Villa Terlingua offers three distinctly unique vacation rentals within the Terlingua Ghost Town. Each house is lovingly refurbished with antiques, crafts, and books collected while travelling around the world. The Main House was bought as a disheveled ruin from the old mining times and was rebuilt over a 16-year period.
The Guest House stands on the site of a goat pen, and now has 3 courtyards, gardens, and is the most private of the rentals. The Blue House, which was once a garage, is now an off-grid, sustainable structure offering an opportunity to live in a lovely yet practical house of the future. Villa Terlingua offers incomparable views, easy access, and a unique Big Bend experience, complete with your own local guide.
The Guest House stands on the site of a goat pen, and now has 3 courtyards, gardens, and is the most private of the rentals. The Blue House, which was once a garage, is now an off-grid, sustainable structure offering an opportunity to live in a lovely yet practical house of the future. Villa Terlingua offers incomparable views, easy access, and a unique Big Bend experience, complete with your own local guide.
Services
Villa Terlingua, once the largest residential ruin in the Terlingua Ghost Town, is now home to 3 beautiful and unique homes for short-term rental. Originally, 5 parts of the Lopez family lived here, separate from the business of the Chisos mining area (now known as the Terlingua Ghost Town), but close enough to work and play.
This part of the Big Bend is truly the back of beyond. There are limited services. If you have special needs, i.e., diet, etc., you need to bring your own food or medicine. Also, there are no pharmacies. Cell phone service is spotty at best. Some times of the year electricity (as well as phone service) comes and goes and can be out for 18 hours in some cases.
The house is a 90-year-old ruin which I bought in 1996 and took 16 years to fix up. It housed five Mexican miner families during the mercury mining boom here (1903 through 1943) with five rock rooms inside and two large outdoor rooms where they cooked and slept in the summer. The walls are 18-inch limestone rock and all the rocks came from my property.
The Blue House is made out of Papercrete (disaggregated telephone books, cement, sand and water), so it's wonderfully quiet and holds temperature well. It has been decorated in remembrance of Monet, so it's a rather blue house, and has birds everywhere, inside and out. This is a "sustainable" rental in that the lights are all solar powered, the water is rain catchment and, of course, the building is recycled telephone books.
If you're looking for relaxation, privacy, and a chance to truly enjoy the beauty of the desert, the Guest House has just what you seek. Stretch out in a hammock or watch the stars from an outdoor bed. Warm up by the handcrafted fireplace, or soak in the tub while taking in the desert landscapes. The Guest House is the perfect size for individuals or couples, and provides a lovely, secluded retreat.
Reviews (12)
Armin Aliefendic
Oct 03, 2021
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Austin Board
Jun 29, 2021
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Deborah R. Wood
May 27, 2021
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If you want to visit Terlingua, this is the place to stay. Minutes from the state and national parks and within walking distance to The Porch and The Starlight Theater in the Terlingua Ghost Town, it is ideally located. The houses are unique and artistic, a perfect complement to the Terlingua culture. Cynta is a charming hostess who came here years ago, like many, to be a river guide on the Rio Grande. But she has many stories to tell about her travels and adventures around the world. You will not regret choosing Villa Terlingua.
Cay Carner
Mar 24, 2021
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A spectacularly unique property with such personality! Friends recommended Villa Terlingua and now we can't stop telling others about our experience (I've easily forwarded the website link a half dozen times). My husband and I stayed at the Guest House during early March to enjoy easy access for hiking in Big Bend, star gazing and solitude - check, check, check. Thank you, Cynta, for sharing the product of your passion, creativity and hard work. Cay & Lyles
Doug
Mar 12, 2021
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Cierra Hannaman
Sep 18, 2020
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This is absolutely THE place to stay in Terlingua. My husband and I eloped in the area last week, and stayed in the Guest House. The house is gorgeous and so unique! The views from the outdoor daybed and the patio couch are AMAZING. We even decided to stay home one day rather than venture into the park, because we enjoyed relaxing there so much. I was worried about having to get ready for our elopement ceremony in the little bathroom, but it was so cozy and absolutely perfect. When we got back to the room after eloping/taking pictures, Cynta had decorated the room with flowers, towel swans and
Casey Sechler
Jan 19, 2020
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I had the opportunity to stay in the Blue House with a group of four - for the extended 4th of July weekend. Both the home and the host were truly wonderful. The owner is more than happy to show you around the property and give you any traveling advice you may need. Being that she was extremely responsive and helpful, it made for an extraordinary stay. The property itself is truly beautiful. The view makes you excited to get up in the mornings and set foot on the trails of Big Bend, being that the entrance is very near. I would recommend for ANYONE, family or friends, looking to take an adventure
Kara Lara
Dec 25, 2019
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Villa Terlingua serves you the majesty of the mountains accompanied by a comforting piece of home. The minute I arrived, I was saddened that I would eventually have to leave. There is a raw and subtly eclectic ambiance that invigorates the Guest House. You will have everything you need to relax and appreciate the beauty (and beast) of the earth that envelopes you - a comfortable bed, air conditioning, a well-equipped kitchen, a private bathtub for an evening soak, an (invigorating) outdoor shower to say hello to a new day, a patio-bed to enjoy the sunrise, a daybed to admire the Milky Way, and
Cindy Mason
Jul 06, 2019
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We spent 4 nights at Villa Terlingua in the Guest House. The house was one room with a very comfortable queen bed, a kitchenette with fridge, gas stove, sink and a small dining table. The room was perfect for 2 of us. There is no television, but we didn’t even miss it. There are three separate courtyards that are great extended living areas, one with a comfortable queen size bed for sleeping and stargazing. The bathroom is a retreat in itself. It has windows all the way around and a claw foot tub. The entire property was very clean and comfortable with a lot of personality. The outdoor shower
Gary Meyer
Aug 26, 2018
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Our group of 3 had the pleasure of staying with Cynta as our host at the Villa Terlingua Blue House 10/7-10/9/2018. The house was comfortable and had all the amenities we needed including a good air conditioner and modestly outfitted kitchen....but the 3 comfortably furnished outdoor relaxing areas are what really sold us! Spectacular views and a fabulous chance to take advantage of sleeping under the stars on a nice futon. We loved meeting Cynta and she was generous as could be with her advice on activities and restaurants. We will recommend this as our great find and the best place to stay while
Lisa M.
Apr 17, 2015
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This is my heaven on earth! The Main House is beautiful, well decorated, warm & has every accommodation you can think of! The porch has the most amazing views of the desert & Chisos Mountains! I have now stayed at Villa Terlingua 4 times and will be back there as many more times as I can find time for!
I watch the sun rises over the mountains every time I am there and it is always unlike anything I have ever seen. There is a sense of peace & escape from the busy hustle & bustle of city life. I am always able to gain perspective and be reminded of what is important.
Cynta, the
I watch the sun rises over the mountains every time I am there and it is always unlike anything I have ever seen. There is a sense of peace & escape from the busy hustle & bustle of city life. I am always able to gain perspective and be reminded of what is important.
Cynta, the
Michael H.
Apr 06, 2015
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My wife and I stayed 3 nights over Easter weekend in the Papercrete House, which is Cynta's personal residence. Cynta is the very caring and attentive owner of the property. She knows how to take lemons and turn them into lemonade. She has built a house out of old phone books that is way cool and undoubtedly the nicest place to stay in this ghost town. Her home is very funky and environmentally correct. There is solar electricity, solar heated water. Cynta will give you advice on the best hikes, best places to eat. Very charming living quarters with a working 1950's Florence gas stove
