[6], Warren purchased the Roatan Electric Company (RECO) in 2008, where he serves as president and chairman of the board. [12] Warren received a COVID stimulus check in 2020 as he had reported large losses previously. .he sounds as if hes remembering the greatest day of his life. 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. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. [12], Frank Q. Dobbs directed his first film, Enter the Devil, in Lajitas in 1972. empty and spiritual. 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. Now", "Castles in the ire: the minted moguls snapping up Ireland's stately homes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kelcy_Warren&oldid=1135081936, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 14:53. Mr. Smith called it the Ultimate Hideout, but Please see our, 15 Beautiful Hikes in Big Bend National Park, 7 Best Things to Do in Marathon, TX (+ Tips! She also had no way of knowing about the rest of the nights events. [1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa, A 4-star hotel in Lajitas, Texas The outing had been arranged in part to show me the way the new folks in Lajitas were being accepted in the community. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. ), 5 Cool Towns Near Big Bend National Park (+ Where to Stay! She said the exclusivity of the resort was like 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. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas appointed Warren to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. But he insisted that his intention was little substantive change. Now, we all know people who wouldnt blink at a $33 breakfast. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. Youre not prepared for what you get.. He housed and subsidized an infirmary that provided affordable, reliable health care. But the place could be friendlier to residents on this side of the river. Pamplin sold the resort in 2006 to a group of investors led by Texas businessman Bob McNair. Voted #1 Most Beautiful Golf Course in Texas Golf Magazine 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. On Friday, Mr. Warren sealed a $13.5 million deal to buy the In 1852 Lt. William H. Emory visited the site as part of the first official US survey party. 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. Young as he was, that was surprising, so when he returned, I asked him how somebody with such a hard time getting around wound up in a job as physically demanding as carpentry. In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. 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. As part of the contract, his son cleans up trash from the park once a month. Its sad. Proper golf attire is required on the golf course and in the clubhouse. Lajitas Golf Resort | Big Bend National Park | Lajitas Texas Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history. Lajitas officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. So when you meet someone who lives in Terlingua or Study Butte or Lajitasthat area known in local shorthand as South Countyyou might not be able to tell if hes thirty or sixty. "First let me shake your hand for asking that," Ms. Ryan said, The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. In June 2003, Texas Golfer sent a writer to stay at Lajitas for what would be a cover story for the monthly magazine. [15][16], In 2012, Warren donated $10 million to help build Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. [20] He gave $1 million to Greg Abbott after the 2021 legislative session. Holmes did not return a call about the donation. 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 Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. Bridlie Hospitality, to operate the resort. 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. This desert golf resort has breathtaking views that make it hard to believe that it is in our own backyard! At press time two weeks later, the various parties were still trying to hammer out an agreement, and the door was open for someone else to swoop in and snatch it up. [26][27], "Kelcy" redirects here. are more than six.". See pricing and listing details of Lajitas real estate for sale. Its previous owner, Austin multimillionaire Steve Smith, #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas. [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. When I go down there now, all I see are a few workers, but theyre not allowed to talk to anybody. Boardwalk Bakery and Pizzeria. And the people. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. 5 Texas-Sized Golf Trips Worth Dreaming Over | Houstonia Magazine 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. Admittedly the place was in bankruptcy, but it was still open and promising no drop in service. He also funded the construction of a church and a school. Its minimum purchase price was $450,000. people," Mr. Warren said from town, joined on the trip by business Any idea Dennis came up with was worth a try. "She certainly has the coolest house," he said. The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. 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 party was large, maybe ten men and women, all drinking. Thats a huge mistake. She was all smiles when I met her, one more witness to the greatness of Lajitas. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions 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. On the one hand, hes wealthy and owns his own plane. On Monday, the sculpture completed a 600-mile journey to Black Jacks Crossing near the border, about a dozen miles from Terlingua. Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting McNairs group paid $132.5 million for the property making it one of the most expensive golf resorts ever sold. travelers to these 25,000 acres of Chihuahuan desert on the fringes of Dallas sold the statue for $1.4 million in June after the City Council decided to auction it off. Dallas Businessman, Kelcy Warren, Acquires the Bankrupt Lajitas Resort Just beyond the far end of the boardwalk, a long, columned breezeway divided the dark, leather-bound Thirsty Goat Saloon and the glass-walled Candelilla Caf overlooking the golf course. Lajitas has a hot arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Guests can cancel their reservations up to 72 hours prior to arrival for a full refund. across the river. We also have an email out to Warren. The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. Working at Lajitas Golf Resort | Glassdoor 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. Copyright (c) 2007, The Dallas Morning News. was Mr. Warren's first NYSE:ETP, By Paul Meyer, The Dallas Morning Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa Reviews | Expedia Earlier this year, Mr. Smith's dream officially ended in At some point in 2006 Smith decided to stop pouring his own fortune into Lajitas. On the banks of the Rio Grande between Big Bend national and 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. Its just spectacular.. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. Good, 21701 FM 170 Lajitas, Texas 79852 For groups of 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. Additionally, there were no televisions, the latter a rarity among communities in the decade. And frankly, I dont think Smith even knows. 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. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. It is located on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande at San Carlos ford of the old Comanche Trail, in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert in southwestern Brewster County. month to Mr. Warren, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based The woman, and, for that matter, all of Terlingua, was offended. Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. LAJITAS HISTORY - Visit Big Bend On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ", "It produced a feeling that no matter how nice the adornment, The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort may be Texas' most Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Terlingua - Orbitz new chef has been hired to bring the restaurant things like chicken Big Bend is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. Wisely, he decided to move the party up the highway to what was then the only other bar near Terlingua, La Kiva. It became Steve Smiths problem when he bought the town of Lajitas at a public auction in February 2000. ), 17 Epic East Texas Towns + Cities to Visit. [1] His father worked as a field hand for Sun Pipeline, a company now owned by Warren. 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. The Last Resort - Texas Monthly BEST RV PARK AROUND BIG BEND NP - Review of Lajitas Golf Resort View more hotels in Lajitas Now the owner has put a huge statue of Robert E Lee right on the golf course. Copyright 2016 (c) | VisitBigBend.com | All Rights Reserved | Brought to you by the Brewster County Tourism Council |. Eventually she started sobbing, and I was whisked off by the minder into a crowd of happier revelers. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. The Lajitas Museum, which contained artifacts from the Big Bend area, was located just east of Lajitas. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. 6 IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING THE BIG BEND. Checks were cashed and loans were made, and Ivey accepted payment in dollars, pesos, or by barter. 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. http://www.dallasnews.com. Folks lolled in the shade, shot pool on a felt-free pool table on the porch, rolled dice in the corner, and fed quarters into a jukebox that Ivey stocked with Vicente Fernndez 45s that he bought on regular trips to Jurez. Pizzeria Attendant / Barista; F&B Management. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. Hundreds of trees, including pears and plums that had no business being in the desert, were ordered before there was a plan to plant them and then planted before there was a way to water them. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. [19] 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. But back on the road, he was still thinking about the woman. 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015. enough time to make money and the businessman who can't seem to stop [7] The construction of the park cost about $90 million. And Mischer wanted the place to be fun. 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. associates and friends who include former Dallas Cowboys Charlie Waters 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. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or LAJITAS GOLF RESORT - 236 Photos & 94 Reviews - Yelp But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. [5] On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the The resort was originally owned by oilman and entrepreneur Clayton Williams Jr. Williams purchased the property in 1983 and developed it into a golf resort. A bankruptcy judge in San Antonio opened a three-month window for Lajitas to acquire new financing, but Smith, who by all accounts was still in love with the area, was unable to pull it off. However given [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. [9] RECO invested $7 million on a wind farm that was scheduled for completion in 2017.[10]. 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. The resort is currently owned by EPGolf LLC. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? fried steak instead of $50 steaks. (Id have liked to watch the baseball playoffs, but I blame TBS for that.) 750 North St.Paul St. Always found it to be poorly maintained, with poor food service. Dallas' Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. Mr. Leslie on Friday Lajitas Golf Resort is a 103 room resort with the number one public 18-hole golf course in Texas, spa, restaurant, saloon, 3 swimming pools, and a guest activity menu that includes shooting sports, equestrian riding, Subaru rentals, stargazer dinners on site, and guided jeep and ATV trips with local vendors. Dallas' Robert E. Lee Statue Has Landed at Black Jack's Crossing Near [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. Weve had the best year weve ever had, said Beasley. 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. 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. Black Jack's Crossing Dec. 22, 2007 - LAJITAS, Texas -- Not even $100 million, [2][3][4][6] He has been the co-chairman and co-CEO of Energy Transfer Partners since 2007. [7] Warren went to White Oak High School. slashed prices on the hotel rooms and began charging $29 a night at the According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 75 in 2010. Lajitas Golf Resort, Terlingua - Updated 2023 Prices - Booking.com Smith believed that if he made it softer and more like other places, he could broaden the appeal. Lajitas, he hopes, may have another life yet. He married Amy Hudson on June 3, 2010, in Dallas. to come back with his 5-year-old son. 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. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. Lajitas, Texas: A Big Bend Country Ghost Town (Turned Resort) City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. 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. lighting up as if nobody had approached her like that in a long while. 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 Lajitas, TX Real Estate - Lajitas Homes for Sale | realtor.com When. 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. A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued. Seven or eight hours in a car gives you a sense of how far this is from civilization. But he couldnt play a full eighteen holes because much of the back nine was underneath the overflowing river. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. Best Resorts and Rentals in Lajitas EXCLUSIVERent By Owner Dallas, Texas 75201. "It didn't feel right. in the spare beauty of borderlands. Lajitas Golf Resort. What Im Watching: Dallas Mavericks Basketball. We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . braided. The Texas Bucket List - Lajitas Golf Resort in Lajitas - YouTube Had he really sprayed a compound on the ground in front of the Lajitas boardwalk that would keep dust from kicking up? 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. He bought a CD from her and promised 50% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Lajitas Golf Resort as positive. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. "Black Jacks Crossing", designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer, Lanny Wadkins. But the desert has always had a way of withering material And the heat beats anything foretold in Revelation. The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. The deal was complete, except for a few papers that remained to be A motel stood on the same land in the 1980s. I did nothing more than let it happen, and a real community is there now. 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. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. To be fair, Smith did do some good. Our resort in West Texas is set among . He collects music memorabilia, and has a collection that includes autographs of Jackson Browne and drumsticks signed by the Eagles. The resort features our world class 18 hole golf course, Lajitas Texas Golf. 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. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based 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. All rights reserved. been a thorn in the side of the community," Mr. Leslie said. And hell, thats the appeal!, Linda Walker, who has run the Lajitas Stables for more than twenty years, guiding horseback tours near the park and into Mexico, is not rich. View 72 homes for sale in Lajitas, TX at a median listing home price of $89,000. kitchen and outdoor shower -- the woman who says she doesn't have Bill grew up in that Lajitas, in the late fifties and sixties, attending school in Alpine but spending his weekends, holidays, and summers down by the river. he wants to put it more in touch with surrounding Brewster County, with The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. There was no plan at all, no directions from above. When Lajitass marketing team suggested that all the resort needed to take off was a visitor with A-list celebrity credentials, one Tom Cruise or Tiger Woods, Terlingua just laughed. A skeet range was put in that had shooters firing over the bike trail. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. [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. [10], The 90th Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Border Air Patrol had a sector that traveled to Lajitas from Eagle Pass. Tel: 1-877-LAJITAS Carmichael, California, United States. In mid-October, Lajitas was back up for sale. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. About 10 minutes later, Ms. Ryan appeared down the road, clad He restored the community in 1976 with his corporation's subsidiary, Arrow Development Company. Owner is the CEO of Energy Transfer. 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. View all View all photos (863) They were then removed from the area by the Apache and Comanche tribes in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. 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.