As another reviewer mentioned, the actual Marfa Lights Viewing Area is not located inside the city of Marfa and the address for this Yelp entry is wrong. To get to the actual viewing area, go East from Marfa on US-90 and you'll see it off the highway on the right. There's a nice roadside building with a parking lot, bathrooms, a few signs on the strange history of the lights, and a nice viewing platform with some built-in binoculars. There's plenty of space for people to stand or sit, some people even sat out camp chairs, but it is open air so be prepared if it's cooler or windy (we were freezing over New Year's with the wind gusts)! The Marfa Lights are such a cool mystery in West Texas and I'm so glad we stopped here on our way back from the McDonald Observatory's star party, even if we didn't get to see the mysterious lights for ourselves... "I want to believe!" read more

The Marfa Lights - Marfa Lights Viewing Platform - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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The Marfa Lights remain as West Texas's predominant mystery. If you gaze towards the Chinati Mountains, you might see them. The Lights are supposedly not like the Aurora Borealis which I have seen. They have been described as glowing orbs. I have heard many unusual and some humorous possible explanations, but there are still only theories... I took my girls with me on 2.16.2025 to try to catch a glimpse. Our luck was non-existent. I encourage you to visit The Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area, a few miles outside of Marfa, TX. And I know many folks won't have time to do this, but visit the viewing area during operating hours, then return a bit before sunset for the possibility of a light show. Here's my review of the Viewing Area: https://www.yelp.com/biz/marfa-mystery-lights-viewing-area-marfa?hrid=D5Ko7O4dg7iXuqJ-9-3-zQ&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) Five stars because I love earth's "living museum" plus Marfa is a fun place to visit for a day or two. Happy trails to you... read more

Heads up... Important. Whoever posted this first didn't get the address right. The included map is not a viewing location! Don't go here The viewing platform built with donations I'd 7 miles west of Marfa on Hwy 90. You can't miss it. Looks like a rest stop. It's a raised platform looking southwest towards previously seen " lights". I wasn't sure what to expect. Arrived about 20 minutes before sundown. Waited,waited,waited. Finally it was dark enough to see anything out there about 30 minutes after sunset. Slowly people trickled in. Some loud sophomoric acting older adults,younger quite serious types and everything in between. I had binoculars and used them. There are free mounted binocs there if you don't have any. As the night wore on about 11/2 hours into it,we started to see some inexplicable lights on the horizon. Sometimes quickly on and off sometimes dancing. Others close by,including the morons,seemed to not notice . Finally a few left and a small quite group observed something mysterious. I'm not sure what I saw. For decades people including serious researchers have been trying to demystify this phenom . I don't even speculate. Just enjoy. If you're out this way definitely... Go! read more

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So, I tend to think very practical when it comes to the supernatural or of the extraterrestrial. So when visiting the Marfa Lights platform, I decided to keep an open mind. It was still daylight when we arrived and walked the site to take in the ambiance. There was information readily available for those foreign to the area so that it could possibly enhance their experience. When the sun was set over the horizon, others joined in the spectacle. Off in the horizon, past the cactus and tumble weeds, you could make out faint light sources. So I grabbed my high powered telescope and set it up, with the hopes to catch a rare phenomenon. As soon as I looked through the eye piece into the direction of the fain light, to my amazement I witnessed........ You will have to see it for yourself. It's worth the drive. read more

While in Marfa Texas the thing to do is go late at night and view The Marfa Lights. We went around 9:30-1am. We went on a Friday night when the sky was clear and we saw millions of stars, several shots stars. The week night that we went was the night of the meteor shower so the sky was wild and active!!! We drive a truck so we parked in the parking lot and laid down in the back of the truck and watched the show. We did see a few weird lights right before we left. The lights were low and glowing but they did not come near us. The location has clean public bathrooms and several people were just out there camping. Take a flashlight and wear comfortable clothes and a jacket as the night gets chilly when the sun goes down. read more

Epic spot to take in the beautiful Chihuahuan Desert. On a clear night perfect spot for stargazing. Mysterious lights are a bonus. I saw some lights flickering in the haze on the horizon. My daughter who had agreed to drive across Texas on her spring break said I was hallucinating. Nonetheless the lights do appear from time to time. I have my own theories that it is light reflection phenomenon that happens due to unique and rapid changes in temperature in the flat desert surrounded by high mountains. Are the light extraterrestrial? Maybe.... The observation area has plenty of parking and maintained restrooms. Get here an hour before sunset as the desert sunset is beautiful and parking fills up as plenty of tourists want to check this out. If you don't see the mysterious lights you will still have a beautiful view of the desert and starry sky without ANY light pollution. read more

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I was so hoping to see the lights, and we did! We got there a little after sundown. A family was there with scopes and binoculars they shared with us. Once I knew where to look, I could easily see them without the binoculars, etc. It was fascinating! I'm so glad we got to see them. read more

This was probably the main reason why we went to Marfa (aside from trying Convenience West BBQ, that was my idea). My bf was eagerly anticipating it. I was down for it, too! During the day this spot serves as a rest stop with restrooms and tables/benches to sit down on. We also came in the day to eat some of the food we purchased at Convenience West. We had the place to ourselves for most of the time. You'll see a lot of people gather around the area in hopes of seeing the lights when the sun starts going down. There's no guarantee you'll see the lights. Even if you don't, you'll get a great view of the stars and in some cases a few planets. There's a few telescopes near the restrooms. Those get taken pretty quickly so you'll probably have to sit in the dirt or near your car, unless you come early. I'd suggest taking a blanket and/or chairs to sit near the dirt. Take a flashlight too because it's very dark. It also gets a little bit chilly so that's why I say to take a blanket. A light sweater or jacket will also work. I'm happy to say we saw some golden, blinking lights a few times! We even saw a shooting star! I hadn't seen one of those in years! It was awesome and made the trip worth it! There's different theories on what the lights actually are. A lot of people from different cities and even countries have tried studying these mysterious lights. The lights were first seen in 1883 by a cowboy named Robert Reed Ellison. He thought they were Apache Indian campfires. Apache Indians thought they were stars dropping to the earth. The mystery of these lights remains unsolved. People were there from different cities in Texas. I also saw people with Virginia plates. It's cool! I would say check it out at least once in life and plus it's free! They say the best things in life are free and this might just be one of them. It's also kid friendly! I have a teenager so he wasn't digging the idea of coming to Marfa and didn't join us. read more

The Marfa Lights - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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The only night we stayed in the area in May of 2023 was raining, so we didn't get a chance to experience this phenomenon, but on the way to El Paso, we stopped by the actual complex built to observe the Marfa Lights and were pleasantly surprised. Somehow I imagined it much more primitive built platform without any kind of signage. Instead it was clearly marked a mile ahead from each direction you are approaching to the viewpoint. Once we arrived we were stunned how large this complex is, including restrooms, somewhat shaded area and the viewpoint further in the back. Money well spent. It was a nice 10-15 min break with some walking around and observing the surroundings. read more

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You get what you put in belief-wise with a visit here. I don't know about the "Building a mystery"...and how "Mysterious" the "Lights" of Marfa, TX really are, but it is a fun place to stop and watch the dusk overtake the horizon of the Chihuahuan desert. There is a bit of mystical whimsy as you see dots of light pop up along the horizon-line and whether or not they can be explained as car lights on a far off distant road is up for debate. But, in the cool, quiet solitude of the desert in the night, it is easy to get caught up in the dancing orbs of light as they sporadically dot the opaque sky. Especially on a starless/moonless night, when they pop up and disappear, they seem very mysterious, indeed! Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area or driving through at sunset. The bathroom facilities are actually pretty decent, but parking is a bit limited. read more

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We went, we sat and stared at the sky for so long that we may have been seeing things, because we wanted to. We did see what looked like the big power poles in the distance, mysteriously lighting up and shooting beams towards the sky. That happened a few times then the poles would turn to black again. Maybe we saw something, maybe not but it was a beautiful starry night, so glad we did some star gazing! read more

Didnt see the Marfa lights but was a great location to view the thousands of stars in the Dark Sky. Headlights and noise from passing vehicles on hwy 67 were a bit distracting. read more

This viewing spot is located just on the outskirts of Marfa. It's a really cool building that's round in shape and house bathroom facilities. Also a lovely area with viewers to watch the lights. We were lucky enough to see these mysterious and unexplainable lights. It was a really neat experience sitting in the dark in the heart of the desert watching these lights. To me it doesn't matter if there is a legit explanation or not because it's just part of the entire Marfa experience that I wouldn't have traded for anything. read more

The Marfa Lights - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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If you're expecting to see something amazing or remarkable like the northern lights, this is not it. However, if you just want a nice rest stop with decently clean bathrooms this is the answer. Upon arriving, they have a huge parking lot for you and they have a few plaques for history and 2 large bathrooms. They have a gazing area, but what are you really looking at? It's just an empty field and you may or may not see some random lights. But guess what? It's a nice spot to star gaze and just relax and allow your brain to rest and your imagination to flourish. Is it worth a stop just to see this? No, is it worth it if you are already in the area? Yes! read more

I SAW THEM! The viewing platform is great. Nice parking lot, cool historical info at the entrance, decent restrooms for a roadside stop, super dark in the back (a good thing) so you can see the lights. They had some benches and telescopes to look through. We stood there for just a few minutes admiring the stars when all of a sudden the two lights in the distance spread apart. Then one went out. Then the other. Then back on. Then they floated up and down, bobbed a little. Another appeared close to the red flashing light (on a tower or something.) These were all white lights, but suddenly we saw an amber one. They seemed to move higher and lower off the ground, spread out and back together, and would appear further and closer. I can't imagine it being headlights. I can't imagine it being people with flashlights, or a drone. I don't know what I saw, but it was cool. I will be back. read more

I decided seeing visiting Marfa and checking out the lights was something we needed to because, well, I don't know why... You only live once! I always want to take the road less traveled! A chance to see these mysterious lights could not be passed up. Was it worth a 3 hour drive, each way, to see them? Definitely it was to me! Plus, my wife and sister in law are still speaking to me so life is good. read more

Umm I wasn't blown away by this experience. The mystery behind the lights is cool but to wait a while and then actually catch the lights is a bit anticlimactic, imho. read more

We were driving through during the day, so were pretty sure we weren't going to see any lights... But we stopped anyways. What surprised me most, is that there is a bon-a-fide place to stop, rather like a rest area along a highway. Maybe the idea was to keep people from parking on the highway, in random places, at night! Quite clever, and nice. But I was quite surprised by the size and amenities (i.e. restrooms) of this place. Large and clean. There are many plaques to read, so it is worth stopping, even if it is daytime. Bottom Line: For something that's not explained, they sure went all out. PS. Without seeing the lights, I'm not going 5 stars! read more

I can't believe someone gave this place 1 star because they didn't see any lights, even though they knew that it wasn't a guarantee. It is free so no complaining please! Even if you don't see any lights, you can still star gaze. I've been here a couple of times, both winter and summer and my husband and I saw something that we believe were the mystery lights so maybe warmer weather provides better viewing conditions since supposedly it occurs when when warm and cool conditions meet. They have restrooms, plenty of parking, sitting benches, and telescopes. We brought our own chairs and someone else even up a hammock! read more

A beautiful location for not only cool alien sightings, but for the stars!! Went here with a group of seven and we all laid down and watched the shooting stars. Within an hour I think I personally saw six. That's more than how many I've seen in my entire life! read more

I love anything paranormal and spooky. I stopped by for the first time with my family in 2018, but last weekend (1/23) I brought my boyfriend for his first time and we loved the experience. We arrived around 7:45pm and they were very active, which I was excited about. We ended up staying until 10pm. There are two towers with consistent red flashing lights, but you will be able to easily differentiate between the towers and the lights giving you a show! They will fly across the field, split, flickers, merge together and disappear -- only to appear back again in a different place. The viewing platform is the perfect place to sit (or stand) and watch the lights. As expected, the restrooms didn't smell the best, but as a born and raised West Texas girl, the fact that the viewing area even had restrooms and a place to stand that wasn't the side of a highway isn't taken for granted. In my personal opinion, there is no way for these lights to be headlights from cars. But don't take my word for it, take the trip out to see them yourself! read more

The Marfa Lights - One of the super bright lights we watched float and flash across the field. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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Aliens!!! This is the most reliable place to get an extraterrestrial experience. The Marfa Lights are a mysterious phenomenon in the middle of nowhere, west Texas. There's a place where you can pull off the highway, where they have a viewing area to see these unexplainable lights traverse the horizon and the skies. You have to stop by at night to see these lights, the later the better. Once your eyes get adjusted to the darkness, you'll see that there are different colored, lit orbs of light that move up, down, sideways, changing colors and directions. They're obviously alien spacecraft. At first it looks like headlights, but when they change color and go straight up in the sky, it becomes apparent that something otherworldly is going on out here. I've heard that they tried to explain away the mysterious lights by saying it's swamp gas. How many swamps are in west Texas?! None. The history of these lights goes way, way back, so it's not some optical illusion of headlights or airplanes. The Apache Indians would report this phenomenon in their stories, and it spooked the later Texan settlers. It's cool to spend a few minutes out here checking out the lights, but some people make an evening out of it. When I went, I didn't get abducted by aliens, they kept a safe distance from me. read more

This is just really cool. We had seen them before, but our friends ne ever had. Once they started seeing them, it looked like they would never leave.e For people that have not seen them, you need to see it to believe it. What started out as 1 white light above the radio tower soon turned to 4 blue lights, each moving in its own direction. Some of them faded, and the others turned green. Things like this went out on for more than an hour. These lights date back into the 1800's or earlier. Many different scientists have tried to solve the mystery, but they still don't know. If you are ever in the area, don't miss it. read more

The Marfa lights are an interesting experience. I have friends from outside of Marfa, outside of Texas for that matter, who are familiar with The Marfa Lights. Even a friend from California. This just shows the mystique and fame that the attraction has garnered. If you're expecting to be abducted by aliens, you will probably leave disappointed. There is a viewing area right off of the highway along with restrooms. Stop by when it gets dark and stare out into the barren fields. As you look out, you will see various lights blinking or flickering. White lights, red lights, these are "the aliens." For the more pragmatic of the bunch, they are clearly man-made lights. The appeal of The Marfa Lights is letting go of reality and using your imagination. Marfa is most famous for these lights and for Prada Marfa so it's one of the most visited attractions. read more

Loved it! I wasn't expecting much. I was hoping that we'd see something and we did! There is plenty of parking, restrooms, and a nice observation area. I would definitely recommend checking it out. It's also kind of fun to be there with other random people and hear their reactions as everyone interprets the same unexplained sight together. read more

Check that one off of the Bucket List. We always wanted to see the Marfa Lights and finally had the opportunity. The lights are indeed real and they are interesting. The viewing area (on Hwy 90) is located pretty far away from the actual lights. However, they do have several binocular devices which do help you to see the lights much better at night. When we visited, it was late November and already a half-moon at night. I've heard it's best to see the lights when there is no moon/new moon and to see it in the Summertime. read more

Wouldn't have missed it. Took a light picnic and arrived at dusk, just as the barn swallows returned to their homes - in the bathrooms - and the bats emerged for a night of good eating on some West Texas insects. Those were both fun and exciting to see, as was a beautiful sunset on a clear, cool night in mid-May 2019. Another highlight was the teenager who brought a high powered looking monocular type thing atop a tripod and kept mumbling that she couldn't believe she was seeing the orbs across the landscape (to the SW of the observation deck) - which were clearly cars coming and going over a mountain. We stayed maybe 30 minutes and enjoyed it, even if we weren't treated to the famed light show. read more

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Aaaaaaaaaahh man the Marfa Lights! I can't even begin to describe them. Well I can, but you'd being to think I was crazy. Growing up in NJ we had a magazine called Weird NJ, which was full of local legends dealing with UFO sightings, abandoned insane asylums, strange phenomenon of all stripes. (It also featured local eats and just strange NJ denizens.) As teenagers we'd load car loads full of people to so exploring these spots. As some one who grew up watching shows like 'Sightings' on Fox and everything else having to deal with the unexplained, I wanted so bad to see something spooky, something other worldly, something UNEXPLAINED. I never did. Fast forward to my cross county road trip bringing my from my original home in NJ to beautiful and sunny Southern California. I tried to spot in as many US cities as I could and dig my boots into America the way Kerouac intended. Lamenting that there was nothing cool to see from Austin until Phoenix both of which provided me free places to rest my head on my American adventure, a friend of mine tipped me off to a hidden gem he had seen discussed on the Travel channel : Marfa TX. Describing Marfa itself requires much more than a Yelp review. A little West Texas town in the foothills of the Chianti mountains with a community of creative types. A mishmash of traditional artists who are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives and authors struggling with writers block on that second novel. The town itself doesn't have a police department because frankly, it doesn't need one. Marfa sustains itself is an enchanted bubble where the stresses and wrongs of the rest of the world can't reach you. The physical beauty is off the charts and the feel, well its just one of those things, you have to be there to understand. The lights, arguably Marfa's biggest draw, on the other hand are something else completely. On most clear summer nights visitors can watch them from a state erected viewing post eight mile south of town. You can and will encounter people from all walks of life there to see the mythical lights. Retirees, Basketball teams on a bonding retreat. Families with their kids, Actors who just graduated their MFA program on their way to LA make it, caravans full of hippies, and citizens of Texas who made the pilgrimage because they felt it is their responsibility as a Texan to witness them at least once. The viewing point itself is pretty cool, designed like it is the laboratory from a Ridley Scott movie. That part of Texas has little in terms of city light so it turned out to be the most amazing place to view the stars I have been to. Probably a fuller sky than Upstate NY, Costa Rica, or my grandmas village in Greece. On this particular night I saw six shooting stars. The lights themselves are indeed the real deal. They lived up to the hype and to this day I'm still to a degree obsessed with figuring them out. What they look like are little candle wicks in the distance moving to the right and then to the left moving in no particular discernable pattern and seemingly with no rhymes or reason. When they "go out" The hue of color turns from white to a light blue sometimes they will sort of reignite to the left or to the right of where they went on continuing their little "dance" On this particular night there were four lights dancing in the desert. I was there to view them from 11pm to 7 am. According to the locals four is a pretty solid number. Sometimes one will sort of sprout off of another the same way a candle till ignite another one and sometimes the two lights will morph back into one. I know that all types of university teams have come to study them and most of them have concluded that the activity is "headlights" I am a skeptic. I do not believe in miracles. And I do believe there is a natural and explainable explanation to all of this. Not headlights anyone who has seen them will absolutely attest to that. Even though it is 8 hrs from a major airport, you need to put Marfa and the lighs on your bucket list. Hands down one of the coolest if not the coolest thing, if not the coolest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. read more

The Marfa Lights - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Marfa, Texas

I don't know what I saw but it was neat. Its out in the open, you can see out into the distance and enjoy the chihuahua desert in the daytime or maybe spot the lights at night. I came on a night when the rain was rolling in and out of the area. I saw some lights out in the distance but seeing rain clouds and lightning strikes was just as good a show. Thankfully there are restrooms here but please watch out for the wildlife that also make pit stops inside. read more

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I saw the mysterious Marfa lights! Had I arrived yesterday as scheduled in my itinerary, this review would have been complete opposite because I wouldn't have seen the Marfa Lights. There wasn't any last night, I drove by in the morning caught a camper who gave me the bad news. They say it's hit or miss. I totally scored and they were busy lights tonight. Located outside of town, between Marfa and Alpine. Worth the drive, if you spot them like me! What a phenomenon. I had my doubts. I told a fellow visitor, someone in Marfa was doing it to draw in the crowd. He came back that a cowboy from the 1800's first saw them. I replied "They made that up!" Jaja. read more

The Marfa lights don't show up all the time. That is the first thing you should know. We didn't know it... so we drove out there and waited. And waited. And then, when our butts were nothing more than two frozen slabs of ham, we left. I'm sure they're cool and mysterious and interesting but only do this if it works as a side trip. Don't build your whole trip around it or you may be sorely disappointed. read more

The useful bits: (1) The Marfa lights, quasi-mythical quasi-scientific (possibly headlight-related) "mystery lights" that appear in the night sky in and around Marfa, are best viewed from a designated viewing site a few miles East of town---it's not hard to find, so I'll leave you to ask a local and get to it; (2) they do not appear all of the time; (3) in fact, they appear rather rarely, but your chances are best right at dusk and then around three in the morning. The poetic bits: I showed up for the Marfa lights, but they did not show up for me. Unfortunately confused about the frequency of the Marfa lights, but convinced of their profundity, I trecked outside of a sleeping Marfa to the appointed lookout place and sat, eyes to the sky, for thirty minutes waiting for the lights. They never came. There was an unmistakeable, beautiful, sad weight in sitting so still and so patiently for a mystery that refused to appear: but so it was. Perhaps people like me can never see the Marfa lights. That said---all poetry aside---they are real. There is a very poorly made local documentary all about them, theorizing as to their source (spoiler: space particles and/or gas; though other theories abound) and plotting their frequency. Unfortunately, said lights are statistically unlikely to be spotted just on any given night you happen to be in Marfa (per aforementioned documentary, your chances are far less than 10% on a given night, and that's assuming you wait the entire time). Nevertheless: for a bit of magic, I'd wait agian, too. I suggest you go, if only for the experience of not seeing the Marfa lights; and if you do, lucky you. read more

As my kid would say; FAIL. We went. We stood around. In the cold. At night. The lights were not out on this night. Big bummer - since this is the only reason we had driven to Marfa from Fort Davis. We'll try again next time we're in the Big Bend Region because I freaking digg unexplainable stuff like this. read more

The lights must have sensed my presence. On a trip to Marfa, the lights came out to play every night we during our visit. On our last night, we even took our trip host, John Demers, to see the lights. On all his stays in Marfa, he's never seen them. They are definitely not headlights, as these danced around in circles. They could very well be people dancing around with huge lights, but I doubt that as well. While I generally don't buy into spooky alien stories, seeing the lights was well, for lack of a better word, weird. Seeing the unexplainable gives me a feeling that is hard to describe. *twilight zone melody* read more

When I was in elementary school, I saw a documentary-style tv show about the Marfa Lights and the Bragg Road Lights in Big Thicket. Seeing these inexplicable orbs became a serious dream of mine. When I discovered that my now-husband's family was stationed all over the Big Bend area, I was so pumped. The second time I went to the viewing center, after about an hour, my elementary school dreams came true. The night we saw them, they started as a row of three goldenish lights sitting perfectly still a few hundred yards ahead of us. After a while, the three would split to five, then rejoin down to one. Some of them would move up and down vertically (completely removing any "these are hey headlight" explanations). The lights changed from golden to bronze to greenish. It was honestly mesmerizing to watch, and it is crazy to see something so inexplicable. If you are ever out in west Texas at night, you should spend an hour or two waiting for the lights. The worst thing that could happen would be seeing millions of stars over the open desert. The best thing that could happen would be seeing something memorable and magical. read more

Reading the other reviews, I realize how lucky I was to see them. But from the literature about them, they appear most nights? I was confused at first because there are many lights in the distance - radio towers, houses, etc. Then, in the dark, I saw a man pointing and figured he knew the score. He did! And he pointed out the lights on the horizon - appearing, fading, rising, falling, vaguely multi-colored. Apparently they appear in different places on the horizon on different days. Look for someone who seems to be watching and don't be afraid to ask. It is so cool to know that they have been observed for over 100 years and there is no definitive answer (but I am sure there is one). Definitely go to the viewing are about 9 miles east of town. read more

... and the moon is made of cheese. More stars when i drive halfway across Texas a third time and actually see stars. err. lights. Cannot believe that people build trips around visiting "lights on the horizon". Seriously, they were cars, dude. I have a bridge to sell ya... Brilliant creation of Marfa marketing gurus. Simply brilliant. Create an enigma, tourists come to see it or not see it, the enigma grows. But if you consistently do not see it, the enigma becomes the enema. I have seen the enemy, and it is me. read more

So, after talking to some people after we went to see the Marfa Mystery Lights, I'm not so sure that I actually saw them. I did, however, see what I'm pretty sure was the highway off in the distance. Yes, car headlights disappear when they go behind a hill, and re-appear later. They seemingly travel together too. Amazing. Other lights near the surface off to the East seemed to be nothing more than low-lying stars. Locals tell stories of multi-colored lights though, that travel much faster than anything we saw. Maybe you'll get lucky and see some of these. The mystery highway lights are certainly boring, though. Suggested accompanying music: Ghostland Observatory read more

The Mulder in me (if only) was delighted to see the coy Texan will-o'-the-wisps. I walked up to the platform around 11pm last Saturday night and almost immediately perceived a dimly candescent ball of green skitter across the horizon a ways out, trailing a wan ochre light as it went. The passage of a little time went by and some playful, bouncing bright spots of light appeared as well, and stayed carrying on in more or less the same place for at least a couple minutes, disappearing then as instantly as they had appeared. Of course, the Scully in me allows that there's obviously a physical if not a little too convenient explanation for them, but nevertheless, it was a thrill to see them. Even if they don't come out to play for you, the expanse of twinkling stars and the smear of the Milky Way across the vast night sky will be worth the pull-over to view. read more

It's a five-star experience if you see them, but not something you should expect or demand to witness. These are natural phenomena, they don't show up just because you drove a long way! The real lights, according to scientists like James Bunnell, occur infrequently. Some viewers mistake descending car lights from the Hwy 67 mountain road as Marfa Lights; however, once you know where to look (towards Goat Mountain, usually) - and what to rule out (lights that are always white, and always move the same direction, down and to the right) it's much easier to distinguish the real thing. We were lucky enough to do that, late one summer night. Spotted a tiny red light in the distance that we assumed was a radar tower, until the light began to move - in all four directions. It was an eerie and unforgettable sight. If you go with a sense of adventure and an open mind, you'll have a good time no matter what. The cool desert air, wide open vistas, quaint historic hotels like The Holland, Paisano and The Gage, plus numerous art galleries and shops are reason enough to make the trip. I'd suggest staying in Alpine and driving to the Lights, as Marfa itself is pretty tiny and doesn't offer much in the way of grocery stores, drug stores and everyday provisions. read more