lajitas golf resort owner

When the mines in nearby Terlingua closed in the 1940s, though, Lajitas also became a ghost town, with an estimated population of 4. Every day at five oclock sharp, when the whistle blew at Lajitas, the porch at the trading post became the spot for Big Bend happy hour. To be fair, Smith did do some good. And he did sell plenty of beer, the most of any business in Brewster County, he estimates. The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. The piece was made in 1935, well after the end of the Civil War, and depicts Lee on his horse alongside another Confederate soldier. 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 . Big Bend is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. He then sold the land to Thomas V. Skaggs, who became successful in the Lajitas Wax Company, which sold candelilla wax. Dallas Robert E. Lee statue has a new home. contact@lajitasgolfresort.com, 2014 Lajitas Golf Resort Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. bankruptcy. 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. I only had two rules: no fighting and no spitting, at least not in the store. Im standing here on the putting green looking at it right now, Beasley said Friday morning. That determination will be made by the desert. Then, this summer, after resort revenues failed to live up to the terms of the loan, the lender posted the property for foreclosure, and Lajitas filed for Chapter 11 protection. When I visited the Starlight in October, that waitress was still there. [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. He started his career working for the Lone Star Gas Company. It is a nonprofit event to raise money for children's charities and local public service organizations. Mr. Warren, a Levis-jeans-and-cowboy-boot-wearing Texan from A stay in a historic hotel, a swanky villa, or even the resorts Maverick RV Park are all options at Lajitas Golf Resort. 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.). He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1978.[8][3][6]. For Sales Info, Contact: Scott Beasley 214-981-0758 Welcome To LAJITAS GOLF RESORT Lajitas Golf Resort in Lajitas, Texas Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting for your away-from-it-all adventure. No spam, ever. Lajitas International Airport is a privately owned airport for the use of the resort's guests and property owners located 4 miles East of Lajitas and 14 miles West of Terlingua adjacent to Big Bend National Park. Now, we all know people who wouldnt blink at a $33 breakfast. braided. It is at an altitude of 2,200 feet on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande at the San Carlos ford of the old Comanche Trail, in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert and at the southern extreme of the Rocky Mountains. [13], The TV miniseries, Streets of Laredo was also filmed in Lajitas. [2], In the 1970s the community had one telephone, and newspapers were delivered one day later than their normal dates. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. As an Amazon Associate, Lone Star Travel Guide earns from qualifying purchases. [12], Frank Q. Dobbs directed his first film, Enter the Devil, in Lajitas in 1972. Opponents saw it as an attempt to rewrite history. Sticking to their goal to truly have everything, they even have an airport (the wifi on the resort, however, is questionable at best). Located on the border of the U.S. and Mexico, Lajitas sprung up to accommodate the increased border crossings thanks to the nearby mines, and was complete with a customs house, a school, a church, and a post office (which operated until 1939). 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. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Lajitas was 75. The general rides near the Texas-Mexico border. [13], In 2007, he co-founded an independent record label, Music Road Records, with Jimmy LaFave and Fred Remmert. ", "It produced a feeling that no matter how nice the adornment, The answer, as it turns out, is a little bit of both. Born in Gladewater, Texas, Warren grew up in White Oak, Texas, the youngest of four sons of Hugh Brinson Warren and Bertie Lee Kirby. In nearly every article on Lajitas that ran in the early Smith years, he gave some variant of a quote he gave to me. The vision for a resort at Lajitas began in the late 1970s, And he managed to build and landscape some beautiful facilities. 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. Wisely, he decided to move the party up the highway to what was then the only other bar near Terlingua, La Kiva. "Black Jacks Crossing", designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer, Lanny Wadkins. The course was designed by Lanny Wadkins. the rich never came in large numbers. From 1996 to 2000, he sat on the board of directors of Crosstex Energy. Reviewed October 12, 2021 was Mr. Warren's first Tucked away in Southwest Texas between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies the exquisite 27,000 acre Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa. McGuirk also funded the construction of a school. 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. Business is apparently booming at its new home, a course that has been perennially named among the top five or so in the state. Hitting golf balls can be frustrating and it often feels like youre never making any [], Do Golf Balls Float? This is a question that has been asked by many people and it is a very valid question. In 2010, he bought the 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for $46.5 million. beer-guzzling goats and the legend of Pancho Villa could lure the reprints, email [emailprotected], call 800-374-7985 or it made people feel nervous," she said. [14], Warren has hosted the Cherokee Music Festival since it began in 2007. Any idea Dennis came up with was worth a try. A To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the He was elected in 1986, and for a time, visiting him was one of the most popular things to do in Lajitas, TX. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "It didn't feel right. Though a biblical rainstorm and lightning display in the night knocked out the resorts electricity for twelve hoursa common desert occurrence that, among other things, might incapacitate an alarm clock and cause one to miss an early tee timehe was still able to get on the course because no one else was playing that day. Others wondered if Smiths bean counters had prevailed upon him to fund his dream with other peoples money. His state-of-the-art gray water filtration system created a wetlands area on the golf course that, along with a 64-acre sanctuary on the river, brought birds to the region not commonly found in the desert. He restored the community in 1976 with his corporation's subsidiary, Arrow Development Company. The resort couldn't turn a Theres a light in peoples eyes in far West Texas, a joy that comes with living exactly where and how a person wants. "Lajitas" translates to "little flat rocks" in Spanish. Lajitas resort avoids foreclosure with bankruptcy court filing. He collects music memorabilia, and has a collection that includes autographs of Jackson Browne and drumsticks signed by the Eagles. . Thats the way the project was run, as if success was secondary. It was mounted on a pediment in the middle of the golf courses putting green on Thursday, according to Scott Beasley, who manages the course for Dallas-based WSB Resorts and Clubs. A private buyer shipped it to a Lajitas golf course owned by oil and gas billionaire Kelcy Warren almost exactly two years since the Confederate . A crossing into Mexico, closed years ago, once ferried tourists The excellent bread pudding provided some redemption, but not enough to justify a $190 bill. The crossing, a smooth rock bottom all the way across the river, was the best between Del Rio and El Paso. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Eventually she started sobbing, and I was whisked off by the minder into a crowd of happier revelers. ), 7+ Great Girls Trips in Texas (Weekend Getaway Ideas! Lajitas Golf Resort is a 103 room resort with the number one public 18-hole golf course in Texas, spa, restaurant, saloon, 3 swimming pools, and a guest activity menu that includes shooting sports, equestrian riding, Subaru rentals, stargazer dinners on site, and guided jeep and ATV trips with local vendors. But its not the reason anyones coming out here, and thats why Im proud of it. been a thorn in the side of the community," Mr. Leslie said. I was doctor, vet, lawyer, marriage counselor, pharmacist, and an importer of wax. retreat, an offense to the desert and a leading hotel of the world. [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. Location & Hours 21701 Fm 170 Lajitas, TX 79852 Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More By Appointment Only Accepts Credit Cards Good For Kids Private Lot Parking 2 More Attributes About the Business Escape to Lajitas Golf Resort, no place like it in the world! [2][3][6] From 1981 to 1992, he worked for Endevco. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Boardwalk Bakery and Pizzeria. [15][16], In 2012, Warren donated $10 million to help build Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. Ms. Ryan has squatted on the Lajitas property for 20 years, said Thursday aboard his private jet, flying over the desert and Davis Asian money. The original Lajitas church and cemetery are still in town and are among the best places to visit in Lajitas. Aug 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. It is the kind of place where, after a few drinks, youre apt to forget that there are any rules at all. William H. Emory also visited Lajitas in 1852. Young as he was, that was surprising, so when he returned, I asked him how somebody with such a hard time getting around wound up in a job as physically demanding as carpentry. 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. The three-hundred-yard walk to dinner that night was unlit and took me through a construction pit, and the meal for me and my friend at the gourmet Ocotillo was decent but blandthe venison chop, snapper filet, and rattlesnake cake all tasted like their sauce. 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. [2][3][4][6] He has been the co-chairman and co-CEO of Energy Transfer Partners since 2007. But we also know that they expect more than Kelloggs and Minute Maid. The resort features an 18-hole golf course a luxury hotel and a variety of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. A major hotel chain. The second day was to be spent on the Ambush, the only course Smith ended up building. 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. "misery ground into the walls. Unable to find her, Mr. Warren wandered about with a look of natural gas transportation company Energy Transfer Partners. Im a sports expert and lover. [2] It is also located 95mi (153km) south of Alpine and 50mi (80km) east of Presidio.[7]. 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. [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. Id hold out a brown paper sack that theyd put their guns in, and Id put their groceries in that sack and hand it back to them when they were leaving. The trading post was also the only chance for gas in the area, and it wasnt unusual to see a pilot like Tinsley taxi his plane down the highway to the pumps to refuel. Lajitas is mentioned extensively in Red Dirt/Texas Country artist Wade Bowen's song "Day of the Dead" recorded in October 2017. In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas appointed Warren to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Ms. Ryan said the area is like a space station, big and If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. [2], Starting in the 1980s as a joke, for many years the purported mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a "beer-drinking" goat. These days, Clay Henry can be found (stuffed) at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, but Clay Henrys descendants continued to act as mayorat least until his grandson met a gnarly fate. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. On his first day there he got an audience with Smith and a tour of the resort, the scale of which left him impressed. Share. [1] It was inhabited by aboriginal Mexicans for many years. outdueled San Francisco hotelier Manou Mobedshahi in the town's saloon Its sad. Guests can cancel their reservations up to 72 hours prior to arrival for a full refund. My first thought was, Id spend a million to spruce it up a little bit, he told the San Antonio Express-News shortly thereafter. Review. That population boom influenced a boom in another town, just 13 miles away: Lajitas. They were then removed from the area by the Apache and Comanche tribes in the 18th and 19th centuries. 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. The Big Bend is not the kind of place you want to drive through and look out your window at, Ivey continued.