[5], In 2020, Forbes gave Warren its lowest score for philanthropy, a "1." H.W. [10], The 90th Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Border Air Patrol had a sector that traveled to Lajitas from Eagle Pass. Hundreds of trees, including pears and plums that had no business being in the desert, were ordered before there was a plan to plant them and then planted before there was a way to water them. multi-million-dollar wire transfer for the property was in order, Mr. But the desert has always had a way of withering material ambition. A few months earlier he had been a passenger in a small plane that had taken off from Lajitas and had run out of gas over Ozona. Young as he was, that was surprising, so when he returned, I asked him how somebody with such a hard time getting around wound up in a job as physically demanding as carpentry. Mischer never made much money off the place and held onto it mostly out of love. In Rexs time Lajitas consisted of the trading post and an old cavalry post that was used as a hunting lodge, and Rex met Mischer when he came out for deer and dove hunts. By the late 90s, Lajitas and its sister town, Paso Lajitas, Chihuahua, Mexico had over 200 inhabitants. question. Unincorporated community in Texas, United States, "Old Cemetery In Lajitas, Texas, A Tiny Town That Abuts Big Bend National Park In Southwestern Brewster County, On A Bluff Overlooking The Rio Grande River In The Northern Part Of The Chihuahuan Desert", "Mayor Clay Henry III: A Word About the Mayor", "Clay Henry - Famous Beer-Drinking Dead Goat", "LAJITAS, TEXAS (414950), Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary", "Lajitas Resort: Why you better go now - El Paso Inc.: Publishers Column", "Death: Frank Q. Dobbs, producer, director and writer for television and movies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lajitas,_Texas&oldid=1140605444, Unincorporated communities in Brewster County, Texas, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Source: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:47. Copyright 2016 (c) | VisitBigBend.com | All Rights Reserved | Brought to you by the Brewster County Tourism Council |. Find Lajitas Resorts and Resort Rentals. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery. On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor Other bidders dropped out early and headed for the elevators, including an eight-man team of blue-suited lawyers representing a hotelier, followed by a couple of South Texas hunting buddies with fat wallets in the back pockets of their Wranglers. He said his condition was a recent development. At the same time a number of cattle ranches and mining enterprises appeared in northern Chihuahua and Coahuila. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. Plus: FC Dallas in the playoffs and Dak Prescott's long-awaited return. They talked about reopening the border crossing, reaching out We also offer our 5 Stand Sporting Clay Shoot, Cowboy Action shoot, Equestrian Center for family horseback rides, and many other [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. The Lajitas Golf Resort is a full-service golf resort and spa located in the Big Bend region of West Texas. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. [5] [24] He also owns an 8,000-acre ranch near Cherokee, Texas, [5] the 20,000-acre Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Lajitas, Texas, [25] and a private island near Roatn, Honduras. 1,059 reviews. Lajitas Golf Resort is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . On the Wide Plains West of Lubbock, a Chainsaw Carver Works From an Old Cotton Gin, Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Family Memories Echo Through an East Texas Shoe Shop, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards, Our Guide to Johnson City, Where You Can Stroll to Wineries and Museums. The general rides near the Texas-Mexico border. Dallas Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. Ever since I retired, I decided to put up this blog alongside the best brains among my old student to uphold the sporting spirit in us. Bring on the Shiplap. Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort. No spam, ever. Tucked away in Southwest Texas between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies the exquisite 27,000 acre Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa. He has [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. The first white settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Mr. Smith called it the Ultimate Hideout, but Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. Her answer: No dice. At the end of the meal, he tipped her $50. Nothing unusual about that or about the fact that a couple of the men were somewhat flirty with the waitress, an attractive young woman whod been living in the area for about a year. White Oak who also has a record label, has owned a home in Lajitas In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. Lajitas, he hopes, may have another life yet. Location & Hours 21701 Fm 170 Lajitas, TX 79852 Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More By Appointment Only Accepts Credit Cards Good For Kids Private Lot Parking 2 More Attributes About the Business Escape to Lajitas Golf Resort, no place like it in the world! 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015. newspaper, go to At some point in 2006 Smith decided to stop pouring his own fortune into Lajitas. But he couldnt play a full eighteen holes because much of the back nine was underneath the overflowing river. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. At press time two weeks later, the various parties were still trying to hammer out an agreement, and the door was open for someone else to swoop in and snatch it up. Good, 21701 FM 170 Lajitas, Texas 79852 Every day at five oclock sharp, when the whistle blew at Lajitas, the porch at the trading post became the spot for Big Bend happy hour. If you talk to the people who live in South County, youll quickly sense the difference between them and the kinds of people Smith meant to attract, and it is not one of money but philosophy. If you get bitten by a rattlesnake, youll die. A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. [4][5] The election included incumbent human mayor Tommy Steele, as well as a trading post wooden Indian named Kevin Zinter, and a dog named Buster. was Mr. Warren's first The resort couldn't turn a [11], In 2022, he ranked No. Lajitas officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. 10 or more click here, Traveler rating: 7.0 West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. To support Lajitas Vision of being recognized by our customers as the "Friendliest Resort in Texas!" You should champion this culture in every touch point of our business from our associates, guests, owners, and communities. he wants to put it more in touch with surrounding Brewster County, with When he decided to sell, Smith, a 54-year-old Austin-based telecommunications tycoon, showed up unannounced and unknown, stepping out of his helicopter just before the auction began to buy Lajitas on a whim for $4.25 million. Born in Gladewater, Texas, Warren grew up in White Oak, Texas, the youngest of four sons of Hugh Brinson Warren and Bertie Lee Kirby. For Share. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. The store itself was stacked deep with every conceivable necessity, from bulk beans and flour to appliances, auto parts, clothes, and ranch supplies. In 1852 Lt. William H. Emory visited the site as part of the first official US survey party. But the majority of voices around the horseshoe viewed it as a monument to white supremacy and oppression. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. She paints mandalas on old hubcaps to make a little Lajitas has a hot arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. On the wooden boardwalk, guests checked in in the grand lobby of the elegant Badlands Hotel, which is decorated like a high-dollar Old West guest house. The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. [9] Though a biblical rainstorm and lightning display in the night knocked out the resorts electricity for twelve hoursa common desert occurrence that, among other things, might incapacitate an alarm clock and cause one to miss an early tee timehe was still able to get on the course because no one else was playing that day. said Thursday aboard his private jet, flying over the desert and Davis It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. But he also waves his cowboy hat over his head and yells yeehaw like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove whenever he flies it into the Trans-Pecos. After Hours Scheduling. The contraband would be returned at a reception when they arrived. When I asked him what would happen if his dream didnt work, he said, Well, at least me and my friends will have a really nice golf course to play. (Smith declined to be interviewed for this article, and Texas Monthly happens to be one of his unsecured creditors, owed $35,000 for unpaid advertising.). The resort is currently owned by a group of investors led by Bob McNair. He restored the community in 1976 with his corporation's subsidiary, Arrow Development Company. But there was no place for a Mexican jukebox in the new Lajitas. [19] Upward of thirty people would gatherMexican workers, snowbirds from the RV park, boatmen and floaters just back from a river trip, and college kids whod stopped in to feed cervezas to Mayor Clay Henry, the towns famous beer-drinking goat. A crossing into Mexico, closed years ago, once ferried tourists beer-guzzling goats and the legend of Pancho Villa could lure the UT Dallas is paying students to get vaccinated. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. That determination will be made by the desert. Review. would have millionaires mixing with landscape workers and artists and Ivey can speak to that loss with singular authority. On the day of the wedding, after our adventure in. Lajitas International Airport is a privately owned airport for the use of the resort's guests and property owners located 4 miles East of Lajitas and 14 miles West of Terlingua adjacent to Big Bend National Park. [12] Warren received a COVID stimulus check in 2020 as he had reported large losses previously. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. In 1986 he sold his Huntsville-based restaurant chain, Tinsleys Chicken and Rolls, and made millions, and he used part of that haul to put a house on the river just upstream from Lajitas. Only a few home sites ever sold. fried steak instead of $50 steaks. The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued. [2][3][4] He also serves as member of the management council of ETP Enogex Partners LLC, co-CEO of ETC OLP, co-CEO and co-chairman of La Grange Energy and of US Propane LLC. Megan's Dog Adventures. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. The crossing was described as a smooth, rock bottom, and was best between Del Rio and El Paso. A skeet range was put in that had shooters firing over the bike trail. By then, consultants and friends had convinced Smith that the dream could be real, and toward that end he had already spent $40 million, which he estimated would be half of his ultimate outlay. Ive heard he spent between $80 million and $100 million, but I dont know, said one of the creditors attorneys, who asked not to be identified while the bankruptcy was pending. Black Jacks Crossing Golf Course Awards & Accolades, For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. Smith and a group of hastily scraped-together investors. One of the biggest selling points of Lajitas Golf Resort for many, though, is its location right next door to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Black Jack's Crossing But it also served as a gathering place for the areas whites, Mexicans, and Indians, none of whom batted an eye at the towns other prominent, permanent resident, an old man who refused to wear anything more than his underwear, in which he would daily pan for gold in the Rio Grande. It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. [2][6] He served as executive vice-president Cornerstone Natural Gas from 1989 to 1990, and as president and CEO from 1993 to 1996. Instead, a San Antonio law firm opened one of its large conference rooms to groups representing six would-be buyers, the interested and the curious. said. It is speculated that Cabeza de Vaca crossed the Rio Grande at Lajitas around 1530, and it is almost certain that Antonio de Espejos party did in 1588. The high bid at days end was $13.5 million, but the bidder, who wished to remain anonymous, hadnt offered enough money to pay all the creditors, and no deal was reached. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. it made people feel nervous," she said. And a federal judge approved the sale of Lajitas earlier this It is at an altitude of 2,200 feet on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande at the San Carlos ford of the old Comanche Trail, in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert and at the southern extreme of the Rocky Mountains. Before they were priced out of the RV park, snowbirds were staying for three- and four-month stretches to play $10-a-day golf, and they got to know all the resorts workers. The three-hundred-yard walk to dinner that night was unlit and took me through a construction pit, and the meal for me and my friend at the gourmet Ocotillo was decent but blandthe venison chop, snapper filet, and rattlesnake cake all tasted like their sauce. Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Ms. Ryan has squatted on the Lajitas property for 20 years, It is the kind of place where, after a few drinks, youre apt to forget that there are any rules at all. The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. It brings a satisfaction, not of beating the desert but of surviving it. EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . Lajitas Golf Resort. When Steve Smith bought the remote Big Bend town of Lajitas in 2000, he dreamed of building a lush, five-star retreat that would attract the likes of Tiger Woods and Tom Cruise. There was laughter from the table but not from the waitress. According to Ivey, Mischer encouraged all this. [20] He gave $1 million to Greg Abbott after the 2021 legislative session. They want to hike, raft, and go get a beer on the porch in Terlingua. For those traditionally drawn to the place, whether they were rich or poor, comfort wasnt the major consideration. making money. Dallas sold the statue for $1.4 million in June after the City Council decided to auction it off. Fly Direct to Lajitas from Dallas or Houston. Despite all this, Smith never did manage to get people to come in meaningful numbers, and when I stayed there in October, I understood why. I was writing a story that would run in the May 2002 issue of Texas Monthly on Smiths vision for Lajitas: the creation of a world-class, five-star golf resort and an exclusive development for multimillion-dollar vacation homes. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, Sure enough, the hotel struggled to maintain even 50 percent occupancy, and a mere five private homes went up in his subdivisions. It's a quick trip to Terlingua for other dining options, although we had breakfast at Candelilla and it was fabulous. in 3 reviews, The morning of our second day we explored the golf course and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. in 23 reviews, On the day of the wedding, after our adventure in Big Bend, we came back to resort and spent time lounging in the pool. in 12 reviews. [6], Lajitas is located on the eastern end of the Big Bend Ranch State Park. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. Now", "Castles in the ire: the minted moguls snapping up Ireland's stately homes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kelcy_Warren&oldid=1135081936, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 14:53. enough time to make money and the businessman who can't seem to stop The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. For more flight "Lajitas" translates to "little flat rocks" in Spanish. Boardwalk Bakery and Pizzeria. But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. The store and saloon were operated by H.W. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual [14], Warren has hosted the Cherokee Music Festival since it began in 2007. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa 100 Main St, Terlingua, TX 8.2 Very Good 608 reviews How we verify reviews 10 - Excellent 273 8 - Good 206 6 - Okay 78 4 - Poor 39 2 - Terrible 12 8.7/10 Cleanliness 8.6/10 Staff & service 8.0/10 Amenities 8.0/10 Property conditions & facilities 8.2/10 Eco-friendliness 8/10 Good Christopher Jan 5, 2023 Anglo-Americans first arrived around the time of the Mexican war. The wild spirit of the Big Bend region is in full effect at this stunning course whose name pays tribute to U.S. Army Gen. John "Black Jack . Located just east of Big Bend Ranch State Park, a visit to Lajitas, Texas may leave you wondering: is this a town or a resort? She and her husband have since purchased the place. when Houston real estate developer Walter Mischer Sr. first conceived a What emerged was part roadside attraction, motel, RV park and If you take a plane, you just show up. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Proper golf attire is required on the golf course and in the clubhouse. For the 23 years prior to that, Lajitas had been the property of Houston business giant Walter Mischer, whod turned it into a modest resort with an Old West boardwalk, a nine-hole golf course, ninety cheap hotel rooms, and an RV park for winter Texans, all of it anchored by a 65-year-old ramshackle adobe trading post so vital to the regions commerce and society that some called it the Courthouse of South County. Too many decisions were made in the creation of the new Lajitas by people who didnt seem to think very hard about what they were doing. Our automated scheduling system is available 24/7. Still, Dennis struck me as an odd person to be championing the resorts willingness to act without a game plan. Sitemap. View all View all photos (863) Theres a light in peoples eyes in far West Texas, a joy that comes with living exactly where and how a person wants. On the one hand, hes wealthy and owns his own plane. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or If youre traveling on the cheap, that could make a funny story. There was a reason Big Bend hadnt already been overrun by the wealthy: the Chihuahuan Desert. wonder at the house, garden, stones and path running down to the river. These days, Clay Henry can be found (stuffed) at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, but Clay Henrys descendants continued to act as mayorat least until his grandson met a gnarly fate. [2][3][6] From 1981 to 1992, he worked for Endevco. It had to be replaced. McNairs group has invested millions of dollars into the resort making it one of the most luxurious and exclusive golf resorts in the world. "I still think it could be something special," the 52-year-old Marlins David Tinsley has been a Lajitas weekender since falling in love with the region on his first river trip through Santa Elena Canyon, in 1974. Smiths money was the safety net, the answer to every problem, be it the overall concept or everyday moves that didnt work out. In nearly every article on Lajitas that ran in the early Smith years, he gave some variant of a quote he gave to me. [11] The Robert E. Lee on Traveller statue is on display at the resort. empty and spiritual. "Now I've got to go back to a different world," he said. Suite 2100 [8], He lives in Preston Hollow, Dallas[5] on an 8+ acre estate on Park Lane valued at more than $30 million. Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, Texas, United States, near the Big Bend National Park. If you talk to the people who live in South County. The community was said to be "about the only place where you can shoot 360 degrees", since Santa Fe and Sedona were already used up. in the spare beauty of borderlands. The community boomed when quicksilver was discovered 11 miles from the community at the end of the decade. Its just spectacular.. [1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. Always found it to be poorly maintained, with poor food service. At 1:48 p.m., the wire transfer went through for the property. Six beautiful tennis courts were built, then ripped up. But about halfway through the meal, one of the guys, no doubt feeling that freewheeling mixture of margaritas and desert remove, commented to the waitress, Weve got a pool going to see if your tits are real or fake.. Voted #1 Course You Can Play in Texas The Dallas Morning News "I'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. But the other reason for the difficulty in determining someones age out there cuts the other way. I even ran the rafting business out my back door, Ivey said. In the late 1890s quicksilver was discovered near Terlingua, eleven miles from Lajitas, and a rapid influx of people followed. [5], In 2020 Warren acquired Castletown Cox house and estate in County Kilkenny, Ireland for 12.6m. They should be selling its history and its culture. It is located on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande at San Carlos ford of the old Comanche Trail, in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert in southwestern Brewster County. 50% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Lajitas Golf Resort as positive. Commerce was interrupted by Pancho Villa and his bandits, bringing John J. Pershing and his troops to establish a cavalry post there in 1916. Im standing here on the putting green looking at it right now, Beasley said Friday morning. Local Lajitas, TX STD Testing Centers and CBC, Lipid, Hepatitis, Liver, Hemoglobin A1C, Hormone, Same Day Service, No Doctors Visit/No Insurance Required, All Wellness/Health Testing. His state-of-the-art gray water filtration system created a wetlands area on the golf course that, along with a 64-acre sanctuary on the river, brought birds to the region not commonly found in the desert. signed. H. W. McGuirk, the leading citizen of Lajitas from 1902 to 1917, operated the Lajitas Trading Post, farmed, and helped manage the Terlingua Mining Company. Fast forward another few decades, though, and Lajitas, TX experienced a curious twist of fate: a corporation from Houston bought the entire town, restored most of the buildings, and turned it into a resort for golfers and visitors exploring Big Bend Country. the rich never came in large numbers. http://www.dallasnews.com. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The name Lajitas is Spanish for little flat rocks and refers to the Boquillas limestone of the area. If youre on a mountain out there and a cold front comes in, you could freeze and die, he said. There was, in fact, a large contingent of resort employees in La Kiva that night, all of them transplants from around the United States but for one young woman who had grown up in the area. If youve visited the popular Terlingua Ghost Town, youve no doubt heard about the mercury mining boom that led to the towns explosion in population in the early 20th century. Yes there are several natural hot springs located on the resort property. I had been down in South County reporting for that story on the new Lajitas (and in my defense, Id not participated in the pool). 750 North St.Paul St. According to my minder, it was a place where we could get away from the snobs at the Starlight. living in the rusted hull of a bus, near a dirt path leading down to [23], In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. About Lajitas Golf Resort. There are similar hotels available. Its previous owner, Austin multimillionaire Steve Smith, lavished $100 million to turn the property into an exclusive refuge for the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking goat. retreat, an offense to the desert and a leading hotel of the world. You could get a six-pack of beer or a spark plug for a live chicken. Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. The 11th Bomb Squadron operated from Marfa Field along the Rio Grande to El Paso.[14]. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. The resort's unique destination is rich in Old West history.
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