Roaming the hills of the Texas Hill Country leads you to some remarkable places; there’s always something unique to see or do. One such remarkable place is the 140 acre Benini Sculpture Ranch. Located about one mile west of Johnson City off Hwy 290, turn at the chrome bull (CR 204-Flat Creek Road), you can’t miss it!
The ranch is the creation of Benini, an Italian-born artist, along with his wife Lorraine Benini. Together, they started the outdoor art gallery in 1999, adding new sculptures and selling others to create a rotating exhibit.
The drive up to the ranch is beautiful, one of the prettiest drives in the area. Once you reach the entrance, you will immediately notice huge contemporary sculptures mounted on either side of the road. It is so amazing to see the huge sculptures dotting the landscape, and the artistic renderings are extremely unique; you’re sure to have a favorite!
There is a 14,000 sq. ft. studio and gallery that is open to visitors, featuring Benini’s work as well as that of other artists. The outdoor sculptures (about 110 pieces) and the gallery art work are from artists located in Texas and abroad. Signing in at the gallery, we were given a brief history of the Benini Ranch and an interesting overview of the artwork on display.
After completing the indoor gallery tour, we hopped in the car and continued on our outdoor sculpture tour (there is a walking path as well). Ranging from traditional to abstract, we each had a particular favorite and were simply intrigued by others. It was a great day with overcast skies and a cool breeze, perfect for our drive along the gravel road as we stopped to comment on several artists’ work.
Many sculptures are nestled into the countryside, some among trees, others overlooking ponds or hiding in the tall grass. Whether it was a steel giant towering over the roadside, a kinetic sculpture twirling in the blue sky, or the chrome bull guarding his pasture, the outdoor elements seemed to complement each work of art.
The gravel road climbs to 1800 feet, where Benini’s home and private studio are located. The viewing area gives visitors a remarkable vista of the entire ranch below, as well a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
The Benini Sculpture Ranch is truly unique. So if you’re into art, or just roaming the hills near Johnson City, stop by the Benini Ranch to get a different perspective on the Texas Hill Country!
~Lori~
