Our Mining Heritage

Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute has a mining heritage exhibit near the Visitor Center.

Volunteers are erecting interesting exhibits using retired mining equipment, ores mined in the Chihuahuan Desert, interpretive displays and historic photographs. Some of the artifacts were used in the locally filmed movie, "There Will Be Blood," starring Daniel Day Lewis.

For updates on the mining exhibit, visit the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute's website.

Movie Stars

This photo of Jack Hoxie is on display at the Overland Trail Museum in Fort Davis. Hoxie was a silent film star who tried to develop a movie studio at the old Fort, now the Fort Davis National Historic Site.

The Museum of the Big Bend has a video exhibit of the filmmaking tradition in the region--many films have been made here, including recent Oscar winners, "There Will Be Blood," and "No Country for Old Men."

In the coming months, we'll be developing content for our Texas Mountain Trail website about the movies of the region. For now, please visit our "Movie Traveler: Kevin Costner Fandango Tour!"

For information on visiting the Overland Trail Museum in Fort Davis, click here. Nestled in the shadow of Sleeping Lion Mountain, the museum tells the story of early life in Jeff Davis County.

Shopping for the Ranch

Visitors to Alpine can rub shoulders with ranch owners and cowboys at the Big Bend Saddlery. Since 1905, the business has provided the Big Bend area with saddles and leathergoods, hats and other necessary items for ranch life.

Connect with Big Bend Saddlery here.

For Alpine's Visitor Center website, click here.

For a list of Alpine attractions on our Texas Mountain Trail website, click here!

An Artist's Home

Visitors from around the world flock to Marfa to see Donald Judd's home, work and Chinati Foundation. (This is a view the tour of Judd's home compound and courtyard.)

If you're a fan of minimalist art, you already know about Chinati..possibly the best place to view the work of Judd, Dan Flavin, John Chamberlain and others.

For information on Marfa, visit here and here.

For information on the Chinati Foundation, click here.

Fall Beauty

The brilliant blossoms of a Red Fairy Duster grace the El Paso Desert Botanical Garden at Keystone Heritage Park.

For a list of all the Mountain Desert Nature Centers in the region, including Keystone, click here!

Ernst Tinaja Trail in Big Bend National Park

A rare shady place along the Ernst Tinaja Trail!

This is one of several backcountry hikes you can take in Big Bend National Park.

The trail is short--just 1.4 miles--but it is difficult to get there. From the entrance of the high clearance 4-wheel drive-only Old Ore Road near Rio Grande Village, the trailhead is a wild five mile drive.

For more info on hiking in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Museum of the Big Bend

If you're looking for a great introduction to the region, your best bet is the Museum of the Big Bend on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Video and interactive displays tell visitors about the geology, geography, archaeology, history and culture of this fascinating and beautiful part of Texas!