on July 4th.

Room used as "Bowie's" Room in The Alamo - Cannon from The Movie - Below Ground Jail in The Sheriff's Office - The Alamo as viewed from Town

You can spend an Hour or a Day there - all I can say is that if you ever get the opportunity - GO !! ( I would recommend fall or spring for the best - coolest - weather ) Very Friendly Folks and a Fascinating Trip Back In Time!!

Monument in Town Center The Alamo Looking Towards the Gated South Wall

The TSSD's Invade The Alamo !!

Hospital/HQ Bldg - Entry Gate - Chapel - Water Well Looking Towards The North Wall Gun Ramps

HQ BLDG - Chapel with Palisade Wall - Rear Chapel Gun Ramp - Chapel Interior

Side Room of Chapel - Towards The Corral - West Wall - Long Barrack

CROCKETT'S LAST STAND

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SHOWN BELOW

THE "DRIPPING SPRINGS" ALAMO

FROM THE 2004 FILM

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FOR YOU "ALAMO-MANIACS"

( like me!! )

THIS IS AS CLOSE TO THE NEW MOVIE SET AS YOU CAN GET

IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WE GOT TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE RANCH, AND I OFFERED THE GATE GUARD MY PRIZED POSSESSION - MY CONFEDERATE STATES TWO DOLLAR BILL - AS HE RAISED HIS SHOTGUN, WE QUICKLY DROVE AWAY.

THEN WE FOUND THIS HILLTOP TO SHOOT A COUPLE OF PHOTOS - LONG DISTANCE ZOOM.

WHAT A SHAME IT'S NOT OPEN!!

WE DROVE ON DOWN THE HILL AND RAN INTO THE PERDANALES RIVER

DeANNA GOT OUT AND DODGED RATTLERS & `DILLOS TO TAKE SOME PICTURES

THE CAPITOL BUILDING

AUSTIN, TEXAS

DOWNTOWN S.A.T. "TOWER LIFE" BUILDING

ILLUMINATED FOR "FIESTA" WEEK

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"THE ALAMO" MOVIE - 2004

REVIEW

GOOD MOVIE - NOT GREAT, BUT GOOD. PERSONALLY, I AM AN ALAMO NUT. I BELIEVE I EVEN PUT MYSELF THERE INSIDE THE ALAMO DURING THE BATTLE ( intentionally ) ONE NIGHT IN MY SLEEP. SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME SO I WOKE UP. MEMBER OF THE ALAMO SOCIETY, ALAMO DIORAMA BUILDER, MANY BOOKS AND PRINTS OF THE ALAMO. THE ALAMO FLAG HANGS AT THE ENTRY TO MY HOUSE. I BUILT AN "ALAMO" WALL IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, COMPLETE WITH BELL TOWER, SCALING LADDERS AND FLINTLOCK RIFLES AT THE READY.

( our house is referred to as the "Taco Bell" by the friendly HOA folks? )

I WOULD GIVE THE MOVIE THREE TOY SOLDIERS OUT OF FIVE. THE GOOD PARTS: PHOTOGRAPHY & SOUND, TERRIFIC OPENING AND CLOSING SCENES, SOME GOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS, BILLY BOB PLAYING THE FIDDLE, EXCELLENT BATTLE AND HAND-TO-HAND SCENES - BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF `EM. AS I RECALL THEY ONLY USED 500 EXTRAS AS MEXICAN SOLDIERS, THE REST WERE COMPUTER GUYS. THE ENDING - THE "DAVY" PART - NOT BELIEVABLE TO ME ( remember, I was there ). IF THE HEAD GENERALISSIMO SAYS "NO PRISONERS" - WELL THEN - THERE WON'T BE ANY. "DAVY" IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE HOURS AFTER THE BATTLE? THE TRUTH IS THE MEXICAN SOLDIERS WERE PRETTY CRANKY BY THE TIME THEY FINALLY GOT INSIDE THAT PILE OF PLASTER & ADOBE - AND THEY BASICALLY SLAUGHTERED ANYTHING THAT MOVED. EVEN DEAD GUYS. VERY QUICKLY. SO - NO PRISONERS.

THE MOVIE ALSO SUFFERED THE SAME MISTAKE USUALLY MADE IN THESE MOVIES. THE ENTIRE ALAMO COMPOUND - AS IT EXISTED BACK THEN - WAS HUGE. WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF GUYS TO DEFEND IT - WHY DO THEY INSIST ON SHOWING FRONTIERSMEN STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER ON THE WALLS FIRING BLAZING VOLLEYS AT THE ATTACKERS?

I'LL BUY THE DVD, WATCH IT AGAIN ( and again ), AND THEN WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO MAKE ANOTHER ALAMO MOVIE.

THE MOVIE WAS DOOMED FROM WAY BEFORE THE RELEASE. SOMEONE JUST KILLED THIS WHOLE DEAL, AND IT SHOWED AT THE BOX OFFICE, WHICH IS A SHAME. ALTHOUGH WE JUST SAW IT AND THE THEATER WAS TWO THIRDS FULL - MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. A GOOD THING. IT WAS ALSO PRETTY COOL WHEN IT ENDED AND DAVY FIDDLED TO AN EMPTY ALAMO - EVERYONE JUST SAT IN THEIR SEATS AND IT GOT REAL QUIET.

HOLLYWOOD. WHY DO THEY INSIST ON CHANGING HISTORY? FIRST OF ALL, THEY SAID THEY WANTED AN "HISTORICALLY ACCURATE" SET. SO THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS MOVE THE CHAPEL BUILDING TO THE WRONG PLACE. DON'T GET IT. DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO - WHERE THE REAL ALAMO LIVES, IS FLAT - LIKE A BOARD. THIS SET WAS BUILT ON HILLS. THE MEXICAN ARMY ACTUALLY APPEARED TO LOOK DOWN ON THE ALAMO FROM SOME KIND OF HEIGHTS!?

THE FILM REPORTEDLY COST OVER $ 100,000,000

THE "HAPPY" SHAHAN RANCH IN BRACKETTVILLE, TEXAS - CURRENTLY OWNED BY MRS. VIRGINIA SHAHAN, HAS AN ENTIRE, COMPLETE AND ACCURATE ALAMO FORT. IT IS FOR SALE AT 6.5 MILLION - THAT INCLUDES 500 ACRES, THE ALAMO, AND THE VERY LARGE WESTERN TOWN THAT JOHN WAYNE BUILT. SHE MIGHT EVEN THROW IN A COUPLE OF LONGHORNS BECAUSE SHE IS A VERY NICE TEXAS LADY.

SO - WHY DIDN'T THEY USE AN EXISTING ALAMO SET? AND TOWN? IT IS STILL AN ACTIVE MOVIE LOCATION AFTER 44 YEARS!! THE "DRIPPING SPRINGS" LOCATION - AND SET - HAD THE WHOLE SET AREA REDUCED IN SIZE TO THE POINT THAT THE MEXICANS APPEARED TO BE CAMPED BUT 50 YARDS FROM THE ALAMO WALLS!!??

$ 100,000,000

LASTLY, WHILE THE MOVIE TRIED VALIANTLY TO COVER A LOT OF PEOPLE, BACKGROUNDS, ISSUES AND EVEN THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO FOR PETE'S SAKE - IT JUST DIDN'T WORK IN THE RELEASED TIME FRAME. I DOUBT THAT THE TWO GUYS DIGGING THE WELL WOULD ACTUALLY BE DISCUSSING "SLAVERY" TYPE ISSUES. NOT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. SAM HOUSTON MADE ME THIRSTY. I LIKED "BOWIE". I THINK TRAVIS WAS PROBABLY A BIT MORE ANIMATED, ARROGANT, AND DRIVEN THAN THE WAY HE WAS PORTRAYED. JUST READ HIS LETTERS AND CALLS FOR HELP THAT WENT OUT FROM THE ALAMO. BILLY BOB - GET AN OSCAR NOMINATION BUDDY!

GO SEE IT IF YOU HAVE NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE TICKET PRICE - AND IT NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF HISTORIANS, ALAMO GEEKS AND TOY SOLDIER COLLECTORS.

WHAT IF HOLLYWOOD QUITS MAKING "OUR" MOVIES!!??

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PHOTOS FROM

"THE REAL ALAMO"

"THE ALAMO" GROUNDS MOST NEVER GET TO SEE