Shows within the Yellowstone universe aren’t just bring quality TV to viewers. The productions themselves are also bringing millions of dollars to the cities they shoot in.

The second season of 1923, the spinoff program on Paramount+ featuring the legendary Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, is set to shoot in Austin this summer. It’s expected that the show will be shooting on location from July through September.

That’s exciting for many different reasons. First, that means more episodes of the Yellowstone prequel series are coming sooner rather than later. Talk about great news for fans of the show, who have probably been left waiting for basically anything Yellowstone related to come out amid the lengthy delays of the main show’s fifth and final season.

And secondly, with 1923 leaving Montana for Texas (they also filmed parts of Season 1 in Africa and Malta), and shooting on site in Austin, Texas, for an extended period of time, the production is going to bring in a lot of money to the city of Austin. How much, you might be asking? Well, the Austin American-Statesman ran the numbers and gave this projection:

“The production of season two of the Paramount+ show ‘1923’ will pump more than $51 million into Austin’s economy from wages, hotel stays and other local services, the city of Austin estimates.”

The first season of the western drama was shot in Montana. But now, Austin, Texas is getting into the mix, and the city will benefit substantially because of it. The city of Austin will be providing small incentives to King Street Productions Inc. (the production company running the show) to hire local workers, which in turn rolls into a “0.5% return on the total of local wages paid by the production company.”

Jeremy Martin, the President and CEO of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, was thrilled that the incentive was approved and that 1923 filming in Austin could open the door for other future productions in the thriving Texas city:

“We’re excited by the prospect of adding to our creative and film industries. We strongly support projects that qualify for the City’s Economic Development Policy and provide a positive return to taxpayers.”

So it seems that there is good news all around. Austin, Texas gets an economy boost from the popular show, and the rest of us get to see the 1923 storyline continue.

That’s basically the textbook definition of a win-win scenario, isn’t it?

As Austin’s real estate market has exploded in recent years, the city’s toniest neighborhoods have kept their edge at the top of the market. 

The top signed contracts last week centered on the Barton Creek and Tarrytown neighborhoods, according to the Eklund Gomes Austin Luxury Report, which tracks signed contracts that last asked above $2 million.

The report found 15 new signed contracts. While sale prices are not public record in Texas, the deals last asked a combined $43.7 million, an average of $643 per square foot. The homes spent an average of 58 days on the market.

At the top of the list was 4609 Mirador Drive, which last asked $6.7 million, or $788 per square foot. The five bedroom home spans 8,500 square feet on two acres of land in Barton Creek. Dara Allen of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate had the listing. When the home was listed in April, the owner asked just under $7 million. It last sold in 2018, asking $4.6 million. 

The second-highest asking price for signed contracts came at 1409 The High Road, a newly built home overlooking the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve in West Lake Hills. The home last asked almost $5 million. 

With five bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half bathrooms, it spans 6,950 square feet and sits on just over half an acre. It also includes 1,400 square feet of outdoor living space. Todd Burgener of Douglas Elliman had the listing. 

Rounding out the top three is an outlier: 1600 Rio Grande Street is a historic mansion near the Capitol Building in downtown Austin. It is one of several large, picturesque homes that has served more recently as an office space. 

The property, also known as the Ruggles-Smith House, last asked just under $3 million. It hit the market in November, offering a Victorian-style mansion with a wraparound porch and a walk-out balcony on the second floor. 

Built in 1896, the house spans 3,370 square feet on a quarter of an acre. The listing mentions the property’s current commercial use but adds that it could switch back to a residence or a bed and breakfast. Jeff and Tish Darey of JBGoodwin had the listing. 

Texas left the Big 12 on top, and now, they’ll be entering the SEC with a bang.

The on-campus SEC celebration on June 30 will have festivities that run from 1-10 p.m., including an official ceremony at 8:30 p.m. with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife and President Jay Hartzell.

“UT’s move to the Southeastern Conference is an extraordinary moment for Texas Athletics, Longhorn Nation and our entire University. It is only fitting that we celebrate this occasion with a Texas-sized party on the Forty Acres, open to all,” Hartzell said in a release.

There will be “star-studded concerts” starting at 5:30 p.m., culminating with the headliner at 9:30 p.m., a “to-be-announced global superstar.”

Activities include the typical Texas football gameday traditions. Fans can expect food trucks, the Still Austin Music Lounge at the Main Mail, Big Bertha at 21st Street and the availability of exclusive Texas and SEC co-branded merchandise.

“This is a day we have been building towards for years,” Del Conte said. “We can’t wait to see the Burnt Orange and White come out for a jam-packed day of activities celebrating all of our traditions and create new memories as we join the SEC.”

There will be free parking in designated garages and surface lots beginning at 11 a.m.

Texas football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31 – Colorado State
• Sept. 7 – at Michigan
• Sept. 14 – UTSA
• Sept. 21 – ULM
• Sept. 28 – Mississippi State (SEC)
• Oct. 12 – vs. Oklahoma (SEC; Cotton Bowl – Dallas)
• Oct. 19 – Georgia (SEC)
• Oct. 26 – at Vanderbilt (SEC)
• Nov. 9 – Florida (SEC)
• Nov. 16 – at Arkansas (SEC)
• Nov. 23 – Kentucky (SEC)
• Nov. 30 – at Texas A&M (SEC)