9 Things to Know Before Working on the Border of Mexico near Big Bend National Park
Ever wonder what life is like on the border or Mexico? This post is all about our experience working seasonally at Lajitas Golf Resort including housing, food, things to do, and what life is like in one of the most remote destinations.
After spending 3 months road tripping through Florida, Georgia, & the Smokies, we started to head West to what we were hoping was our first job on the road. It was early January so we were looking to stay south in warmer weather and it just so happens that the best time to visit the desert in Southwest Texas is in the cooler months.
So, Mike & I got on cool works, sent in our applications for Bartender and Massage Therapist at Lajitas Golf Resort and hoped for the best. Within a couple weeks we got a call and started heading to the most remote area we’ve ever been.
If you don’t know where Lajitas is, let me tell you this is no ordinary resort. To get to Lajitas from any big city in Texas takes hours of driving in what feels like the middle of no where. There are no street lights, or big grocery stores, in fact it’s 2.5 hours to the nearest Walmart. But probably the most unique thing about Lajitas is that sits right on the border or Mexico surrounded by protected land.
ABOUT LAJITAS GOLF RESORT
Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa is a destination location located in Lajitas Texas. It’s situated along the Rio Grande River in-between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The resort features a small boutique spa, theater, bakery, restaurant, & saloon. As well as plenty of outdoor adventures including horse back riding, zip lining, hiking, and of course golf. The resort offers seasonal and full time jobs making it a great spot to explore and also earn some cash.
WHERE IS LAJITAS?
Lajitas is located next to one of America’s most remote national parks so a little extra effort is needed when planning a trip here. The closest commercial airport is in Midland/Odessa which is 200 miles away from Lajitas. The most accessible airport is El Paso International which is 300 miles from Lajitas. It’s recommended that if you are flying in from out of state that you fly into El Paso and drive the rest of the way. If you do happen to have your own airplane, Lajitas does a small airstrip to fly into.
El Paso - 300 miles or 4.5 Hours
San Antonio - 400 miles or 6 Hours
Houston - 600 miles or 9 Hours
Austin - 430 miles or 7 Hours
Dallas/ Fort Worth - 530 miles or 8 Hours
#1. WEATHER AT LAJITAS
If you’re considering working at Lajitas Golf Resort we think the best time is Fall through Spring when the weather is the most ideal. Winters are the time to be there, the nights are cold and the days are sunny in the 70’s. Spring is extremely windy. For the entire month of March wind speeds were easily 20+ mph. The summers are HOT with temperatures hitting over 100 degrees by May.
#2. ELECTRICITY ISSUES
We encountered a handlful of power outages during our 5 months at Lajitas. Power is supplied by Rio Grande Electric which covers a large portion of the Southwest Texas area. We watched the volts from our surge protector and they were consistently low during the hotter months with the power flickering many times during the day. The longest the power was out was for 12 to 14 hours. Luckily, we had our own generator so we were able to have some power. During our time working at Lajitas, the resort only had a generator for the restaurant which did make it challenging for guests not having AC in their rooms.
#3. HOUSING
There are a handful of housing options while working at Lajitas including studios, apartments, houses, RV efficiencies, & RV spots. Mike & I chose to stay on a plot of land a couple miles away, owned by the resort. There was one other RV with us but we were alone most of the time while we were out there. It was the most quiet and calm we’ve ever experienced.
#4. FOOD AVAILABILITY
Getting food is a little different out in the desert. Lajitas has a small general store with wine, beer, basic essential like bandaids, alcohol etc, and a very small selection of produce and frozen items. Cottonwood General Store is located in the small town of Terlingua which is about a 15 minute drive. It’s a pretty awesome General Store for being so remote. They have almost anything you need with a handful of treats like kombucha, ice cream, dips & sauces, and some fresh produce.
We also signed up with MisfitsMarket and got a weekly box of organic produce, which we loved. We also ordered a lot of dry goods on amazon and UPS delivered right to our door. Another option that lot of people do is take the 1.5 hour drive to Alpine to go to Porters which is an actual grocery store.
#5. THE NIGHT SKY
The night sky at Lajitas might be the darkest sky you’ve ever seen. The whole area is a designated International Dark Sky Park allowing you to see more stars than imaginable. When the moon is out it lights up everything like having a night light.
#6. BEING BY THE BORDER OF MEXICO
Being so close to Mexico you might be wondering if any weirdness happens. The truth is we never saw any sketchy things going on. Border Patrol does drive around and there is a cop at lives on property. There is also a settlement across the border in Mexico that you can see but nothing ever happened. We felt very safe being out there.
#7. SHOPPING
Shopping is a little different out at Lajitas. There is only your basic stores for essential items and that’s about it. About 1.5 hours from Lajitas is the town of Alpine which is much busier compared to Lajitas, but still very small, no Walmarts or Targets.
#8. PLANT & ANIMAL LIFE
If you've never been to the desert you might think there’s no life out here but you’d be pleasantly surprised to find that there are TONS of plant and animal life out at Lajitas. From jack rabbits, to coyotes, to javalinas, to prickly pear cactus and my favorite, the ocotillo, there is so. much beauty in the desert.
#9. THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA
TERLINGUA / STUDY BUTTE
Terlingua is an old mining town located 15 minutes from Lajitas Resort offering a variety of lodging, river tours, and rv parks. A few popular places to pick up food are the Cottonwood General Store, Starlight Cafe, High Sierra Bar & Grill, DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ, Taqueria el Milagro and Espresso Y Poco Mas.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Big Bend National Park Travel Guides
Big Bend National Park is an absolute gem. This park knows diversity from its 1,500 foot canyon walls, natural hot springs, ancient volcanic rock, and look over into Mexico at the Rio Grande River. From hiking to Emory Peak to rafting the Rio Grande, there are plenty of adventures to be had in Big Bend.
BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK
Travel Guide | Texas Roadtrip: Visiting the Remote Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park is Texas’ largest and most remote state park. It’s located right next door to the popular Big Bend National Park along the U.S / Mexico border in Southwest Texas. With over 200 miles of multiuse trails, 70 miles of 4x4 off roading, and 23 miles of the Rio Grande River there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy.
MARFA
Travel Guide | 10 Hidden Gems In West Texas Worth Visiting
Marfa is a small desert town known for its minimalist art. Popular spots to visit are the Chinati Foundation which has indoor and outdoor art installments on an old army base. And the Ballroom Marfa Arts center that hosts different exhibits, concerts, and the Marfa Myths Cultural Festival. Grab a coffee at Frama Coffee Shop and explore all that Marfa has to offer. If you’re into art and then you MUST stop in the cute town of Marfa.
ALPINE
Alpine is a small mountain town located at the base of Big Bend National Park. It’s downtown location makes it a great place to walk around and explore all the delightful art studios, restaurants, and shops Alpine has to offer. Grab a coffee at Cedar Coffee Supply and check out the popular street art.
FORT DAVIS
Fort Davis is a small historical town known as one of the best surviving examples of a U.S Army Fort in the southwestern U.S. Its home to 24 restored historic buildings and over 100 ruins and foundations. Also located in Fort Davis is the Davis Mountains State Park which is an awesome spot to go camping or hiking.
MARATHON
Marathon is known as the Gateway to Big Bend National Park and located only 40 minutes from the north entrance to the park. The most popular place to stay is the Gage Hotel a 19th century upscale Colonial Mansion located right off the main downtown strip.
Let us know if you’ve ever been to Lajitas or Big Bend National Park in the comments below!
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HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
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