The 12 Best Things To Do In Terlingua, Texas

The Lone Star State's famous ghost town is a lot less sleepy these days.

Fact checked by Jillian Dara

When it comes to West Texas small towns, artsy Marfa might win for most likely to draw curious travelers off the beaten path. But it isn't the only desert gem in West Texas that's attracting attention. Two hours south, travelers are increasingly finding their way to Terlingua.

What's drawing visitors to this sleepy town? For adventurers, it's the close proximity to Big Bend National Park, in which endless trails mere minutes from town afford some of the most breathtaking views in Texas. (In fact, some of the most sweeping vistas of the park and its surrounding mountain ranges happen to be from right within Terlingua.) But it's the town's quirky history as a mining town that keeps visitors coming back. Here's everything to see and do while you're passing through Terlingua.

Related: An Unforgettable Adventure To Big Bend

What To Do

Explore the Ghost Town

More than a century ago, Terlingua's growth was spurred by the discovery of quicksilver, which brought miners to the area and helped them thrive for decades. But the Great Depression hit Terlingua hard, and as the demand for quicksilver dried up, so did the town. During the '40s, Terlingua's inhabitants packed up and moved on, leaving behind the crumbles of an eerily quiet ghost town. Today, the remains of the town—which include homes, antique cars, a church, and a cemetery—are part of what draws people to visit.

Mingle at the Trading Post

Though known for its abandoned ghost town, Terlingua isn't entirely dead. Since the region's demise, dozens of artists and eccentrics have found their way back here, making it more than just a ghost town. Many you'll find manning Terlingua's small number of businesses, which include a trading post, a saloon, and a handful of Mexican restaurants. Come sunset, locals and visitors mingle on what's simply known as "the porch," a BYOB hangout perched in front of Terlingua Trading Company, a general store housed in the old company store of Chisos Mining Company.

ghosttowntexas.com, 100 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852

Get a Desert Massage

At Desert Lotus Healing Arts, the Desert Monsoon Body Treatment is all about hydration. Soothe that dry skin with an exfoliating dry brushing followed by a local chaparral-infused oil massaged into the skin. You'll be wrapped in a blanket to soak in the oils while receiving a facial and aromatherapy. Desert Lotus also offers massages and Rolfing.

terlinguadesertlotus.com, 53629 TX-118 Suite B, Terlingua, TX 79852

Check Out the Barton Warnock Visitor Center

This visitor center at the entrance of Big Bend Ranch State Park offers an indoor exhibit on the area's natural history as well as a 2-acre garden showcasing the plants of the Chihuahuan Desert. It's also the place to go for backcountry camping permits and river-use permits. Keep in mind that Big Bend Ranch State Park is less developed than the national park, with mostly unpaved roads and primitive camping. But you're also more likely to find solitude in the less-visited state park.

tpwd.texas.gov, 21800 FM 170, Terlingua, TX 79852

Rent a Jeep

Big Bend National Park is a hiker's paradise, but it's also very, very big. You can explore 100 miles of paved roads throughout the park with the family car, or rent a jeep in Terlingua to reach rarely-seen, remote corners. Some of the park's primitive dirt roads cross boulders—a real adventure for more daring drivers. The state park also is open to off-road adventures with a permit. Prefer to let someone else do the driving? Far Flung Outdoor Center would be happy to accommodate you with a Jeep tour.

terlinguajeeprentals.com, 45 Kempf Road, Terlingua, TX 79852
bigbendfarflung.com, 23310 FM170, Terlingua, TX 79852

Raft the River

Outfitters like the Far Flung Outdoor Center and Big Bend River Tours can take you through the glorious canyons of Big Bend on a raft, kayak, or canoe. Some trips include overnight camping as well if you'd like to experience a night out in the wilderness.

bigbendrivertours.com, FM170, Terlingua, TX 79852

Tour the Old Mine by Horseback

Follow a guide from Big Bend & Lajitas Stables on horseback to the last working quicksilver mine in the Big Bend area while hearing some local history. Or, literally, ride into the sunset with a two-hour desert sunset ride. The stables gears rides toward beginner or newbie riders and children ages 6 and up, making it a truly family-friendly experience.

lajitasstables.com, 53639 TX-118, Terlingua, TX 79852

Join the Chili Cook-Off

If crowds are more your thing, Terlingua wakes up in a big way every November, when its famous "granddaddy of all chili cook-offs" draws thousands of spice seekers from around Texas and beyond for a party in the desert. During the annual CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship, attendees have the opportunity to sample every recipe for chili imaginable, as well as hot wings, beans, and salsa on other days of the five-day festival.

Related: 35 Hearty Chili Recipes That'll Warm You Right Up

Where To Eat

Try Chicken-Fried Antelope at Starlight

For dinner, head over to the Starlight Theatre, a restaurant and saloon where you can try Texas specialties like Chicken-Fried Texas Antelope with Lone Star Beer Gravy and Smoked Brisket Queso, then wash it all down with single-barrel tequila sold only at the Starlight. After you eat, stick around for live music and enjoy the company of nearly everyone else in Terlingua.

thestarlighttheatre.com, 631 Ivey Road, Terlingua, TX 79852

Get Some Barbecue

Another local favorite, DB's Rustic Iron BBQ, is the spot for smoked brisket, ribs, turkey, and sausage. This joint features live music some weekends.

rusticironbbq.com, 10 Terlingua Ghost Town, Terlingua, TX 79852

Where To Stay

Book a Casita

There are no Marriotts or Hamptons around these parts, but what you'll find is far better. Longtime Terlingua resident Bill Ivey and his family restored the Big Bend Holiday Hotel, a grouping of old buildings that now hold rooms in everything from a former mansion to the businesses in Terlingua's ghost town, and even his own family home. For a truly unique stay, book one of the Holiday Hotel's three casitas, tiny houses built in the shadows of the Chisos Mountains. For stunning views, pick the Casa Buena Vista house, a historical adobe structure that was originally built for the Chisos Mine foreman.

bigbendholidayhotel.com, 100 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852

Stay in a Fully Furnished Tipi

Located just across the street from Terlingua's ghost town, you'll find Buzzard's Roost, a collection of three tipis and one two-room casita. The idea may sound like a rustic camping experience, but this is glamping at its best. The tipis feature queen beds, soft linens, mini refrigerators, plush bathrobes, WiFi, outlets, space heaters, and coffee stations. You'll also find a private hammock and fire pit where you can enjoy the wonder of the great outdoors in such a stunning setting. Other rustic luxury stay options include tipis, casitas, lotus tents, bubbles, and campsites at Basecamp Terlingua.

buzzardsroostterlingua.com, 333 Goat Track Trail, Terlingua, TX 79852
basecampterlingua.com, 45 Kempf Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852

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