By Texas standards, Paisano’s 254 acres hardly qualify as a ranch. In fact, Dobie himself declared that Paisano is “not an estate, not a ranch, not a farm, it is merely a place of some acres in the hills west of Austin, Barton Creek winding through it.” Nevertheless, it provides the writers who are chosen to live there with a good deal of isolation. The three-bedroom frame house is simply furnished. Fellows need bring only personal belongings. The house has central air-conditioning and heating. The university provides utilities, except long-distance service. Fellows may bring their families but the expectation is that the fellow will write full-time and be in residence for the length of the fellowship—about six months.
Some kind of transportation is a necessity as stores and services are several miles away.
Permission must be obtained from the fellow or from the director of the project to enter the property.