Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa, A 4-star hotel in Lajitas, Texas Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Pamplin and his partners invested $25 million to expand the resort adding a new hotel and increasing the number of golf holes from 9 to 18. He said his condition was a recent development. During droughts, people will live on water saved in rooftop rain-catchment systems, showering and flushing the toilet once a week. Black Jacks Crossing Golf Course Awards & Accolades, For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758. 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. Every facet of life in that trading post was filled with spirit, Ivey said. But the other reason for the difficulty in determining someones age out there cuts the other way. On the banks of the Rio Grande between Big Bend national and
But it wasnt. He collects music memorabilia, and has a collection that includes autographs of Jackson Browne and drumsticks signed by the Eagles. Lajitas Golf Resort is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Bring on the Shiplap. [13], The TV miniseries, Streets of Laredo was also filmed in Lajitas.
Working at Lajitas Golf Resort | Glassdoor Unlike Mr. Smith, whose persona became intertwined with his
Double check when in the area for the correct local time when visiting. The resort couldn't turn a
William H. Emory also visited Lajitas in 1852. About 10 minutes later, Ms. Ryan appeared down the road, clad
According to Beasley, the monument is a gift. "This thing is so beautiful, and there's nobody here.". Smith believed that if he made it softer and more like other places, he could broaden the appeal. The omicron variant has arrived in the U.S. as Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers is blocked by a federal judge. Scott Beasley, whose company WSB Resorts and Clubs manages Lajitas among other businesses and properties, said he is committed to having the resort show a profit in 2017 - if not sooner. Lajitas Golf Resort 1,061 reviews #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas Review Save Share 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015 1 (877) 525-4827 Visit hotel website E-mail hotel Check In / / Check Out / / Guests Contact accommodation for availability. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the
The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. And he managed to build and landscape some beautiful facilities. beer-guzzling goats and the legend of Pancho Villa could lure the
That population boom influenced a boom in another town, just 13 miles away: Lajitas.
He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. Dallas, Texas 75201. natural gas transportation company Energy Transfer Partners. 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. 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. I was doctor, vet, lawyer, marriage counselor, pharmacist, and an importer of wax. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. [7] Warren went to White Oak High School. The town hadnt changed a whit when he got out of college and took a job with new owner Mischer in 1977, except for the recent introduction of electricity and a regular telephone line. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Dec. 22, 2007 - LAJITAS, Texas -- Not even $100 million,
Your County. The Lajitas area was then bought by Rex Ivey, Jr., who brought electricity to the community in 1949 and sold part of it to Walter M. Mischer, a Houston entrepreneur and owner of Mischer Corporation. It then became a port of entry when several cattle ranches and mining enterprises appeared in Coahuila and Chihuahua in Mexico and increased commerce across the Rio Grande River. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. There were weeks of discussion leading up to the 13-1 Council vote on September 5, 2017, ending with it being taken down and stored. View more hotels in Lajitas Now the owner has put a huge statue of Robert E Lee right on the golf course. Lajitas Golf Resort 94 reviews Claimed $$$ Hotels, Golf, Day Spas Edit Open Open 24 hours See hours See all 236 photos Write a review Add photo 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 From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. Bill grew up in that Lajitas, in the late fifties and sixties, attending school in Alpine but spending his weekends, holidays, and summers down by the river. Lajitas Golf Resort is perfectly situated between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend State Park: it is the ultimate resort destination. Lajitas Golf Resort. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions
Carmichael, California, United States. It became Steve Smiths problem when he bought the town of Lajitas at a public auction in February 2000. Please see our, 15 Beautiful Hikes in Big Bend National Park, 7 Best Things to Do in Marathon, TX (+ Tips! retreat, an offense to the desert and a leading hotel of the world. 6 IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING THE BIG BEND. Still, in a larger sense the buyer and his intentions dont really matter. It was mounted on a pediment in the middle of the golf courses putting green on Thursday, according to Scott Beasley, who manages the course for Dallas-based WSB Resorts and Clubs. I did nothing more than let it happen, and a real community is there now. Ms. Ryan told Mr. Warren she remembers years ago when the bar
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. They died.
The trading post was that communitys heart, the hub for little villages on both sides of the river. Asian money. If youre traveling on the cheap, that could make a funny story. He also funded the construction of a church and a school. "Lajitas" translates to "little flat rocks" in Spanish. old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking
Beautiful views yes. 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 . During sudden storms, their power will go out, and theyll be trapped wherever they are, the roads made impassable by flashing creeks trying to find the Rio Grande. Here, youll find everything from the award-winning golf course to the unassuming general store, from several restaurants to heaps of excursions, that make up many of the best things to do in Lajitas, Texas. just about 9,000 residents and a per capita income of about $15,000. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. Warren's gift was the largest, giving him naming rights. [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. Built in 1912, it was just a beaten-up, dirt-floor adobe, with a front porch constructed of railroad ties and rails drug from Terlinguas languishing quicksilver mines, and shade provided from a willow-leaf awning held in place by goat-pen wire. It can be quite a jolt. 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. NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News. [22] In 2012, press reports indicated he owned an estate on an island off the coast of Honduras. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. surrounding land that include an old mercury mining town and hunting
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. [2][3][4][6] He has been the co-chairman and co-CEO of Energy Transfer Partners since 2007. nine-hole golf course, in addition to the thousands of acres of
He has one son, Klyde Warren. It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 2.5 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at Lajitas Golf Resort. The Big Bend area is in Central Standard Time. The community boomed when quicksilver was discovered 11 miles from the community at the end of the decade. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. I think he was just writing checks.. he wants to put it more in touch with surrounding Brewster County, with
The private owner is Addison-based attorney Ronald Holmes of Holmes Firm PC, a friend of the course who was down in Terlingua for Thursdays dedication. Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. Its not the Grand Canyon, where you park your car, walk to the edge, take a picture, and then say, Okay, lets go to California now. Big Bend tourists want an active part in whats going on. Dallas sold the statue for $1.4 million in June after the City Council decided to auction it off. Warren also serves as chairman of the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity. 750 North St.Paul St. Columnar basalt that is similar to that of the Devils Postpile National Monument in California can be found in a high desert dry river falls area just north of Lajitas. H.W. It is named for his son. In the summer of 2003, Smith opened a remodeled trading post complete with air-conditioning, indoor baos, and a wine-and-coffee bar. Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. Dallas Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country.
Best Resorts and Rentals in Lajitas EXCLUSIVERent By Owner Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. Dallas businessman Kelcy Warren believes he can. As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. "It's the exclusivity. 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. 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. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. Dallas' Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. A short time later, he returned on his jet and to Dallas. Megan's Dog Adventures. with a $4.2 million bid. The settlement is named after the Boquillas flagstone found in the area. ), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! Ivey can speak to that loss with singular authority. The answer, as it turns out, is a little bit of both. In 1916 the interruption of commerce by civil unrest in Mexico, and isolated bandit raids into the US brought Gen. John J. Pershings troops to Lajitas, where they established a small cavalry post to monitor this critical river crossing. "It didn't feel right. Rooms cleans yes but lacking. He says
Lajitas Golf Resort is a 103 room resort with the number one public 18-hole golf course in Texas, spa, restaurant, saloon, 3 swimming pools, and a guest activity menu that includes shooting sports, equestrian riding, Subaru rentals, stargazer dinners on site, and guided jeep and ATV trips with local vendors. Copyright (c) 2007, The Dallas Morning News. lighting up as if nobody had approached her like that in a long while. The 11th Bomb Squadron operated from Marfa Field along the Rio Grande to El Paso.[14]. Good, 21701 FM 170 Lajitas, Texas 79852 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. enough time to make money and the businessman who can't seem to stop
Later, after as the horse became integrated into the Apache and Comanche culture, these nomadic tribes frequented the area, causing the Spanich to set up a series of Presidios and military colonies, one of which, San Carlos, lies 18 miles south of Lajitas. 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? At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. 1 (877) 525-4827. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. A major hotel chain. She said, You guys are execs at Lajitas, arent you? When they acknowledged they were, she said, I cant wait to tell everybody what redneck assholes you are. The table went silent, and when she walked off, one of the guys followed her to the bar and asked her not to say anything. slashed prices on the hotel rooms and began charging $29 a night at the
I hear once a week or more, from people I dont even know, who tell me how much the trading post meant to them and how sad they are that its gone, he said.
The first white settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. 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 deal was complete, except for a few papers that remained to be
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. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. If it didnt work out, Smith would just hire somebody else to start over. There was no plan at all, no directions from above. wonder at the house, garden, stones and path running down to the river. 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. Save. Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. [2][3][6] From 1981 to 1992, he worked for Endevco. braided. He gave generously to local fire and EMS departments. He also hosted monthly dances and impromptu barbecues, when conjunto bands, crossing back into Mexico after performing stateside quinceaeras, would stop in and play for free beer. In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. And frankly, I dont think Smith even knows. What emerged was part roadside attraction, motel, RV park and
goat. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. He started his career working for the Lone Star Gas Company. Our resort in West Texas is set among . Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Otherwise youre just buying dirt.. It was neat and comfortable, but somewhere in the two rooms there should have been a desk, and the television should have provided a clear picture and more than nineteen channels. A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. fried steak instead of $50 steaks. I paid $320 for a mid-priced suite in the Officers Quarters. Compare luxury resorts and resort hotels in Lajitas with Rent By Owner
state parks, Lajitas has long been one of the stranger outposts of the
The old trading post also remained operational. Suite 2100 Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing. By the late 90s, Lajitas and its sister town, Paso Lajitas, Chihuahua, Mexico had over 200 inhabitants. When I met him nearly two years later, he was thinking differently. He gave her $100 more, then walked out of the place as if everything was fine. And everyone carried guns back then, but they knew to check them with me at the door or Id lose my beer license. Ivey shakes his head as he realizes that this wasnt that long ago.
Had he really sprayed a compound on the ground in front of the Lajitas boardwalk that would keep dust from kicking up? He loves it out west. And he did sell plenty of beer, the most of any business in Brewster County, he estimates. Over one million acres of public land including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park offer hiking, camping, river running, horse riding, mountain bicycling, birding, jeep touring, and abundant sightseeing opportunities on paved and improved roads. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa HC 70, Box 400, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852 +1 432-424-5000 Website Open now : 07:00 AM - 9:00 PM See all (62) Food Service Value Atmosphere Food and ambience Local cuisine, American, Southwestern 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. McGuirk, who also helped manage the mining company in Terlingua and funded the construction of a church. signed. The Last Resort. The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. At the same time a number of cattle ranches and mining enterprises appeared in northern Chihuahua and Coahuila. [15][16], In 2012, Warren donated $10 million to help build Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. Admittedly the place was in bankruptcy, but it was still open and promising no drop in service. About us. Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. And the recollection of that night is one of the reasons there will be no pour-out on the porch for the death of Smiths vision. ", "There's a certain kind of people who need this place.". in the spare beauty of borderlands. Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting Sure enough, the hotel struggled to maintain even 50 percent occupancy, and a mere five private homes went up in his subdivisions. the rich never came in large numbers. "First let me shake your hand for asking that," Ms. Ryan said,
[11], In 2022, he ranked No. But if you just paid $7,000 to fly your jet out there, $900 a night for a condo on the boardwalk, and $165 for greens fees, you expect a little more. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s,
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. Weve had the best year weve ever had, said Beasley. [5], In 2020, Forbes gave Warren its lowest score for philanthropy, a "1." City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. Additionally, there were no televisions, the latter a rarity among communities in the decade. The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. 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. When I visited the Starlight in October, that waitress was still there. Earlier this year, Mr. Smith's dream officially ended in
bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. civilization. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual
profit. [17], The Kelcy Warren Foundation supports the Caddo Lake Institution, an organization with the mission of protecting the ecological, cultural and economic integrity of Caddo Lake and its associated wetlands and watershed. Yes there are several natural hot springs located on the resort property. newspaper, go to
The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. [2][3] He serves on the advisory board of his alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington. Pamplin sold the resort in 2006 to a group of investors led by Texas businessman Bob McNair. 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. On Monday, the sculpture completed a 600-mile journey to Black Jacks Crossing near the border, about a dozen miles from Terlingua. Still, Dennis struck me as an odd person to be championing the resorts willingness to act without a game plan.
Dallas' Robert E. Lee Statue Has Landed at Black Jack's Crossing Near [2], Starting in the 1980s as a joke, for many years the purported mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat. Warren said Thursday looking about. It was live-music night at La Kiva, the best of it played by a young female fiddle player from the Northeast whod put off grad school to take a job at Lajitas. empty and spiritual. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It was part of the borderland experience, and everyone got along fine. bankruptcy. Warren drove friends down to the banks of the Rio Grande looking for
Twelve miles east, on the Terlingua Ghost Town porchthe stretch of cement in front of the come-and-go storefronts where locals gather each evening to watch the Chisos Mountains change colors in the sunsetSmiths Ultimate Hideout, as his marketers called Lajitas, was already being derided as the Ultimate High Doubt. But unlike their city friends who made annual pilgrimages to Big Bend and worried that the new Lajitas would ruin the area, the beer drinkers on the porch watched Smith spend and felt a surprising amount of concern for him. A private buyer shipped it to a Lajitas golf course owned by oil and gas billionaire Kelcy Warren almost exactly two years since the Confederate . The first is the effect of the arid Big Bend environs, of the baking sun, beating winds, and unrelenting dust.