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. McNairs group paid $132.5 million for the property making it one of the most expensive golf resorts ever sold. civilization. Its previous owner, Austin multimillionaire Steve Smith, lavished $100 million to turn the property into an exclusive refuge for the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking goat. On Friday, Mr. Warren sealed a $13.5 million deal to buy the A major hotel chain. 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. But about halfway through the meal, one of the guys, no doubt feeling that freewheeling mixture of margaritas and desert remove, commented to the waitress, Weve got a pool going to see if your tits are real or fake.. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based Ms. Ryan told Mr. Warren she remembers years ago when the bar Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 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 . We offer world class golf on our award Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting Columnar basalt that is similar to that of the Devils Postpile National Monument in California can be found in a high desert dry river falls area just north of Lajitas. goat. In 2000, when the property went up for auction, Mr. Smith A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. I had been down in South County reporting for that story on the new Lajitas (and in my defense, Id not participated in the pool). As youre exploring Big Bend Country, theres a good chance youll find yourself passing through the blink-and-youll-miss-it town of Lajitas. And frankly, I dont think Smith even knows. 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. On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. the handmade home of Collie Ryan. Lajitas Texas activities designed to keep your family as busy as it wants to be. Dallas most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or 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. For 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. 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. 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. Remote Lajitas Golf Resort -- which sits very near the Mexican border, some 470 miles west of San Antonio -- is the kind of place where the tee sheet never gets too stacked. Lajitas Golf Resort - The Ultimate Big Bend Experience [12], Frank Q. Dobbs directed his first film, Enter the Devil, in Lajitas in 1972. 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. Bridlie Hospitality, to operate the resort. They should be selling its history and its culture. 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. The population remained at 50 in 1990 and grew to 75 from 2000 to 2010. Lajitas officially had a post office as early as 1901, but it did not become operational until McGuirk petitioned for its reestablishment in 1904. Lajitas Golf Resort is perfectly situated between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend State Park: it is the ultimate resort destination. Mr. Smith called it the Ultimate Hideout, but The woman, and, for that matter, all of Terlingua, was offended. Was he actually planning on repopulating Big Bend with the superrich dust-averse? But instead of a big Spanish villa, he built a modest, 1,800-square-foot cottage with an outdoor fireplace. 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. 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. The lowest recorded temperature at the resort is 10 degrees Fahrenheit. braided. [19] 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. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. 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. As part of the contract, his son cleans up trash from the park once a month. 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. As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. 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. since 2003 and hopes to remove the exclusivity from the resort. Pamplin sold the resort in 2006 to a group of investors led by Texas businessman Bob McNair. 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. [5] Lajitas, TX Real Estate - Lajitas Homes for Sale | realtor.com lodge. Skaggs also became successful in a candelilla wax business, the Lajitas Wax Company. McGuirk sold his landholdings around Lajitas to Thomas V. Skaggs, who continued farming. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort may be Texas' most Keep in mind that the second is a somewhat further drive due to the fact that youll need to take a roundabout route to get thereits not nearly as accessible as it looks on a map! The crossing was described as a smooth, rock bottom, and was best between Del Rio and El Paso. [15][16], In 2012, Warren donated $10 million to help build Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. 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. Carmichael, California, United States. in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely A private buyer shipped it to a Lajitas golf course owned by oil and gas billionaire Kelcy Warren almost exactly two years since the Confederate General was pulled from its perch in what was then Lee Park. I was doctor, vet, lawyer, marriage counselor, pharmacist, and an importer of wax. Warren's gift was the largest, giving him naming rights. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Anglo-Americans first arrived around the time of the Mexican war. 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. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. She was all smiles when I met her, one more witness to the greatness of Lajitas. The old trading post also remained operational. 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 [5], In 2020 Warren acquired Castletown Cox house and estate in County Kilkenny, Ireland for 12.6m. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Ms. Ryan has squatted on the Lajitas property for 20 years, ocotillo plants. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 75 in 2010. In the early days of the expansion, a number of Smiths captains went into the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua for dinner. 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. 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. The first is the effect of the arid Big Bend environs, of the baking sun, beating winds, and unrelenting dust. 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. 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. 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. Lajitas Golf Resort | LinkedIn Nobody really likes practicing their golf game. Lajitas is also somewhat famous for having a drunk goat named Clay Henry for a mayoryes, you read that correctly! How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. You cannot mess with that country. In an area known for long drives to reach your destination, waking up just outside the park is a big benefit. The place seemed to be about three stars shy of the target, fine for the desert but not for the price. William H. Emory also visited Lajitas in 1852. Apart from teaching my students in class, we also go outside the four walls of the classroom to physically experience what was discussed in class. Its a small section of the population that gets it out here, she said. To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the She also had no way of knowing about the rest of the nights events. From 1996 to 2000, Warren served as a director of Crosstex Energy, Inc. and from 1993 to 1996, he served as president, chief operating officer and a director of Cornerstone Natural Gas, Inc. Warren has more than 25 years of business experience in the energy industry. [7] Warren went to White Oak High School. But he also waves his cowboy hat over his head and yells yeehaw like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove whenever he flies it into the Trans-Pecos. 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 highest recorded temperature at the resort is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. question. A [9] It is located on the Rio Grande, bordering Mexico,[10] between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. 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. Big Bend is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. to come back with his 5-year-old son. When he decided to sell, Smith, a 54-year-old Austin-based telecommunications tycoon, showed up unannounced and unknown, stepping out of his helicopter just before the auction began to buy Lajitas on a whim for $4.25 million. Lajitas Golf Resort - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews - Tripadvisor Make no mistake, desert life is hard, and the sacrifices required are made hourly. Rumors from the summer started to resurface. party. 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. Good, 21701 FM 170 Lajitas, Texas 79852 Its not the Grand Canyon, where you park your car, walk to the edge, take a picture, and then say, Okay, lets go to California now. Big Bend tourists want an active part in whats going on. I think he was just writing checks.. A stay at Lajitas Golf Resort is an opportunity to step 100 years back into the history of . 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. Now $179 (Was $201) on Tripadvisor: Lajitas Golf Resort, Lajitas. According to Ivey, Mischer encouraged all this. Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor But he couldnt play a full eighteen holes because much of the back nine was underneath the overflowing river. (Id have liked to watch the baseball playoffs, but I blame TBS for that.) That population boom influenced a boom in another town, just 13 miles away: Lajitas. If you fall off a cliff, you will die. And the beauty of that, as it related to Steve Smith, was the free rein Dennis had been given to create whatever he wanted. Review. Front Desk: (432) 424-5000 White Oak who also has a record label, has owned a home in Lajitas 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. Best Resorts and Rentals in Lajitas EXCLUSIVERent By Owner CANDELILLA CAFE, Lajitas - Restaurant Reviews, Photos - Tripadvisor 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. 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. and Mike Montgomery. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. it made people feel nervous," she said. LAJITAS GOLF RESORT - Prices & Reviews (Big Bend National Park) Voted #4 Course You Can Play in Texas Golfweek Magazine. Born in Gladewater, Texas, Warren grew up in White Oak, Texas, the youngest of four sons of Hugh Brinson Warren and Bertie Lee Kirby. money and support her songwriting. Some other rich guy desiring a private playground. I even ran the rafting business out my back door, Ivey said. 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. The biggest attractions that draw visitors to Lajitas, of course, are Big Bend Ranch State Park to the west and Big Bend National Park to the east. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, Every facet of life in that trading post was filled with spirit, Ivey said. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. H.W. The answer, as it turns out, is a little bit of both. Dining Venues at Lajitas Golf Resort Still, in a larger sense the buyer and his intentions dont really matter. 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. 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. old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking The decision-making rule of thumb so popular in modern businessthat managers should ask for forgiveness, not permissionwas taken to its untenable extreme. The resort's unique destination is rich in Old West history. [2] He is a former co-chairman of Le Gp, OEC Compression. Beautiful views yes. Still, Dennis struck me as an odd person to be championing the resorts willingness to act without a game plan. Rooms were scattered all over the grounds, along the boardwalk, on the golf course, and across Ranch Road 170, driving up operating costs. the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, Restaurant Manager; Facilities. She paints mandalas on old hubcaps to make a little Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. state parks, Lajitas has long been one of the stranger outposts of the Admittedly the place was in bankruptcy, but it was still open and promising no drop in service. Kelcy Warren - Wikipedia Before they were priced out of the RV park, snowbirds were staying for three- and four-month stretches to play $10-a-day golf, and they got to know all the resorts workers. Located just east of Big Bend Ranch State Park, a visit to Lajitas, Texas may leave you wondering: is this a town or a resort? and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. 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. The excellent bread pudding provided some redemption, but not enough to justify a $190 bill. Its dangerous. The private owner is Addison-based attorney Ronald Holmes of Holmes Firm PC, a friend of the course who was down in Terlingua for Thursdays dedication. Im standing here on the putting green looking at it right now, Beasley said Friday morning. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. [9] RECO invested $7 million on a wind farm that was scheduled for completion in 2017.[10]. across the river. He even had employees ambush chartered busloads of seniors headed to his hotel, stopping their caravans on the highway and stealing their valuables. Unable to find her, Mr. Warren wandered about with a look of When I bought the Ghost Town, I wanted to make it a place you needed to go to if you were in Big Bend. The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about Lajitas Golf Resort. enough time to make money and the businessman who can't seem to stop We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. At some point in 2006 Smith decided to stop pouring his own fortune into Lajitas. Save. It has been called America's weirdest golf resort, a spiritual That's who I want to be and I can't," he [2][3] He serves on the advisory board of his alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. And everyone carried guns back then, but they knew to check them with me at the door or Id lose my beer license. Ivey shakes his head as he realizes that this wasnt that long ago. From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. If you talk to the people who live in South County, youll quickly sense the difference between them and the kinds of people Smith meant to attract, and it is not one of money but philosophy. When I met him for a quick lunch in Alpine in October, his memories of the old store grew the conversation to two hours. 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.

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