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Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years!

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Terlingua House, Your Own Big Bend Lodge!
Room
Outdoor dining
Room
Interior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Terlingua, TX
  • Big Bend Library
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Barton Warnock Visitor Center
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Santa Elena Canyon
    ‪57 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed and 1 Double Futon

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years!

Terlingua House is located in the heart of the desert mountain country of West Texas. For the price of a nice single hotel room, this unique guesthouse is like having your own personal lodge for your trip. It is a three-bedroom, two-bath, adobe-style property with full kitchen; each located in a separate building. This unique layout enables you to socialize and dine together and retreat to the privacy of your own separate rooms for some solitude. It's almost like renting a small resort rather than just a vacation home or hotel room.

Although most come here to get away from it all, Terlingua House has all the comforts of home:

* Fully stocked kitchen with full sized fridge, stove/oven (apartment sized), microwave, dishwasher and all the dishes, utensils and cooking requirements one would need.
* Washers/dryers - exploring and adventure means you may need to do laundry
* Wireless Internet, cable TV (including big screen TV) - when you want to plug back in to the real world
* An upper level deck for mountain viewing and star gazing
* A beautiful, covered lower courtyard connecting two buildings; complete with 2 grills for cooking and dining outside
* An outdoor sitting area with fire pit (bring your own wood).

Stroll up the hill on the property and view the changing colors of the Chisos Mountains during the spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Bedroom layout:

Gin Room - King and pull out couch with its own bathroom
Fairfax Room - Queen and two full beds
Studio - Two Full Beds
Fairfax and Studio share a bathroom

We find this property most comfortable for 6 people - 3 bedrooms, 3 couples. We have arranged the bedding so that we can accommodate up to 12 in beds and 16 if you count the futon and day beds in the kitchen. Note that there is a price increase beginning at 7 or more guests age 10 or over.

Value - For two guests this entire property is about the price of a nice hotel room in the city, if you are not on a strictly tight budget, you will be happy you are here. Dining out is expensive in the area, If you make use of the kitchen at all, you will likely find this makes up the difference. For four or more people you will find this is by far the best value in the area. You are on 15 acres, great views, TV, Internet, fire pit, great upstairs deck, city water, direct access to TX 170 highway. You are NOT confined between the tents, trailers or pre-fab "cabins" that have popped up in the years since we began this project. As they say, location is everything - we have a great location, all the amenities and reasonable pricing.

Terlingua House is located two miles west of Terlingua, Texas between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. This safe and secure 15 acre, semi-secluded property with easy access, has a grand view of the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park while still being only minutes away from restaurants and local river rafting, hiking, biking and jeep tour outfitters. Terlingua Ghost town is a couple minutes drive down the road. There's even a pizza place at the bottom of the road - an easy walk for dinner and drinks.

If you like Big Bend I am confident you will like Terlingua House. We strive to keep it cool, fun, functional and clean. After 14+ years we have many repeat customers, many recommendations and about once a year - a whiner! If you have never been to Big Bend, it is truly one of the most unique and fascinating areas in Texas, and the country for that matter - hence the national and state parks. It is also one of the most vast and remote areas in the country. It is - an adventure. Whether you stay with us or one of the other lodging accommodations in the area, go with the understanding that you will be, and we are working in, an area that teeters between the 21st century and the 19th century. This is part of the fun, part of the adventure - part of the allure of Big Bend.


** IMPORTANT NOTE: VRBO Instant quote does not calculate our specials correctly. A 'rent 2 get 3rd free' special means you have to rent two nights to get the third free. Unfortunately VRBO calculator will average the price across all nights and it results in a discrepancy. For a true quote please contact us directly. Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience. The same applies for 'rent 2 get 2 free'. Also note that there is an additional per person charge for groups over 6.

Cancellations:
When you make your reservation on VRBO/HomeAway, 100% is non-refundable if canceled but will be saved as a credit for a future stay. This credit does not expire. If something happens that you can’t make your trip, please contact us and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs. There is no refund of rent for late arrival or early departure.

Thank you for considering Terlingua House for your Big Bend trip.

Property manager

Cara or Bud

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
Special events must be approved prior to arrival
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Special events must be approved prior to arrival
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Terlingua

Located in Terlingua, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Many Stones is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Big Bend Ranch State Park and Barton Warnock Visitor Center. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Terlingua, TX

What's nearby

  • Big Bend Library - 12 min drive - 12.9 km
  • Many Stones - 14 min drive - 15.0 km
  • Barton Warnock Visitor Center - 15 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Mesa de Anguilla - 49 min drive - 15.5 km
  • Santa Elena Canyon - 57 min drive - 38.3 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Terlingua ghost town Starlight theater - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪High Sierra Bar & Grill - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Taqueria El Milagro - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Chili Pepper Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Long Draw Pizza - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Terlingua House (Big Bend Area's Original Guesthouse) Celebrating 20 years! located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend Library and Barton Warnock Visitor Center. Many Stones and Big Bend National Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 106 out of 142 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 30 out of 142 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 142 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 142 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 142 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Dana R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Big Bend Visit

What a great place to stay. Great location. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to come visit the Terlingua area.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rene C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place - Terlingua

We had a group of 5 adults and 2 young children and Terlingua House was perfect! Location is wonderful, amenities are more than adequate and the peace and tranquility is second to none. It’s a stones throw away from the pizza joint, which we also highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paula W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terlingua Casita

Had great trip to Big Bend. House is close to Big Bend. Enjoyed the house. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terlingua

Great property and location
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

John A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very cool Terlingua vibe house

House has a very cool Tex-Mex feel and vibe. Has everything you would need. Decor is rustic. Secluded feel on top of small ridge, but close to town.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robyn J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long Weekend Trip

Terlingua House was perfect for our group. Everything was clean and we had towels and linens for everyone. The house has a great location. It was a great long weekend trip.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

DAVID S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terlingua House

A nice place with comfy beds and room to sprawl... Private and secluded. Easy access. Some minor updates needed, but otherwise very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shawn J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place

Really enjoyed our stay. Lots of space, kitchen was fully stocked and lots of beds. Amazing outdoor dining area. Will definitely come back again
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sam W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible

This place was simply awesome
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Retreat

The property has great views of the Chico's mountains, along with numerous areas to sit and enjoy the views. Each day after hiking the Big Bend NP trails, we'd select where to sit on the property to relax and recount the days' adventures.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rett B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Desert get away

More like a cozy compound than a single house. We were able to spread out over 4 different sleeping buildings so some could sleeping in or napping while others were socializing at all times of the day. The property was a perfect jumping off point for our outings into Big Bend. I would certainly recommend Terlingua for large groups of family or friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eva B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terlingua Wedding

Our daughter married in Terlingua Ghost Town at La Posada Milagro. Terlingua Guest House was very accommodating and close to the venue. My family thanked me for getting them this great house.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family trip!

We had a wonderful time at the guest house! There was plenty of room to spread out. Really enjoyed seeing the night sky! Kitchen was well appointed and we will definitely be back. Thank you! Heidi
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Reagan O., Plano,Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House!

The Terlingua House is amazing! It has everything you need to enjoy your stay in the Big Bend area. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing. The pizza place at the bottom of the hill is fun and delicious. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

College friends for 50 years

It was a great place to stay if you are planning to spend several days at Big Bend National Park. Patio was great for hanging out and catching up with old friends.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Walter v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique property with great views

We loved the place. The rooms have great light and awesome views. It feels like a secluded desert lodge with a vintage feel. The kitchen was well organized and my family enjoyed the space.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway

The Terlingua Guesthouse is the perfect basecamp for any Big Bend expedition. Cara was easy to communicate with and a great host. Will be back as soon as possible!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Deborah H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic yet comfortable and close to Big Bend

Worked well for a two night stay as we visited Big Bend. Separate buildings were not a problem and space allowed for our kids to explore. Room temperatures easily controlled. Really great sunrises and sunsets visible from the house. The pizza place at the end of the driveway was excellent and house close to gas and general stores. Some new linens, new outlet covers etc and a deep clean of the bathrooms and kitchen would make it 5 stars.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Mirta P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute

Cute location. I didn't like one of the bathrooms was outside to two rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Kristine H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Big Bend adventure

We enjoyed staying at Terlingua house, one of our main objectives was to find a place where we could cook at “home” vs spending tons of money on meals, and this place was perfect for that. This became especially important as we found restaurants were not open every day. The beds were plentiful and comfortable, although the bedding and towels could use some upgrading. The AC worked great, thankful for that because it was in the 90s in the afternoons. Very convenient to get to both the state and national parks. Everyone should go to both!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paula G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very HOT

My only issue was that the master bath is not air conditioned and has no night lite...so we had to leave on the bathroom light all night which made the bathroom even hotter.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leigh L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Most Excellent!

I almost hate to post a review about this place because I don’t want it to be booked up 100% of the time! The house is awesome. The location is awesome. The views were incredible. My family of 5 with my friend’s family of 3 had a great time both at the house and the surrounding areas. There was even live music at the pizza place next door that we could enjoy on the rooftop deck. We are coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

I rented the Terlingua House for the weekend, to have my youngest daughter's Senior Pictures done.

The property was a beautiful backdrop for my daughter's pictures. It was comortable and roomy enough for us to all spread out and have our own space. I cooked every meal in the kitchen and it is set up and stocked well so that you can have all of your meals without leaving. The wifi was very reliable and I was able to work and my daughter was able to do online classes as well. We will definitely be coming back for a weekend get away soon and bringing more family with us the next time. The property's setup is so unique and accomadating for large groups.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

John B., North Richland Hills, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house

Really enjoyed our stay. It had everything we needed and we really enjoyed it. Couple things that need to be addressed….Queen Bed mattress is Fairfax room really needs to be replaced. It caves in the middle, so my wife and I kept rolling into each other. I finally had to move to another bed. Other issue in that room was the TV sound. Have the time it worked, half the time it didn’t. Other than that we really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ajay M.

Great place

We visited big bend country on 4th July weekend and were 2 families with young children. The house is situated on a hillock and offers very picturesque views of the landscape. There were picnic benches, fire pit and outdoor/patio furniture and we spent long hours outside in the each night stargazing. The bedrooms and bathrooms were clean and had enough linens. The kitchen was good with enough tableware, plates and pots etc. The house also has washers/dryers. The house is not too far (around 25/30 miles) from Big Bend N.P. This was our 1st trip to big bend country but wont certainly be last. We will definitely come back to stay here and recommend this place to friends.

About the host

Hosted by Cara or Bud

Host profile image
Bud Johnson and Friends are the owners of Terlingua House.

Bud lives on a ranch just outside of Bronte, Texas (between San Angelo and Abilene). He is a geologist by trade and also dabbles as an entrepreneur.

Why they chose this property

I fell in love with the area and then the property back in the 80's and it has been a labor of love to get it to the high standard that it is today. There's something almost magical or spiritual when you watch the sunrise and sunset from here - not to mention the star gazing on a clear night. There's nothing like it. Terlingua House is a deluxe property on 15 acres with spectacular views, easy access, all the amenities and plenty of water. Both water and access can be an issue in the area. It's the perfect place to get away from it all and experience an amazing part of Texas that many don't even know exist. It's just minutes from shopping, dining and tour outfitters and easy access for day trips. Plus, you're fully connected to the outside world here with Internet and satellite TV.

What makes this property unique

Unique, lodge-like adobe style buildings house 3 separate sleeping quarters and kitchen/dining area. It's like renting a lodge or small resort for the same price as a decent hotel room. This allows you to socialize, dine and entertain as a group with the added benefit of retreating to your own space for some quiet time. Just minutes from shopping and dining, it's a perfect place to get away from it all but still be connected with wireless Internet, satellite TV other comforts of home. The sunsets/sunrises and star gazing are spectacular from this property.

Languages:

English