Never really got in. First of all it is hidden away in a private home. 2nd of all it is reservations only for groups of 12 on Saturdays only; 3rd they were already booked thru June; and finally, they were having a party. However, the owner was VERY nice about all of it. read more

I made the pilgrimage to California, namely to finally visit this mecca for Star Wars collectors, and I was blown away a la Alderaan! Rancho Obi-Wan is the world's largest private Star Wars memorabilia collection and current (and eternal) Guinness World Record holder. If you are a die-hard fan or just simply enjoy the cultural phenomenon, this place is worth the visit. The museum is located on a private residence in Petaluma. Your best bet is looking for their website and scheduling a tour through there. All tours are led by the owner, Stephen Sansweet. A former Lucasfilm employee, he is a fan's fan with intimate and professional knowledge of that Galaxy Far, Far Away. If you're in the area or make the trek just for this, it's well worth the 3+ hours you'll spend here. Steve takes you on a trip down memory lane, showing off his immense collection with stories about his favorite and unique pieces. He has everything from a library filled with non-fiction and prose EU fiction, shelves of toys, house hold products, musical instruments, promotional material, costumes, video game equipment, and art. You could go back multiple times and not see everything. He is one of the most genuine and nice people to spend an afternoon with. My favorite area is the prototypes and original film-used props. I also had a great time playing some of my favorite Star Wars video games that I spent hours (and tons of quarters) on as a young fan. The museum has a small gift shop with typical souvenirs. The best selections are the collectibles books available from the author himself. Make sure to have him sign them on the way out! The museum manager, Anne Neumann, is also on hand to help with the tour and purchases at the end. She's a friendly person to talk to as well. This is one of my favorite museum and Star Wars experiences. Everyone that has the time needs to check it out! read more

This was a birthday surprise for my partner, who is a major Star Wars fan. I went as a supporter. When I first made the reservation and purchased our tickets, I was a bit skeptical that you had to purchase membership PLUS admission to the space. You can't go unless someone in your party is a member of Rancho Obi-Wan. However, after attending and getting to know the staff and seeing their deep appreciation, care, and love for the lore and craft of Star Wars, take my money! We were taking a trip to San Francisco, and we rented a car and made the drive to Petaluma for the 10am reservation. It is situated on a private residence deep in the Petaluma neighborhood. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Anne -- the manager -- and a guest who had arrived before us. There is parking on their lot. Our tour happen to only be a group of 5, so if it was a very intimate tour, which worked out perfectly! The way they have the tour designed and how they take you through it is superb. I am not even that big of a Star Wars fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At the end of the tour, the owner of the collection came to greet us, and we had some 1:1 time to ask questions about being a collector, what inspires him about Star Wars, etc. They also turn on a sweet corner of the space filled with Star Wars arcade games. The staff was great and the experience was a memorable one for my Star Wars fan and even for me! After our tour --which lasted nearly 4 hours-- we made a lunch stop 10 minutes away at the Lagunitas brewery, so....there's always that! : ) read more

Rancho Obi-Wan is an amazing treasure trove of Star Wars memorabilia and history! We had a lovely intro with manager Anne Neumann and took the tour with owner Steve Sansweet and the experience couldn't have been sweeter! The love, care, and passion put into this unique and intimate museum is unlike any other and each item has a story. To top it off, we got to witness a loving recommitment ceremony between two Star Wars lovers and enjoyed Admiral Akbar cupcakes! This is truly for the dedicated Star Wars Fan! read more

I'm going to start by saying that I'm a member of the 501st, and I've volunteered at the Rancho for a few years now. But let me just say this: I am a very busy woman. I would even say, as an East Bay native, "hella busy." But I choose to donate my time to Rancho Obi-Wan because it's absolutely WORTH my time. Behold: 1. The largest, most thorough, most interesting Star Wars collection on earth. If you're thinking, "What, action figures?" The answer is yes, but so, so, so much more. Original props and costumes from the films. Original art-- concept art, Star Wars-related art created by artists from all over the world, and fan-made art. Merchandise from every corner of the globe, from gorgeous licensed items of every size and shape to hilarious knock-offs from 1980s eastern Europe. A library with every book you can imagine. A game room filled with vintage Star Wars arcade games. The size and scope of the collection is impossible to convey. If you're a Star Wars fan, this is your Mecca. If you're a collector yourself, Rancho Obi-Wan membership is a MUST, as each year you'll get exclusive items like patches or pins made just for members, as well as a members discount at the online store, where you can also access members-only exclusive merchandise. Nerdvana. 2. The owner and collection manager are wonderful, wonderful people. If you can book a tour with owner Steve Sansweet, DO IT. Sansweet was once the head of fan relations at Lucasfilm, and has been an active collector for decades. Between those two things, he has a seemingly endless supply of fantastic stories. Anne Neumann, the collection manager, is beyond awesome-- brilliant, warm, down-to-earth, and extremely knowledgeable about the collection. Their warm, sweet, wonderful personalities make everyone who comes to the Rancho feel welcomed and special. 3. EVENTS. You can book your wedding, meeting, or whatever at the Rancho. Steve is ordained to perform weddings, and Anne will help plan the event. There's a CRAZY AMAZING bakery right there in Petaluma that will do cupcakes or wedding cakes. The Rancho works with an excellent caterer. This is a great place for a Star Wars wedding or a super-cool business meeting. Listen, I know this kinda sounds like a commercial, but I promise you: A. I get paid much more for writing in real life than I could ever make writing yelp reviews, so all my reviews are from the bottom of my heart; and B. I have very little free time. I wouldn't donate my time to Ranhco Obi-Wan if I didn't absolutely believe in it. There are an infinite number of places where I could donate my time, and I choose Rancho Obi-Wan because it is well worth my time-- and yours. If you're a Star Wars fan, check out Rancho Obi-Wan! You will NOT be disappointed. read more

YO Star Wars fans! The ultimate Star Wars museum is a little known place in Petaluma called Rancho Obi Wan. It is located on private property and the ONLY way you can visit it is by mailing Rancho Obi Wan P.O.B. 2898 Petaluma, Ca 94953 and arranging for a tour. Guinness Book Of Records says this is the largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the World. Room after room of everything you can think of Stars Wars stuff. Actual items used in the films, action figures, posters, costumes, art, books, and all kinds of things you can't even imagine. Items from all over the world. This is the holy grail for Star Wars fans. You can spend hours in here exploring all the stuff on display. Dozens of light sabers, every Star Wars action figure in different sizes from micro to life size, behind the scenes footage, scenes that were removed, footage of how scenes were filmed, special effects info, drawings, music, bloopers, I could go on and on. And you can ask questions about the collection during your tour. The museum was founded in 1998 by Steve Sansweet, Director of Content Management and director of Fan Relations for Lucus Films and is a non-profit organization. They only give you directions to the place when you book a tour. This place is mainly for the serious Star Wars fan. To book a tour you must become a member of Rancho Obi Wan, membership costs $40 per year, and you have a tour ticket price of $60 and a minimum of two tickets. Tours may have up to 12 people in them, special arrangements can be made for more than 12. Tours are given by Steve Sansweet himself and he knows everything about the collection. Tours are given only on Fridays, Saturdays, and holiday Mondays and usually start at 2:00 pm. Yearly membership gets you a special lapel pin, special patch designed by Joe Smith, collectable card with art from John Mollo, and a membership card. And by becoming a member you get to shop at their member's only store and get to purchase merchandise not easily available elsewhere. Children under 12 are free. You can have events here and they have catering and other services available. Great place for a Birthday party. Their Website is at http://www.ranchoobiwan.org/ You can also find it on Facebook, Twitter, or Trip Advisor. read more

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