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. The elevation of the course is 3500 feet. The Kolaches of West, Texas (Bakeries + Beyond), 13 Useful Tips for Visiting the Alamo in San Antonio, How to Visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, TX (+ Photos & FAQ), 10 Great Texas Gulf Coast RV Parks (Beach Trip Ideas), 10+ Tips for Round Top, TX Shopping Trips (Antiques Fair Advice! Ms. Ryan told Mr. Warren she remembers years ago when the bar "She certainly has the coolest house," he said. Dennis smiled and said something that hinted roughly at the wonders of clean canvases, bottomless toolboxes, and endless lumber supplies, and then excused himself to go to the restroom. 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. He sat me down at a table with a guy in his late-thirties named Dennis, who was a carpenter on the crew redoing the lobby of the Badlands Hotel. Be aware that cell phones may inadvertently change to Mountain Time and cause you to be an hour behind schedule. Voted #4 Course You Can Play in Texas Golfweek Magazine. Holmes did not return a call about the donation. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. He also funded the construction of a church and a school. No stranger rode into town with his checkbook in his teeth to run up the bidding and take the place over. Smiths money was the safety net, the answer to every problem, be it the overall concept or everyday moves that didnt work out. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. multi-million-dollar wire transfer for the property was in order, Mr. 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. [2][3][4][6] He has been the co-chairman and co-CEO of Energy Transfer Partners since 2007. During droughts, people will live on water saved in rooftop rain-catchment systems, showering and flushing the toilet once a week. 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. 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. 1 (877) 525-4827. Our automated scheduling system is available 24/7. contact@lajitasgolfresort.com, 2014 Lajitas Golf Resort Every facet of life in that trading post was filled with spirit, Ivey said. Its just spectacular.. [2], In the 1970s the community had one telephone, and newspapers were delivered one day later than their normal dates. the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, 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. About us. to the community and about music. newspaper, go to The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. world. 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 officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. [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. Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. 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. goat. Tel: 1-877-LAJITAS Lajitas has a hot arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Im a sports expert and lover. Double check when in the area for the correct local time when visiting. It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. 1,059 reviews. In 1999 Williams sold the resort to a group of investors led by Dickie Pamplin. [13], The TV miniseries, Streets of Laredo was also filmed in Lajitas. [20] He gave $1 million to Greg Abbott after the 2021 legislative session. Its previous owner, Austin multimillionaire Steve Smith, But we also know that they expect more than Kelloggs and Minute Maid. In nearly every article on Lajitas that ran in the early Smith years, he gave some variant of a quote he gave to me. 10 or more click here, Traveler rating: 7.0 [1] His father worked as a field hand for Sun Pipeline, a company now owned by Warren. Her answer: No dice. At the end of the meal, he tipped her $50. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News. Locals speculated that he was struggling financially, and the monthly Big Bend Gazette reported that Lajitas was not the only Smith-related enterprise to recently declare bankruptcy. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. 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 first white settlers came to the area in the mid-1800s. Commerce was interrupted by Pancho Villa and his bandits, bringing John J. Pershing and his troops to establish a cavalry post there in 1916. But the other reason for the difficulty in determining someones age out there cuts the other way. If you fall off a cliff, you will die. The people in Lajitas now know nothing about the place or its past at all. Ivey can speak to that loss with singular authority. View 72 homes for sale in Lajitas, TX at a median listing home price of $89,000. We also offer our 5 Stand Sporting Clay Shoot, Cowboy Action shoot, Equestrian Center for family horseback rides, and many other [2] He is a former co-chairman of Le Gp, OEC Compression. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. for your away-from-it-all adventure. 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. 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. Warren said Thursday looking about. Unable to find her, Mr. Warren wandered about with a look of 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. Mr. Warren, a Levis-jeans-and-cowboy-boot-wearing Texan from [2][3] He serves on the advisory board of his alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington. Nearly every living thing a desert dweller encountersbe it plant, bug, or beastis capable of drawing blood. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 289 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, with an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion. The general rides near the Texas-Mexico border. I even ran the rafting business out my back door, Ivey said. The deal was complete, except for a few papers that remained to be To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the 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. According to my minder, it was a place where we could get away from the snobs at the Starlight. [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. View all View all photos (863) Youre not prepared for what you get.. models. A motel stood on the same land in the 1980s. Dallas most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. the handmade home of Collie Ryan. 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 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. empty and spiritual. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. "It's the exclusivity. In the late 1890s quicksilver was discovered near Terlingua, eleven miles from Lajitas, and a rapid influx of people followed. Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. "misery ground into the walls. Bridlie Hospitality, to operate the resort. "Head out to the tee whenever y'all want," was the refrain from the golf shop on this idyllic, sunny Tuesday morning in April. Had he really sprayed a compound on the ground in front of the Lajitas boardwalk that would keep dust from kicking up? 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. with a $4.2 million bid. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. Please see our, 15 Beautiful Hikes in Big Bend National Park, 7 Best Things to Do in Marathon, TX (+ Tips! 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. About 10 minutes later, Ms. Ryan appeared down the road, clad nine-hole golf course, in addition to the thousands of acres of the Rio Grande. Lajitas Golf Resort is perfectly situated between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend State Park: it is the ultimate resort destination. bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. Keep in mind that the second is a somewhat further drive due to the fact that youll need to take a roundabout route to get thereits not nearly as accessible as it looks on a map! In 2000, when the property went up for auction, Mr. Smith just about 9,000 residents and a per capita income of about $15,000. Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort. The piece was made in 1935, well after the end of the Civil War, and depicts Lee on his horse alongside another Confederate soldier. Asian money. [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. Owner is the CEO of Energy Transfer. He started his career working for the Lone Star Gas Company. 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. Make no mistake, desert life is hard, and the sacrifices required are made hourly. 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. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. McNairs group paid $132.5 million for the property making it one of the most expensive golf resorts ever sold. It had to be replaced. Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? , we came back to resort and spent time lounging in the pool. Lajitas Golf Resort is an unexpected and fascinating oasis in the middle of the vast desert that makes up much of Big Bend Countryand today, Lajitas Golf Resort is nearly simultaneous with the town of Lajitas, TX. in the spare beauty of borderlands. Reviewed October 12, 2021 Aug 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. 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. It is the kind of place where, after a few drinks, youre apt to forget that there are any rules at all. 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. (Id have liked to watch the baseball playoffs, but I blame TBS for that.) property, Mr. Warren plans a largely hands-off approach. 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. If it didnt work out, Smith would just hire somebody else to start over. But there was no place for a Mexican jukebox in the new Lajitas. profit. 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. 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. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. Fly Direct to Lajitas from Dallas or Houston. She also had no way of knowing about the rest of the nights events. However given [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. 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. 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. The woman, and, for that matter, all of Terlingua, was offended. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. 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. And there was one other significant problem. [2], Starting in the 1980s as a joke, for many years the purported mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. "In fact, I'd be shocked if there Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. [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. beer-guzzling goats and the legend of Pancho Villa could lure the 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 party was large, maybe ten men and women, all drinking. 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 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. To be fair, Smith did do some good. [2][6] He served as executive vice-president Cornerstone Natural Gas from 1989 to 1990, and as president and CEO from 1993 to 1996. In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. She paints mandalas on old hubcaps to make a little But its a thin margin to begin with, and it just didnt play out for him., The idea that the desert could somehow be softened gets at a practical divide that would prove even wider. Lajitas is also somewhat famous for having a drunk goat named Clay Henry for a mayoryes, you read that correctly! 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'm telling you. Megan's Dog Adventures. 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. [], To some drawing a golf flag may seem like a daunting task. That population boom influenced a boom in another town, just 13 miles away: Lajitas. Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, Texas, United States, near the Big Bend National Park. Anglo-Americans first arrived around the time of the Mexican war. Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor 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 highest recorded temperature at the resort is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Dallas, Texas 75201. Yes there are several natural hot springs located on the resort property. Lajitas is on the western edge of Big Bend National Park in southwestern Brewster County. 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.). Visit hotel website. Black Jacks Crossing Golf Course Awards & Accolades, For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Otherwise youre just buying dirt.. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions It's a quick trip to Terlingua for other dining options, although we had breakfast at, The morning of our second day we explored the. 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 . Was he actually planning on repopulating Big Bend with the superrich dust-averse? Beautiful views yes. The store and saloon were operated by H.W. "I'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. It is named for his son. Sticking to their goal to truly have everything, they even have an airport (the wifi on the resort, however, is questionable at best). [5], In 2020 Warren acquired Castletown Cox house and estate in County Kilkenny, Ireland for 12.6m. If youre traveling on the cheap, that could make a funny story. See pricing and listing details of Lajitas real estate for sale. Theres a light in peoples eyes in far West Texas, a joy that comes with living exactly where and how a person wants. month to Mr. Warren, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based The first is the effect of the arid Big Bend environs, of the baking sun, beating winds, and unrelenting dust. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. Eventually she started sobbing, and I was whisked off by the minder into a crowd of happier revelers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ), 5 Cool Towns Near Big Bend National Park (+ Where to Stay! [11], In 2022, he ranked No. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. He said his condition was a recent development. But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. Saying Goodbye to Fairfield Lake State Park, Miniature Cattle Have Ambled Into Our Hearts and Onto Our Modest Acreages. "This thing is so beautiful, and there's nobody here.". .he sounds as if hes remembering the greatest day of his life. The settlement is named after the Boquillas flagstone found in the area. The population remained at 50 in 1990 and grew to 75 from 2000 to 2010. Neither the plane nor its pilot was affiliated with the resort, and Lajitas was in no way responsible for the crash. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? 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.