Prickly pear, Big Bend Region. Photo by Richard Reynolds
Starlight Theater, Terlingua
Terlingua
This rejuvenated ghost town harbors a mystique that is fed by Wild West legend. It was once a prosperous mining village that produced 40 percent of the quicksilver in the nation in 1922, but typical of places that sprouted early in the century, Terlingua became a ghost town by the 1940s. Today, it boasts an array of funky shops, art galleries, and a historically refurbished four-room guesthouse. For local flavor, stop by the Starlight Theatre, a converted bar, eatery, and live music venue. Though the city first gained notoriety for the Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff in the 1960s, it now offers many other recreational activities, including raft trips, jeep tours, and horseback rides. Terlingua has 128 moderate and 4 first-class accommodations.
River Rafting and Jeep Tours
Outfitters include:
Big Bend River Tours
A quarter mile past intersection of FM 170 and TX Hwy. 118
432-371-3033
800-545-4240
bigbendrivertours.comDesert Sports
Five miles west of TX Hwy. 118 on FM 170
432-371-2727
888-989-6900
desertsportstx.comFar Flung Outdoor Center
On FM 170, half a mile past intersection of TX Hwy. 118 and FM 170
432-371-2633
800-839-7238
farflungoutdoorcenter.comRio Grande Adventures
60 miles south of Alpine, TX Hwy. 118 S. (11 miles north of Study Butte)
800-343-1640
riograndeadventures.comThe water level of the Rio Grande will dictate whether your river excursion is a placid float or a challenging white-water adventure. Novices can hire a local commercial outfitter and guide service; experienced rafters can bring their own equipment. River trips range from half a day to a week in length. Trips within Big Bend National Park require backcountry use permits, which are available at any park ranger station. ATVs are now available.