There was laughter from the table but not from the waitress. RV park, where he says it used to take a $100,000 membership to stay. [18], Warren donated $6 million to Governor Rick Perry's presidential campaign. 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. On Friday, Mr. Warren sealed a $13.5 million deal to buy the Asian money. In the early days of the expansion, a number of Smiths captains went into the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua for dinner. Unable to find her, Mr. Warren wandered about with a look of In the late 1890s quicksilver was discovered near Terlingua, eleven miles from Lajitas, and a rapid influx of people followed. They want to hike, raft, and go get a beer on the porch in Terlingua. Located on the border of the U.S. and Mexico, Lajitas sprung up to accommodate the increased border crossings thanks to the nearby mines, and was complete with a customs house, a school, a church, and a post office (which operated until 1939). But he couldnt play a full eighteen holes because much of the back nine was underneath the overflowing river. Yes guests are welcome to bring their pets to the resort. It is named for his son. I think he was just writing checks.. When I met him for a quick lunch in Alpine in October, his memories of the old store grew the conversation to two hours. [2] He is a former co-chairman of Le Gp, OEC Compression. That party is over. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based ), 11 Great RV Parks Near Big Bend National Park, 9 Otherworldly Things to Do in West Texas. What Im Watching: Dallas Mavericks Basketball. Your County. people," Mr. Warren said from town, joined on the trip by business 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. He married Amy Hudson on June 3, 2010, in Dallas. The biggest attractions that draw visitors to Lajitas, of course, are Big Bend Ranch State Park to the west and Big Bend National Park to the east. Compare luxury resorts and resort hotels in Lajitas with Rent By Owner Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? By the early 80s, Lajitas on the Rio Grande had a 9 hole golf course, two lodging units, several condos, and was a local center of economic activity in Brewster County. 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. Lajitas officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. About Lajitas Golf Resort. Lajitas Golf Resort accepts credit cards. He even had employees ambush chartered busloads of seniors headed to his hotel, stopping their caravans on the highway and stealing their valuables. 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. She paints mandalas on old hubcaps to make a little It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. [26][27], "Kelcy" redirects here. In 1977 Ivey sold part of the Lajitas area to Houston entrepreneur Walter M. Mischer, of Mischer Corporation; Mischer had begun development and restoration of the community in 1977, under the name of the corporations subsidiary, Arrow Development Company. If you click through a link on Lone Star Travel Guide, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. On the banks of the Rio Grande between Big Bend national and White Oak who also has a record label, has owned a home in Lajitas 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. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. Ms. Ryan has squatted on the Lajitas property for 20 years, Our resort in West Texas is set among . [20] He gave $1 million to Greg Abbott after the 2021 legislative session. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. She and her husband have since purchased the place. But the other reason for the difficulty in determining someones age out there cuts the other way. money and support her songwriting. At first blush, its almost impossible to tell the age of a resident of south Brewster County, and there are two good reasons for that. 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. "This thing is so beautiful, and there's nobody here.". By the mid-1980s, Lajitas became a resort town with 15 businesses serving 50 people. The soul stays young, and that youth glows in the eyes, as lined as they may be. Lajitas Texas activities designed to keep your family as busy as it wants to be. According to Beasley, the monument is a gift. 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. models. He was also involved in a dispute with the IRS over $140 million in tax shelters. Guests can cancel their reservations up to 72 hours prior to arrival for a full refund. The first white settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s. The Lajitas Museum, which contained artifacts from the Big Bend area, was located just east of Lajitas. 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. 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 [2][3][6] From 1981 to 1992, he worked for Endevco. information click here And hell, thats the appeal!, Linda Walker, who has run the Lajitas Stables for more than twenty years, guiding horseback tours near the park and into Mexico, is not rich. "It's the exclusivity. Good, 21701 FM 170 Lajitas, Texas 79852 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 the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, The Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa is a 20,000-acre golf resort business in Lajitas owned by Texas businessman Kelcy Warren, who bought the resort from previous owner Steve Smith while the business was going through financial distress. Yes there are several natural hot springs located on the resort property. 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. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. 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. Proper golf attire is required on the golf course and in the clubhouse. Born in Gladewater, Texas, Warren grew up in White Oak, Texas, the youngest of four sons of Hugh Brinson Warren and Bertie Lee Kirby. We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. 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. Bring on the Shiplap. [12] Before that, Lajitas had a school with 50 students in 1912. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. "Black Jacks Crossing", designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer, Lanny Wadkins. EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . [1] His father worked as a field hand for Sun Pipeline, a company now owned by Warren. If you talk to the people who live in South County. Be aware that cell phones may inadvertently change to Mountain Time and cause you to be an hour behind schedule. Dallas, Texas 75201. On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. Lajitas General Store and Deli Thirsty Goat Saloon Pizza Menu Thirsty Goat Menu To make dinner reservations in The Candelilla restaurant, call 432-424-5032 Candelilla Cafe Offering an Interesting Twist on Traditional Tex Mex Cuisine Candelilla Caf Hours of Operation 7 am - 10 pm Daily bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. The general rides near the Texas-Mexico border. Pizzeria Attendant / Barista; F&B Management. He then sold the land to Thomas V. Skaggs, who became successful in the Lajitas Wax Company, which sold candelilla wax. 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. I did nothing more than let it happen, and a real community is there now. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. The name Lajitas is Spanish for little flat rocks and refers to the Boquillas limestone of the area. I think that's the biggest thing that's Still, in a larger sense the buyer and his intentions dont really matter. He says [5] In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. In 1852 Lt. William H. Emory visited the site as part of the first official US survey party. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. But we also know that they expect more than Kelloggs and Minute Maid. The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Wild West-style complex in the area where Gen. John "Black Jack" Aug 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. A skeet range was put in that had shooters firing over the bike trail. Always found it to be poorly maintained, with poor food service. enough time to make money and the businessman who can't seem to stop 289 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, with an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion. Only a few home sites ever sold. Dallas Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. Her answer: No dice. At the end of the meal, he tipped her $50. 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015. The region was sparsely inhabited for thousands of years by semi nomadic peoples related to the Patarabueyes and Jumanos tribes before the Spanish arrived. So life went in Lajitas, through the end of Iveys tenure in 1993, right up until Mischer sold out to Smith. and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. [7] The construction of the park cost about $90 million. Your News. You could get a six-pack of beer or a spark plug for a live chicken. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual And frankly, I dont think Smith even knows. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. ", "There's a certain kind of people who need this place.". 50% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Lajitas Golf Resort as positive. A In 1999 Williams sold the resort to a group of investors led by Dickie Pamplin. Lajitas Golf Resort. But the majority of voices around the horseshoe viewed it as a monument to white supremacy and oppression. Anglo-Americans first arrived around the time of the Mexican war. The resort couldn't turn a slashed prices on the hotel rooms and began charging $29 a night at the 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 . If youre on a mountain out there and a cold front comes in, you could freeze and die, he said. Yes the resort offers weddings and other special events. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. He also donated $103,000 to President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. And Mischer wanted the place to be fun. The highest recorded temperature at the resort is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. lighting up as if nobody had approached her like that in a long while. Its sad. Voted #4 Course You Can Play in Texas Golfweek Magazine. [2][3] He serves on the advisory board of his alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. Now $179 (Was $201) on Tripadvisor: Lajitas Golf Resort, Lajitas. Voted #1 Course You Can Play in Texas The Dallas Morning News H.W. During droughts, people will live on water saved in rooftop rain-catchment systems, showering and flushing the toilet once a week. They should be selling its history and its culture. At first, we only knew the buyer by his online auction nameLawDude. would have millionaires mixing with landscape workers and artists and 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 . across the river. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. But back on the road, he was still thinking about the woman. The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued. Ivey can speak to that loss with singular authority. 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. So when you meet someone who lives in Terlingua or Study Butte or Lajitasthat area known in local shorthand as South Countyyou might not be able to tell if hes thirty or sixty. Then, this summer, after resort revenues failed to live up to the terms of the loan, the lender posted the property for foreclosure, and Lajitas filed for Chapter 11 protection. And there was one other significant problem. [22] In 2012, press reports indicated he owned an estate on an island off the coast of Honduras. 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. Beautiful views yes. "Head out to the tee whenever y'all want," was the refrain from the golf shop on this idyllic, sunny Tuesday morning in April. The piece was made in 1935, well after the end of the Civil War, and depicts Lee on his horse alongside another Confederate soldier. To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the associates and friends who include former Dallas Cowboys Charlie Waters Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. 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. [6], Lajitas is located on the eastern end of the Big Bend Ranch State Park. [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. We offer world class golf on our award He also funded the construction of a church and a school. McGuirk, who also helped manage the mining company in Terlingua and funded the construction of a church. Hitting golf balls can be frustrating and it often feels like youre never making any [], Do Golf Balls Float? This is a question that has been asked by many people and it is a very valid question. Ivey would even get customers prescriptions filled on his weekly runs to Alpine. Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. Restaurant Manager; Facilities. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely The crowds would grow to three hundred people and still be going when Ivey showed up for work the next morning, when he would finally shoo folks away. When I met him nearly two years later, he was thinking differently. he wants to put it more in touch with surrounding Brewster County, with party. City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. 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. Black Jack's Crossing The store itself was stacked deep with every conceivable necessity, from bulk beans and flour to appliances, auto parts, clothes, and ranch supplies. Plus: FC Dallas in the playoffs and Dak Prescott's long-awaited return. to come back with his 5-year-old son. 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'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. [11] The Robert E. Lee on Traveller statue is on display at the resort. Prior to the combination of the operations of ETP and Heritage Propane in 2004, Warren co-founded the entities that acquired and operated the midstream natural gas pipelines that were contributed in the merger. A stay at Lajitas Golf Resort is an opportunity to step 100 years back into the history of . Warren's gift was the largest, giving him naming rights. The old trading post also remained operational. 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. Commerce was interrupted by Pancho Villa and his bandits, bringing John J. Pershing and his troops to establish a cavalry post there in 1916. He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. You cannot mess with that country. On Monday, the sculpture completed a 600-mile journey to Black Jacks Crossing near the border, about a dozen miles from Terlingua. That population boom influenced a boom in another town, just 13 miles away: Lajitas. #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas. the rich never came in large numbers. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. However given [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. What emerged was part roadside attraction, motel, RV park and She said the exclusivity of the resort was like Had he really sprayed a compound on the ground in front of the Lajitas boardwalk that would keep dust from kicking up? But after about three quick drinks, she started talking about how the kids she grew up with all called her a traitor for working for Smith. The elevation of the course is 3500 feet. month to Mr. Warren, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based Additionally, there were no televisions, the latter a rarity among communities in the decade. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing. Instead, he paid dearly to learn an age-old lesson: The desert always wins. In mid-October, Lajitas was back up for sale.