Big Bend Country is the Texas of the movies: vast canyons, border excitement, and miles of open space. Miles of rugged plains. Oil derricks on the horizon. Tumblin’ tumbleweeds rolling across a quiet highway.
The portion of Texas known as Big Bend Country is known for its untamed beauty and rugged parks but you’ll find several small communities including Marfa, Fort Davis, and Alpine plus Del Rio in the eastern reaches.
For all its open country, this area is also home to the largest city on the U.S.-Mexico border: El Paso, a destination filled with south-of-the-border charm. And the neighboring West Texas cities of Midland and Odessa maintain a friendly competition for vacationers, each offering its own assets and located in Texas oil country.
One of the gateways to the Big Bend region, Fort Davis, Texas began as a U.S. Army post in the mid-1800s at the intersection of two important mail routes. Located in the Davis Mountains, Fort Davis has an elevation of 5,050 feet, providing a cool respite from the heat of the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert–and giving …
Of all the unusual place names in Texas, perhaps the most unique is the West Texas town of Langtry. Judge Roy Bean was the focal point of many colorful tales but the strangest story concerns his obsession with the British actress, Lilly Langtry, who was popularly known as “The Jersey Lily.” Bean named his saloon …
Do you have a “been there, done that” attitude when it comes to many national parks? Then Big Bend National Park may just be the answer. This remote park is a real place to get away from it all and enjoy nature along the banks of the Rio Grande. You’ll find the best things to …
As the largest city on the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso is a destination filled with south-of-the-border charm, big city excitement, and rich history. On the state’s westernmost corner sits El Paso, the largest city on the U.S.-Mexico border. A bilingual community with 76 percent of the population of Hispanic descent, the city also has both …
Located on a desert plateau, the west Texas community was named for a character in The Brothers Karamazov and thrived as a railroad stop. Today the community is often visited by those traveling to Big Bend and by vacationers seeking to spot the Marfa Lights, a phenomena that has been seen since pioneer days but …
This West Texas community lies in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert and is a popular stop on the road to or from El Paso. Fort Stockton holds the designation as a Main Street City and has refurbished many storefronts to their original historic appearance. Buildings such as the 1884 jail and the Grey Mule …
It calls itself “the best of the border,” and with a quick look around Del Rio it’s easy to see why. Whether your idea of a getaway means shopping or swimming, hiking or hunting, Del Rio’s got something to offer. Del Rio stands apart from other border cities because of its abundance of water. The …