During sudden storms, their power will go out, and theyll be trapped wherever they are, the roads made impassable by flashing creeks trying to find the Rio Grande. It became Steve Smiths problem when he bought the town of Lajitas at a public auction in February 2000. 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. Due to the closing of the Terlingua quicksilver mines, the number of residents in Lajitas had dwindled to four. 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. He loves it out west. outdueled San Francisco hotelier Manou Mobedshahi in the town's saloon On the one hand, hes wealthy and owns his own plane. Its just spectacular.. 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. Dallas sold the statue for $1.4 million in June after the City Council decided to auction it off. Unlike Mr. Smith, whose persona became intertwined with his For more flight When I met him for a quick lunch in Alpine in October, his memories of the old store grew the conversation to two hours. If you talk to the people who live in South County, youll quickly sense the difference between them and the kinds of people Smith meant to attract, and it is not one of money but philosophy. Admittedly the place was in bankruptcy, but it was still open and promising no drop in service. information click here 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. 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. Was he actually planning on repopulating Big Bend with the superrich dust-averse? What emerged was part roadside attraction, motel, RV park and It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Warren said Thursday looking about. 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. But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. When. people," Mr. Warren said from town, joined on the trip by business He housed and subsidized an infirmary that provided affordable, reliable health care. 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. "This thing is so beautiful, and there's nobody here.". "I'm telling you. EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . 50% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Lajitas Golf Resort as positive. I was doctor, vet, lawyer, marriage counselor, pharmacist, and an importer of wax. ocotillo plants. On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the Lajitas Golf Resort is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Farming along the narrow floodplain of the river served to bring in more families, and by 1912 the town had a store, a saloon, a school with fifty pupils, and a customhouse. There was laughter from the table but not from the waitress. To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the White Oak who also has a record label, has owned a home in Lajitas We offer world class golf on our award Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. ), 5 Cool Towns Near Big Bend National Park (+ Where to Stay! 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. Compare luxury resorts and resort hotels in Lajitas with Rent By Owner Owner is the CEO of Energy Transfer. Still, Dennis struck me as an odd person to be championing the resorts willingness to act without a game plan. Front Desk: (432) 424-5000 Checks were cashed and loans were made, and Ivey accepted payment in dollars, pesos, or by barter. 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 highest recorded temperature at the resort is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. These activities increased commerce across the Rio Grande into Texas; consequently, by 1900 Lajitas was designated a substation port of entry. At 1:48 p.m., the wire transfer went through for the property. The Last Resort. And frankly, I dont think Smith even knows. Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, Texas, United States, near the Big Bend National Park. For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758 Welcome To LAJITAS GOLF RESORT Lajitas Golf Resort in Lajitas, Texas Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting for your away-from-it-all adventure. Then, this summer the Lajitas resort declared bankruptcy, announcing some $15 million in debts and $500,000 a month in operating losses, and went on the auction block. She also had no way of knowing about the rest of the nights events. been a thorn in the side of the community," Mr. Leslie said. Only a few home sites ever sold. 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. The woman, and, for that matter, all of Terlingua, was offended. A major hotel chain. And the people. Its minimum purchase price was $450,000. models. NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News. lodge. H.W. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. H. W. McGuirk, the leading citizen of Lajitas from 1902 to 1917, operated the Lajitas Trading Post, farmed, and helped manage the Terlingua Mining Company. [9] It is located on the Rio Grande, bordering Mexico,[10] between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Theres a simple story of manners that gets retold on the porch when Lajitas is discussed. ), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued. 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. The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. wonder at the house, garden, stones and path running down to the river. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas. 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. As youre exploring Big Bend Country, theres a good chance youll find yourself passing through the blink-and-youll-miss-it town of Lajitas. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When I asked a local sitting at the bar what he remembered of that story, she happened to be on the other side of me and interrupted, That was me! Shes still angry about it, and she ticked off the details as though it had happened the night before. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [6], Warren purchased the Roatan Electric Company (RECO) in 2008, where he serves as president and chairman of the board. 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. Lajitas Golf Resort. 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 . 1 (877) 525-4827. On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015. nine-hole golf course, in addition to the thousands of acres of 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. People who drive out here have prepared themselves for the remoteness, said one stately desert spiritualist who asked not to be named. That determination will be made by the desert. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. 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. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Pizzeria Attendant / Barista; F&B Management. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely Its dangerous. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. The contraband would be returned at a reception when they arrived. 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. And he managed to build and landscape some beautiful facilities. The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. Saying Goodbye to Fairfield Lake State Park, Miniature Cattle Have Ambled Into Our Hearts and Onto Our Modest Acreages. Bring on the Shiplap. And when I tried to pull open my window, the knob should not have come off in my hand. ), 17 Epic East Texas Towns + Cities to Visit. The vision on the porch was of rooms priced at $150 a night and an RV park that is open to snowbirds, that will tolerate the occasional rattletrap trailer. He says [9] RECO invested $7 million on a wind farm that was scheduled for completion in 2017.[10]. By the late 90s, Lajitas and its sister town, Paso Lajitas, Chihuahua, Mexico had over 200 inhabitants. It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, But the desert has always had a way of withering material ambition. 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. If you take a plane, you just show up. 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. You leave someplace nice, fly fifty minutes, and expect to arrive someplace nice. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based Yes the resort offers weddings and other special events. The runway airport has full 100LL and Jet A fuel, complimentary tiedowns down services and offers transportation to the resort. Tel: 1-877-LAJITAS About us. Our 27,000 acre Texas resort is famous for its solitude, natural beauty and rugged desert environment. 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. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. http://www.dallasnews.com. Six beautiful tennis courts were built, then ripped up. 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. They died. For those traditionally drawn to the place, whether they were rich or poor, comfort wasnt the major consideration. 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. [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. Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. [7] Warren went to White Oak High School. 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. and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. 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. That party is over. [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. 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. 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. But the majority of voices around the horseshoe viewed it as a monument to white supremacy and oppression. With the border now closed, the trading post will never return to its Ivey-era glory. Kelcy Lee Warren (born November 9, 1955)[1] is an American billionaire and the chairman and chief executive officer of Energy Transfer Partners.[2][3][4][5][6]. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery. To support Lajitas Vision of being recognized by our customers as the "Friendliest Resort in Texas!" You should champion this culture in every touch point of our business from our associates, guests, owners, and communities. They talked about reopening the border crossing, reaching out world. They want to hike, raft, and go get a beer on the porch in Terlingua. By the mid-1980s, Lajitas became a resort town with 15 businesses serving 50 people. You cannot mess with that country. Save. kitchen and outdoor shower -- the woman who says she doesn't have The resort is currently owned by a group of investors led by Bob McNair. Any idea Dennis came up with was worth a try. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. 1,059 reviews. By then, consultants and friends had convinced Smith that the dream could be real, and toward that end he had already spent $40 million, which he estimated would be half of his ultimate outlay. In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. 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.). When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. 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. 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. He collects music memorabilia, and has a collection that includes autographs of Jackson Browne and drumsticks signed by the Eagles. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. 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. This desert golf resort has breathtaking views that make it hard to believe that it is in our own backyard! making money. I had been down in South County reporting for that story on the new Lajitas (and in my defense, Id not participated in the pool). I have stayed here several times before I knew who the owner was. Lajitas is on the western edge of Big Bend National Park in southwestern Brewster County. Black Jacks Crossing Golf Course Awards & Accolades, For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758. Our resort in West Texas is set among . Its sad. Since Clay Henry, goats have been mayors of the community ever since. At first, we only knew the buyer by his online auction nameLawDude. I think that's the biggest thing that's A stay in a historic hotel, a swanky villa, or even the resorts Maverick RV Park are all options at Lajitas Golf Resort. "In fact, I'd be shocked if there The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. "Lajitas" translates to "little flat rocks" in Spanish. Megan's Dog Adventures. Restaurant Manager; Facilities. 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. The three-hundred-yard walk to dinner that night was unlit and took me through a construction pit, and the meal for me and my friend at the gourmet Ocotillo was decent but blandthe venison chop, snapper filet, and rattlesnake cake all tasted like their sauce. During droughts, people will live on water saved in rooftop rain-catchment systems, showering and flushing the toilet once a week. [8], He lives in Preston Hollow, Dallas[5] on an 8+ acre estate on Park Lane valued at more than $30 million. He was also involved in a dispute with the IRS over $140 million in tax shelters. Lajitas Texas activities designed to keep your family as busy as it wants to be. [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. Im standing here on the putting green looking at it right now, Beasley said Friday morning. Share. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. Earlier this year, Mr. Smith's dream officially ended in 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. Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. in the spare beauty of borderlands. empty and spiritual. 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. 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. the handmade home of Collie Ryan. 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. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. lavished $100 million to turn the property into an exclusive refuge for It can be quite a jolt. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual Our automated scheduling system is available 24/7. multi-million-dollar wire transfer for the property was in order, Mr. Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. braided. Commerce was interrupted by Pancho Villa and his bandits, bringing John J. Pershing and his troops to establish a cavalry post there in 1916.