I'm a children's book author, and one of my stories is set in Terlingua Texas. So, it only made sense to go and visit the town I'm writing a story around. And it was everything I hoped it would be. By day, it has a vacant, ghostly feel, but centered around beauty built from long ago. Terlingua was once an old mining town at the turn of the century. That is until the 1940s when the mines dried up and most of the people left this small but quaint town. Now, it's a place people visit for the history, and the yearly BBQ event that brought the town to back to life. It's a quick visit, this little ghost town, but it's worth your time to stop and take in the history and quaint beauty it still holds to this day. read more

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A very cool place to stop after a day spent hiking Big Bend. Unlike some historic sites, modern day Terlingua is interwoven with the "ghost town" buildings that stand where they have for a hundred years. It's an old mercury mining town filled with history, and we enjoyed looking information up as we also read the signs. You can see the gorgeous cemetery and walk next to old graves and new ones, and like another reviewer said, there's likely more people in the graveyard than there are current residents of Terlingua. That being said, they've done a great job of putting up signs to help you identify the different ruins around the area and some you're able to get closer to than others. It's a great place to stop, just be sure to also check out some of the great places to eat and shop and support this community! read more

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We just loved Terlingua in general and this part of town had a From Dusk Till Dawn vibe. The gift shops were cute, are at one of the restaurants down here, delicious! The cemetery had a day of the dead charm. I felt connected to this part of TX and really considered living here during our visit. read more

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A hidden gem for anyone that wants to explore Texas in a more unique way than a typical touristy spot. Terlingua Ghost Town is not a tourist trap. It has many historical places you can visit for free, like the cemetery, and a walkable town of countless abandoned buildings! There are some unique gift shop stores which are great to pick up souvenirs. There a few key restaurants to try as well. My wife and I spent two days here as it is located right outside of Big Bend National Park, making it the perfect location if you are around the area! L read more

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Terlingua is one town by day and another town by night. In the daytime this place is exactly as this page describes, a ghost town. At night the town comes alive and ghost town is not a phrase you would use to describe it. There is a presence here, and although it feels a little touristy, it has not lost its nostalgia and old essence. There are crumbling buildings, abandoned and left to decay vehicles, and lots of areas that make you wonder what the town would have been like in it's heyday. But at nightfall, one wonders if the town is not experiencing it's new heydey. Bars and restaurants light the dark desert night and fill the openness with the sounds of live entertainment. One wonders where all these people come from and while many are tourists, those tourists are far outnumbered by the locals. As I leave town to go back to my hotel, the Eagles come on the radio singing, "On a dark dessert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of coledas rising up through the are..." it seemed a perfect way to leave Terlingua, until next time... read more

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I love this place. It's right before big bend national park. There's a group of people around and it's a mix of hikers, locals, and even a group that I swear are ghosts. read more

Meh - not a lot to see or do. It's not really what I picture when I imagine "Ghost Town." There's a handful of touristy/kitschy shops, and one or two restaurants here. The Ghost Town consists of a few pieces of remaining buildings from back in the day when it was a mining town, but it's really not that enthralling. There's an old church that's still standing, and then just ruins. There's a hotel and a handful of airBnB's in the ghost town too. Look for the Terlingua Trading Company and head on in there and get yourself a free map that takes you to the 8 or 9 buildings in the ghost town. The highlight is actually the cemetery. It's located off of the main road down by the highway, away from the main part of the ghost town. If you spend 30 minutes in this area, you've spent 30 minutes too many. read more

Terlingua Ghost Town - Ghost town tourist area - Local Flavor Near Me

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I took a trip to West Texas and stayed in Terlingua for one night so we could explore Big Bend. The morning on which we left, we visited Terlingua Ghost Town which is a really, really cool experience. After grabbing breakfast, we started our self-guided tour. You can get a brochure that has 12-15 spots or so with a short description of each. There's a map so you can make your way and you can walk from spot to spot. Sometimes, the map is a little confusing but we figured it out. Stops on the tour include a school, church, graveyard, and more. How did a once-bustling town become a ghost town? Short answer: the Spanish flu. The most recent pandemic before the coronavirus. The pandemic ravished Terlingua and it has never reached its pre-Spanish flu highs. You can get through the tour in an hour/hour and a half and you can go at your own pace. It's a fun activity so don't miss out! read more

I suppose you could say this is a draw for tourists, but the ones here are likely to be either readying to head out for long hikes, river rafting expeditions or other desert related activities. Bathing may be optional... sorry, you didn't ask, but it's true. A genuine ghost town with lots of stone ruins of homes that once housed the miners that came here and toiled in the early part of the previous century. The Ghost Town is home to some very good restaurants (Mexican, BBQ and an espresso joint with good food) and a cemetery that is spectacularly cool and educational. The area is home to a lot of airbnb and rentals, but they're all tucked away and hidden for the most part. It's also home to the famed Terlingua International Chili Cook-off which happens every November and draws huge crowds. Definitely a must visit when you're in the region, highly recommended. read more

I was born and raised in this area, and I am still blown away by the beauty and uniqueness of this land. Anyone who's been to Terlingua would recommend a trip down here. If you are looking for somewhere to stay, I highly highly recommend Terlingua Escondido. https://abnb.me/DK1rQHIFIwb https://abnb.me/zAAWhKJFIwb https://terlinguaescondido.com The ultimate desert experience .... Where clever decor bonds with comfort.... This Big Bend adventure combines the evidence of ancient times with modern day uniqueness that allows your imagination to soar among historic ruins and nature's artistry..... Wonderful people with fantastic accommodations! read more

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Bad Ass and enjoyable! Great prices on their Souvenirs, service was cordial and Friendly.

Very interesting little town. So many cute photo opportunities and things to do. I wish I could of spent more time here to try out the restaurants. Nice walking trails to sight see. read more

Terlingua Ghost Town - Local Flavor Near Me

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If you are visiting Big Bend, Terlingua is a spot you cannot pass up. I highly suggest a meal at the Starlight Theater. Terlingua became a mining town after the discovery of cinnabar in the area. The metal mercury is extracted from cinnabar. After the discovery, shortly a city of 2,000 people formed. You can still see remnants of the mining days here. The term "ghost town" is somewhat a misnomer as people still live in the area. The cemetery is historic but still utilized by the locals. read more

Has quickly become my favorite get away. I questioned even writing this review as I don't want more people knowing about this hidden gem! Still I'm hopeful this remote location will still deter hipsters from Austin. read more

Your here, so now you have to see it all. Spent a little while on the front porch listening to the many stories of different sites and hikes to see and do. Like a meeting house for the locals and road rats like us. Very nice place to see. read more

Super haunted! This place is possessed with phantasms and other ghoulish apparitions. I came here to check out some Texas history on the way into Big Bend National Park. It's the last town before you get in, and last trace of civilization. This ghost town looks like a cross between an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western film, and the scenery from Wylie E Coyote & Roadrunner cartoons. It's extreme desert. When you get here, you can grab a map from the General Store located right outside of the ghost town. It gives you a bit of the history and explains what you're looking at. Be careful, this place is all kinds of haunted. I made a snide comment about a haunted grave, and all of a sudden, the skies opened up in a brief torrential downpour of rain, which is extremely rare in the middle of the desert. It poured rain. I apologized to the spirit world, but they were really upset. The ghosts are everywhere around here, you can feel their presence. As you walk around, you'll be sure to get goosebumps and your hair will stand up on the back of your neck. Please don't try to visit on a full moon or after dusk. Viva Terlingua! read more

This is more of a place for retrospect if there's not an event going on. The scenery is beautiful. The cemetery will make you want to stand there forever. I would venture a guess that there are more folks residing in the cemetery than in the town proper. There are a lot of crosses silhouetted on the horizon at sunset. The Ghost Town isn't like walking down the wooden walkways of Tombstone. This isn't some movie set of vacant buildings. This is the dilapidated remains of what was once a busy mercury mining town that was also stricken with a severe flu epidemic. And we all know how healthy a career mercury mining turned out to be. Signs will tell you which buildings you can take a closer gander at, and which you cannot. I'd be more leery of snakes than ghosts...but either way you get an eerie feeling of melancholy trying to understand what life out in the desert might have been like. Hard. It must have been hard. During events the town is transformed into vibrant and exciting city full of folks having a great time. And there's tons of fun lodging and outfitters near by. You can find horseback riding and rafting adventures to suit every ones skill and endurance. There are galleries and great restaurants if you look around. read more

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Love the place and the different businesses. Great locals you can just talk to like you have known them for ever.

- Step 1: Stop in the Trading Post and grab a free map which also includes a small blurb on the history of the area. Poke around here if you like tchotchkes and expensive souvenirs. - Step 2: If it's close to 5 or after 5PM, put your name on the list at the Starlight Theater for dinner. You will probably need to wait an hour or so - perfect time to check out the surrounding town. - Step 3: Explore the cemetery and pay your respects to the miners and their families that lay in rest there. Amazing photo opportunities here. Walk to the back of the cemetery to see down into the mine. - Step 4: Check out the grated mine shaft located behind the abandoned hotel. Very cool to stand on top of it and toss a rock or 2 down it while you think of all of the horror movies that could be written about a tourist that falls down one due to a faulty grate and gets stalked by some crazy monster that still inhabits the mine and was the true reason it closed. Quickly get off of grate as you are completely and utterly freaked out now. - Step 5: Go back to the Trading Post, buy some beverages (beers, sodas and snacks are all inside) and sit on the porch to listen to some live music by locals and randoms that have instruments made of broom sticks and strings. - Step 6: Lock your husband in the old jail cell that is connected to the bathroom while you enjoy a nice dinner with more live music at the Starlight Theater! read more

I recently spent 10 days in Terlingua Ghost Town (population: 28, give or take a few dozen, depending on the season). All around us were the remains of an 1880s cinnabar mining community, abandoned in the mid-20th century. The ruins of stone homes, rusted car parts, bed springs, even tin cans are scattered about the desert sand and treated as artifacts, not to be disturbed or taken as souvenirs. Today artists, raft guides, and a few others live here, and Terlingua is known for its two chili festivals. Every evening the Starlight Theater, an old movie theater turned restaurant and performance venue, comes alive with an all-ages crowd eating, drinking, and listening to music. There's usually a featured singer indoors and always a number of people strumming guitars on the porch. I love this town. read more

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Great history and decent food at best. Being that the area is scarce of much, it gives you something to do. If you go at the right time of day, you can get some great photos. read more

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I loved the idea of visiting a Ghost town. I saw pictures of what it used to be. I was warned it wasn't the same. You can still find ruins, but your pictures will show up with new restaurants in the background, fancy trucks, New homes. I drove past towns ghostlier than this. Terlingua is the last town before you drive into Big Bend National Park. Fill up here, eat here, actually rent hotel, & stay here. I was not a fan of Big Bend. (I'll tell you about it in that review). You must visit the Cemetery in Terlingua, don't you dare leave the Ghost town without doing this. It's the main reason we come here right? Although it's not scary at all. Right smack in the middle of all the city's going on's. Again, you have to find just the right angle to crop out the New Terlingua. I managed, but I wanted Ghostly and they can no longer deliver. They have some new art galleries, restaurants and bars that you will definitely enjoy. read more

Absolute must see!!! You can spend a few hours hiking around and taking pictures and still feel like you need to see more!! The sunrises and sunsets our here make for some great pictures!! You are right by a few restaurants, bars, and a hotel. I would say this is a top 10 place to see in Texas, hands down!!!! read more

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Wish we could move here! This place is my whole heart! Beauty and quiet small town appeal. Maybe one day.....

Once a mercury mining town and home to over 2000 residents, Terlingua Ghost town is becoming an ecceltic artist colony. They are slowly renovating the buildings and businesses are opening up. The adorable Leaping Lizard Gallery with wonderful art pieces (including a concho belt made from silver spoons and a silver tomato server) was once a small ruin and now rebuilt in the original method. We paid $1.00 for a self-guided walking tour at the Terlingua Trading Company and it provided us with lots of information. The Starlight Theater was once a movie theater for the towns people and although we did not eat there, I did see a good looking strawberry margarita and menu. Do not miss the cemetery. You must go there at sunset and experience the serenity, surrounded by the beautiful scenery and the memories of days gone by. There are over 400 graves dating back to the early 1900s and through the gravestones, you get a peak into the lives of the miners who once inhabited Terlingua. read more

I visited here knowing nothing about Terlingua or it's history. We happened to be staying in an RV campground just a mile down the road from the Ghost Town. Our campground hostess painted a lovely picture of activities at the ghost town so we decided to see for ourselves. It was Sunday evening about 5:00 PM when we arrived. This apparently was just the perfect time. The general store was full of interesting items to buy; the Starlight Theatre just opened for dinner and it was "Sunday Funday" on the porch of the ghost town. The porch is actually the area in front of the hotel that lies between the general store and the restaurant. Local musicians gather together to play and sing. Guitarists, violinists, people exuding lots of boisterous energy with loud voices singing to the music. The drinks are flowing which no doubt adds to the enthusiasm. Dogs are roaming about, people are gathered in conversation...the little spot is alive with activity. Then, as soon as the sun goes down, they are gone, the porch is quiet...back to the ghost town once again. 1. A walking tour of the area is available...you get the map in the general store. Buildings and artifacts are in a state of decay which gives a hollow, haunting feel to the area. 2. The cemetery is well cared for, charming with burials from decades ago including recent ones. The personal touches, hand created tombstones, momentos lovingly placed at the grave sites make this a very special memorial ground. 3. There are art galleries here and there throughout town but one of the best is in between the Starlight Theatre and the La Posada Melagro Guest House and Cafe. read more

Great stop on our Big Bend trip. The restaurants are great. Pilla Milagros and the Starlight Theatre are great eating establishments. Pam at the store is very friendly and knowledgeable in her review of the area. Had our dog with us and she welcomed us to let her walk through the store to get out of the heat. read more

When visiting Big Bend, it's worth the stop to go to Terlingua. It's a quick trip and only 5-10 minutes out of the way. You can get a map from the shop in the center of the ghost town and visit the different historical sites. You would need about 2 hours max for this trip. read more

Another of many places I've forgotten. Aside from the chili cook-offs they use to have, the history of the town and surrounding area is intriguing. read more

An oasis of good coffee, good beer, and good Wi-Fi in the middle of a whole lot of nuttin.'

Had a blast here. Before we went someone told me, "don't bother with Terlingua...it's been overrun by the developers." Well, it's kinda nice to see civilization after a few days in the park. read more

The Terlingua Ghost Town is one of my all-time favorite places in the U.S. I love the people and I find myself fascinated by the history of the place. If you go there, see if one of the locals will show you a few of the lesser known ruins and mining shafts. The scenery takes my breath away, and I feel like I'm truly in God's country as I look out at the Chisos Mountains. And, it's a good place to have a lot of fun with both locals and tourists alike. It's a special experience, and one that I hope never changes. read more