Amanda Smith, Manager & Coordinator, Buggy Barn Museum and Pine Moore Old West Town

Join Amanda Smith of the Buggy Barn Museum and Pine Moore Old West Town in Blanco, Texas, as she shares fascinating stories about her family's collection of antique carriages, experiences in the film industry, and the upcoming Wine Camp retreat. From hosting proms and weddings to collaborating with Hollywood on major films like 'There Will Be Blood' and 'True Grit,' Amanda's passion for preserving the history of the Old West is evident. Discover insights into managing a family-run museum, the rich history of their carriage collection, and hear about Amanda's exciting career as a stuntwoman and actress. Don't miss this engaging chat packed with heartwarming anecdotes and a glimpse into life in Texas Hill Country.

UVC Bad Boy Tractor commercial featuring Mickey Gilley (and Amanda and her dad, Dennis Moore): https://youtu.be/7eh6BlknJds?si=eJayAgGacwWVS4g5 

To connect with Amanda: 
https://www.facebook.com/buggybarnmuseum 

https://www.instagram.com/pinemooreoldweststudio/ 

https://www.instagram.com/buggybarnmuseum/ 

00:00 Introduction to Amanda Smith and the Buggy Barn Museum

01:11 Amanda's Family and Their Passion for Carriages

02:07 The Growth of the Buggy Barn Museum

03:46 Unique Carriages and Their Stories

05:52 Events and Rentals at the Buggy Barn Museum

08:46 The Old West Town Experience

13:37 Amanda's Stunt and Acting Career

19:21 Family Involvement in Films and Events

23:08 Building the Museum: A Labor of Love

24:01 Family Involvement and Passion

24:18 Balancing Passion and Practicality

24:42 Overcoming Challenges: Faith and Resilience

27:00 Educational Background and Career Shifts

30:46 Community Roots and Local History

32:51 Filming in Blanco: A Hub for Creativity

34:30 Memorable Encounters with Celebrities

39:39 Favorite Drinks and Personal Stories

42:21 Connecting with the Audience

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Transcript

Penny Fitzgerald 0:38

Amanda Smith's family owns and operates the Buggy Barn Museum and Pine Moore Old West Town in Blanco, Texas. Her dad, Dennis Moore, is known as"The Guy" to talk to when someone needs an antique carriage for a movie, music video, or commercial. You've probably heard me talk about our retreat called Wine Camp being held this September 19th through the 21st in Texas Hill Country. We're capping off the weekend with a hoedown in Amanda's Pine Moore Old West Studio. I can't wait to share that experience with our attendees. Be sure to join us, you won't want to miss it. During my conversation with Amanda, I kept thinking, my dad would have loved this. It was evident how much Amanda and her dad love working and acting together. And sharing experiences. And it's heartwarming to hear that the next generation is also passionate about keeping this history of the Old West alive as well. Amanda mentions a commercial that was shot in the saloon in the Old West town. I found it on YouTube and will share the link in my show notes. And to join us in Blanco, Texas and Texas Hill Country for Wine Camp, visit my website pennyforyourshots. com slash wine dash camp. Here is Amanda Smith. Hi, Amanda. Hi. How are you? I'm good. How are you? I'm great. Thanks. Awesome. It's good to see you. You too. Wonderful. I'm grateful that you joined me today and I can't wait to see you this September. I'm looking forward to it and thanks for having

Amanda Smith 2:05

me.

Penny Fitzgerald 2:05

Yeah, for sure. For sure. So you are the, um, owner manager of the buggy barn museum, right?

Amanda Smith 2:12

Manager and coordinator. Yes.

Penny Fitzgerald 2:13

So, um, this buggy barn museum, has it been in your family or how did you come to this career?

Amanda Smith 2:21

Yes. So my, my parents own the buggy barn and the, the town. And so I've grown up with my dad working on his business since. So my dad has a, We'll go back in a little bit. So my dad's in the construction business. Um, he's had that since the seventies. So he does septic work and road work, land clearing. And I've always worked with him since I was like three. And then he got into, um, carriages whenever my brother and I were in high school. He had some vis a vis some very nice carriages and he took. Us and my friends and my brother's friends to prom at the courthouse. Oh, and so we just had a few of them and we did weddings and parties and stuff like that. And then few carriages turned into probably like 20 and he decided like, well, Hey, I have the space. Let's make. Let's let everybody see what we have. And so we opened it up, let people see, and then he got into a few movies and people found out he had carriages for movies. So we did, um, There Will Be Blood with Daniel Day Lewis, and then the remake of True Grit, and then those few carriages turned into about a hundred. Oh my gosh. Then a hundred turned into two hundred, and now we have 270.

Penny Fitzgerald 3:43

Holy cow. Oh my gosh. And are they all, um, vintage? Are they all antiques or are there, are there some that are new?

Amanda Smith 3:51

They're all, we have a couple of, uh, reproductions, but most of them are all just as is. We have one that the oldest is 1840 and the newest is, uh, 1914. Wow. So, yeah, and there's no that are no two that are the same. So there, when you come, I mean, you'll see them that are doctors, buggies, wagons, and then you'll see some that look like Cadillacs, you know? I mean, they're just fancy and then, uh, convertible looking ones and the hearses that are ones from Czechoslovakia and another one that's just, you think to us, that's, that's fancy, but then you, we see the one that's from Czechoslovakia. That's the one that only royalty. would be carried in. Oh my gosh. So it's the difference of just classes back then, just like, you know, now. So it's really, really interesting.

Penny Fitzgerald 4:42

That is interesting.

Amanda Smith 4:44

Holy

Penny Fitzgerald 4:44

cow. And you,

Amanda Smith 4:45

so you got to go to prom and

Penny Fitzgerald 4:46

won.

Amanda Smith 4:47

Yeah. It was really neat. And then my, my wedding, my dad took my husband and I from the church to the courthouse in one. So it was really neat. Nice. It's just been part of my life growing up.

Penny Fitzgerald 4:59

Yeah. Yeah. My dad was super into antiques too. He was, um, uh, he was almost 103 when he passed away. Oh, wow. And since he was a kid, he was born in 1916. And as a kid, he would go, I think he started going to auctions around our farm place. Um, every Saturday he'd go and he was the guy that would stay till the very end. And The auctioneer would be like, Carl, here's a box. Do you want it?

Amanda Smith 5:30

Yeah. It's so funny. So in the town, we have a lot of props and, you know, antiques and stuff. And people are like, where did this all come from? I'm like, a lot of them is from my house, you know, growing up. Like I played with this stove. I played with this. I played with. Yeah. Those were my play things too. I, yeah, we got in the

Penny Fitzgerald 5:49

barn and play. Exactly. Wow. So the, um, the buggies that you guys have are, do you rent them out too, for special occasions like prom and, and weddings and things?

Amanda Smith 5:59

We do. So we do movies. And, uh, so we do movies here in the old West town, but we do movies outside too. So we've done like Trigger It, Killers of the Flower Moon. My dad rented out about 30 of them. We took them up to Oklahoma and, uh, he worked there for five months on that film. He was the wagon master and I did stunts on that. And then, uh, so we both do movie work and then we do, um, we worked on The Chosen. We rented wagons out to that. And then, um, we take them everywhere. So we'll take them to people when they, when they need them. They, they now know like, Oh, Dennis has wagons. We can go find him. He's the guy. Yeah. And, and then they'll start calling. Well, Hey, I have this. I have this carriage and so they'll start finding him now and letting him know that They have something to get rid of. It's, it's pretty neat. Cause he used to go out looking for them and now they find him. Uh huh. It's, it's, it's fascinating how it's grown. So

Penny Fitzgerald 7:00

yeah, for sure. He he's become known as the expert. He

Amanda Smith 7:03

really has. And it's, it's, it's a blessing, really. It's really, really interesting how it's all kind of circled back around.

Penny Fitzgerald 7:12

He followed a passion and look what it's done. Yeah.

Amanda Smith 7:15

And it's still a passion. I mean, he gets excited about, he just went to Oklahoma with my kids and they picked up a wagon that was on a movie set. And then he got another one to add to the collection. And, um, but it's completely different than what we have here. So every time he goes, it's something different, but just adding to it, it never ends. It just never ends. Yeah. Well, yeah. How could you ever like. Yeah. No, like last year we were in Utah, we were working on The Chosen and, uh, we were like, okay, we're, we're done. Like we're finished with the collection. Like, I think we're good unless something stands out. And then sure enough, we get an email and like, it was just too good to pass up. Here we go again. You know, wagons to us and stuff and from another museum and, and we were like, Okay. Yeah. We're going to get these. So we added to the collection, like 45 wagons and carriages. Wow. So it was, it was unbelievable what condition they were in. Cause they were, I mean, pristine. It was, it just really. enhanced what we had. So, yeah. And everybody, when they come back, they love coming back because they know we're going to have something different and add it to either the town or the museum. And so they're like, what's new? What do you have new?

Penny Fitzgerald 8:41

We're like, well,

Amanda Smith 8:43

come on out and see us.

Penny Fitzgerald 8:44

Yeah. So our, our event this, um, September is going to be in, is it kind of a saloon that you've done? created or what, what's the venue like?

Amanda Smith 8:55

So in that town, we do have a saloon, but y'all will be in the event center. So the event center, it's a 3000 square foot room and it's got tables and chairs. It's got a stage. It has a kitchen. Um, it has air conditioning. heat, we just kind of, we built that during COVID. So when the whole world kind of shut down, we're like, Well, we can use this time to remodel to add on to really enhance what we have here. And so we made this building and, um, we've used it for prom. We've had prom in there. We do weddings. we do events like yours. Um, we had a veterans event there a couple of weeks ago. So we do all sorts of different things and it's, it's been great. And even for filming, they'll use it for their wardrobe, their makeup, their holding room, like everything. So it's a versatile room and, but it's great because it's really open. And then on the outside there's, um, picnic tables and the trees and a picnic area and stuff like that. So it's. It's a lot of, a lot of fun to have that room able to. you know, just go out and be a part of the town. But then you go in and it's like, Oh, okay, this is a nice, it's

Penny Fitzgerald 10:15

comfortable and modern.

Amanda Smith 10:17

Yeah. Yeah. That'll be nice. The whole, the whole town's really neat because when we tell people, We're like, it's a fully functional town and they're like, okay, so it's, it's a town. And I'm like, no, no, it's a fully functional town. Like, you go in every single door and then they're, they go in and not realizing it's completely usable. So the whole. Texas Ranger station with a jail and it's from 1800s, the jail cell and then the event center. Then we have a saloon. Mickey Gilley played in the saloon and then we have a cemetery. We have the church. We have a gallows. We have a cabin. We have a 1800 cabin. We have a post office. We have a homestead room with furnishings inside of it. Um, we have a mercantile room. We have a barber. We have a dentist. We have a smaller holding room. We have stables. So we, it's a fully functional.

Penny Fitzgerald 12:19

Wow. That's neat. And will, will our group be able to kind of walk around and take pictures and that's like, Oh, gosh, that's so exciting. Yeah. That's

Amanda Smith 12:30

going to be fun. It's pretty neat. Like whenever people come, if they all kind of have that same feeling is once you cross this one area, you're You like slow down, it's like you take this breath of like, like you can breathe again and it's really neat to experience that because a lot of times you kind of get caught up in life, you know, and everything's moving so fast. And, and I get that sense from a lot of people when they rent the town, and they come back there and it's like, oh, I can breathe again for a little bit and really appreciate things again and I like hearing that from people, and they just really enjoy it. So we're glad we can give that to people.

Penny Fitzgerald 13:09

That's a gift. Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing. I, I feel like, um, this event is going to be, you know, a way for girls to reconnect with each other. Yes. And meet some new friends and of course share some wine and cocktails and that sort of thing. But yeah, the old Westtown, it just sounds like it's gonna be amazing for us to, to be able to just have some fun together and we'll be telling stories about it for years, I'm sure.

Amanda Smith 13:30

Absolutely. Absolutely. We're excited to

Penny Fitzgerald 13:33

have you. Yeah, we're, we're very excited as well. So let me back up a second. You, you mentioned that you do stunts. Yes, I do stunts and I do acting as well. Oh, cool. Oh my gosh. Okay. So I talked to, um, Pistol Pack and Paula. Yes. She was so fun too. So do you guys work together or how do you,

Amanda Smith 13:52

uh, we work together. So she does a lot when you come in and see the museum. Um, if she's here, uh, sometimes she works, um, Doing some other stuff. And when she's here on site, She'll give you a tour, but when we have people call and set up a tour with me and they have a big group coming, make sure she's here to give you a like, you can hear and you can do a self tour and she's got the information. Like, she dives down deep into the history. the wagon or the buggy and where we got it. And then the information that she can. And so she's got like little placards on the buggies. And so you can read all about it when you come in and you just do a self guided tour. Now, if you want a group tour and she's here, then she'll give you kind of a more in depth. tour on that. So I've got people they'll call and say, you know, we're going to come. We've got this many people. Can we get a guided tour? Sure. We'll set that up and then I'll have her here and, and then, uh, she'll be here and then I'll be here just kind of making sure everything's You know, going smooth and stuff like that. I'm kind of in the back making sure. Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure. Um, and then we do that and then she'll kind of do a little show with her guns just to show what she can do on that. Uh huh. And then it kind of entices them to know more about her as well. Um, and then. for filming wise, she's here to make sure that, um, everything runs smooth on that end as well. And because people will call me to set up everything. So they, if they need wedding scheduling, I'm, I schedule everything. So if they need something, they call me for everything. And then filming. She will be back there and make sure it, you know, they're taken care of. There's no problem like that. And then I go back there and make sure everything is, running smoothly for sure. You know,

Penny Fitzgerald 15:56

no problems too. So, wow. And then you get involved in some of the acting and, and stunts too. Yes. So

Amanda Smith 16:04

what kind of stunts are you doing? I do horse stunts. So I did this one film called Moonrise and it was filmed in Blanco. It wasn't at our place because it was a modern film. Um, but I was three people in one, one film. I was a, I was a 13 year old. 30 year old and like a 40 year old. And, um, I did rearing up on a horse, falling off a horse and running just on a horse and training the horse in the arena and everything. So anytime there was someone on a horse, it was me.

Penny Fitzgerald 16:40

Wow. Okay. So you were, um, You're comfortable with animals, especially horses.

Amanda Smith 16:45

I grew up on horses and drive horses and ride them. And I used to barrel race and when I was little.

Penny Fitzgerald 16:51

Really? Okay. We've got, we've got friends of the family who she does barrel racing in Oklahoma. So that's perfect. It looks just crazy

Amanda Smith 17:00

it was fun. I mean, it was a long, long time ago. I haven't done it since I was a little, little, but it's kind of

Penny Fitzgerald 17:05

a young person's sport, isn't it?

Amanda Smith 17:07

I want to do it so bad. Every time I see it, I'm like, I can do that. I can do that. But it's been a long time, but I feel like it's one of those that you don't forget, you know, it's like riding a bike. I don't forget. And, um, but it's a lot that goes into it.

Penny Fitzgerald 17:24

Yeah. Wow. Okay. So when I'm as an outsider, you know, just observing it and enjoying watching it, it looks like, okay, it looks like you and your horse are like in sync completely.

Amanda Smith 17:35

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 17:35

And it looks like when you're going around that barrel, like you're almost laying down. Yeah. Wow. And how, how fast do you guys get going on when you're doing that?

Amanda Smith 17:45

It depends.

Penny Fitzgerald 17:47

Depends on the placement of the barrels, probably.

Amanda Smith 17:50

Well, and the horse, like what horse you have

Penny Fitzgerald 17:53

to.

Amanda Smith 17:55

Different people have different horses and how comfortable you are going, how fast you go and everything.

Penny Fitzgerald 18:01

Yeah. And is it scored by speed or is Well, it's

Amanda Smith 18:05

speed and if you knock down a barrel, then you get time added to your

Penny Fitzgerald 18:09

Okay.

Amanda Smith 18:09

Wow.

Penny Fitzgerald 18:12

That's impressive.

Amanda Smith 18:16

Like, I always think I can do that again. And I'm like, Girl, you're getting too old for that. And I'm like, Oh, you want to do a horse set? Yeah, I'll do it.

Penny Fitzgerald 18:25

Wow. Yeah. Oh my gosh. My, my joints just hurt thinking about getting up on a horse.

Amanda Smith 18:33

Yeah. I know when I did the, the Moonrise film, they're like, how do you feel about this? I'm like, Oh, it's fine. Yeah, you're going to fall off. Yeah, it's fine. We had pads and stuff. So it was no big deal, but

Penny Fitzgerald 18:44

it was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. Yeah, I bet. You know, if you've been in that world, I'm sure that was very cool. And then to see you on film too is neat. Yeah. What do your kids think of that?

Amanda Smith 18:58

Oh, they liked it. My daughter actually was in it too, because I couldn't be two people at one time. And so she ended up having to play the 13 year old while I was playing the 30 year old. So we got to do it at the same time as well. We're both riding. And

Penny Fitzgerald 19:10

that's a great experience together.

Amanda Smith 19:12

Yeah. And actually both my kids have been in film as well. So we've all got the experience. working together.

Penny Fitzgerald 19:19

Oh my gosh. Yeah.

Amanda Smith 19:21

Yeah. Does your dad do some of that too? Yeah. So we've worked, we work a lot together on films. So he was in Killers of the Flower Moon. Then I went up there and I worked, um, I did one of the stunt scenes just on a horse. while he was there. And then, uh, we worked on The Chosen together. I did stunts there and then we were both wagon masters on that. And then, um, we work, we worked on another film as father and daughter. And so that was really neat doing that. Got to play that. So we do, we do lots and lots together.

Penny Fitzgerald 21:04

That's neat. How old is your dad?

Amanda Smith 21:07

He will be 70 this year.

Penny Fitzgerald 21:09

Oh, wow. He's young.

Amanda Smith 21:12

I'm like, we still got plans. I keep telling them, I'm like, we got plans. So,

Penny Fitzgerald 21:16

yeah, I mean, yeah, exactly. And you know, that's 70s, the new 40, right? That's what I feel like anyway, the older I get, the less old everything seems. Oh my gosh. Oh, well, what else would you like to tell us about? the museum or what we have to look forward to or any, any of the things that you do.

Amanda Smith 21:43

Uh, we, well, the museum, the, we do a lot of things with the wagons and carriages. So like in, uh, Thanksgiving through the first of the year, we're in Johnson City doing rides for Light Spectacular. So we take our carriages and we put lights all over them, and we give rides on Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sundays. And that's big. Like they light up the courthouse and different blocks over there and it's, it's beautiful. I bet. And so bet we've been doing that for several years and Okay. Oh, okay. Oh, that sounds really, really pretty. So we take about five or six of our carriages over there and do that every weekend. And then, uh, we do the kickoff to the San Antonio and stock show and rodeo. And, um, that's big. Yeah. That's how long we've been doing that. want to say. 11 years or something.

Penny Fitzgerald 22:36

We've been

Amanda Smith 22:36

doing a long time. Yeah. We, we take a lot of carriages there and we've got some friends that come down from Missouri and Utah and stuff and they bring down some of their mules and wagon, well not their wagons because they had gone to ours, but They help us out when we need help. And it's just a lot of fun. And then this July, July 4th, we actually went to California and we took three wagons. We had a guy contact us and, um, he was like, I need some wagons. And so someone said, well, you need to call Dennis, you know, he's got what you need, so you need to call Dennis. And, uh, sure enough, he called. And so we need. We need wagons for this parade. And so we ended up going to Mammoth Lakes and, and it was beautiful. And we hooked up wagons together and did this parade and it was awesome. So, I mean, our name is actually, it's taken, you know, how things take time. Sometimes you get absolutely, but it's really, it's grown so much. And, and I just, see it growing even more. And it's, sometimes it takes hard work and determination, but it been great

Penny Fitzgerald 23:45

because

Amanda Smith 23:47

and that's been great. The People who are coming here, they, they come back And then they tell their friends and everything, and it's been wonderful. And we really appreciate that so much.

Penny Fitzgerald 23:58

Well, you're doing something right. If people are sharing that with their friends, you know,

Amanda Smith 24:02

thank you. We appreciate it. Yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald 24:05

that's neat. So when, when did your dad kind of start the museum then? I mean, cause he's, he kind of collected buggies for a while before he started the museum.

Amanda Smith 24:14

Uh, the museum's been here for 12 years. Okay. And then the town, um, we started, um, 10 years ago. Okay. So it's been, and we did that a little bit of time. Cause you know, everything takes time and money on that. It's been a work in progress, but we started it. And then we just, as we could get a little bit time and money just to keep building up and building up and, and, um, everything that. comes here. I mean, it just goes right back into the museum and, and, uh, and the town. And, and that's one thing. It just, it takes a lot of work, but everybody that comes here sees how passionate and stuff we are about keeping the history and everything alive. And, and they appreciate that. And so that's, and they keep telling us like, you're doing good. You're doing good. Thank you for doing it. And, and it means a lot. that we're keeping it alive. And they're like, don't let it die. And I'm like, no, just my kids want it to keep going too. Oh, neat.

Penny Fitzgerald 25:15

Cool. Well, and how old are your kids? Then they got to be

Amanda Smith 25:18

teenagers We have a 14 year old and an 18 year old.

Penny Fitzgerald 25:20

Okay. Yeah. Oh, that's so cool that they're interested in it too. Yes.

Amanda Smith 25:24

Yes. Very much.

Penny Fitzgerald 25:25

Yeah. Oh, gosh. My mind is just swimming with all these things. So you're, it's a family business and you are all in and all very passionate about what you do, which is fantastic. How do you, like, if I'm just thinking about people who, you know, they have a passion and they want to follow it, but they're wondering, okay, how do I feed my family? If I'm going to be following this dream that I have. So how do you, how did you guys keep that all going?

Amanda Smith 25:55

God. I mean, you got to keep your faith and know that it's going to be okay, because there's a lot of times that it gets discouraging and hit really hard times. Yeah. I mean, especially like when COVID hit,

Penny Fitzgerald 26:10

it was

Amanda Smith 26:10

hard. Um, and the, you know, that shut us down for a little bit. And then, so we, like I said, we just use that time and I was like, it's going to be okay. We're just going to use this time. And then we said, we're going to open back up. Other people weren't really opening, but we said, we're going to open back up. And so I put out there, cause I run all the social media stuff. And so I, uh, I put out there, we're opening back up. We have everything in place, you know, just come if you're comfortable. We have. Everything that you need and precautions and, you know, yeah, it's going to be fine and people started coming back, you know, and they were felt comfortable and everything. And, and I said, we've got plenty of room here, plenty of space. So you're not spread out mind, you know, and, and we just have to keep, you know, that hold and that faith that. It's all going to be fine. And it's sometimes you really got to hold on tight to that because it's hard.

Penny Fitzgerald 27:14

Right.

Amanda Smith 27:14

Having a business like this, it definitely is up in a down thing, but, and I've seen it with my dad, him having his own business since he was 18. And, um, I mean, I've watched him go through it and, and he's been my inspiration. for it, that it's going to be okay. And he's kept his faith that whole time. So I know that if he can do it, that we're going to be okay and we can make it through.

Penny Fitzgerald 27:41

Wow. That's great. Yeah, it's so important. Like, well, you're supporting each other and following what you love and doing it together. That's just, I just commend you for that. That's really neat.

Amanda Smith 27:56

Thank you.

Penny Fitzgerald 27:57

Yeah.

Amanda Smith 27:58

Yeah, it's it's it's it's hard But I just I know that there's a purpose and a reason so you got to keep going.

Penny Fitzgerald 28:06

Yeah Have you ever done anything else? Have you had other careers? I mean, obviously mom, cause that's full time too.

Amanda Smith 28:13

This is a, this is the funny thing about both my dad and I. Okay. We both went to school at the same college, uh, in San Marcos and it was Southwest when he went there and it was Southwest whenever I started, then they changed it to Texas State. And I was like, ah, I, you know, I wanted to graduate as Southwest Texas. And, uh, but we both went to school there. We both went to for our teaching degree. And both got our teaching degree and he got his master's. I did not, but both, both got our teaching degree and I did teach for a little bit. And it was right after I, I was, I had my son and the lady that I did my student teaching for, she was injured. And so they needed me back and the kids were all familiar with me and everything. The parents and, and they were like, can you come back? And my son was. I mean, he was just born, you know, and, and I was like, okay, teaching for the rest of the year and everything. And it was, it was difficult, but I made it through. And, and then I subbed for a little bit and I was like, this is not, this is not what I'm meant to do. I'm not supposed to be here. And. I love kids. I love the teaching. I love seeing that there, you know, when they catch something and they're, you know, the light bulb goes off and they're like, ah, I get it. And it's great. And I've had former parents come back and tell me how much they enjoyed me teaching their kid. And their kid is now a teacher. And I'm like, what? Like, that's awesome. That's great. And so then it is great. But, um, yeah, so dad and I both had that same path and, and now we're both doing this. And I think that's really neat. Yeah. So I have my, my major and, uh, and elementary education and my minor in psychology. And then we're, we're both doing movies and, uh, museum and construction and septics. Well, there's a need for all of that.

Penny Fitzgerald 30:23

It's pretty neat. Yeah. Well, and if you can teach. If you can handle kids, you know, and in groups and, you know, teach something and have a psychology background too, that I think you can probably rule the world.

Amanda Smith 30:38

Yeah. Yeah. And I don't feel it was wasted. I think. No, absolutely not. Definitely with what I do here, it's, it's used. Yeah. Yeah. What I do. So

Penny Fitzgerald 30:51

I was talking with a gal yesterday and she, She switched um, majors. I guess she switched majors two years into her college. And she, um, was talking about how the first two years were kind of not good. Um, I just feel like any college is not wasted, you know? I mean, you learn something, even if it's not. Directly applicable to what you're going to do. I just feel like the experience you get, you know, you're coming green out of high school and have your experience with your, your friends and what you did in high school, but it's just such a different world when you get out into that next step. And

Amanda Smith 31:23

yeah, it

Penny Fitzgerald 31:24

really prepares you for, you know, to be a good human for one thing.

Amanda Smith 31:27

Oh, yes, yes, very, very much. So,

Penny Fitzgerald 31:31

yeah, that's, that's great. And yeah, um never wasted. Okay. So your dad, um, How did he teach too? Did he ever spend any time teaching? No, no. Oh my gosh. How did, do you know how he came to his, um, his construction and septic career? I mean, did it, he

Amanda Smith 31:50

was, he was doing that while he was going to college.

Penny Fitzgerald 31:54

Okay. And it just naturally evolved from there then. Wow.

Amanda Smith 31:59

He started his business and, and he just, I guess he thought he was going to be an ag teacher and, and, um, He just never went that route and he would have gone to a different, uh, town to be a teacher if he took that, but he stayed in Blanco and actually like we are, our, our roots are very deep in Blanco. We are one of three families that settled Blanco.

Penny Fitzgerald 32:28

Oh, wow. And

Amanda Smith 32:29

so we, when people are like, have you been here long? I'm like a long, long time, but yeah, so we've, we've, we've grown up here. And, um, my dad left for a little bit. He was born in Dalhart, but I mean, he's lived here his whole life, except for being there because his, his dad had to move up for a drier climate because of his health conditions, but then they came right back down to Blanco. So he only left for just a little bit and then he came back. Um, but I mean, this is, this is home. I don't ever see going anywhere else and it's changed a lot. Um, but it still has a small town feel to it. Um, a lot of people are moving out here, but they're moving to the outskirts of it. You know, they like the, the hill country vibe. It is very pretty. It's just, um, it's grown, grown so, so much.

Penny Fitzgerald 33:25

Yeah. Well, and you have, um, a lot of things close enough by that you can go. Austin

Amanda Smith 33:33

and

Penny Fitzgerald 33:33

San Antonio are both about, what, about an hour from you?

Amanda Smith 33:36

Yeah, that's what my dad calls it the hub of the hill country because everything's within an hour of here. Yeah, and Fredericksburg. Yeah, Fredericksburg, Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos, we got Marble Falls. I mean, everything is just close by and that's, that's what's always made it nice about living right here. So, you don't have to, worry about it. worry about going too far. And now with everything moving out further, it's really closer. So

Penny Fitzgerald 34:03

yeah,

Amanda Smith 34:04

that's when people for filming wise, they come here. Um, most people it's not, I mean, I think the, I've had people from New York. from London, from Africa. I mean, they've come from all over filming, but a lot of people come from Dallas for filming and, and Houston, stuff like that. But, um, for them, it's just a day trip, you know, it's easy. And then they just stay close by and finish filming. So, wow. It makes it convenient for them that they can hire people from Austin or San Antonio or something like that. A

Penny Fitzgerald 34:41

little bit of a culture shock from London, I would think.

Amanda Smith 34:43

A little bit. A little bit. Yeah. They did a documentary here. Yeah. Really?

Penny Fitzgerald 34:47

What, what was that? What was the documentary?

Amanda Smith 34:51

It was like a discoverer. America type thing. Oh, okay. It was pretty, pretty neat. They came here and I remember someone sending me a screenshot like you're on TV. Like it wasn't me, but like our town was all on TV. I was like, Oh, cool. Come visit. It was really neat. We had, um, Yeah, from, so we've had from Africa, from New York, London, uh, North Carolina, Dallas, Houston, trying to think. Those are visitors

Penny Fitzgerald 35:24

or, or, um, like filming or both?

Amanda Smith 35:27

Everything.

Penny Fitzgerald 35:28

Everything. A little bit

Amanda Smith 35:29

of everything.

Penny Fitzgerald 35:30

Yeah. Wow. And so you have, um, witnessed A lot

Amanda Smith 35:38

I kind of seen it all.

Penny Fitzgerald 35:39

Yeah. Okay. So what fun stories can you tell me

Amanda Smith 35:42

Well, Mickey Gilley was really fun. Yeah. So he was fun in the, in the saloon? Yeah. Um, it was a tractor commercial. That's what he was there for. Really? And he sang the, you know, all Pretty Girls, you know, that song and

Penny Fitzgerald 35:56

Yeah.

Amanda Smith 35:56

Um, but that was a tractor commercial. They came from Houston. He was friends with the, the lady that owns, uh, UVC tractors, bad boy tractors and out of Houston. And so she got him to come here and he's sweet, man, and everything. And so we were in there and his piano player was playing at the close by the bar and the saloon and he was singing and we were dancing and stuff. And yeah, it was a fun skit to do. So holy cow. And then we had a guy jump off the roof of the saloon for a stunt. And then a guy go through the window in the saloon. Cause we put breakaway glass and stuff. A little bit of everything.

Penny Fitzgerald 36:42

Holy cow. Okay. I'm going to be paying really close attention next time I watch one of those. It's

Amanda Smith 36:49

pretty neat. Yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald 36:50

I bet. I bet. So, and have you, um, Have you worked with other stars that we would recognize that people listening would know?

Amanda Smith 36:59

So in Moonrise, I worked with Granger, Granger Smith, um, and his wife, they're super nice, very nice people down to earth. Just,

Penny Fitzgerald 37:09

I love when they're nice. You know, when you hear stories about people being that are super famous and they're really good people,

Amanda Smith 37:16

they're really, really nice. And, um, Who else? On The Chosen, everybody on there are just down to earth, great people. Um, Jonathan, the, the guy that plays Jesus is just as humble as he could be, just. great guy. Um, my dad has worked with Sam Elliot. Oh, really? Yeah. He worked on 1883. Yeah. He said that he is the best guy ever. And just like how we're talking, he said, that's how he was just down to earth. Like just best guy to me. He said he loved working with him.

Penny Fitzgerald 38:02

That's awesome to hear. I'm sure that, um, some of the ladies that are coming this September would be really excited to see Sam Elliott, this girl included.

Amanda Smith 38:13

I mean, I wish he would be here, but dad's got a picture with him. It was so nice. I mean, I've got a, let's see, I've got a picture somewhere. He signed a picture for me of dad and Sam Elliott. So I got that. And he, so it was really nice. I was sick whenever dad was filming. So I couldn't go see him. And so. stuff. So he signed a picture for me, so that's done a lot of work with people. And my dad is very, when you meet him, he's. He's probably one of the most humble people you'll ever meet. Like, I mean, one of the ladies that works here, she always says, like, she's our biggest, our biggest fan and stuff because people were like, Oh, you do the, I said, we're just us. Like we, we're just people. We just do our job. We have fun. We love doing what we do. And, uh, And so she always tells people with they're a star. No, we're not stars. We just love what we do. It's great. Like we're blessed with the opportunity to do what we do. And, um, and so she cracks me up, but she's always, um, boasting and stuff about us, but we're, we're like, no, no, we're just us, but dad, he's got to work with, um, Nicholas Cage and, uh, Jennifer Garner. Regina Hall and, and big, you know, some big people. And dad, he's just like, yeah, it's cool. Yeah. It's another new friend. Yeah. I'm like, ah, okay, dad. Yeah. Yeah. The first movie I ever worked on was in, um, New Mexico and Drew Waters. And he's, he's been in a lot of films and he's just a super nice guy. And. He came here a couple of years ago to see our town and stuff and just, you know, just, Hey, how's it going Amanda? Just, you know, chit chatting and stuff. And I'm like, Oh, this is cool. Just remembered us. So very cool. When they do that.

Penny Fitzgerald 40:14

Yeah. Very, you know, it's the thing that is striking me is you've followed your passion and then look at what all it's brought you, all the opportunities, all of the family time. Yeah. And the experiences.

Amanda Smith 40:30

That always means the most out of everything.

Penny Fitzgerald 40:33

That's what I

Amanda Smith 40:33

think, like Dad and I, we get to do so much together and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Penny Fitzgerald 40:38

No, for sure. Wow. Well, you have, you have been very easy and fun to work with. Um, I'm just so excited to bring our group there and we're going to have a blast. Um, okay. So what I usually ask towards the end of my episodes is, what's your favorite cocktail or glass of wine?

Amanda Smith 40:59

Um, I like Merlot.

Penny Fitzgerald 41:02

Nice.

Amanda Smith 41:02

Good Merlot. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 41:05

I think we're going to taste a few of those when we're there. Yeah, I do like that. And let's see. Cocktail. Hmm. I like, huh? You're kind of in margarita country, aren't you?

Amanda Smith 41:22

I do like, I do like a good margarita. If it's a good margarita, I do like a good margarita.

Penny Fitzgerald 41:27

Fresh squeezed and yes. Yeah.

Amanda Smith 41:29

I like them more on the rocks. instead of a first. Me

Penny Fitzgerald 41:32

too. I do

Amanda Smith 41:33

like them on the rocks. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 41:34

Yep. Me too. I think that

Amanda Smith 41:36

might be more of my go to. Like if I don't know what I want, I would go for a margarita. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 41:41

Yep. You have a fun memory with friends or family over a nice cocktail

Amanda Smith 41:47

My sister in law and I, we normally would go, like, go to the movies and, uh, go have a drink or something. Um, that would be when we'd have time with the, with the kids, without the kids doing something. We haven't had to do that in a while. I'm like, okay, you know, school starts soon. So we need to go do that, right? School night. She's like, I know. So we're trying to, we're running out of time. Right. Yeah. Hopefully we get to do that soon, but we're

Penny Fitzgerald 42:20

sure you got to stay connected with family and friends and adult time is always yes,

Amanda Smith 42:26

that's, that's normally we normally would go to, um, Torchies and, uh, or Torchies or, uh, Chewy's Chewy's. Um, I like the, um, they have a, uh, martini. It's a, um,

Penny Fitzgerald 42:38

a Cosmo.

Amanda Smith 42:39

Like, uh, no, it's, uh, I think it's called like a New Mexican Martini. It's kind of like a spicy martini.

Penny Fitzgerald 42:47

It's

Amanda Smith 42:47

got like jalapeno infused. Have you ever had that?

Penny Fitzgerald 42:51

Not that I know of, but I have had jalapeno infused margaritas. No,

Amanda Smith 42:58

it's pretty good.

Penny Fitzgerald 43:00

I'm going to have to try that.

Amanda Smith 43:01

Yeah, it's at Chewy's and I think it's an, I think it's called a New Mexican Martini. Okay. Is that right in Blanco? No, it's in San Antonio. Like all the, okay. You don't have like big restaurants here. Um, Chewy's is like at any like big, big, uh, Like Austin, San Antonio, so yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 43:20

Yeah, I think some of our girls are spending a couple extra days either in Austin or in San Antonio. I know my, some of my friends and I are staying in San Antonio a couple extra days. So I'll have to look for that.

Amanda Smith 43:32

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald 43:34

Nice. Well, is there any, anything else that I haven't asked you that you'd like to share?

Amanda Smith 43:39

No, I don't think so. Um, I just appreciate you doing this and, and letting me explain about the museum and the town. I really appreciate that. So I'm glad you're looking to come.

Penny Fitzgerald 43:51

Yeah, I'm excited. So, um, how can people find you if they want to come visit the museum or if they want to check out the buggy barn and all that? What, how should they find you?

Amanda Smith 44:01

So we're on, uh, Facebook at just Buggy Barn Museum and then Instagram, Buggy Barn Museum. I do have the town Pine Moore Old West Studio, um, both Facebook and Instagram. Okay. And then, uh, the website is Buggy Barn Museum. I have some pictures and stuff on the website. I don't have a lot because I want people to come and see. So I kind of just give a little bit of, information. And that way it kind of intrigues them to show up. But I post a lot of stuff on Facebook so that like what we're doing and, um, events that we're trying to, or we've been a part of and stuff like that, like our California trip and everything. And then, uh, you can always email me at amanda. buggybarn at gmail. com. And, um, but yeah, I'm always happy to answer questions. Nice.

Penny Fitzgerald 44:58

Well, very cool. I'm just so excited to see you in person and, um, share a fun evening with you and, um, with y'all got to get my Texas on. I know

Amanda Smith 45:10

it's so funny. One time I was talking to somebody and the lady, she was like, well, you don't sound very Texan. And I was like, Okay. And then I said, okay, well, I look forward to seeing y'all. And she goes, there it is. It's

Penny Fitzgerald 45:25

like, okay.

Amanda Smith 45:31

Sneaks out every once in a while. Yeah, I

Penny Fitzgerald 45:34

get it.

Amanda Smith 45:35

You can't get

Penny Fitzgerald 45:37

the home accent can't. be too far away.

Amanda Smith 45:40

I mean, I've been here my whole life. I don't know how more Texan I am going to be, but yeah, your family lineage, you

Penny Fitzgerald 45:47

got it. Nice. Well, it is so nice to chat with you and see you and, um, can't wait to see you in person and share a cocktail.

Amanda Smith 45:58

Looking forward to it.

Penny Fitzgerald 45:59

Yeah, for sure. Well, thank you again, Amanda. I appreciate it. And I'll let you know. Um, you know, I'll share stuff on social media so you can use it in your promotions and stuff too.

Amanda Smith 46:09

Sounds great. Thank you so much.

Penny Fitzgerald 46:10

Nice. Thank you. And have a great day. You too.

Amanda Smith 46:14

Bye.