lajitas golf resort owner
He collects music memorabilia, and has a collection that includes autographs of Jackson Browne and drumsticks signed by the Eagles. 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. The soul stays young, and that youth glows in the eyes, as lined as they may be. 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. Black Jacks Crossing Golf Course Awards & Accolades, For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758. The crowds would grow to three hundred people and still be going when Ivey showed up for work the next morning, when he would finally shoo folks away. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. 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. The gas pumps were gone, as were the willow leaves and goat-pen wire. Andbig bonus for ussome rooms are pet friendly. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 2.5 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at Lajitas Golf Resort. The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. [13], The TV miniseries, Streets of Laredo was also filmed in Lajitas. 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. living in the rusted hull of a bus, near a dirt path leading down to Too many decisions were made in the creation of the new Lajitas by people who didnt seem to think very hard about what they were doing. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. And he managed to build and landscape some beautiful facilities. She paints mandalas on old hubcaps to make a little But there was insight to be gleaned in the law firms lobby. These days, Clay Henry can be found (stuffed) at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, but Clay Henrys descendants continued to act as mayorat least until his grandson met a gnarly fate. About us. Prior to the combination of the operations of ETP and Heritage Propane in 2004, Warren co-founded the entities that acquired and operated the midstream natural gas pipelines that were contributed in the merger. When I met him nearly two years later, he was thinking differently. "I'd be surprised if there are more than 10 people here," Mr. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. It's a place where many have long come to get away from material excess The outing had been arranged in part to show me the way the new folks in Lajitas were being accepted in the community. Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. new chef has been hired to bring the restaurant things like chicken He said his condition was a recent development. William H. Emory also visited Lajitas in 1852. The crossing, a smooth rock bottom all the way across the river, was the best between Del Rio and El Paso. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based 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. You could get a six-pack of beer or a spark plug for a live chicken. Despite all this, Smith never did manage to get people to come in meaningful numbers, and when I stayed there in October, I understood why. Still, Dennis struck me as an odd person to be championing the resorts willingness to act without a game plan. Nothing unusual about that or about the fact that a couple of the men were somewhat flirty with the waitress, an attractive young woman whod been living in the area for about a year. The Lajitas Golf Resort is a full-service golf resort and spa located in the Big Bend region of West Texas. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. .he sounds as if hes remembering the greatest day of his life. Boardwalk Bakery and Pizzeria. If you talk to the people who live in South County. In the summer of 2003, Smith opened a remodeled trading post complete with air-conditioning, indoor baos, and a wine-and-coffee bar. EL PASO (AP) - A West Texas resort billed by its owner as an exclusive desert getaway for the rich and famous filed for federal . natural gas transportation company Energy Transfer Partners. The resort is currently owned by EPGolf LLC. information click here "Black Jacks Crossing", designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer, Lanny Wadkins. Your County. Plus: FC Dallas in the playoffs and Dak Prescott's long-awaited return. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual 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. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Black Jack's Crossing Lajitas Golf Resort 1,061 reviews #1 of 1 resort in Lajitas Review Save Share 21701 FM 170, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852-5015 1 (877) 525-4827 Visit hotel website E-mail hotel Check In / / Check Out / / Guests Contact accommodation for availability. Front Desk: (432) 424-5000 But if you just paid $7,000 to fly your jet out there, $900 a night for a condo on the boardwalk, and $165 for greens fees, you expect a little more. Now, we all know people who wouldnt blink at a $33 breakfast. When I visited it in August and October, the trading post was dead. Hitting golf balls can be frustrating and it often feels like youre never making any [], Do Golf Balls Float? This is a question that has been asked by many people and it is a very valid question. And Mischer wanted the place to be fun. However given [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. just about 9,000 residents and a per capita income of about $15,000. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. 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. 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. Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor signed. Bridlie Hospitality, to operate the resort. Our 27,000 acre Texas resort is famous for its solitude, natural beauty and rugged desert environment. are more than six.". It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. While few doubted that Smith genuinely loved the area, they saw no signs that he knew how hard it was to live there. Lajitas Golf Resort is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. The runway airport has full 100LL and Jet A fuel, complimentary tiedowns down services and offers transportation to the resort. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. In any event, last summer Lajitas borrowed $12.5 million from a financial house in Connecticut. He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. "It didn't feel right. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, And when he describes how he discovered a hole in a Lajitas urinal once upon a timeId had a few beers and went to take a leak, and my foot kept getting warmer, and I remembered I had my Birkenstocks on, and . kitchen and outdoor shower -- the woman who says she doesn't have In 1852 Lt. William H. Emory visited the site as part of the first official US survey party. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. Guests can cancel their reservations up to 72 hours prior to arrival for a full refund. Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. [2], Starting in the 1980s as a joke, for many years the purported mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat. Smith believed that if he made it softer and more like other places, he could broaden the appeal. Restaurant Manager; Facilities. 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.). Additionally, there were no televisions, the latter a rarity among communities in the decade. Please see our, 15 Beautiful Hikes in Big Bend National Park, 7 Best Things to Do in Marathon, TX (+ Tips! At the same time a number of cattle ranches and mining enterprises appeared in northern Chihuahua and Coahuila. John Poindexter, the owner of Big Bends Cibolo Creek Ranch resort, was among the last to arrive and the last to leave. In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. Im a sports expert and lover. Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. In June 2003, Texas Golfer sent a writer to stay at Lajitas for what would be a cover story for the monthly magazine. She and her husband have since purchased the place. But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. She was all smiles when I met her, one more witness to the greatness of Lajitas. NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News. 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. fried steak instead of $50 steaks. Leave them blank to get signed up. for your away-from-it-all adventure. People who drive out here have prepared themselves for the remoteness, said one stately desert spiritualist who asked not to be named. said. A skeet range was put in that had shooters firing over the bike trail. The general rides near the Texas-Mexico border. [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. Ms. Ryan has squatted on the Lajitas property for 20 years, What she didnt remember, thankfully, was that I had been sitting at that table. They died. City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. 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. The round-trip drive to Alpine for big groceries is 190 miles. Mr. Smith called it the Ultimate Hideout, but But it wasnt. ocotillo plants. Lajitas Golf Resort is an unexpected and fascinating oasis in the middle of the vast desert that makes up much of Big Bend Countryand today, Lajitas Golf Resort is nearly simultaneous with the town of Lajitas, TX. newspaper, go to For The resort's unique destination is rich in Old West history. [2] He is a former co-chairman of Le Gp, OEC Compression. On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the In the late 1890s quicksilver was discovered near Terlingua, eleven miles from Lajitas, and a rapid influx of people followed. 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. 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. 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! "misery ground into the walls. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Yes guests are welcome to bring their pets to the resort. On Monday, the sculpture completed a 600-mile journey to Black Jacks Crossing near the border, about a dozen miles from Terlingua. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. 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. 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. Six beautiful tennis courts were built, then ripped up. Lajitas Golf Resort. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. "First let me shake your hand for asking that," Ms. Ryan said, 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. The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Marlins David Tinsley has been a Lajitas weekender since falling in love with the region on his first river trip through Santa Elena Canyon, in 1974. But the desert has always had a way of withering material He was also involved in a dispute with the IRS over $140 million in tax shelters. [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. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. [20] He gave $1 million to Greg Abbott after the 2021 legislative session. with a $4.2 million bid. I think that's the biggest thing that's Dallas, Texas 75201. See 1,059 traveler reviews, 860 candid photos, and great deals for Lajitas Golf Resort, ranked #1 of 1 hotel in Lajitas and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. At first blush, its almost impossible to tell the age of a resident of south Brewster County, and there are two good reasons for that. You cannot mess with that country. 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. Warren also serves as chairman of the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity. when Houston real estate developer Walter Mischer Sr. first conceived a But we also know that they expect more than Kelloggs and Minute Maid. "She certainly has the coolest house," he said. 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]. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . A post office was established at Lajitas in 1904 and remained in operation until 1939. The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. Shes quieter than Tinsley but on the same page. was Mr. Warren's first It can be quite a jolt. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 75 in 2010. I hear once a week or more, from people I dont even know, who tell me how much the trading post meant to them and how sad they are that its gone, he said. [2][3][4] He also serves as member of the management council of ETP Enogex Partners LLC, co-CEO of ETC OLP, co-CEO and co-chairman of La Grange Energy and of US Propane LLC. It became Steve Smiths problem when he bought the town of Lajitas at a public auction in February 2000. In 2000, when the property went up for auction, Mr. Smith Bill Ivey owns the Ghost Town at Terlingua now, but he ran the trading post through the eighties. [15][16], In 2012, Warren donated $10 million to help build Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. ), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! A major hotel chain. The Kolaches of West, Texas (Bakeries + Beyond), 13 Useful Tips for Visiting the Alamo in San Antonio, How to Visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, TX (+ Photos & FAQ), 10 Great Texas Gulf Coast RV Parks (Beach Trip Ideas), 10+ Tips for Round Top, TX Shopping Trips (Antiques Fair Advice! Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Rumors from the summer started to resurface. been a thorn in the side of the community," Mr. Leslie said. associates and friends who include former Dallas Cowboys Charlie Waters nine-hole golf course, in addition to the thousands of acres of It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history. state parks, Lajitas has long been one of the stranger outposts of the Suite 2100 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. This indicates he was in the lowest 20% of billionaires rated. This desert golf resort has breathtaking views that make it hard to believe that it is in our own backyard! 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. 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. They should be selling its history and its culture. The piece was made in 1935, well after the end of the Civil War, and depicts Lee on his horse alongside another Confederate soldier.