Boerne actor C. Glynn Praesel plays Shane Stocksteal in ''Palo Pinto Gold.'' (Courtesy photo)

On a site where dairy cattle grazed in peaceful silence, the sounds of the Old West are roaring back to life.

Enchanted Springs Ranch sits on 86 acres west of Boerne, but its reach goes farther afield via television commercials, movies and documentaries that are shot on the picturesque site.

The business is owned by Steve and Vicki Schmidt and Grant and Pam Jacobs. On the bucolic site are some 30 buildings that are used as the backdrop for weddings, parties, corporate events and the aforementioned commercials and films.

Steve Schmidt grew up in Fredericksburg and served in the U.S. Air Force. Eight years ago, after a brief stint in Leon Springs, he and Vicki bought 86 acres of what had been the 1,000-acre Knowlton Creamery dairy farm.

“Steve loves the Old West,” Grant Jacobs explained. “(Enchanted Springs Ranch) started as a project he was doing on his own, but one thing led to another.”

What it led to was a business venture, begun in 2004, that revolves around a complete Old West town. The village, carefully constructed for historical 1800s accuracy, is used 90 percent of the time for special events, Jacobs said.

There are saloons, the Silver Spur and the Six Gun Saloon, as well as such commercial enterprises as First Bank, Miss Vicki’s Dress Shop, a mercantile building and a blacksmith.

There is also an Indian encampment, a vast meadow, two lakes and a waterfall.

Singer/actors Mel Tillis, seated center, and Roy Clark, seated left, work out a scene in ''Palo Pinto Gold,'' filmed in Boerne. (Courtesy photo)

Enchanted Springs was the site of filming of “A Tejano Son of Texas” and a History Channel reenactment of the battle of Palo Alto for its “Battlefield Detectives” feature. More recently, “Palo Pinto Gold” was produced there over a 30-day period.

Grant Jacobs, who is Vicki Schmidt’s brother and is retired from a law enforcement career in Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif., said being part of Enchanted Springs has been exciting.

“It has been a learning curve for all of us. None of us had ever owned a business before or been in the hospitality industry. But we’re very excited about the growth and the very positive press,” he said.

Enchanted Springs is a family business that employs about a dozen people and welcomes volunteers from all over the state who come to do living history re-enactments.

The ranch also is open to the public for guided tours and wagon rides.

For more information, visit the Web site: www.enchantedspringsranch.com.