Ghost Town Casitas -- Stay Minutes from Big Bend Natl Park

We booked through the website and were thrilled that there were less fees than booking through Airbnb and VRBO, as the website said that “The advantage of booking directly from our site is you’re just paying for the room and a one-time cleaning fee.” On our way to Terlingua, we reached out to get the check-in information, as it hadn’t shown up in our texts or emails yet. The property manager sent us a link to a website to check in, and in doing so, we were prompted to pay either a $1000 refundable security deposit, or a non-refundable $65 security deposit. Now, were able to afford the $1000 deposit, but a lot of people wouldn’t be able to and would have to pay then non-refundable $65 deposit. It is absolutely despicable to pull a bait-and-switch like that. It’s a textbook example of false advertising, and this place will not be getting my business again. The accommodations were nice enough, I’ve been staying in terlingua for years and part of the charm is not knowing what to expect. The biggest issues I had were things that could easily be fixed, and poor customer service. Here’s a quick list: 1. The restroom has no ventilation and smells like feces. The fan inside doesn’t work. It’s like a sauna during the day. It wouldn’t take much to improve this. 2. There was a cool lantern inside to use when sitting outside at night, but it was dead and the charger was nowhere to be found. We texted the property manager, and never received another charger before we left, or really any information about it. 3. In general, the property manager was nowhere to be found. We didn’t have any major issues, just the lantern, but every time messaged them it took 6-8 hours to hear back. They said the charger should be in the room, we told them it wasn’t, and we never heard back from them. It would have been nice to have, as there isn’t much light outside. Overall, the place isn’t bad, but I really don’t like the company, as they employ false advertising and bait and switch tactics. The customer service is bad too.

(this review is of the Ghost House) This is a really unique little house right in the middle of Terlingua, which is a neat location to stay if you want a well-placed access point to the wide and vast Big Bend (State & National Parks). It’s cute, it’s cool, it’s convenient. We chose it over more distant locations on the recommendation of a local and many positive reviews. However, if you’re after a remote, idyllic, and more-than-you-bargained for stay, this may not be quite what you’re looking for. With respect to our kind and very responsive host, here are some notes we had from our stay: 1) the one-way mirror technology only goes so far. There are times that looking out during the day or looking in during the night are valuable. But not only is it important to note that you do need to treat it like a normal window at night, the view outside at night is pretty foggy and not ideal for any stargazing, if you want that. 2) it’s really quite close to everything else. You won’t have the feeling of privacy, even if the town lives up to its “ghost town” designation. 3) when you sign up, you’ll be given the option to pay an $1000 deposit or a $45 waiver. This is still confusing to us, but we paid $45 and were on our way. This could be a bit better explained! 4) the house is quite small. We made do & it’s not exactly a tiny house. But be prepared to be in very close quarters with your companion(s). 5) cleanliness was not totally perfect (balls of hair on the ground, odd smells by bed/fridge) and when a resource or two ran out our request for refill was acknowledged but not fulfilled. I don’t think any of these things will make for a decisive negative experience if you have them. But they are aspects of our stay worth noting. As you can see, none of these things are all that problematic. It’s just that sometimes you get more than you expect, & sometimes you get less. This is a little less – its chief advantages are novelty and convenience. But it IS cute and cool and comfy, especially the bed. If you are not nitpicky – and do not mind a trio of ravens who visit daily to check themselves out and peck at the foundation (we liked this) – you’ll be happy. Thanks again to our hosts! These notes are given with respect and in the spirit of honesty!

Tried to add separate review for separate room stay but can’t figure that out! Stayed our last night in Desert Pearl. Airstream-like trailer with comfy bed, roomier than expected, and nice coffee bar setup with sink, refrigerator, mini microwave, coffee maker and french press for coffee also. Both this room and the Ghost House have a bag of ground coffee available for french press and have a small Keurig. Bathroom is private but for the Desert Pearl is in an outbuilding next to the trailer. Easy to get to and not a problem. Has a heater inside and good shower. There’s an outdoor shower also, but given the cold temps that was not an option. Great night sky views. Note that it’s very dark outside if you arrive for your accommodations after sunset, but that makes stargazing great. Pearl even has a small telescope for you to take outside and use. Very pleased with our stay at Ghost House for 2 nights and last night at Desert Pearl.

A fabulous stay! We brought our 3 kids (all 7 and under) to the Casitas and it was perfect. We booked the 2 casitas other than the Airstream. We walked everywhere in Terlingua—multiple restaurants, the mines, the historic cemetery, and the shops. Big Bend is minutes away, and at the end of a long day of hiking, the shower options in the 2 casitas were great. And at night, the fire pits made for great places to roast s’mores and hang out. Also worth noting that the host is one of the best we’ve ever had. We will be back!

Beautiful room in a perfect location close to coffee, food, and the park. Casa Piedra at Ghost Town Casitas was the perfect cozy retreat after a warm day out in Big Bend. The shower is a dream! We enjoyed the adirondack chairs around the fire pit and the gorgeous dark skies. The host was responsive answering all our questions quickly and even went out of the way to return a forgotten personal item after we had left Terlingua. Highly recommend Ghost Town Casitas and would stay again!

We had the opportunity to stay in Casa Piedra and the Desert Pearl for a few days during our trip to Big Bend and loved it. The Desert Pearl is such a fun experience! The trailer is clean, nicely decorated, and surprisingly spacious. The landscaping is well done, the outside shower is great after a long day of roaming the desert, and the deck with sunshade is perfect for sitting back and soaking in the landscape. Casa Piedra makes you feel transported to a desert spa retreat. It has a traditional adobe appearance with great desert landscaping on the outside. The room has a calm and relaxing aesthetic with a large adjoining bathroom, and the outside shower was a great bonus. The property manager was helpful with our reservation, was available to help/answer questions, and went the extra mile to make our visit special. No complaints, you can't go wrong with the Ghost Town Casitas!

Staying at the Casita in Terlingua Ghost Town was an unforgettable experience. This compact space was surprisingly comfortable and meticulously clean. The location is truly one-of-a-kind, offering incredible stargazing opportunities right outside your door. The host was exceptionally friendly and quick to answer any questions we had. We were also thrilled to find a Tesla charging port on site, which made our trip even more convenient. If you're looking for a unique and memorable stay near Big Bend, the Casita is the perfect choice.

I really loved staying at Ghost Town Casitas, it was extremely peaceful yet still within walking distance of the restaurants in the town. During my first trip, I stayed in Desert Pearl and hung out on the deck at night to look at the stars and it was simply beautiful. Desert Pearl was clean and cozy. I loved the decor inside. I later revisited Terlingua and Desert Pearl was not available this time, I ended up booking Casa Piedra. This was also a really great experience. Slightly larger accommodation, but best of all was the indoor and outdoor shower. Loved it and would totally go back!