Holmes did not return a call about the donation. I even ran the rafting business out my back door, Ivey said. 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. 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. 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 "What should we do here, Collie?" The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. 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. The name Lajitas is Spanish for little flat rocks and refers to the Boquillas limestone of the area. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. Carmichael, California, United States. Copyright (c) 2007, The Dallas Morning News. 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. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. In 2000, when the property went up for auction, Mr. Smith
), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! Mr. Warren, a Levis-jeans-and-cowboy-boot-wearing Texan from
289 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, with an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion. The answer, as it turns out, is a little bit of both. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. The Big Bend area is in Central Standard Time. Lajitas Golf Resort now offers regular charter jet flight services out of Dallas, Austin and Houston. It closed temporarily in 1910 and reopened six years later. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. [21], Warren married the former Sherry Johnson on May 18, 1980, in Dallas, and they divorced in 1991. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. "She certainly has the coolest house," he said. The Lajitas Museum, which contained artifacts from the Big Bend area, was located just east of Lajitas. On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. 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). Yes there are several natural hot springs located on the resort property. party. For
A stay at Lajitas Golf Resort is an opportunity to step 100 years back into the history of . 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. They want to hike, raft, and go get a beer on the porch in Terlingua. From 1996 to 2000, Warren served as a director of Crosstex Energy, Inc. and from 1993 to 1996, he served as president, chief operating officer and a director of Cornerstone Natural Gas, Inc. Warren has more than 25 years of business experience in the energy industry. The contraband would be returned at a reception when they arrived. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. When. The store itself was stacked deep with every conceivable necessity, from bulk beans and flour to appliances, auto parts, clothes, and ranch supplies. It was part of the borderland experience, and everyone got along fine. A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. He has
Guests can cancel their reservations up to 72 hours prior to arrival for a full refund. 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. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions
What she didnt remember, thankfully, was that I had been sitting at that table. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 75 in 2010. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. 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. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. She stared at him. 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. Save. 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. In 1852 Lt. William H. Emory visited the site as part of the first official US survey party. It's a place where many have long come to get away from material excess
It had to be replaced. But it wasnt. 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. View all View all photos (863) said. 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. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. the rich never came in large numbers. Reviewed October 12, 2021 In the summer of 2003, Smith opened a remodeled trading post complete with air-conditioning, indoor baos, and a wine-and-coffee bar. 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. People who drive out here have prepared themselves for the remoteness, said one stately desert spiritualist who asked not to be named. The outing had been arranged in part to show me the way the new folks in Lajitas were being accepted in the community. The ultimate fate of Lajitas wont be decided by any new owner. They were then removed from the area by the Apache and Comanche tribes in the 18th and 19th centuries. Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. Faces age faster in the desert, the skin browning and creasing and toughening up in ways that city and suburban dwellers dont have to worry about. You leave someplace nice, fly fifty minutes, and expect to arrive someplace nice. "misery ground into the walls. He said his condition was a recent development. The Lajitas property continued to change hands and in 1949 was bought by Rex Ivey, Jr., who hand-dug a well and installed a generator for the areas first electric lights. nine-hole golf course, in addition to the thousands of acres of
I have stayed here several times before I knew who the owner was. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. [2], Starting in the 1980s as a joke, for many years the purported mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat. [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. NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News. Eventually she started sobbing, and I was whisked off by the minder into a crowd of happier revelers. [12] Before that, Lajitas had a school with 50 students in 1912. If it didnt work out, Smith would just hire somebody else to start over. [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. 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. and Mike Montgomery. 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. Andbig bonus for ussome rooms are pet friendly. EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . 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. 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. Thats the way the project was run, as if success was secondary. 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. Now, we all know people who wouldnt blink at a $33 breakfast. 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.). Warren's gift was the largest, giving him naming rights. 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. 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. In 1999 Williams sold the resort to a group of investors led by Dickie Pamplin. The region was sparsely inhabited for thousands of years by semi nomadic peoples related to the Patarabueyes and Jumanos tribes before the Spanish arrived. A motel stood on the same land in the 1980s. At the same time a number of cattle ranches and mining enterprises appeared in northern Chihuahua and Coahuila. Please see our, 15 Beautiful Hikes in Big Bend National Park, 7 Best Things to Do in Marathon, TX (+ Tips! From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. Now $179 (Was $201) on Tripadvisor: Lajitas Golf Resort, Lajitas. Tel: 1-877-LAJITAS Though it was appraised on the Brewster County tax rolls at $16 million, Smiths own investment in the place has reportedly been more than $100 million. It is the kind of place where, after a few drinks, youre apt to forget that there are any rules at all. and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. She was all smiles when I met her, one more witness to the greatness of Lajitas. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. , we came back to resort and spent time lounging in the pool. Was he actually planning on repopulating Big Bend with the superrich dust-averse? He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Skaggs also became successful in a candelilla wax business, the Lajitas Wax Company. The people in Lajitas now know nothing about the place or its past at all. 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. 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. And there was one other significant problem. 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. [], To some drawing a golf flag may seem like a daunting task. In June 2003, Texas Golfer sent a writer to stay at Lajitas for what would be a cover story for the monthly magazine. And a federal judge approved the sale of Lajitas earlier this
It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. About us. But the other reason for the difficulty in determining someones age out there cuts the other way. The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued. 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. 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. it made people feel nervous," she said. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. Lajitas has a hot arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. About Lajitas Golf Resort. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. John Poindexter, the owner of Big Bends Cibolo Creek Ranch resort, was among the last to arrive and the last to leave. All rights reserved. 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. I think he was just writing checks.. 6 IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING THE BIG BEND. 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! A
[1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. to the community and about music. I paid $320 for a mid-priced suite in the Officers Quarters. Black Jack's Crossing Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. The gas pumps were gone, as were the willow leaves and goat-pen wire. [1] His father worked as a field hand for Sun Pipeline, a company now owned by Warren. 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. Megan's Dog Adventures. Mischer never made much money off the place and held onto it mostly out of love. 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. After Hours Scheduling. 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. We also offer our 5 Stand Sporting Clay Shoot, Cowboy Action shoot, Equestrian Center for family horseback rides, and many other McNairs group has continued to invest in the resort adding a new clubhouse and expanding the spa. Sitemap. Warren also serves as chairman of the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity. 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. 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. The resort is currently owned by a group of investors led by Bob McNair. Neither the plane nor its pilot was affiliated with the resort, and Lajitas was in no way responsible for the crash. You could get a six-pack of beer or a spark plug for a live chicken. 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. And at that point, reconciling the deserts harshness and beauty is your problem. And the beauty of that, as it related to Steve Smith, was the free rein Dennis had been given to create whatever he wanted. [11], In 2022, he ranked No. Warren drove friends down to the banks of the Rio Grande looking for
If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. They should be selling its history and its culture. 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. Her answer: No dice. At the end of the meal, he tipped her $50. Who Owns Lajitas Golf Resort by Joshua|Published August 25, 2019 The Lajitas Golf Resort is a full-service golf resort and spa located in the Big Bend region of West Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. His dad, Rex, a Brewster County commissioner, owned Lajitas for nearly thirty years before selling it to Mischer in 1977. 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. Every facet of life in that trading post was filled with spirit, Ivey said. "Now I've got to go back to a different world," he said. Im a sports expert and lover. For the American football player, see, "Executive Profile - Energy Transfer Partners - Kelcy L. Warren", "List of Public Companies Worldwide, Letter - Businessweek", "Inside Kelcy Warren's Dallas Mansion - WSJ", "College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington", "Kelcy Warren emerges as one of Dallas' bold new philanthropists", "These Billionaires Received Taxpayer-Funded Stimulus Checks During the Pandemic", "The New Forbes Philanthropy Score: How We Ranked Each Forbes 400 Billionaire Based On Their Giving", "John Fogerty, Lyle Lovett, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy LaFave put on a killer show on Kelcy Warren's ranch in the Texas Hill Country", "Why Kelcy Warren Named a Park For His Son", "Million-Dollar Donors in the 2016 Presidential Race", "Dakota Access pipeline company and Donald Trump have close financial ties", "The Texas Electric Grid Failure Was a Warm-up", "Stealth billionaire lays claim to Woodall Rodgers park naming rights", "Lajitas Resort: Why you better go now - El Paso Inc.: Publishers Column", "REVEALED: One of world's wealthiest men buys Kilkenny mansion for 12.6m - Kilkenny Now - Your City.