[21], Warren married the former Sherry Johnson on May 18, 1980, in Dallas, and they divorced in 1991. Copyright 2016 (c) | VisitBigBend.com | All Rights Reserved | Brought to you by the Brewster County Tourism Council |. the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, [7] The construction of the park cost about $90 million. 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. Rooms cleans yes but lacking. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. He then sold the land to Thomas V. Skaggs, who became successful in the Lajitas Wax Company, which sold candelilla wax. I only had two rules: no fighting and no spitting, at least not in the store. The result is a resort that is simultaneously swanky with somewhat exclusive vibeshelped along by the fact that there is literally nothing else aroundthat is also far more affordable than you might think. Front Desk: (432) 424-5000 [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. So life went in Lajitas, through the end of Iveys tenure in 1993, right up until Mischer sold out to Smith. No spam, ever. 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. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If you fall off a cliff, you will die. 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. However given [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. Mr. Warren, a Levis-jeans-and-cowboy-boot-wearing Texan from At first, we only knew the buyer by his online auction nameLawDude. [1] His father worked as a field hand for Sun Pipeline, a company now owned by Warren. bankruptcy. [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. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. The name Lajitas is Spanish for little flat rocks and refers to the Boquillas limestone of the area. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. [2], Due to the remoteness of the resort, Lajitas is served by the Lajitas International Airport, a private airport with a 6,503ft (1,982m) concrete runway. bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. outdueled San Francisco hotelier Manou Mobedshahi in the town's saloon lavished $100 million to turn the property into an exclusive refuge for One part Texas frontier town, and one part golf resort, Lajitas is 100% pleasure. Its sad. Its previous owner, Austin multimillionaire Steve Smith, Asian money. That determination will be made by the desert. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. He restored the community in 1976 with his corporation's subsidiary, Arrow Development Company. The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. Dallas businessman Kelcy Warren believes he can. Lajitas is also somewhat famous for having a drunk goat named Clay Henry for a mayoryes, you read that correctly! This indicates he was in the lowest 20% of billionaires rated. Sure enough, the hotel struggled to maintain even 50 percent occupancy, and a mere five private homes went up in his subdivisions. The first is the effect of the arid Big Bend environs, of the baking sun, beating winds, and unrelenting dust. Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 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. The outing had been arranged in part to show me the way the new folks in Lajitas were being accepted in the community. 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. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. See 1,059 traveler reviews, 860 candid photos, and great deals for Lajitas Golf Resort, ranked #1 of 1 hotel in Lajitas and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The lowest recorded temperature at the resort is 10 degrees Fahrenheit. From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. Though the Lajitas Resort dominates much of Lajitas today, you can still find many remnants of the original town of Lajitas aroundoften restored by the resort. In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas appointed Warren to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. 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. When I met him for a quick lunch in Alpine in October, his memories of the old store grew the conversation to two hours. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely 1 (877) 525-4827. Dallas Robert E. Lee Statue Has Landed at Black Jacks Crossing Near Terlingua. After dinner some of our group went back to the resort, but my tour guide on the trip, the Lajitas general manager whod been assigned to babysit me, wanted a nightcap. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. Seven or eight hours in a car gives you a sense of how far this is from civilization. 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. Proper golf attire is required on the golf course and in the clubhouse. lighting up as if nobody had approached her like that in a long while. Holmes did not return a call about the donation. 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. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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 month to Mr. Warren, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based And there was one other significant problem. Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. 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.). 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. Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. the Rio Grande. associates and friends who include former Dallas Cowboys Charlie Waters It had to be replaced. Aug 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. Just beyond the far end of the boardwalk, a long, columned breezeway divided the dark, leather-bound Thirsty Goat Saloon and the glass-walled Candelilla Caf overlooking the golf course. Id hold out a brown paper sack that theyd put their guns in, and Id put their groceries in that sack and hand it back to them when they were leaving. The trading post was also the only chance for gas in the area, and it wasnt unusual to see a pilot like Tinsley taxi his plane down the highway to the pumps to refuel. But the place could be friendlier to residents on this side of the river. That effort ran out of steam and money in 2007, and a group of investors bought the property, cut the prices in half, and have created a luxurious and affordable environment for visitors to Texas Big Bend. Voted #4 Course You Can Play in Texas Golfweek Magazine. Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. A stay in a historic hotel, a swanky villa, or even the resorts Maverick RV Park are all options at Lajitas Golf Resort. 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. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? He married Amy Hudson on June 3, 2010, in Dallas. Compare luxury resorts and resort hotels in Lajitas with Rent By Owner Lajitas, he hopes, may have another life yet. Nine of the 92 rooms were full, not including Mr. Warren's Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. The settlement is named after the Boquillas flagstone found in the area. The name comes from the bars design, a dug-out cave/mineshaft, and it has always had a more permissive atmosphere than the rest of the area. But the desert has always had a way of withering material ambition. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. The highest recorded temperature at the resort is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. The soul stays young, and that youth glows in the eyes, as lined as they may be. travelers to these 25,000 acres of Chihuahuan desert on the fringes of For those traditionally drawn to the place, whether they were rich or poor, comfort wasnt the major consideration. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. 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. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. If you take a plane, you just show up. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. 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. What emerged was part roadside attraction, motel, RV park and At some point in 2006 Smith decided to stop pouring his own fortune into Lajitas. Ivey can speak to that loss with singular authority. 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. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. property, Mr. Warren plans a largely hands-off approach. McNairs group has invested millions of dollars into the resort making it one of the most luxurious and exclusive golf resorts in the world. The trading post was that communitys heart, the hub for little villages on both sides of the river. Visit hotel website. [], To some drawing a golf flag may seem like a daunting task. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. Carmichael, California, United States. Still, in a larger sense the buyer and his intentions dont really matter. 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. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. with a $4.2 million bid. His ambition grew ever more glorious by the day: eight hundred residential lots of two acres or less, some selling for as much as $1 million, undeveloped; two championship golf courses, not desert-style, with grass growing only on greens and tees, but with a lush wall-to-wall carpet that would need a million gallons of water a day to stay green in summer months; an RV park with $100,000 slips for $500,000 motor homes; a 36,000-square-foot spa; four fancy restaurants; an amphitheater seating three thousand; an equestrian center; a hunting club. "What should we do here, Collie?" Thats a huge mistake. The people in Lajitas now know nothing about the place or its past at all. 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. "I'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. Dallas sold the statue for $1.4 million in June after the City Council decided to auction it off. Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing. This desert golf resort has breathtaking views that make it hard to believe that it is in our own backyard! the rich never came in large numbers. They want to hike, raft, and go get a beer on the porch in Terlingua. 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. A [6], Warren purchased the Roatan Electric Company (RECO) in 2008, where he serves as president and chairman of the board. Was he actually planning on repopulating Big Bend with the superrich dust-averse? profit. "In fact, I'd be shocked if there 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions [5] It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual [12] Before that, Lajitas had a school with 50 students in 1912. "I want to walk into the bar and hear laughter and just see [5] Neither the plane nor its pilot was affiliated with the resort, and Lajitas was in no way responsible for the crash. [13], The TV miniseries, Streets of Laredo was also filmed in Lajitas. [23], In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. He said his condition was a recent development. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. Only a few home sites ever sold. Farming along the floodplain caused an even further boom, causing Lajitas to build a store, a saloon, and a custom house in 1912. Lajitas Texas activities designed to keep your family as busy as it wants to be. To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the 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). The population remained at 50 in 1990 and grew to 75 from 2000 to 2010. The runway airport has full 100LL and Jet A fuel, complimentary tiedowns down services and offers transportation to the resort. [10], The 90th Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Border Air Patrol had a sector that traveled to Lajitas from Eagle Pass. 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. And he managed to build and landscape some beautiful facilities. ), 11 Great RV Parks Near Big Bend National Park, 9 Otherworldly Things to Do in West Texas. 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. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. [8], He lives in Preston Hollow, Dallas[5] on an 8+ acre estate on Park Lane valued at more than $30 million. Ivey would even get customers prescriptions filled on his weekly runs to Alpine. since 2003 and hopes to remove the exclusivity from the resort. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery. Pandemic unemployment benefits to end next month. Make no mistake, desert life is hard, and the sacrifices required are made hourly. Lajitas Golf Resort is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. 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. 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. She said the exclusivity of the resort was like 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. Any idea Dennis came up with was worth a try. Earlier this year, Mr. Smith's dream officially ended in It closed temporarily in 1910 and reopened six years later. And the beauty of that, as it related to Steve Smith, was the free rein Dennis had been given to create whatever he wanted. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. slashed prices on the hotel rooms and began charging $29 a night at the ), 17 Epic East Texas Towns + Cities to Visit. The resort was originally owned by oilman and entrepreneur Clayton Williams Jr. Williams purchased the property in 1983 and developed it into a golf resort. As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. About Lajitas Golf Resort. [7] Warren went to White Oak High School. It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. 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. 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. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort. View all View all photos (863) On the banks of the Rio Grande between Big Bend national and Mountains to a 7,500-foot landing strip surrounded by scrub brush and In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. [2][6] He served as executive vice-president Cornerstone Natural Gas from 1989 to 1990, and as president and CEO from 1993 to 1996. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Wild West-style complex in the area where Gen. John "Black Jack" McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. For more flight A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or
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