Voted #1 Course You Can Play in Texas The Dallas Morning News About us. It was live-music night at La Kiva, the best of it played by a young female fiddle player from the Northeast whod put off grad school to take a job at Lajitas. The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely He started his career working for the Lone Star Gas Company. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. signed. Lajitas Texas activities designed to keep your family as busy as it wants to be. He gave her $100 more, then walked out of the place as if everything was fine. Neither the plane nor its pilot was affiliated with the resort, and Lajitas was in no way responsible for the crash. At 1:48 p.m., the wire transfer went through for the property. When I met him nearly two years later, he was thinking differently. STD Testing Centers Lajitas, TX " 800-221-4291 reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or 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 accommodations themselves truly run the gamut, making use of the original town of Lajitas wherever possible. It's a place where many have long come to get away from material excess Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. To be fair, Smith did do some good. 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. [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. 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. I think he was just writing checks.. [9] RECO invested $7 million on a wind farm that was scheduled for completion in 2017.[10]. You leave someplace nice, fly fifty minutes, and expect to arrive someplace nice. 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! It became Steve Smiths problem when he bought the town of Lajitas at a public auction in February 2000. According to Beasley, the monument is a gift. Pamplin and his partners invested $25 million to expand the resort adding a new hotel and increasing the number of golf holes from 9 to 18. Visit hotel website. [3] After two replacements of the original Clay Henry, the trading post and stable where the actual mayor lived is now closed and they goat no longer resides there. [8], He lives in Preston Hollow, Dallas[5] on an 8+ acre estate on Park Lane valued at more than $30 million. [1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. ocotillo plants. [2][6] He served as executive vice-president Cornerstone Natural Gas from 1989 to 1990, and as president and CEO from 1993 to 1996. From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. He says Lajitas Golf Resort now offers regular charter jet flight services out of Dallas, Austin and Houston. information click here A major hotel chain. 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 . On the wooden boardwalk, guests checked in in the grand lobby of the elegant Badlands Hotel, which is decorated like a high-dollar Old West guest house. Weve had the best year weve ever had, said Beasley. goat. 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. Yes the resort offers weddings and other special events. Grass that was seeded on the golf course couldnt survive on the brackish well water. Smith believed that if he made it softer and more like other places, he could broaden the appeal. The border then seemed about forty miles wide and mixed like the sounds in a Doug Sahm song, half-Mexican, half-white, with nobody too worried about which half was which. Fly Direct to Lajitas from Dallas or Houston. Projects were undertaken with designs drawn over lunch on place mats. She said the exclusivity of the resort was like Reviewed October 12, 2021 "I'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. Bring on the Shiplap. On the one hand, hes wealthy and owns his own plane. "What should we do here, Collie?" 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. 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. would have millionaires mixing with landscape workers and artists and world. 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. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Lajitas Golf Resort - Jobs - The Ultimate Big Bend Experience Thats the way the project was run, as if success was secondary. [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas. But with a little bit of practice and guidance anyone [], As of June 2018 Woods daughter Sam is 10 years old and has not expressed public interest in playing golf. But back on the road, he was still thinking about the woman. Lajitas Golf Resort has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Jan 27, 2014 Most popular amenities Outdoor swimming pool Free WiFi Free parking Non-smoking rooms Candelilla Facilities for disabled guests Fitness center Spa Family rooms Bar Property Highlights Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (8.7) Free Parking Available On Site 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. Beautiful views yes. She was all smiles when I met her, one more witness to the greatness of Lajitas. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. When I visited it in August and October, the trading post was dead. Ms. Ryan said the area is like a space station, big and He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. Sure enough, the hotel struggled to maintain even 50 percent occupancy, and a mere five private homes went up in his subdivisions. 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. 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. William H. Emory also visited Lajitas in 1852. Youre not prepared for what you get.. The ultimate fate of Lajitas wont be decided by any new owner. state parks, Lajitas has long been one of the stranger outposts of the Owner is the CEO of Energy Transfer. 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. [18], Warren donated $6 million to Governor Rick Perry's presidential campaign. On Friday, Mr. Warren sealed a $13.5 million deal to buy the She and her husband have since purchased the place. it made people feel nervous," she said. 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. "First let me shake your hand for asking that," Ms. Ryan said, just about 9,000 residents and a per capita income of about $15,000. money and support her songwriting. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual 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. He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. A motel stood on the same land in the 1980s. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. month to Mr. Warren, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. But the true injustice came with my breakfast: $33 for coffee, a small bowl of granola, some strawberries, concentrated orange juice, and a cute little box of Special K, like the kind my mom used to provide before she trusted me to pour from the big-boy box. [21], Warren married the former Sherry Johnson on May 18, 1980, in Dallas, and they divorced in 1991. "I'm telling you. This indicates he was in the lowest 20% of billionaires rated. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. All rights reserved. We also have an email out to Warren. Sitemap. Lajitas Golf Resort is perfectly situated between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend State Park: it is the ultimate resort destination. Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing. Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. Lajitas Golf Resort, Terlingua - Updated 2023 Prices - Booking.com It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. and Mike Montgomery. with a $4.2 million bid. question. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. There was laughter from the table but not from the waitress. 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. CANDELILLA CAFE, Lajitas - Restaurant Reviews, Photos - Tripadvisor Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. In 1916 the interruption of commerce by civil unrest in Mexico, and isolated bandit raids into the US brought Gen. John J. Pershings troops to Lajitas, where they established a small cavalry post to monitor this critical river crossing. The gas pumps were gone, as were the willow leaves and goat-pen wire. I was doctor, vet, lawyer, marriage counselor, pharmacist, and an importer of wax. 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. If it didnt work out, Smith would just hire somebody else to start over. 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. The resort is currently owned by EPGolf LLC. kitchen and outdoor shower -- the woman who says she doesn't have outdueled San Francisco hotelier Manou Mobedshahi in the town's saloon are more than six.". Warren also serves as chairman of the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity. Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions for your away-from-it-all adventure. 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. Boardwalk Bakery and Pizzeria. Its minimum purchase price was $450,000. 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 . But the majority of voices around the horseshoe viewed it as a monument to white supremacy and oppression. Lajitas has a hot arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. 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. "I want to walk into the bar and hear laughter and just see When I visited the Starlight in October, that waitress was still there. Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. property, Mr. Warren plans a largely hands-off approach. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa Reviews | Expedia As part of the contract, his son cleans up trash from the park once a month. [12] Before that, Lajitas had a school with 50 students in 1912. McGuirk, who also helped manage the mining company in Terlingua and funded the construction of a church. 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. McGuirk petitioned for it to be re-established when it was built sometime before 1901. 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 a huge mistake. LAJITAS HISTORY - Visit Big Bend Employment Opportunities Dallas most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. She also had no way of knowing about the rest of the nights events. When I go down there now, all I see are a few workers, but theyre not allowed to talk to anybody. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. Make no mistake, desert life is hard, and the sacrifices required are made hourly. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. Pamplin sold the resort in 2006 to a group of investors led by Texas businessman Bob McNair. 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. "In fact, I'd be shocked if there Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor Lajitas officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. "She certainly has the coolest house," he said. He has one son, Klyde Warren. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. 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. [6], Lajitas is located on the eastern end of the Big Bend Ranch State Park. "Black Jacks Crossing", designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer, Lanny Wadkins. he wants to put it more in touch with surrounding Brewster County, with The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. He said his condition was a recent development. The trading post was that communitys heart, the hub for little villages on both sides of the river. Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing Lajitas International Airport is a privately owned airport for the use of the resort's guests and property owners located 4 miles East of Lajitas and 14 miles West of Terlingua adjacent to Big Bend National Park. 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). Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa, A 4-star hotel in Lajitas, Texas old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking What she didnt remember, thankfully, was that I had been sitting at that table. Yes guests are welcome to bring their pets to the resort. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. It was part of the borderland experience, and everyone got along fine. And on the other side of the highway and a tall adobe wall, the Cavalry Post and La Questa rooms opened up onto a swimming pool lined with ristra-strung arbors and a view of Lajitas Mesa. bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. The resort's unique destination is rich in Old West history. 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. LAJITAS GOLF RESORT - 236 Photos & 94 Reviews - Yelp The Lajitas Golf Resort is a full-service golf resort and spa located in the Big Bend region of West Texas. Suite 2100 Additionally, there were no televisions, the latter a rarity among communities in the decade.
