Music Hill Ranch

This Austin Hill Country seven-acre oasis on a hill is deeply rooted in the spirit of love, healing, and creativity. The original structures were built in 1975 as a pastoral retreat space.

The property was later purchased by the Ball Family, who designed the homes to be hypoallergenic and purposefully chose limestone, mesquite wood, and nontoxic paint as the finishings for their son, Marshall Ball, who was born with an undiagnosed illness similar to cerebral palsy.

Marshall suffered from seizures before the age of one and could not walk or talk by the age of three. One afternoon he leaned forward while sitting on his mother’s lap and hit a button on a toy with his head. His mother joyfully asked him to do it again, and he did. From that very moment, they realized he could hear and understand them.

They devised a way for him to communicate letters, and from there, this child prodigy went on to express all of the thoughts he had been keeping to himself through two best-selling books about God, love, kindness, and freedom. He appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1999, where his thoughts and words inspired millions, including Chris Martin of Coldplay. Chris is included in the introduction of the 20th edition of Kiss of God.

Marshall Ball named all the original homes on the property: Thoughtful House, Garden House, Tree House, and the scenic hill country view “Listener’s Hill.” His words are inscribed on the walkway between the homes.

The property was later purchased by a legendary country music artist and winner of 18 Grammy Awards. She added the Entertainment Annex and state-of-the-art Recording Studio, which has housed many music legends and hosted camps for musicians, writers, and artists. We renamed the property and studio “Music Hill” to honor the previous owners.

Visionary thought leader Rod E. Hairston purchased the property in 2019 to create a space where people can gather, celebrate, create, heal, grow, and discover greater fulfillment.