Big Bend?

I'm going to take a road trip to the Big Bend area from Houston. The current plan is:
Houston - Uvalde for night 1
Uvalde - Lajitas Resort for nights 2 & 3. On day 3 we'll take a drive into Big Bend National to the Lost Mine area for a picnic lunch. Dinner one night at The Starlight Theater.
Lajatis - Marathon for night 4. Valentine for the Prada Store, Marfa just because, and then stay at The Gage.
Marathon - Houston back home on day 5

If you have any suggestions for places to stop, things to see, etc., I'd sure appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

 

@SAFE4NOW has been helpful, as he always is, and helped me make some plans for this trip. Thank you sir!

 

A friend of mine helped build this resort.

https://basecampterlingua.com

 

This sounds great. Have been to many of those places, although not on one trip.
Alpine - home of Sul Ross State - was a cool little town when we visited, ca. 10 years ago.

This place looks cool...https://antelopelodge.com/

I would check out some Texas Monthly's online to see if there are any good small-town diners, BBQ, Tex-Mex joints, etc.

Please take pics and report! Safe travels.

T

 

T[/QUOTE]

McDonald Observatory is worth the time.

Hwy 170 along the Rio Grande from Lajitas to Fort Leaton is a great sportscar road.

 

You will be too close not to stop in Terlingua. Just a store and a couple of buildings, but where Shelby and his buddies had an annual Chili Cook-off for many years.

In Marfa, see if David Kimball is in his shop at the old Movie Theatre building in town. He has done a lot of the famous cut-away car drawings we have seen for years.

Stop in Midland / Odessa at the Petroleum museum, and see the Jim Hall Chaparral exhibit of most of his cars.

Great open roads where you can cruise at 100 an not see anyone for miles around.

Our Texas 1000 Rallye group had to see the Observatory during daytime, but wish we had stayed and done it at night.

The river road from Terlingua towards Presidio has some amazing up and downs with blind corners etc. Cool road, but be careful.

First shot is Marfa and the studio on the right.
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Who is the old guy in the second picture?

 

My wife and I stayed a week at the Gage in the spring of 1986. No TV signal and could only get a funky AM station at night on the radio. Truly removed for the outside world. It was great.

 

I just did this trip in October 2020.

1850 miles
11 days

Houston->Boerne->Teralingua->Ft Davis->Marfa->Marathon->Del Rio->Houston.
Great 11 days.
Great Roads.
There was one drive segment that I saw no cars either direction for over 3 hours.


::Roads::
https://www.thrillist.com/cars/dallas/the-most-exhilarating-drives-in-texas
Davis Mountains Scenic Loop is wonderful & Mcdonalds Obsevetory is very cool. Book a star party in advance.
https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/programs/star-parties
Get use to seeing the milky way ever night

::Marfa::
Covid has made business hours very erratic.
Most museums are closed , but ......
Enjoy the art in Marfa
Listen to Marfa Radio.
Fav places to eat are
https://www.astermarfa.com/
https://www.conveniencewest.com/
(best BBQ i have eaten in a long time)
https://www.saveur.com/marfa-burrito-texas/
Marfa Lights https://www.visitmarfa.com/ has its own rest stop a few miles from town.
Donald Judds Concrete art is worth a visit.

::Valentine:: Prada Marfa
Go in the morning to take pictures since the afternoon sun will ruin your Instagram shots.
i.e. the sun in the morning hits the face of the "store" and its much better.
There is nothing in that town, by the way.

::Marathon::
The Gage Gardens are amazing. across the RR tracks.

::Teralingua::
Its magical and quirky and very charming.
Nuevo Teralinga (casitas) is my fav place to stay.

Big Bend:
St Elena Canyon (i don't need to say more)

Ft Davis
McDonalds Obs.
https://fortdavis.com/listing/rattlers-reptiles/
worth a stop to see these

PM if you need more info.

Safe travels & Enjoy the trip.

 

The guy in the Chapparal golf shirt is David Kimball, the cut-away artist. The third pic is Bill Neale on the left, one of Shelby's longest and best friend, and the reason I was on the Rally. Amazing artist who painted or drew many of the famous Shelby / Cobra / Mustang you have seen in the past.
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I would sit and stare with my mouth open for an hour looking at David Kimball art years and years ago when it was published in Motor Trend and Road & Track magazines. Always wondering, how in the world....

 

While in Big Bend Park, the Ross Maxwell scenic drive is a nice little adventure as well.

 

Yep, saw that and plan on driving it.

Oh! The observatory is closed due to COVID.

 

Yep, having dinner, drinks, etc., at The Starlight Theater one evening.

Tried to find some contact info for him to call in advance but couldn't find much. Would you happen to have any?

 

Thank you all very much. I've been making notes, adding stops, you guys have been very helpful!

 

Marfa Galleries are for the most part, closed..

David W Beebe is County Judge and has also closed his restaurants.
Boyd Elder passed away.....:/

So you may or may not find a lot to do.....still Chnatti is social distancing on outdoor tours if you get there.
County has huge Covid cases, because of Sul Ross students....that come from far away!

I was in Fort Davis to get my new bike.
It's all cool around there, even Thrift Stores have the gold!!

David has released a new CD of local music, pick up two and bring me one!!

 

Boyd Elder's gallery was in Valentine.

Where his studio burned down, with his Maserati in it....

 

Here some more of David's works.

No contact info on David. It was all handled by the Vintage Car Rallyes people.
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The thing about 170, once you go a few miles past the very, very steep incline - heading away from Terlingua (10 degree incline if I remember correctly but it feels like 45 degree angle), the road begins to becomes a little mundane. I think once you get past the border with the state park, you might want to turn around and follow the road back. You will be able to tell from the road and scenery, once you lose the good views, it does not get any better. No real sense in going all the way into Presidio. Have fun, a really beautiful area.

 

Take a comfortable car.

 

Plus Presidio front plate enforcement is pretty strong... got pulled over entering town and again as we were leaving town on the other side! 2 separate State Troopers...

 

Lajitas to Ft. Leaton is about 45 miles. Turn around there and go back to Lajitas. See if you can beat your outbound time. Watch out for hogs.

 

I met some Troopers responsible for the area, and they were really nice!!!
Gave me some good restaurant guidance along I 10 but I turned at Fort Davis...

I wasn't in the Ferrari though, good point about front plates.

 

One of these days...

The Comanches used to have a sprit mountain northwest of Ft. Worth. They would ride for border going through Comanche Springs. I want to do this run.

 

Let's see..... a few notes from the trip.

Marfa was a total bust. Every gallery and restaurant in town was closed due to COVID. The infection rate there is huge. As a matter of fact there were no restaurants in both Marfa or Alpine open.

Big Bend is a looooooong drive from Houston, but it is also a drive you have to make. It was beautiful.

The restaurant at Lajitas is meh at best, I expected much more. The Starlight Theater on the other hand? Who knew you could get such quality in a ghost town.

The Gage Hotel is a must do. It is truly a wonderful old west Texas hotel.

May I remind you exactly 44 days before climbing a 7,000 foot high mountain Helen underwent her 3rd surgery of this year. 44 days; my beautiful girl is not only an exquisite and gorgeous lady but she’s also tough as nails. Most people don’t know that.

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