As someone who seeks out a trail ride every time we visit somewhere new...this was a trail ride for…read morethe ages. We did a early morning ride with Evo (gotta consider heat and horses) and his knowledge of plant life, history, suggestions for a scenic drive to Marfa, etc. made our excursion completely delightful. Evo also took a few moments to snap LOTS of pics of us (worthy of a picture frame). Evo was polite and respectful of our time and made the trip a nice way to end our vacation. The icing on the cake was Miss Dottie, the cattle dog who was a great addition for our ride.

Extremely Disappointing Experience for Families…read more First things first: this is not a family-friendly resort. It seems far more geared toward business travelers looking to drink and socialize or retired guests than families with children. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but as a family of five, our experience was extremely disappointing. We came here expecting a resort where we could enjoy activities together as a family. Instead, we repeatedly encountered closed doors, unavailable activities, and staff telling us no. We arrived around 2:30 p.m. and attempted to check in, only to be told that check-in was not until 4:00 p.m. While waiting, my wife saw an opportunity to book a sunset horseback ride with our eight-year-old daughter. We located the activity desk and were met with an abrupt no. The explanation was that reservations had to be made before noon and they could not prepare a cheese tray by 5:00 p.m. in time for the ride. My wife offered to forgo the cheese tray entirely, but we were still told no. Apparently, there was no interest in finding a reasonable solution or accommodating a paying guest. To kill time, we took the children to the pool. While the kids enjoyed swimming, the pool was not heated, which was another disappointment. We then attempted to arrange a golf cart tour of the property and were promptly told no again. The employee explained that they do offer tours, but they could not accommodate us that day. We attempted to try for our second day by leaving a voicemail which was never returned. The resort also advertises a theater that plays movies. When we walked inside, it was clearly undergoing renovations. Another advertised amenity that our family could not enjoy. That evening, my wife and I had a 6:00 p.m. dinner reservation at Candelilla. We decided to stop by the Thirsty Goat at 5:00 p.m. for a drink and sit outside while waiting for our reservation. Before we had even fully opened the door, someone stopped us and informed us that children were not allowed inside and that guests had to be at least 18 years old. I understand that establishments have rules. The issue was the abrupt, demanding way the message was delivered. We had planned to sit outside, we just wanted a little time to collect our drinks before heading outside. We directed our children to find a table outside and joined them shortly afterward with our drinks. Once seated, a group of what appeared to be traveling business professionals sat next to us. We were subjected to loud profanity, conversations about cheating on their wives, and boasts about how much money they made. We eventually decided to move. To be fair, the behavior of those guests is not the resort's fault. However, it certainly did not contribute to a pleasant family experience. The following day, the same pattern continued. We entered the lobby, where a small saddle was displayed at approximately a child's height. My youngest tried to climb onto it and was immediately met with a firm no and told that it was for decoration only. To be clear, this saddle was sitting in the middle of the lobby with nothing around it to suggest it was part of a restricted display. My children then tried to stand on a baggage weight station and were also told no. Again, it was sitting out in the open. At some point, you have to ask yourself: what exactly are children supposed to do here? Every time we tried to find something to enjoy as a family, we seemed to run into another restriction, another unavailable activity, or another abrupt rejection. We were not asking for special treatment. We were simply trying to enjoy the amenities and experiences the resort advertises. Instead, the overall impression was that families with children were an inconvenience. The bottom line: The location is beautiful, and the outdoor patio areas were excellent. For the most part, the staff we encountered were friendly. I can acknowledge those positives while still being honest about how disappointing this experience was. A beautiful property does not automatically make a great resort, and advertised amenities mean very little when guests cannot use them. The repeated lack of flexibility, the unavailable activities, and the overall lack of family-friendly experiences made this trip a letdown. As a family of five, we will not be returning. I would not recommend this resort to families looking for an enjoyable, welcoming vacation with their children. Based on our experience, there are better places to spend your money if your goal is to make family memories rather than repeatedly hear the word no.

The food here is excellent!…read more The Candelilla Cafe is a great place all the way around. We had both Dinner and Breakfast here and could not have been happier with our meals, the service, and the setting. An unlikely place to find a great Salmon dish I know, being in the dessert and all, but it was really tasty and perfectly prepared! Eating dinner and watching the beautiful sunset was an amazing experience. Breakfast was equally matched by the quality and preperation of the food, and seeing the beautiful sunrise! No complaints about this place e at all, wonderful experience!

You have to make reservations if you go after 5. We got there and the menu shown online for dinner…read morewasn't the menu we were given. Was told that menu is a lunch menu but that's not what it showed online. The choices offered in the one we were given were limited and very expensive plus more "gourmet " tastes which didn't work well for some in our group. And was told if you cancel your reservation you're charged 50 per person. So we had no choice but remain. The food we ordered was really good but for the ones in our party whose tastes didn't care for the menu choices left a little unimpressed. Really disappointed not having the choices we thought we'd have when we made our reservations.

If you are the type that likes to get away from the big city and semi off the grid, this is the…read moreplace for you. This was a lodge cabin that my family has booked with a few times now and have had a good experience every time. The people we checked in with were very nice and made sure to let us know who to contact or go to if needed. You could buy souvenirs there too if you want. The place can be pricy to rent but I think it is worth it if you like solitude and camping. They also have a restaurant in walking distance called 'Bad Rabbit Cafe' that had decent lunch and good coffee you can grab in the morning. Being out where you can actually see stars and observe some wild animals was the best part. The cabin itself was very cozy. They have a binder with good information on places around and numbers incase you need assistance. It had a heater you could use to beat the cold and came with a mini fridge to put your stuff in. The shower/bathroom was a good size, and the water got nice and hot very quickly. You do have neighbors, and the walls are somewhat thin, so be aware of that. You do have your own little deck you can sit outside and just enjoy the view. Be aware, even though they do have wifi, it's not really the greatest (you are somewhat far from town), but in the restaurant, I was able to get connection easy. I would absolutely recommend coming here for anyone interested in camping or visiting the Big Bend National Park. If you do come here, make sure you have a vehicle that can handle dirt roads as there are paths out here you will take off road.

**This is a 3.5 star review.**…read more This place is really close to being off the grid, but there are just enough amenities to keep you comfy. It's also a fantastic place to take photos of the stars. The staff: Wonderful! Everyone I encountered made me feel like a million bucks. I encourage you to ask them how they ended up here, because their stories are wonderful. The room: We stayed in #28, which was close to everything, including the laundry, office and restaurant. I liked the convenience, but would've preferred a room a few hundred yards away so that I didn't have to dodge generators and power lines for my nightly photo shoots of the galaxy. -- The beds were comfortable, and the rooms were clean. Question though: Why would you put a refrigerator in the room and not a TV or microwave? Additional amenities: There is laundry here, as well as ice, snacks and a few essentials available at the HQ. Other comments: One other reviewer complained that this place wasn't close to Terlingua and listed Alpine on the GPS. He's right and he's wrong. First, it's called Terlingua Ranch Lodge, and it has a Terlingua postal address. Secondly, 40 miles is nothing to these folks. I talked to someone at the desk whose daughter attends public school in Terlingua and takes a 45-minute bus ride every morning. Finally, my GPS also says Alpine, despite that Alpine is 70 miles up the road. GPS also misspelled my last home address. So what! Nothing is close here! It's SW Texas, for crying out loud. -- I would highly recommend renting a car or SUV to visit this place as the last few miles of the trip on the ranch road is covered in loose rock. I experienced one window chip, and I'm pretty sure that there are some dents on the undercarriage. Thank goodness my credit card includes insurance on rental cars. And thank goodness someone advised me not to take my own car. Finally, though I highly recommend this place, I think they suffer from an identity crisis. On one hand, I can pretty much buy anything I need at the office; eat what I want at the restaurant; do my laundry; get decent internet access; take a hot shower, and set the room temperature to a comfortable 72 degrees to sleep on a nice mattress. This place obviously doesn't want to be known as "off the grid," so why not put TVs in the rooms and a microwave and coffee maker? Either way, I would certainly stay here again.

Lajitas resort is in sad condition. The rooms are sorely outdated, smell bad and are in disrepair…read more Definitely not worth the trip.

I can't say enough about this experience but I'm going to try…read more Our guide was fantastic. He was informative, friendly, and gave us a true adventure. Loved the fact that it was a small group. There were a total of 6 of us and then the guide. We were also lucky enough that my husband and I were on the ride with 2 other couples which made it more comfortable. It was not an average boring trail ride either. We took the unconventional trails, dips, and hills. Joining us was the guides dog, so friendly and so much fun. He ran along side us and the horses seemed to be totally comfortable with him around. We arrived at the top just in time to see the beautiful sunset behind the neighboring Mesa. When we arrived, we sat at the two picnic tables waiting for us. We had cheese, crackers, fruit with a fruit dip, along beer and wine. When we were arriving at the stable at the end of the ride, our guide noticed that the fireworks might make the horses a little uneasy so he made sure to stop and make us aware and let us know that if we or our horses felt uncomfortable we should let him know. I would definitely recommend this trail ride to anyone considering it. It is well worth the money.

This place is the epitome of a laid back, recharge batteries, stress free time. If you want WiFi or…read morecell phone service, this is not the place for you. If you want to unplug and unwind, you found the right place. Bring your food and drink with you as there is only 1 general store within the 40 mile trek to Presidio. Also gas up in Marfa or Presidio, as those are your closest gas stations. General store has beer, but if you want liquor your closest options are Marfa or across the border in Ojinaga.

Worth the journey! Wonderful place to relax and take a dip. You may never want to go back home…read more Jefe, the cat, was an extra friendly bonus and the stars felt like you were on the moon.

Absolutely enjoyed our relaxing stay here! The view is amazing all day and when sitting outside at…read moresunrise with coffee in hand and a glass of wine at sunset. Definitely a romantic little get away. Can't speak for all the rooms but #6 is perfectly charming and cozy. If you get to meet the owner she is a true joy. Can't wait to go back.

The food is the best in the ghost town, much more flavorful and authentic tasting than the…read moreStarlight Theatre. I really recommend to come here for breakfast and have some really good food to start off your day!

This place is incredible. From the ease of access to Big Bend, to the beautiful interior design,…read moreStardust is a unique luxury experience in an otherwise extremely remote area. Researching places to stay, there's no doubt that no other stay comes close to the area. The moment we arrived, it was spotless from the inside. The instructions upon arrival are clear, and there's helpful tips everywhere in the house. Yasir did a fantastic job communicating prior and while we were there. We stayed in the A frame, cottage, and the container as we had a big group. No doubt in my mind that I'll be staying in this community for my next visit down here!

I stayed in the cottage and it was amazing. The cottage was stocked with all the essentials and was…read morevery easy to access. Additionally, the grounds had a game room with a variety of activities like pool, darts, arcade games, and air hockey to keep us entertained when not at the park. By far the best part of the trip was the night sky. The cottage was equip with hammocks where you could just lay down and enjoy the view. Nothing was missing I would definitely stay again 10/10.

Had a wonderful stay in casita #3…read more The casita was clean and modern, and in a quiet location too. Soft towels, soft sheets, adjustable AC and heat, TV, and ceiling fan. In kitchen there's a table and mini fridge, and limited amenities in the cupboards (dish soap, sponge, rags, only a few plates, few cups, silverware, knives, microwave, etc). Any cooking should be done outside on the grills. Outside there's also an ice machine, lawn games (corn hole, giant jenga), as well as a fire pit (closed in summer), hot tub (closed in summer) and pool. The grounds are well kept with gardens and a variety of plants. There's also a coffee shop onsite that serves a variety of drinks and a few food items. Grateful for the free wifi because my Verizon phone had 0 service here or at the park. AT&T had good service though. Stargazing: Beside the annoyingly bright streetlight at the white house on the adjacent property, it's very dark here and we saw more stars here than at home. Sunset and sunrise were both beautiful here too. Awesome location, just a short drive from Big Bend National Park! There's also as a small grocery store (Cottonwood), gas station (Alon), and a few restaurants within a short drive. There's even a liquor store next to the property that has beer, wine, liquors and more! Friendly service too. Truly an excellent place to stay!

Cute!!! So stinking cute!!!…read more The cabins are clean rustic with great beds, small kitchenettes, big bathrooms (& excellent heater but tiny shower). Front porch has comfortable modern rocking chairs that are perfect for watching the sunset while having an adult refreshment. The whole area is planted with gorgeous natives and the trees where humming with happy bees. The one miss was seeing the hummingbird feeders the first night but not for the rest of the trip. Never did see the Lucifer Hummingbird in Big Bend, so maybe next time. The other small miss was having a wonderful large gas fire pit that folks came out to chat around. Plenty of room that we all could spread out to what felt individually comfortable. But the fire was never lit again. On the positive side, that made the satellites, meteors and space debris burning all that more visible. The only "need improvement" (so plan appropriately) is the coffee in the room is straight up weak. There is an excellent cafe that opens at 6:30 but that doesn't help us Birders trying to get out at o'dark thirty. Don't be like us and plan for bringing your own coffee supplies.

I highly recommend The Summit at Big Bend. The location exceeded my expectations. Do expect to be…read morevery independent during your stay as there's no reception or highly visible team on site. I stayed in one of the Super Stargazing domes. These are equipped with a sink, mini refrigerator, and a couch. The place was extremely clean. Everything was comfortable and cozy. There are community spaces with loads of firewood, a huge outdoor cook space. There are community showers and toilets assigned to 5-6 pods. They were well maintained. I was so excited when I realized there was an outdoor shower. It didn't disappoint! If I ever go back to Big Bend, I'm choosing The Summit in a heartbeat.

Glamping out west can't get much better…read more I promised Liz a glamping style trip to Big Bend and the domes at the a Summit for the bill and them some. 15min east of Terlingua, you get to the entrance road that will lead you to the domes and the two caves on the property. Navigation and checkin instructions were sent to both text and email, and it was easy - airbnb style. We booked Dome #9. Our time wasn't very far from the shared bathrooms and showered. Both were very clean and very modern. We also passed a shared gas grill and semi covered lounge area not 20 meters from our dome. Dome 9 has a queen bed, a sink, a mini fridge, and some lamps for lighting. Each dome has a front window and an adjustable ceiling window allowing natural light or the starlight in. It is A/C controlled - a complete shelter from the blistering West Texas sun. Outside each of the domes, there are a set Adirondack chairs around surrounding a fireplace. There is a cast iron grill should you want to cook. The Summit team provides firewood for free, in the shower building. As the sun goes down we totally lounged and enjoyed the space designated as part of the International Dark Skies area - shooting stars and satellites flying around in the shadows of the Milky Way, all visible to the naked eye. This place made the trip and the stay completely enjoyable. We were less than an hour away from the National Park in one direction and the State Park (Big Bend Ranch via Lajitas) in the other. We will return.