A charming solar/rain-catchment adobe and stone cabin in a prime location, very private, with an unbeatable view of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend NP. This small off-grid/solar/rain catchment cabin offers a queen sized bed, a twin bed in a separate space, and utmost seclusion. It’s located between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, 2 miles from Terlingua Ghostown. COMING IN OCTOBER 2024: Campsite with a shower, flush toilet, table, chairs, fire pit, and a stellar view! COUNTY OCCUPANCY TAX: While Airbnb collects and remits Texas state occupancy taxes (6%), and they are included in your total from Airbnb, it is up to hosts to collect and remit county tax (7%). I send guests a request for the county tax payment before your arrival. It comes through Airbnb as a payment request, and is 7% of your total, excluding service fees. It must be paid before your reservation date. Since the pandemic, I have changed a few procedures concerning meeting my guests, orienting folks as to how the house's systems work, and cleaning and safety protocols. 1) If you wish to let me know whether you are vaccinated, it would be so appreciated. I, myself, am. I still wear a mask when it’s wise to do so. 2) Once guests make a reservation, Airbnb provides instructions on finding the guest house. I no longer meet folks in person and guide them here, though I usually say hello upon your arrival. I do resend the directions a day or two before guests arrive. 3) I provide written material inside the guest house as to how things work, where to find the drinking water, etc., rather than orienting people in a personal walk-through, and am always available to answer questions. It can’t be stressed enough that everyone must read this information. It’s especially important to read the info on proper use of the incinerating toilet; incorrect use causes a problem. Read the material provided, please. 4) At the end of your stay, please strip your own linens and put them and used towels in the hamper provided, found in the bedroom. Also wash thoroughly in hot water all dirty dishes, leaving them to dry in the rack provided. I do my part, as always, by providing an impeccably clean and sanitized place to enjoy. That being said, thanks for your interest in the Leapin' Lizard! The Leapin' Lizard Guest House is a small rain-catchment and solar-powered adobe and stone house on 20 acres, located 2 miles from Terlingua Ghostown, the cultural center of Terlingua's universe. It's convenient to both Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Hiking, mountain biking, rafting and canoeing, atv, jeep, air tours and golf are all activities close by. The porch of the Terlingua Trading Company in the Ghostown is the local 'family room', where live music is often played. The Starlight Theatre, also in the Ghostown, offers fine dining and music too. Rustic Iron BBQ, also in the Ghostown area, often has live music and the barbeque is exceptional. The Boathouse, though not a place to dine, has a full bar, cold beer, and great live music in a relaxed atmosphere. And a food truck just for amazing ice cream treats! Poco Mas is the local coffee place and lunch spot, and offers a wide variety of fresh food, including great ruben sandwiches. The Leapin' Lizard sits at the end of a dirt road - very private and peaceful, with an uninterrupted view of the Chisos Mts. in Big Bend Nat. Park. It's located 1.6 miles off of the pavement, but it's a decent road, maintained by a p.o.a., and fine in any weather for any vehicle with normal clearance. On the rare occasion when it rains, there may be a muddy spot or two, but nothing impassable. It’s an all-weather road. Water at the guest house is provided by a rain-water collection system, fairly common here in our desert. Mindfulness about the amount of water you use is important here. The Leapin' Lizard is also a solar-powered place, and while there are lights, plus you can charge any usual devices you may have, leave high-electricity-use items such as hair dryers at home. Please don't bring any appliances of your own such as fans, coffee-makers, medical devices or electronic toys... A portable oscillating evaporative cooler is provided during the warm months. The adobe has a comfortable queen-size bed, with linens and towels provided. There is also a twin bed, set up in the rock addition to the main adobe. No toddlers please, as there are safety concerns; the house sits in a native environment and there are steps, rocks, and cacti all around. Wi-fi is available on the property, and has recently been upgraded to 5G. You won’t get a good signal inside the adobe, but there’s a picnic table outdoors where you can get a clear signal. Cell coverage here depends on your carrier, with T-Mobile providing the best. The outdoor kitchen has what you need to fix meals from breakfast burritos to steaks, including a propane rv refrigerator, a 48 quart ice chest sized electric fridge (inside), a 4-burner cook top, and a charcoal Weber grill. For stays of 1 to 3 nights, the 48 quart fridge is what will be provided. There is no oven and no microwave. Drinking water and a few spices are provided, as well as coffee and cooking oil. The coffee systems are a choice of a porcelain Melita cone/filter, a French press, or an old-fashioned enameled stovetop percolator. There are plenty of dishes and utensils of all kinds. The kitchen facility is simple but very serviceable. The sink is an old enameled cast iron one from the 50's, with built-in drain boards and cupboard space below. There's a large stainless steel container with a faucet that provides water to the sink. You can also bring hot water for dish washing from the spigot located in the outdoor shower a few steps away, in the sauce pot provided for that purpose. Simple, but it works. The bathroom facilities are about 30' from the house, in a little adobe structure that houses a county approved propane incinerating toilet, and the most necessary requirement - a seat with a view. An incinerating toilet is waterless and meant mostly for solid waste, but can also handle some liquid. Peeing in the great outdoors, away from the yard, is not a requirement and at your discretion, but is greatly appreciated. ALL t.p. goes in the lidded trash can provided, NOT in the incinerator; wet t.p. impedes the burning process. The stone outdoor shower is plenty private, yet you can still enjoy the view of the mountains over the top of its cedar gate. For chilly days, there’s an indoor shower as well, inside the rock building/addition to the main adobe. There’s an additional charge of $30 per night for a third guest. There's a patio that's separate from the house, shaded by a raised deck, where you're welcome to throw down a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars or just enjoy the sunset view from a different perspective. Two camp chairs are provided for that purpose. You’ll find them in the closet inside the rock building; just remember to put them away after use, as wind can easily blow them off the deck. There's another building, which began life as a two-stall horse barn, about 250 feet west of the rental (the porch/main windows/views from the rental face east, towards the National Park). It's where I live. I understand, however, that peace and privacy are two of the best things about being at my guest house, and I make certain you have plenty of both. Hope to see you in Terlingua! You have access to the whole 20 acres, the adobe bedroom, the stone addition, the separate deck. The porch, which contains the kitchen area, has a small dining table, and comfortable seating for relaxing with a book or enjoying the view. There’s a twin bed set up in the stone addition to the adobe, to use as needed. That room also contains a sink and clawfoot tub/ shower combo. Showers only please-baths are too much water use on a rain catchment system. There is a separate 8'-high deck that sits apart from the main adobe, nice for stargazing or throwing down a sleeping bag, with a shaded area on the stone patio below. Up on the deck is a great place to be, weather permitting, during any of the meteor showers that occur throughout the year. Also a nice place to just enjoy the Milky Way or mountain view! I don’t leave chairs up there- they blow away (!), but in the closet inside the rock building you’ll find 2 folding camp chairs you’re welcome to take to the deck. Just remember to bring them back down when you’re done. Please, no extra people are allowed on the premises for parties or gatherings other than your own group, without asking first. Sorry, no pets. When Brewster County is under a burn ban, use of the rock fire ring is not allowed, but with instruction, I occasionally allow folks to enjoy a fire in the chiminea. Just please ask first. No fires allowed at all in the indoor fireplace at this time. I'm available to address any needs and questions my guests may have, but unless they initiate fellowship, I give folks plenty of space and privacy. I've met some wonderful people who have stayed with me, but understand that everyone is different and some are more interested in friendly interaction than others. I've lived in Big Bend 39 years and am happy to share my knowledge of the place, the outfitters and activities here, some of the best hikes to do, etc. Feel free to ask! There are also a few chores I do around the place, such as watering plants and checking on your drinking water supply, that I take care of as unobtrusively as possible - generally when you are out and about enjoying your day. Some things I love about my 'neighborhood' are the view! And the quiet! And the proximity to area attractions... I also consider the folks across the Rio Grande to be my neighbors and friends, and if you are so inclined and have a passport, it can be a wonderful experience to cross over (by rowboat) into the village of Boquillas, Coahuilla, Mexico. Located across the river from Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park. I mention it here so that if this interests you, you'll know to bring your passport. There is no taxi sevice or public transit in Terlingua. I feed the birds here in the winter and early spring months, and you're likely to see a variety of feathered locals at the feeder, especially in the spring. Scaled quail come in, as do Scott's orioles and Mexican cardinals. It's common to hear the coyotes singing in the evening or early morning. There are also several great horned owls that hoot in the early hours of the morning, mostly during the warmer months. A note on the Leapin’ Lizard’s resident dogs; I have a young heeler named Ruby, and Ruby is a social animal! She loves everybody and can be pretty enthusiastic about meeting new friends. Please do not give them any leftovers or treats! Ruby’s a professional beggar. She also loves belly rubs. If you have allergies to dogs or are just uncomfortable with them, my guest house may not be the best choice for you, as they spend much of their time outside and it’s difficult to keep them from visiting. Also, as you come and go from the property, please drive slowly and be aware Ruby may run out to meet or follow your vehicle. Thank you!