All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
The Ranch is a unique resort about 45 miles from Big Bend. As advertised, there are no TV, coffee pot, microwave and only a small frig. Rooms are rustic comfortable. Restaurant food is excellent but because of staffing, isn't always open and schedule may change on short notice. Nearest food is in Terlingua 30 miles away.. Call ahead to confirm. Pool is available. It is a dark sky program so is great for viewing stars. Need good tires because of the last 3 miles of dirt road. A good place to get away.
Carolyn
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from John S. on 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for staying with us here at Terlingua Ranch, Carolyn. We're glad you enjoyed your stay. The cafe normally is open 7 days a week, but our seasonal staff are transitioning to their summer jobs and we are short staffed for two weeks. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks again for choosing Terlinga Ranch. We look forward to serving you again soon.
4/10 Poor
Joseph
24 Apr 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The Terlingua Lodge is NOT in Terlingua but 37 miles away at the end of a country road in the middle of nowhere with no faculties around. Their restaurant is closed Sundays and Mondays. And it is not a lodge but a bunch of cabins.
Joseph
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from John S. on 29 Apr 2024
Thank you for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge, Joseph. I'm sorry that you were disappointed in some aspects of your stay. For those reading this review, our location and other information about Terlingua Ranch is included in your confirmation and welcome letters. This information will help you plan your visit. Our lodging is in 32 motel-style rooms in 8 "quads" of 4 rooms each. Rooms have a shared porch with mountain views from all cabins. Our isolation and dark skies are a part of what makes Terlingua Ranch special to many people.
10/10 Excellent
Lisa
21 Apr 2024
Comfy bed!
Lisa
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Response from John S. on 29 Apr 2024
Hi Lisa! Thank you for staying with us here at Terlingua Ranch. We get lots of comments on our comfortable beds. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come back and see us again soon.
Very basic lodging, not convenient to Terlingua or Big Bend. Restaurant was closed when we were there and food options very limited. Long drive to Terlingua. Would not stay again.
Hi Wendy. Thanks for the review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay. We are very remote, and that's what we love about it. Come back and see us again soon!
Very peaceful area, we enjoyed it very much. Service very and food at restaurant was excellent!
Carolyn
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 5 Apr 2024
Thank you for choosing Terlingua Ranch for your Big Bend vacation, Carolyn. We appreciate all of our guests, and are glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
It was in a beautiful setting. The restaurant was good.
MARSHA
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 25 Mar 2024
Thank you for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge for your vacation. We appreciate all of our guests. We treasure our remote location and hope you come back to see us soon!
6/10 Okay
Raul
24 Mar 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Very good Wi-Fi. Very good restaurant with friendly staff.
Raul
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 24 Mar 2024
Thank you for choosing to stay with us, Raul. We are very proud of our staff and strive to provide the best possible service. We hope to see you here again.
I never realized how far this was from Terlingua. I thought I was just outside of it but I’m 45 minutes from there and dirt road for quite a way before hitting 118. It’s a very unique place and I enjoyed my stay. It was a very scenic drive. Staff were very friendly and I’m thankful for the restaurant. At least we had food and a place to get Internet. There’s no cell service or internet in the cottages.
Patricia
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 24 Mar 2024
Thank you for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge for your vacation, Patricia. We are proud of our staff and seek to provide the best possible service. We are remote, which is what many people like about the ranch. For those reading this review, information about our location, directions, and other things about Terlingua Ranch and the area are in your welcome letter. This will help you be prepared for your visit to the ranch, Terlingua, and the parks.
Loved the light rules that made the stars so visible. The shower was also excellent, even compared to mine back home.
Heather
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 24 Mar 2024
Thanks for the kind review, Heather. Being in the desert, we do our best to conserve water, so your comments about the shower are very much appreciated! We are glad you had a great time and hope to see you again soon.
10/10 Excellent
Mike
22 Mar 2024
Mike
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 29 Apr 2024
Thanks for choosing us for your Big Bend vacation, Mike. We look forward to seeing you again.
6/10 Okay
Harry
Travelled with family
21 Mar 2024
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Remote location, about three miles dirt road to reach lodge and dining
Harry
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 24 Mar 2024
Thanks for staying with us on your vacation, Harry. Our remoteness is one of the main reasons that people come to Terlingua Ranch. The dark skies, lack of crowds, and quiet surroundings are priceless.
Liked it being a dark sky location. Did not realize that the last 10 miles would be a gravel road.
Betty
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 18 Mar 2024
Thanks for staying with us, Betty. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. For those reading this review, the last three miles of the ranch road are graded gravel. The speed limit on this section is 25 mph. When you book, guests receive a confirmation letter with information about the road, our location, the dark sky reserve, neighboring parks, and other items. Please read the letter so you can take advantage of our area and are prepared for your vacation.
The staff went above and beyond when Expedia failed to reserve our Spring Break room. The lodge is unique and definitely worth the drive. Wish we stayed longer and explored the facility more.
Benjamin
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 18 Mar 2024
Thanks for coming to stay with us, Benjamin. I am so sorry about the computer glitch, but it was great meeting you and we are so glad we could work out the accommodations. We look forward to having your family here again!
It is a bit further out. But that just made it better! Plenty of space. Nicely appointed cabins. Comfortable beds. Beautiful stars! Restaurant was great. Band was fun. Really great place!
marianne
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from John S. on 18 Mar 2024
Thank you for the kind review, Marianne. We love our remote location and are glad you enjoyed it. We to see you again soon!
Road leading to ranch is very rough for the last 3 miles, & it does take some time to reach after long days at Big Bend.cabin was very clean & had all the basics. Very quiet wonderful for sky viewing when it isn’t cloudy. It does have a restaurant on sight which is good because once you travel this route you don’t want to leave for dinner!
Thomas
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from John S. on 8 Mar 2024
Thanks for staying with us, Thomas. Yes we are remote! Being in the heart of the world's largest dark sky reserve means being far away from amenities. We try to provide everything our guests need, and appreciate your patronage.
If you want to be in the middle of nowhere this is the place for you. There is no lights for miles which makes stargazing breathtaking! Warning: the last 3 miles before the resort are a graded dirt road. Totally worth it though!
mark
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from John S. on 8 Mar 2024
Thanks for choosing Terlingua Ranch, Mark. You have mentioned everything we love about this remote desert location. Come back soon!
Affordable and clean . Staff friendly and professional
Jeff
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from John S. on 8 Mar 2024
Thank you for staying with us, Jeff. We try to be competitive with other lodging options in the Big Bend. I am extremely proud of our staff and appreciate your acknowledgement of their hard work. Please come back any time.
Thank you for the review, Steven. Are appreciate you choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge for your vacation. We love the isolation, dark skies, and beautiful mountains.
We were greeted by a wonderful man that took us to the site. The night skies are beautiful 👍. It is a bit away from Great Basin National Park
Liz
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from John S. on 8 Mar 2024
Thank you for your review, Liz. Rick is wonderful! We are next to Big Bend National Park (it is about a 45 minute drive to the Maverick Junction entrance) rather than Great Basin. We treasure our dark skies and are glad to have shared them with you. Come back any time!
Thanks for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge, Alan. We love our solitude, and are glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come back any time.
8/10 Good
Sanket
Travelled with family
31 Jan 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Overall we loved our stay. Check in Staff could have been bit more friendlier and welcoming. But restaurant staff was amazing. We loved the limited option food and the environment with live music.
Internet service was poor. When you are in an area where Mobile signals are Zero, Internet has to be good. Near RV parking, they had good Internet but in the Cottages there was barely a signal.
Also roads were very bad. Some of our cars got damaged. Definitely they should improve the roads.
Sanket
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 13 Mar 2024
Thank you for staying with us here at Terlingua Ranch Lodge. I'm sorry you had trouble with the roads. The last three miles are a graded dirt road. It is helpful for guests to observe the 25 mph and 15 mph speed limits where posted. We are proud of our facilities, and glad you enjoyed the restaurant and other amenities.
We loved the solitude and quiet…a the night sky was breathtaking. The bathroom was larger than we needed, nice towels, and I loved the detachable shower head. The mist challenging part was the long drive into Big Bend Park (one hour, at least). It was tolerable for the 2 full days we spent at the park, but if we were to do it again, or for more than 2 days, we would definitely get a room in Big Bend.
MARY ANN
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 13 Mar 2024
Thank you for staying with us here at Terlingua Ranch, Mary Ann. We appreciate you spending your precious vacation time at our facility. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again soon.
The staff was friendly and accommodating, the restaurant had a pretty simple menu although everything we tried was fresh and delicious, it was a pleasant surprise. The lodge is rustic so I understand that piece of it, no tv or microwave and internet is spotty in the room but there was a good connection in the restaurant. Perhaps a plumbing upgrade is in order. Interesting history to this place, take the time to read the binder in your room.
Mike
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 13 Mar 2024
Thank you for the review, and for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge. We are remote and rustic. Being in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, water availability is limited, we are sorry for the inconvenience that presents, but it's part of our remote and rugged location.
Property is about 40-50 minutes from Big Bend entrance. It was a nice place to stay, very clean and staff were super friendly. I loved the restaurant and that there was live music. Was even able to head to bunkhouse to check out some NFL games before sitting outside and looking at the stars. With a 10pm lights out, the whole place will come alive at night. Even saw some javelina family!
Kylee
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 13 Mar 2024
Thanks for the review, Kylee. We appreciate you choosing Terlingua Ranch for your stay. Wea re remote, but we love the dark skies and beautiful desert mountains. We hope to see you again soon. Mary the javelina, and her children say hi!
With few other options on a very cold and windy night, it was a nice place to sleep and have a shower instead of tent camping. Very long drive from town and any Big Bend activities, though.
Verified traveller
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 10 Feb 2024
We're glad that we were here for you. We are remote, but that's what many of us love about it. You are welcome back any time.
This place is awesome. Great little cabins and there’s fun places to walk and see on the property. I’d gladly go back. I only left there 15 hours ago and I’m ready to go back.
Justin
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Response from John S. on 10 Feb 2024
Thank you for staying with us, Justin. Come back soon. We miss you already! :-)
Beautiful remote location, but lacks basic comforts expected in a hotel room in the desert: a low flow shower head, hot water, a towel for each of us, a place to put a suitcase or clothes, clothes hangers, a fan in the toilet room, WiFi all day, a chair... Not horrible, just below average in almost every possible way.
Great property with so much cool history. The javalinas wander around in the morning looking for food and are unbothered by the guests. The food at the bad rabbit was great and staff very friendly.
One small negative was that the cabins have thin walls so you can hear your snoring neighbors. That won’t deter me from coming back though.
Dilyana
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
Michael
31 Dec 2023
Michael
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from John S. on 1 Jan 2024
Thanks for choosing Terlingua Ranch for your vacation. We're glad you had a great trip. We look forward to seeing you again.
Very isolated location-16 miles from highway with last 3 miles being a dirt road. Nice large room with 2 queen beds. This is a dark sky area which was awesome. Very quiet. Food in restaurant was good and reasonable. Only drawback was thin walls between units.
This property is wonderful. If you want to see the Christmas mountains from your door, stay here. Staff is very friendly. The restaurant doesn't have the biggest menu, but what is on it is cooked well. It's a bit out of the way but worth it if you are looking for a quiet place to stay with it's own charm and views. You can go directly into Big Bend NP by Marathon road, know that it's unpaved though. We went into Big Bend from Marathon road and the way through Terlingua itself. Both take about an hour. Great place I will make future trips.
Mary
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
Kenneth
10 Dec 2023
Kenneth
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Response from John S. on 11 Dec 2023
Thank you for choosing Terlingua Ranch Lodge as the base for your visit to the Big Bend region. Come back again soon!