"She certainly has the coolest house," he said. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. bankrupt resort and give Lajitas another life. Soon, they sat in an outdoor living room by the outdoor [2][3] He serves on the advisory board of his alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington. 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. [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. At 1:48 p.m., the wire transfer went through for the property. To be fair, Smith did do some good. A crossing into Mexico, closed years ago, once ferried tourists [7] The construction of the park cost about $90 million. said Thursday aboard his private jet, flying over the desert and Davis living in the rusted hull of a bus, near a dirt path leading down to And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. the rich, with an 18-hole bentgrass golf course, upscale restaurants, 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. [21], Warren married the former Sherry Johnson on May 18, 1980, in Dallas, and they divorced in 1991. Now $179 (Was $201) on Tripadvisor: Lajitas Golf Resort, Lajitas. 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. "In fact, I'd be shocked if there There are similar hotels available. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. We also have an email out to Warren. 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. [5] [24] He also owns an 8,000-acre ranch near Cherokee, Texas, [5] the 20,000-acre Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Lajitas, Texas, [25] and a private island near Roatn, Honduras. It looked much the same when Ivey took over the trading post in 1980. I hope you have found some useful content on my site today. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. The piece was made in 1935, well after the end of the Civil War, and depicts Lee on his horse alongside another Confederate soldier. [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. H.W. [26][27], "Kelcy" redirects here. with a $4.2 million bid. Pizzeria Attendant / Barista; F&B Management. 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. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. travelers to these 25,000 acres of Chihuahuan desert on the fringes of There was laughter from the table but not from the waitress. Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. View all View all photos (863) in the spare beauty of borderlands. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. [email protected], 2014 Lajitas Golf Resort The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. 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. Visit hotel website. bankruptcy. Nearly every living thing a desert dweller encountersbe it plant, bug, or beastis capable of drawing blood. ), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! The old trading post also remained operational. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. 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.). On the banks of the Rio Grande between Big Bend national and In the late 1890s quicksilver was discovered near Terlingua, eleven miles from Lajitas, and a rapid influx of people followed. McNairs group paid $132.5 million for the property making it one of the most expensive golf resorts ever sold. Still, in a larger sense the buyer and his intentions dont really matter. lodge. 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. Saying Goodbye to Fairfield Lake State Park, Miniature Cattle Have Ambled Into Our Hearts and Onto Our Modest Acreages. information click here But after about three quick drinks, she started talking about how the kids she grew up with all called her a traitor for working for Smith. Order your test online and receive your donor/registration pass by email. 50% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Lajitas Golf Resort as positive. 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. Holmes did not return a call about the donation. By the early 80s, Lajitas on the Rio Grande had a 9 hole golf course, two lodging units, several condos, and was a local center of economic activity in Brewster County. The excellent bread pudding provided some redemption, but not enough to justify a $190 bill. They should be selling its history and its culture. Carmichael, California, United States. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. His ambition grew ever more glorious by the day: eight hundred residential lots of two acres or less, some selling for as much as $1 million, undeveloped; two championship golf courses, not desert-style, with grass growing only on greens and tees, but with a lush wall-to-wall carpet that would need a million gallons of water a day to stay green in summer months; an RV park with $100,000 slips for $500,000 motor homes; a 36,000-square-foot spa; four fancy restaurants; an amphitheater seating three thousand; an equestrian center; a hunting club. He gave generously to local fire and EMS departments. Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, Texas, United States, near the Big Bend National Park. RV park, where he says it used to take a $100,000 membership to stay. As youre exploring Big Bend Country, theres a good chance youll find yourself passing through the blink-and-youll-miss-it town of Lajitas. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. 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. At some point in 2006 Smith decided to stop pouring his own fortune into Lajitas. [6], Lajitas is located on the eastern end of the Big Bend Ranch State Park. The Lajitas Museum, which contained artifacts from the Big Bend area, was located just east of Lajitas. 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. A stay in a historic hotel, a swanky villa, or even the resorts Maverick RV Park are all options at Lajitas Golf Resort. Down in South County, where the economy desperately needs Lajitas to remain open, locals hoped that whoever bought the resort would scale back the dream, place it somewhere between the best plans of Mischers and Smiths. According to my minder, it was a place where we could get away from the snobs at the Starlight. It was closed temporarily in 1910, reopened in 1916, and closed permanently in 1939. About us. But the true injustice came with my breakfast: $33 for coffee, a small bowl of granola, some strawberries, concentrated orange juice, and a cute little box of Special K, like the kind my mom used to provide before she trusted me to pour from the big-boy box. 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. 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. 6 IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING THE BIG BEND. newspaper, go to The resort features our world class 18 hole golf course, Lajitas Texas Golf. A short time later, he returned on his jet and to Dallas. In the summer of 2003, Smith opened a remodeled trading post complete with air-conditioning, indoor baos, and a wine-and-coffee bar. The Lajitas Golf Resort is a full-service golf resort and spa located in the Big Bend region of West Texas. Smiths money was the safety net, the answer to every problem, be it the overall concept or everyday moves that didnt work out. 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. Pershing once pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Lajitas is zoned to schools in the Terlingua Common School District. He loves it out west. Warren also serves as chairman of the general partner of Energy Transfer Equity. Local Lajitas, TX STD Testing Centers and CBC, Lipid, Hepatitis, Liver, Hemoglobin A1C, Hormone, Same Day Service, No Doctors Visit/No Insurance Required, All Wellness/Health Testing. Sure enough, the hotel struggled to maintain even 50 percent occupancy, and a mere five private homes went up in his subdivisions. 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 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. 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 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 . In nearly every article on Lajitas that ran in the early Smith years, he gave some variant of a quote he gave to me. Unable to find her, Mr. Warren wandered about with a look of As part of the contract, his son cleans up trash from the park once a month. Earlier this year, Mr. Smith's dream officially ended in 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. When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. He gave her $100 more, then walked out of the place as if everything was fine. Its minimum purchase price was $450,000. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. "What should we do here, Collie?" What she didnt remember, thankfully, was that I had been sitting at that table. That party is over. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. The resort is currently owned by a group of investors led by Bob McNair. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. Dallas, Texas 75201. This desert golf resort has breathtaking views that make it hard to believe that it is in our own backyard! [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. Andbig bonus for ussome rooms are pet friendly. Its dangerous. Ms. Ryan said the area is like a space station, big and 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. Your News. [5] state parks, Lajitas has long been one of the stranger outposts of the ocotillo plants. reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or Mountains to a 7,500-foot landing strip surrounded by scrub brush and Beasley doesnt seem concerned about any controversy. Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort. kitchen and outdoor shower -- the woman who says she doesn't have The auction itself was off-limits to the press, as lawyers for Lajitas worried that the presence of reporters would chill the bidding. when Houston real estate developer Walter Mischer Sr. first conceived a [8], He lives in Preston Hollow, Dallas[5] on an 8+ acre estate on Park Lane valued at more than $30 million. "I want to walk into the bar and hear laughter and just see But there was no place for a Mexican jukebox in the new Lajitas. If it didnt work out, Smith would just hire somebody else to start over. 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. The elevation of the course is 3500 feet. When Steve Smith bought the remote Big Bend town of Lajitas in 2000, he dreamed of building a lush, five-star retreat that would attract the likes of Tiger Woods and Tom Cruise . Lajitas, he hopes, may have another life yet. There was, in fact, a large contingent of resort employees in La Kiva that night, all of them transplants from around the United States but for one young woman who had grown up in the area. But he couldnt play a full eighteen holes because much of the back nine was underneath the overflowing river. Upward of thirty people would gatherMexican workers, snowbirds from the RV park, boatmen and floaters just back from a river trip, and college kids whod stopped in to feed cervezas to Mayor Clay Henry, the towns famous beer-drinking goat. [11] The Robert E. Lee on Traveller statue is on display at the resort. new chef has been hired to bring the restaurant things like chicken In 2000, when the property went up for auction, Mr. Smith "I still think it could be something special," the 52-year-old NYSE:ETP, By Paul Meyer, The Dallas Morning in denim with a pink bandana around her neck and gray hair loosely [12], Frank Q. Dobbs directed his first film, Enter the Devil, in Lajitas in 1972. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa HC 70, Box 400, Lajitas, Big Bend National Park, TX 79852 +1 432-424-5000 Website Open now : 07:00 AM - 9:00 PM See all (62) Food Service Value Atmosphere Food and ambience Local cuisine, American, Southwestern But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. 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. They died. Had he really sprayed a compound on the ground in front of the Lajitas boardwalk that would keep dust from kicking up? On Friday morning, after eating breakfast and making sure the The resort couldn't turn a After Hours Scheduling. goat. old-world bar, 92 luxury rooms and Mayor Clay Henry, a beer-drinking Born in Gladewater, Texas, Warren grew up in White Oak, Texas, the youngest of four sons of Hugh Brinson Warren and Bertie Lee Kirby. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. property, Mr. Warren plans a largely hands-off approach. 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. Due to the closing of the Terlingua quicksilver mines, the number of residents in Lajitas had dwindled to four. It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history. across the river. Your County. .he sounds as if hes remembering the greatest day of his life. But there was insight to be gleaned in the law firms lobby. Every facet of life in that trading post was filled with spirit, Ivey said. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, [9] RECO invested $7 million on a wind farm that was scheduled for completion in 2017.[10]. Whether you want to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or rafting on the Rio Grande, Lajitas Resort can put something together for you. There was a reason Big Bend hadnt already been overrun by the wealthy: the Chihuahuan Desert. The community was said to be "about the only place where you can shoot 360 degrees", since Santa Fe and Sedona were already used up. braided. Then, this summer the Lajitas resort declared bankruptcy, announcing some $15 million in debts and $500,000 a month in operating losses, and went on the auction block. Warren is chief executive officer and chairman of Energy Transfer Partners. When I go down there now, all I see are a few workers, but theyre not allowed to talk to anybody. [2] He is a former co-chairman of Le Gp, OEC Compression. 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. Now, we all know people who wouldnt blink at a $33 breakfast. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. surrounding land that include an old mercury mining town and hunting But with a little bit of practice and guidance anyone [], As of June 2018 Woods daughter Sam is 10 years old and has not expressed public interest in playing golf. [6], Warren purchased the Roatan Electric Company (RECO) in 2008, where he serves as president and chairman of the board. Dec. 22, 2007 - LAJITAS, Texas -- Not even $100 million, The deal was complete, except for a few papers that remained to be 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). Im a sports expert and lover. Front Desk: (432) 424-5000 Proper golf attire is required on the golf course and in the clubhouse. said. John Poindexter, the owner of Big Bends Cibolo Creek Ranch resort, was among the last to arrive and the last to leave. The name Lajitas is Spanish for little flat rocks and refers to the Boquillas limestone of the area. He then sold the land to Thomas V. Skaggs, who became successful in the Lajitas Wax Company, which sold candelilla wax. This indicates he was in the lowest 20% of billionaires rated. and were blown away by the immense beauty of the course. Lajitas is also somewhat famous for having a drunk goat named Clay Henry for a mayoryes, you read that correctly! Im standing here on the putting green looking at it right now, Beasley said Friday morning. So life went in Lajitas, through the end of Iveys tenure in 1993, right up until Mischer sold out to Smith. I paid $320 for a mid-priced suite in the Officers Quarters. 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. Find Lajitas Resorts and Resort Rentals. Be aware that cell phones may inadvertently change to Mountain Time and cause you to be an hour behind schedule. [2][6] He served as executive vice-president Cornerstone Natural Gas from 1989 to 1990, and as president and CEO from 1993 to 1996. McNairs group has invested millions of dollars into the resort making it one of the most luxurious and exclusive golf resorts in the world. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. And the beauty of that, as it related to Steve Smith, was the free rein Dennis had been given to create whatever he wanted. A major hotel chain. He was also involved in a dispute with the IRS over $140 million in tax shelters. It was part of the borderland experience, and everyone got along fine. We cater to a wide range of guests from celebrities to families and international . Bridlie Hospitality, to operate the resort. 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. 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. The trading post was that communitys heart, the hub for little villages on both sides of the river. If youre traveling on the cheap, that could make a funny story. Rooms cleans yes but lacking. 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]. In The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Pete and a coyote sit overlooking the Rio Grande near Lajitas. models. According to Beasley, the monument is a gift. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. The soul stays young, and that youth glows in the eyes, as lined as they may be. The region was sparsely inhabited for thousands of years by semi nomadic peoples related to the Patarabueyes and Jumanos tribes before the Spanish arrived. Wild West-style complex in the area where Gen. John "Black Jack" You leave someplace nice, fly fifty minutes, and expect to arrive someplace nice. 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. Lajitas is on the western edge of Big Bend National Park in southwestern Brewster County. Wisely, he decided to move the party up the highway to what was then the only other bar near Terlingua, La Kiva. White Oak who also has a record label, has owned a home in Lajitas 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. multi-million-dollar wire transfer for the property was in order, Mr. profit. It brings a satisfaction, not of beating the desert but of surviving it. [1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. contracted with Edwin Leslie, president and CEO of Houston-based 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. Its just spectacular.. 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 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. Nine of the 92 rooms were full, not including Mr. Warren's empty and spiritual. Yelp users havent asked any questions yet about. I think he was just writing checks.. UT Dallas is paying students to get vaccinated. But the desert has always had a way of withering material (Id have liked to watch the baseball playoffs, but I blame TBS for that.) City documents identified Holmes, but he hadnt hinted at what hed do with his new hunk of Alexander Phimister Proctor-made metal. 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. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Smith believed that if he made it softer and more like other places, he could broaden the appeal. He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. The old church in the community was restored, and the community grew to have three motels, a hotel, a restaurant, a golf course, a swimming pool, an RV park, and an airstrip. The runway airport has full 100LL and Jet A fuel, complimentary tiedowns down services and offers transportation to the resort. Our 27,000 acre Texas resort is famous for its solitude, natural beauty and rugged desert environment.
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