Desert environments have inspired great philosophers, poets, artists and dreamers of every description. Once described as a dusty bohemia, Big Bend enjoys an abundance of resident musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, lapidarists, ceramicists, and talented actors.
Along with a variety of dining options in Marathon, Big Bend National Park, Terlingua, Study Butte and Lajitas, there is a surprising night life with live music at several locations just about every weekend, almost nightly during busy seasons.
Alpine is the Hub of the Big Bend and a major service center. There are 400 hotel rooms, along with restaurants, shopping, and groceries. It is the home of Sul Ross State University, and annual events like Gallery Night and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Big Bend National Park has a small community nestled in a beautiful valley over a mile high in the Chisos Mountains. The Chisos Mountains Lodge is located here, along with ranger and information station, restaurant, and convenience store.
Lajitas means “small flat rocks” in Spanish, so named for the layered limestone formed by ancient seas. Today,Lajitas is home to a beautiful resort on the legendary Rio Grande, which is nestled in between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Perhaps the best-kept secret about the Big Bend is the view from the porch in Terlingua Ghost Town. Visitors will also find a trading company/gift shop, art galleries, unique lodging options, restaurants, and bars.
At the junction of TX 118 and FM 170, Study Butte is just two miles west of Big Bend National Park. There are several outdoor activity outfitters, various lodging options, gift shops and galleries, convenience stores, restaurants, auto service, a gas station, churches, a post office, a bank (ATM), and a liquor store
Marathon was established with the coming of the railroad in 1882. However, the establishment of Big Bend National Park made Marathon the closest gateway town to the Park, and a jumping off point for Park visitors.
There are two golf courses located just outside Big Bend National Park, offering completely different golfing experiences:
Retired National Park Ranger and pilot Marcos Paredes has founded Rio Aviation www.rioaviation.com to show folks a bird's eye view of Big Bend. From the air, you view the unobstructed geology of this amazing region, and can imagine the powerful process that made and continue to shape our planet. Rio Aviation is licensed to conduct tours over both the Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Big Bend National Park is the most bio-diverse park in the entire system. Within its boundaries, one finds more species of butterflies, bats, reptiles, plants, ants and birds. Over 450 avian species either live in Big Bend National Park, or migrate through at some point in the year.
Professional surveys suggest that the most popular vacation activity is shopping and in Big Bend unique local merchants have made many interesting shopping opportunities available.
There is more to Big Bend than can be seen in a lifetime. Big Bend National Park is the main destination, and together with neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park, there are a million acres of spectacular vistas, shadowy canyons, and rugged desert mountains that visitors explore by road, river, and trail.
