Thunderbird Hotel

From the exterior a very cute well designed motel turned boutique like accommodation. Beautiful xeriscapes inside the courtyard and nice Los Poblanos body care. Linens and towels were very clean and beds were comfy. These were the pros. The cons: location. There is no place to walk or stroll outside of the complex, as it is in a post apocalyptic type of hood. So not great for dogs. It close enough to escape to some nicer places. Walls are paper thin but they provide ear plugs. White noise would have been great as the AC unit doesn’t provide much noise. They can use some more paint, a nicer floor in the bathroom to make it look like you would want to step on it barefoot and perhaps a nicer bath. It’s a good place to crash if you don’t expect to spend much time there. I think it was fine and glad I stayed but probably would have chosen to stay elsewhere.

The room was decorated in a way that I liked. Like the turquoise refrigerator and the quality radio, ||We heard a lot of loud talking from a room near us, but they got quiet around 11 pm.||The bathtub was extremely slippery and is dangerous. It had some star-shaped anti-skid stickers, but they were too old and too few to be effective.

We traveled with several couples for a 50th birthday. The common areas were perfect for us to congregate and visit. Everybody loved our hotel choice and the management was great. The only thing I will mention is there is only a French press for coffee in your room so we opted to go out for coffee each day and there are no TV’s in the rooms but there is one in one common area room they have set up.

We loved the thunderbird, and would recommend to friends and family coming to Marfa! Location was convenient, and the price was right for the value. Beds and pillows were the comfiest we’ve seen at a hotel in a long time! The rooms were modest but clean, and had everything you needed.

This motel is cute, in a good location, and has a lovely pool. There is also--recently--a great food truck parked out back and open late. The A/C is strong and reliable. However, the lumpy mattress and scratchy sheets make paying $175/night ridiculously steep for what is, in fact, a motel.

The mid-century complex had been restyled in a handsome minimalist manner with white walls, and sparsely furnished with modernist chairs, beds, fixtures and concrete floors. Think RISD and Design Within Reach meet 1960 Holiday Inn. The jungle landscaping was fantastic, with vines and tall grasses everywhere. ||However, it is minimally staffed. If you meet someone in the office (across the street) upon arrival, you will be lucky. Communication with the office is essentially through a bunch of texts. ||It was not quite the Zen, no-TV getaway it appears in its material. You could easily hear voices through the walls at night until the lights went out at 11pm or so. Bring a good book and, perhaps, earplugs.||The pool was filled with leaves and dirt, but nobody on staff was there to clean it, even though there had been a major wind storm the day before. So I spent 90 minutes of my own time skimming it on Saturday afternoon. It bothered me to have such a nice pool in the middle of a beautiful garden absolutely unswimmable for everyone. I met a couple of very cool and very grateful guests while doing that, which turned out to be a lot of fun. Later the next day, I did finally see a staff member cleaning it. ||All in all, the stay was okay, but not wonderful. It was not inexpensive at $333 for two nights, but, for Marfa, I guess that's to be expected. I would stay there again, but with fewer expectations.

We enjoyed our stay very much and felt that we received great value for the money compared to other hotels in the area. The staff were friendly and helpful, and our check-in was easy. The pool was surprisingly very cool and refreshing, even though we visited when temperatures reached 90s during the afternoon. The AC kept the room cool and made very little noise. I had to unplug the clock radio because it made a high pitched noise, but we found the room to be quiet enough to sleep and enjoy our stay with few interruptions. The train tracks are very close to the rooms, and the horn blows several times as it passes, but it only woke me once at about 6:15 AM.

The outdoor oasis was a very nice way to enter the property. The rooms were solid and the overall value was great! Bed was comfortable, AC worked good, coffee amenity was great and in general a solid stay. The towels were not great but good and the simplicity of the hotel room was appreciated.

The rooms are simple but very nice. Concrete floors are great. They're nice and cool to offset the desert heat. Don't expect room service or fancy things. Its charm comes with its simplicity. The wireless was great and the water pressure was wonderful in the shower. There are other hotels in town. A couple of fancy ones, but I think if I were to come back to Marfa, I'd choose to stay here again.

This hotel is super basic. I wish the cost was just as basic but unfortunately it isn't. I've never been to a hotel/motel without a TV! I guess they want you to unwind and do something else? Not too sure what the concept of that is. In fact, a lot of hotels/motels in Marfa don't have TVs in their room. There's always your computer and phone I guess. Anyway... This room had a radio and a refrigerator (which I appreciated). Another thing I didn't like was the hard mattress! Ouch! I was sort of missing my plush mattress at home. It's all good since we only stayed one night here. The floors are concrete and there's a small area rug. I don't think I'll come back. It felt like I was staying in my college dorm room from decades ago...a blast from the past. If you want to stay at a luxurious place run because this isn't it. If you want to stay for one or two nights, this place serves its purpose. There's an outdoor pool. There's a coffee maker and hair dryer in the room as well.

The motel is has a good exterior decoration and minimalist rooms. The room rate was fairly reasonable and is walkable to downtown. Now for the cons: 1) Lack of available options for any amenities (including basics like water and ice) 2) Minimal staff availability 3) Very thin walls 4) Unlocked lock box for key pick and drop off - dropped off two keys in the unlocked dropbox in the AM and was charged for a "missing" key. All things considered worth paying a bit more to stay somewhere with more reputable management.

Great price and great place to stay! We got lucky and landed a room here after deciding at the last minute to come to Marfa. The room was so cute and had everything we needed. The products included were something you'd expect to find at a luxury hotel. The office to check-in is across the street where they also sell souvenirs and have maps of the ton. The customer service at check-in was completely awesome! There's an adorable post card included with the room as well. I'll definitely recommend this property if you're heading to Marfa but book early because things sell out in this small town fast!

I only got to stay here for one night, but it was just what I needed. The Thunderbird is modern, western, and minimalist - just like Marfa (ok, maybe minus the "modern"). The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was nice, and the room was dog-friendly, for a $50 fee. A lot of folks had brought their dogs the night we stayed there. The grounds are really well maintained and the hotel is right across the street from the Capri, with good cocktails and fancy food, and down the street from several more bars and a taco place. If you're in Marfa, you're probably there to unplug, so there aren't any TVs in the room. There are, however, bikes to rent and a nice pool that is nicely maintained. The wifi worked great when I was there. Personally, if you're staying in Marfa, the Thunderbird is a pretty great choice.

MANAGEMENT IS TERRIBLE! Musty smell and paper thin walls. One star only because zero is not an option. Rudest management I've encountered anywhere. Basically a terrible motel that hugely up-charges for hipster vibes.

The thunderbird hotel was exactly what we needed while driving across the southwest. It was a delightful desert oasis after a long days drive. The courtyard was beautiful and serene and the beds were so, so comfortable. The rooms had everything we needed. Though, there is no tv or coffee machine. There is a great coffee house down the road called "Do Your Thing". Toast and coffee there were amazing The hotel room was beautifully simple and the shower was hot. The lavender soaps were a bonus! If you require much more than simple amenities and aesthetic, I'm not sure you'd fully appreciate the space. This hotel would be perfect for a group of friends, romantic getaway, or quick night of sleep before hitting the road again. We grabbed a bite and cocktail at Capri, across the street. Though the waitstaff was a bit slow, the food, cocktails, and space were absolutely worth it.

I have to give this place one star. No fridge No coffee machine No phone And suuuuuper slow wifi When the Thunderbird first opened, at least 10 years ago, slow wifi would have been acceptable. But now that the DQ has wifi that's probably faster, this motel needs to step up their game. Especially if they are going to charge the prices that they do. It was about 160$/night we paid. I feel ripped off. The tub drained slowly. At the end of my shower, I was standing in water up to my shins. Paint is coming off the floor. There is rust on the window sill. There was hair all over the floor from the last guest. When they cleaned our room they forgot to empty the trash can. The day bed that I slept on was hard and sagged in the middle. It was so uncomfortable and the blanket so useless that I got my camping pad and sleeping bag from my truck to sleep on. The window in the bathroom doesn't open so there is no cross draft. After a shower the whole room is steamy. This place calls itself a hotel, but it's a motel...as in I can tell that they need to do a lot mo' than they do now. I've been visiting Marfa for 15 years and this place is definitely not keeping up with the rest of town. They should be embarrassed with how low quality this place is. And it's a pity. The garden area is quite nice.

I have always loved West Texas and was delighted recently to be able to introduce it to a dear friend. The exception to delight would be Marfa, and especially the Thunderbird Hotel. I was very intentional about where I had reserved our two night stay in Marfa, wanting my friend to experience the clean, modern desert sensibility of the town that I knew he would love. When we arrived, we attempted to go to several restaurants, all closed (despite listings on Yelp, Google, Trip Advisor that they were open). We started calling around, and found no restaurants that answered their phones. The city information page had no info. We wound up eating at Dairy Queen. Afterwards, we discovered that EVERYTHING was closed due to the pandemic, all the outdoor Chinati Foundation works as well as the galleries. Disappointed, we explored elsewhere for the day and arrived back in Marfa at 9:30pm. I had called ahead and was told that our keys would be waiting in the across-the-street office box, and they were. They were the only keys in the box. We gathered up our belongings and headed up to our room. I tried first one key and then the other, but neither opened our room. I called the number and the woman who answered told me to go back to the office and that someone would bring new keys. I didn't really feel like walking back across the main thoroughfare, deserted as it was to fetch new keys, so I asked that the keys be brought to us. She argued that this was not possible because of COVID restrictions, but I insisted. We both wear masks religiously, and this was their mistake. While waiting I looked into the windows of 3 adjacent rooms. They were all unoccupied. Eventually we saw a young man pull up to the office in a car, go inside, then drive across the street and come up to our room. He tried one key and then the other, affirming afterwards that I was correct and the keys did not work. He then informed us that there was nothing else he could do. Words ensued. I was quite tired and upset. I had made these reservations months ago. There were other open rooms. How could it be that no one could get us into our room or give us an alternate room? The young man shrugged. He clearly had no authority to resolve anything. At this point, I kind of lost it. I had been a long, trying day in a locked-down region and we had encountered a lot of surly people. HOW COULD IT BE THAT A HOTEL WOULD REFUSE TO COME AND UNOCK THE DOOR FOR A GUEST WHOSE CREDIT CARD HAD ALREADY BEEN CHARGED AT 9:45PM WHEN THERE WERE OTHER ROOMS AVAILABLE? They couldn't be bothered to get off their couch?!? My friend took over and managed to get us 2 nights at the Paisano (at a higher rate because last minute, 2 nights in same room, etc) -The Paisano was absolutely NOT the vibe I had wanted - but it seemed that since the management at the Thunderbird was not going to honor our reservation and payment, we had little choice. I had scoped out the Thunderbird on previous trips when I had stayed at AirB&Bs, and it really did seem like a lovely little desert oasis with pretty xeriscaping and a modern yet welcoming vibe. Let's just say that looks were extremely deceiving. AVOID if you want an establishment where your reservation is honored and issues are promptly cleared up my the management.

Love staying here every time we come to Marfa for a break from our regularly scheduled programming. The rooms are spacious with comfy beds, the pool is crystal clear and set within a gorgeous and lush patio. And their COVID measures and precautions are stellar! What more could you want? Also, special shout out to Arleen who always has a tool for whatever situation arises and doles our service with a wry smile. Thanks Arleen!

Their website is misleading. We got there at 6:00pm. No one was there at reception. The bar and restaurant they advertise on the website were closed. Felt dead, creepy, depressing. No parking lot. Unresponsive management. The room was spare, cold, and sterile. Save your money, go to the St. George instead.

I have been contacting this hotel, that markets itself with an "event space" called Capri Events, for 2 months. When I finally got an email, it was automated with non functioning links. I called the hotel, and whoever answered said they handled the events. When I asked for information, the person on the phone continuously talked poorly about their space and their abilities. He kept saying "it isn't fancy or nice". I asked if there were photos of the event space, as I am from out of town. The gentleman said "I mean I can take some photos." When I asked about pricing I was told he would have to check with the owner. I asked, do you not have standard pricing or anything written down to send people when they fill out your "Event Form" on your website? He said no, I usually get with the owner when someone tells me their needs and we can get back with pricing. Very sad that this really unique space thinks so poorly of themselves. We aren't "fancy" and are specifically looking for a more rustic, small down space for our event. Thats WHY we are looking in Marfa. I hope they can get their act together and really showcase themselves better. Maybe have someone answering phones who is proud to be there? And maybe have your event page on your website monitored and accurate?

Such a well done mid century modern styled motel in Marfa. The rooms were very clean and beautifully decorated. Great location and great pool. Not a bad price either. No TVs in the room and I thought that was great. Front desk was incredibly helpful. This is a great stay for a few nights in Marfa!

Nice, clean layout and design. It's the little brother of the Hotel San Jose in Austin. Simple and quiet. Comfy bed. Good choice for the price. We had a pretty enjoyable stay with a few minor issues: Wi-Fi was really slow (no TV and virtually no AT&T cell service so they really need a decent net connection) The wall thermostat was powered but not actually connected to the heater. I didn't realize this until being very cold the next am. The heat / AC unit has manual controls under its front cover (old school is ok....just don't fool me with a new thermostat on the wall that I set before going to sleep). Bedside clock showed some random time. Shower diverter didn't work well. Weak shower head pressure. The Capri bartender / front desk / reception guy was playing some moderate volume hip-hop. F*** and the N-word was being thrown around a bunch. Un-cool. We might stay there again or try one of the classic hotels downtown next time.

Marfa, Texas is the place hipsters unite to take a break from their urban blues and Thunderbird is no exception. The hotel is a nice break from the norm within reason. It is minimalist but efficient. All of the basic amenities are provided (tube TV, cable, remote AC, hair dryer). Thunderbird features bath products from Malin + Goetz, and has free WiFi (I brought my laptop). The pool is small but inviting on hot summer afternoons. The town is small enough to grab one of the on-site bikes and ride around. They offer other hipster perks-rent a record player/records, camera etc... check out the website for details. We did have a problem with our reservation. I initially made it a month in advance but, when I called a week before to confirm it wasn't in the books. The staff happily placed it during the "confirmation" phone call. We stayed for 2 nights with our dog (+pet fee) and had no problem with the staff or the room. Please do not stay at the Thunderbird if you expect 5 star treatment. It is not upscale. This is a BASIC hotel/motel in the middle of west Texas and provides a decent (little overpriced) place to stay. It is a good "small business" to patronize and break from the giant chain hotels (see Alpine or Van Horn for a Hampton or Ramada).

PROS: - it's got the hipster vibe brown pat - shower products are on point - nice location (easy to find off the highway) - Capri lounge/check in desk staffed by friendly Marfa resident - I have to go back to the vibe...the decor and layout was just what you'd want in a road side motel that's been updated for out-of-town hipster hunters (Navaho blankets, cow rug, white pine furniture, no tv, ability to rent a typewriter...I could go on) - quiet for the time of year (NYE is a big draw for Marfa for some reason?) - wifi speed was fine... no idea what other reviewers are commenting on CONS: - check-in could be confusing if you don't read signs - 8am coffee and tea opening not early enough for early risers like us All in all, our stay in Marfa at the Thunderbird was nice, everything we'd hope it would be.

Place is almost identical to The Presidio Motel in Santa Barbara, CA... ref (http://www.yelp.com/biz/presidio-motel-santa-barbara#hrid:5mMQcREhZDIMI5eHPMziOw/src:self) You can also RENT bikes here... where as at the Presidio they are free... That said, this is a great place to stay... Attention to detail - it's everywhere! The soap, and shampoo, even the towels! are all awesome. Smells really good! Cool artwork / paintings in the room! I would like to see a hi-def TV in the rooms though.. I would def stay here again.

This motel is over priced. Rooms are tiny, thin walls, nothing is open past 10 pm, no iron in room (you have to ask for one), coffee pot isn't just a regular pot but I guess a press, no tv, this place is too "trendy", not worth $200 a night

My family has been longtime members of this community. They own the property where Freda is rented. I inquired if this property could host a celebration of life for us as my grandma died in December. Firstly, the gentleman who first made contact with me was exceptionally nice. I couldn't speak at the time as I work a job that doesn't allow me to talk whenever. I let him know I would touch base when I could as I was quite interested in the property. When I contacted the same number, I was met with a berating, seemingly inebriated male that claimed they didn't host private events. I called back again and was greeted with a seemingly nice woman, but she told me to look at pictures of the property and she would let someone else know I had questions. Meanwhile, I could hear the same rude, drunk/ high man in the background. As someone who spent her summers in Marfa, I will make sure anyone wanting recommendations will NEVER stay at this poorly run property.

Dying to leave a review for my third or fourth stay at Thunderbird. Nice place, but sad to see the place come down a bit. I thought the hipster vibe with clever touches were innovative and cool, but now some ideas are ill-conceived and well, just ridiculous. (There are no TVs, yet there are typewriters and turntables for rent.) There are dated sound docks that only adapt to old Apple devices. There is no radio. But there is wifi. The room itself is happening and fairly comfortable at first glance, but a few flaws. Overall, I do like, but there is not much attention to detail. The bathroom is nicely designed and attractive, but has a swinging door, which is a bit impractical. Nice cotton towels and plenty of them. Subtract points though, for a very slippery bathtub and barely lukewarm shower. Turn up that water heater just a bit!! Breakfast there is just pathetic and not worthy of their price tag. During our stay granola was served, a lonely loaf of bread, small cartons of milk and coffee. No tea, juice, muffins, fruit. This is a real negative mark in Thunderbird's profile. Just serve nothing and you'll come off much better! But seriously, what does it take to prepare a bowl of fruit and few muffins? The staff was charming and accommodating (hard selling the lobby merchandise a bit too obviously for me), but friendly and upbeat, so add a half star for that!

This hotel is so cute! loved the rooms & the garden/swimming area is gorgeous. The owners were very attentive & made sure our stay was great. Hopefully we add this into our motorcycle trip as a place to stay every year.

Family of 4 stayed here one night, on our way out of Big Bend. We arrived on a Monday night at 6pm. Entire town was dark. Thankfully my brother had stayed here a year ago and told me to pick up key at the Lounge across the street. Well the Lounge was closed, so was the hotel office. But there was a sign that said pick up key in the mailbox to the left of the door. And there it was. Tight security here. They had set up a rollaway cot, per my request. Hurray! Room is simple and roomy. Beds are foam mattresses - sort of "IKEA-ish". Shower was hot - for all 4 of us. Felt great to wash away a little Big Bend dirt! There is a cool pool, but it's a little cold to swim. No coffee in room so off we go in search of a cup of java in this sleepy town. Would stay here again.

I stayed three nights a coupla weeks ago. I travel alot domestically as well as internationally and can vouch that the ambience, friendliness of the staff as well as the accomodations are all top notch. The Thunderbird isn't for everyone, if you want, or think, you need a five star hotel--which are expensive/generic anyhow, you might want to go to Dallas or Houston or --shudder, cause it was once a beautiful city--Austin. The Thunderbird would cost three times as much if it were located in one of those cities and it'd be full all the time. Sure it's "minimal" but it's well-done cool and even has a train come by twice a day, adding to that original ambience. Truth be told, I can't wait to get back. It'll only get better, as the owners are committed to making it one of the best in a town full of bests.

One word: Thunderturd. This place thinks cool stationary is more important than, I don't know, competent staff or a pleasant stay. Basically this "hotel" has its own little version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre going: it traps out-of-towners and plays games with them. Read the other reviews. Messing up reservations, getting charges wrong, and staff that is perpetually unavailable or shoddy is expected. I live in New York. You think New York is expensive? The Turd charges New York prices for the following "Marfa-style" amenities, which require translation: -- Blocked shower drain = closest you'll get to an indoor pool. MARFA STYLE. -- Do not confuse them having "24 rooms" with being able to check into your room 24 hours a day. MARFA STYLE. -- The "international art collection" is posters (for shitty bands, like Okkervil River, no hate). MARFA STYLE. -- The "guest lounge" is a derelict rec-room - and without the bar you'll need after the hotel staff has tried your patience. MARFA STYLE. -- The hugeness of the ice machine bears an inverse relationship to its effectiveness (I just used too many words to say even the ice machine doesn't work). Say it with me, one last time: MARFA STYLE. The 'Turd gives you far too little for far too much.

My girlfriend and I were traveling across country in a U-Haul and decided to stop in Marfa. The Thunderbird came recommended so I reserved a $135 room two months in advance and paid half of it ($68) up front. Fair enough. The morning of the day we were scheduled to arrive, we called them from the road to verify the reservation and check-in time. They confirmed that we had a reservation for that evening and that they would be in the office until 9pm. We arrived in Marfa at 8:15pm and found an empty office with no key in the drop-box. I called twice but there was no after-hours answer. The Thunderbird left us high and dry on a twice-confirmed reservation. We made it to the Hotel Paisano just before they closed, and got a room that cost us slightly more than our Thunderbird reservation. The next morning, I went into the Thunderbird office and politely asked them what the f- they were thinking. They told me the reservation was for the next night and that I was wrong. I showed the lady her own email confirming my reservation and she apologized. Fair enough. Mistakes happen, right? After refunding my deposit, the manager came out and asked if she could do anything to make it up to us, such as a free stay. I don't plan to go back to Marfa anytime soon, but I said "Sure" and gave them my address for the gift certificate. Two months later, after never receiving the gift certificate, I called to ask what happened. They apologized and told me they would mail one. I received it today. The certificate is for $75, not a free stay like we were promised, and says, "Hope this makes up for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Hope to see you soon. Good for one year from this date." Pathetic. Perhaps I should call and ask for a credit to the San Jose in Austin instead. I might actually use that one. I won't be going back to the Thunderbird.

Really just not worth it. It's way overpriced for what it is and the historic Paisano hotel right down the street provides a much better experience. Front desk service was rude from start to finish. An overpriced "package" was purchased by my wife, who loves that extra little something to make the experience really special. But a huge markup for a stupid broken old-fashioned typewriter, a disposable kodak camera, and a crappy portable record player was really pointless, in my opinion. I'm not here to write a freaking book with equipment that doesn't work. The A/C was a major problem... very loud, and never cooled the room down. I get it. Some people obviously enjoy the kitsch value of staying in an "authentic" roadside motel court in the desert. This just reminds me of the kind of place I'd stay as a kid if my dad was trying to save money on a vacation. I guess the real thing that got me was this: The rude front desk girl was chatting up her friends at the pool who were hanging out and enjoying the day with their kids. She went back in to the hotel office and some other, very polite local kids came in for a dip to take a break from the unbearable heat. Then some more out-of-towners came in to cool off. Why not? It's probably the only swimming pool around for miles. The front desk girl came back and rudely ordered the young boys to leave immediately. Then she rudely ordered the non-guests to leave, who looked as if they could be potential or previous customers anyway. Then she told US that the pool was only for hotel guests and asked what our room number was. Hey dumb bitch, we've been here for four nights already! Remember? Why is it okay to let her girlfriends hang out but not anyone else? This brings me to a bigger dilemma with the whole Marfa thing: I get that the New York art crowd has taken a shine to this small dot on the map and has begun to build an interesting, if over-hyped, oasis in the desert. I really enjoy the galleries and restaurants that they've brought to Texas. But the disconnect and resulting tension between the art crowd in residence and the local townspeople is so obvious you could cut it with a knife. See "Get Go Market" for an good example. Chances are you'll never see a poverty-stricken local buying a five dollar apple here. We used to have a term for this sort that has fallen out of our modern vocabulary, but could be useful if resurrected: Carpetbaggers! There's a lot of money coming into this town, and none of it seems to be benefitting the locals. Come on, people! I know for a fact that some of you new business owners are now on the Chamber of Commerce. If Marfa is to grow in the right ways, businesses like the Thunderbird and others need to accept the responsibility to help improve a city that they are essentially guests in. Or at least don't be mean to the locals.

This place has great shower pressure. The bed was okay, spring mattress,not sure why everyone loves it so much. Should I assume the water from the faucet was safe for drinking as we were provided fabulous glasses but no drinking water? If this "hotel" marketed as a "motel" (which it is) perhaps my expectations would be exceeded rather than an underwhelming experience for the price. I get the concept, but this place comes off as a little lazy in the hospitality department.

Minimalism at its worst. A recent stay over NYE at the not-so-inexpensive price of $175/night for their "holiday" rate yielded: 1/ Terrible front desk service. Check your bank statement before you leave ladies and gents, because the high school dropouts that manage the checkout system somehow finessed the closing bill of $160 for 2 nights (sans $235 deposit) to a whopping $790 (via 3 separate transactions) which they could not figure out how to delete out of their system. Two hours later, I was forced to leave with a copy of a letter that had been faxed to my bank to negate the transactions. The net result? A week later, they resume charging my card for an additional $391. To date, calls to management go unreturned. 2/ A mistaken reservation. With barely an apology to account for their error, they "accomodated" us with a leftover asylum cot squeezed into a friend's room. 3/ A sad excuse for housekeeping. Apparently the concept of laundering sheets and towels is too overwhelming for their staff to manage, and the unswept concrete floors are reminiscent of a prison cell. 4/ A few ridiculous "amenities" like the broken iPod dock/clock/radio and the little blowdryer that just couldn't. 5/ Want ice? You'll have better luck hitting up the local convenience store, as their ice machine spits 'em out at the thrilling pace of 2 cubes per hour. For a better experience in charming little Marfa, GO ELSEWHERE.

Zen Minimalism Be very sure this hotel/motel is right for you before plopping down your deposit. They have a seven (7) day cancellation policy. Our room had no TV, no coffee pot, not even a chair to sit in, no light bright enough to read by, concrete floor and naked bare walls. There is no paved parking and no walkway to the nondescript entry. It rained while we were there, and the biggest mud puddle of all was right in front of the entrance. $180/night. Note: the motel is on the north side of the highway. The Office is on the south side, and it closes at 5 PM. Pros - nice Zen garden & swimming pool. All very clean. Very nice linens. Comfortable bed though only 18" off the floor. Train is a block away, so not too noisy. Walls are thin, but the management provides 3 sets of ear plugs. Get an upscale drink across the highway at the Capri if they are open. Get breakfast and coffee at Mando's 9 blocks west up the highway.

Overpriced and underpowered. Our little room was 157 clams, including the tax. Low bed. Low table. Low desk. Low chair. My knees hurt just thinking about it. Insufficient soundproofing (if any). Lame breakfast in a crummy setting. Don't stay in Marfa. Stay in Alpine at The Holland.

We stumbled upon the Thunderbird quite by accident on a recent trip to see the mystery lights. We were very impressed by the cool vibe and minimalist appearance of this refurbished 1950s motel. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not live up to the $175 (including tax) price tag. PROS 1. The Malin + Goetz shampoo, conditioner, and lotion were the highlight of our stay. LOVED THEM!! Unfortunately, we had to waste the peppermint shampoo as hand soap since none was provided in the room. 2. The continental breakfast was lovely. No make-your-own Belgian waffles or dispensers of watered down orange juice here. We had fresh empanadas and toast with jam. Also on offer were organic milk, nondairy milk, orange juice, several cereals, fresh-baked bread, and fruit compote. The coffee was delicious. Too bad the atmosphere of the breakfast room was ruined by obnoxious guests who had no clue (or just didn't care) how loud they were being. CONS 1. First of all, this is NOT a hotel--it's a motel. All the rooms open to the outdoors, just like at Motel 6. That's fine for $75, but not for $175. 2. With the motel being fully booked, there was not enough parking. We had to park across the street at the office. 3. The noise. We stayed here on the evening of July 4, so it's understandable that there would be more than the usual amount of commotion. However, I have never encountered ruder, louder, or drunker motel guests. A group of drunken men got locked out of their room sometime after midnight. Their yells for Kate to let them back in lasted for at least five minutes. The party in the parking lot and pool area lasted well past 2am. 4. After the party died down, noise continued to be a problem because the rooms are poorly insulated. There was a half inch space between the front door and the floor, and the walls are very thin. Traffic noise from the highway was quite noticeable by 7am. We were variously woken up by an alarm clock in a neighboring room--which was set to vibrate but still audible to us--and a crowing rooster. 5. You have almost no control over the temperature in your $175 room. You can either leave the AC on and let it follow the preset temperature controls, or you can unplug it. We were hoping to run the fan without the AC simply to drown out the din of noise, but that was not an option. 6. The windows are covered by a thin white shade. There is no way to darken the room if you want to sleep in. Our particular shade was torn and had a white paint stain on it. 7. There was a half inch space between the bathroom door and the adjoining wall. All bathroom sounds were audible to everyone in the room. Not exactly a good way to set the tone for a romantic weekend getaway. 8. Dead animal hide on the floor. Smelly and shedding hair. A single butterfly chair draped with animal skin, most likely cow. Highly offensive, and likely to scare your dog if you're traveling with one. Are hipster and veg*n mutually exclusive categories? 9. Unlike at Motel 6, there is no one on staff at the Thunderbird after 9pm. If money is no object, or you expect very little value for your money, or you equate value with hipster vibe and atmosphere, then by all means stay here. I would stay here again for half the price, but as another reviewer stated, this motel is overpriced and underpowered.

Liz Lambert does pull together properties with a cool vibe. We have stayed at her Austin property, The San Jose and now here we are at The Thunderbird in Marfa. The interior is minimalist, but that is her design style for this type of property. My two star rating is for the PAPER-THIN WALLS I have experienced in both properties. We no longer stay at The San Jose in Austin because of the noise that penetrates your room from all directions. Now here we are in a $140.00 room at The Thunderbird, it is 11:10 PM...we have been in the car since 10AM driving from Tucson and I am listening to my neighbors music, T.V, sneezing and farting...my God, what did he eat??? Gluten free, dude, gluten free!!! I had rather stayed at a Hampton Inn on I-10 and rented a Night of the Living Dead movie, but alas...here I am...minus $140.00 and wide-eyed. Okay, I made it through the night, but let me tell you about the TRAINS!!!! The 12:08 AM, the 1:34 AM, the 3:48 AM and the 6:44 AM...all whistle blowers. If I had some hemlock, I would drip it in my tea!!! I feel like I have been kicked around the town square! We went to the office where we checked out in silence. Not one word of: Good morning!...How was your stay?...or even Thank You! The guy was young, moody, arty and totally lacking in customer service skills. Call out to Liz...I've read articles about you...every article I've read has 'yap-yap' about your family money...girlfriend, would it 'kill-ya' to have afforded some sound boarding and insulation?!?!?...and hire someone with a personality. Moody glasses and a creative neck wrap don't cut it.

Honestly, I cannot one up the reviewer below, Chris K. His review is so blatantly true, I just couldn't have summed it up better myself. My trip was in March of 2011. On another note, If you're traveling through Marfa and looking for a place to stay, you'll probably come to realize there's none too many options out there. Listen to me, unless you want to be thoroughly disappointed. Don't stay in Marfa. Stay in the next town over, Alpine. Marfa, really has nothing to do and while Alpine probably has just as little going on, atleast the people there are friendly and grateful for the business. Go to Marfa for the day and drive the 30 min back to Alpine to sleep. That's what I'd recommend.

Had a quick stay here for a stopover between Phoenix and Austin. Didn't stay overnight, but much enjoyed my twelve hour stay. Incredibly friendly and helpful staff were happy to point us in the direction of coffee, food, sights and more. I also took advantage of the $10/day bike rental to check out this adorable little town. The bike rode fairly well, too. Front desk has tools to adjust the seat for you and everything. Pros would include a large spacious room and incredible water pressure in the shower. They had lots of cool items available for purchase in their office, and I really enjoyed the Dear Clark products in the bathroom. There are chairs and patios outside the rooms for relaxing outside, a cozy pool and a couple nice hangout areas around the complex. Cons are very minor. No TV, but that didn't bother me -- but definitely mention-able for anyone else interested in staying here. Also, there were thunderstorms in the general area, which seemed to offline whatever cell tower services Marfa. The internet went out, but so did just about everyone's cell phones. Again, didn't bother me, but I also wasn't staying overnight and I was with a group. This is not the hotels concern, but something you should consider if you're planning to stay overnight in Marfa in general. Hard keys are also used here, which are not my favorite. Sucks having a big key and tag in your pocket while walking around town. Adds to the charm of the hotel, but still an inconvenience.

First stay at Thunderbird in Marfa. I usually love Liz Lambert's hotels, so it was a no brainer for our trip. I like the minimalism and the styling of the place, although it is almost bordering on too minimalistic. The bath products are awesome (if you manage to get what you need in the room...inconsistent service there). The location is great for walking around all of Marfa. Unfortunately, though, I was pretty disappointed with the overall experience. For the price, I suppose I expected a little more effort from the Thunderbird. It is basically a stylish motel, although you wouldn't think so when paying the bill. The bed was comfortable but rickety - making horrible sounds as you get up/lie down, as though it were going to fall apart at any moment. The walls were so thin it seemed like everyone upstairs had on cement shoes. There is no information in the room that is helpful (phone numbers, check out times, tv info), no refrigerator, nothing complimentary (except for a pitiful breakfast across the street). The window coverings were annoying too. If you decide on the Thunderbird, at the very least, insist on an upstairs room. Better yet, stay at El Cosmico (a much better effort from Liz Lambert).

We booked a night here after a 9 hour drive from Dallas. In some ways I wish we had opted for an extra night at El Cosmico instead, but it wasn't bad. Here's why: (the pros) A/C -- we arrived in a much cooler clime than home, but it was nice to have cool air blowing on us (remote-controlled, too) since 90 degrees in a tent isn't much fun. cool light fixtures and decor -- lots of ambient light and the controls for the light switches were like modern works of art in themselves. cable tv--we felt like zoning out after the drive. found some interesting churchy channels, and watched trashy TV without one bit of guilt. chairs / front porch -- the most comfy chairs ever. also, hedges/flowery bushes in front of the door acts as a partial screen from people if you want to have some semi-privacy while you're engrossed in a book. a pool--though we didn't swim in it the lounge-- good breakfast spread in the morning. we didn't make it there by 8 am, but unlike most other places that serve breakfast and take it away if you're a late riser, we checked out at 11 and there was still coffee, cereal, fruit, and some yummy carroty-cakey bran muffins for us to gobble. friendly staff in the morning. much more welcoming than the sole lady who checked us in the day before. DVD rentals. Although we didn't take advantage of this, they have quite a good array of movie choices you can rent from the front office. (the cons) price. --yes, i liked this hotel, but i felt sad that it cost $150 for a summer weekend night. overpriced for what you get -- and i read that a couple of years ago, it was priced at $79/night. it seems like the most costly, trendy place to stay in Marfa. hipster basket. -- My inner temptation monster resented the American Spirit cigarette packs both available at the front desk AND in the room's "snack bar" basket. Not good for ex-smokers in danger of relapse after a 587-mile drive with aching feet and broken cruise control. Ashtrays were on all the tables outside, too. It's so cool to smoke at the Thunderbird Hotel! The hipster basket included swedish fish, gummy bears, a Vosges bacon-chocolate bar, and a one-use LOMO camera. I almost opened those $9 cancer lollipops but thankfully my boyfriend stopped me. cow/animal skin rug: i don't know why but it seemed dirtier than a place that had carpet. i didn't want to step on it with bare feet. i was also a bit wary of the bathroom floor. price. again, i could stay at El Cosmico for a better experience and for less moolah.

The Thunderbird hotel is just a boutique hotel that caters to the artist style of Marfa. However Marfa is a small country Texas town so the two things seem conflicting but Marfa and Austin are the only two places this hotel would fit. The room was small and the AC was mounted high on the wall and was the same style I got in Jamaica even though it did a good job of keeping the room cold. The furniture is sparse and the walls and floors are all concrete. It has charm but in the same breath it can seem a little cheap. The rug was worn and the TV was a 19" tube television with a built in DVD player that is way outdated. The water pressure was fantastic, the Wi-Fi was fast and free, and the bed was incredibly comfortable which was all I personally really needed. Was it expensive, for what you get, absolutely but they also had no issue with allowing my English Mastiff to share the room with me. Everyone was social and fun atmosphere with the fellow hotel stayers. There were bikes and record players to rent and the employees were very helpful. Overall: It was a decent stay even though it was pricey for the accommodations. Dog friendly was a big plus for me on the road, but if I was without a pet I would likely try somewhere else in town.

Rooms are clean. Beds comfy.. you could sleep forever. Great soap. The air conditioning isn't great, so if you like it cool, bring a fan or leave the windows open unless your next door neighbors are outside smoking. Lots of lavender so you can smell it when walking back to your room.

I stayed at the Thunderbird Hotel for 3 nights while I was visiting Marfa for a work trip. Myself and all my coworkers stayed at the hotel and I think we were all quite pleased with the accommodations, the charmingly minimalist ambiance and especially the service. My favorite part was actually walking into my room for the first time...the SMELL was amazing. I don't think I've ever said that about a hotel room (in fact, for me, it's usually the opposite). But wow. I think it was the Malin + Goetz products...a pepperminty sage smell...it was just divine. Other nice, unexpected touches include REAL keys instead of crappy plastic ones. A clean, beautiful pool. And friendly, helpful staff who made the stay for our whole group convenient and clean and great. Also, make sure to ask for the WiFi password. There are a few different Thunderbird hotspots that pop-up but the best one requires a password. I loved my bed; it was very comfortable. I just struggled with controlling the temperature in the room. It was a bit too cold...but I managed to burrow under all the blankets and sleep quiet cozily. Of course, like other reviewers mention, there are a few logistical hiccups. Like there were no tissues in any of the rooms. And when I asked...they said they'd run out. Really? Of Kleenex? Ok... It can also be kind of loud. I am a sound sleeper, so I didn't struggle with this. But some of my coworkers did. Specifically, a train runs through Marfa around 4pm and 3am, which seemed to be a problem for some. We all joked about it (comparing it to the movie "My Cousin Vinny"), but I think some people really did have a hard time sleeping. In full transparency, I did not pay for my hotel room. Since this was a work trip, it was paid for by my company. Therefore, I don't have the same beef with the price tag as some other reviewers do. That said, I don't think $175 a night is a ridiculous fee for a clean, great-smelling room that has free WiFi, air conditioning and a pool. That being said, we also stayed during the week...so we didn't have a lot of loud partying neighbors. It was quiet and peaceful...which feels like the overall weeknight vibe of Marfa anyhow. Now Friday/Saturday nights...I can't vouch for that.

4.5. The rooms are aesthetically similar to the Ace chain. Luxurious in their minimalism. Comfy bed. Very plush fluffy towels. Although I understand other reviewers would like more for the money IT'S A MOTEL. If you want a more typical hotel experience, stay at the Riata or Paisano. They are on trend with the record player in your room, complimentary rental bikes, mexican coka-cola ect.. The office staff were more than accommodating: local parties, events, where to eat and chill ect.. Ask em nicely and they will send up whatever you need. Also, it is cool to find toiletries from Malin and Goetz in the middle of the desert and the pool is a high steeze little oasis. :)-

Minimalist but clean. Has a small but beautiful pool. They have bikes for rent which is pretty useful for getting around town to check out all the art. They use real metal keys still which is cool. If you ever make your way out to Marfa, I'd highly recommend the Thunderbird Hotel, it's just cool man :)

We stayed one night in this place after an Airbnb nightmare. The decor is modern and interesting, and the room was very clean and comfortable. I also really loved their landscaping around the courtyard/pool area. It's pretty minimal as hotel rooms go, though. No fridge (this sucked for us), no TV (not a problem for me but it might be for some people), no bathtub, no phone. But if you're into a hotel with a cool hipster vibe and minimal room amenities, you'll probably enjoy your stay.

Me and my girlfriend stayed here on a road trip since I had alway been fascinated with Marfa as a kid and we loved it! Town is so unique and very artsy atmosphere. Had an amazing meal just a few blocks from the thunderbird. The hotel is clean and contemporary in a Texas meets Palm Springs type of way. We loved it. They have great options here like renting a record player or a old type Writer for your room. I would recommend the place. We stayed in the smallest room and it was 140$ which is a bit much for a small town but great if you want some uniqueness.

I've stayed at the Thunderbird three times, and it never lived up to its 5-star rating. My last visit earlier this month was majorly disappointing. The front desk clerk was incredibly unhelpful and our room was blah. It was tucked in a corner and it seemed like the noise from the train running through town was easier to hear. I doubt we will be back. There are much nicer hotels in West Texas, maybe a little ways from Marfa, but more worthy of the nightly rate than the Thunderbird.

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. Went in because of good review from family.. Couldn't get anyone to speak to and when I asked if they could help me this "woman" turns and says "we don't have any rooms available" don't go here. Go to Alpine. Better hotels, better prices, better staff. Maria is a dying town and the Thunderbird is one of the reasons.

I truly enjoyed our stay at the Thunderbird. The room was very tastefully decorated in a very modern, yet not sterile style. The bathroom was very spacious with a huge closet for all our stuff so we didn't need to leave our bags in the bed room. The toiletries were fantastic and the best was the 'mini bar' basket filled with retro candy, a variety of really good chocolate, drinks, some Thunderbird merchandise and even a pack of 'American Spirits' cigarettes. Everything was really clean. The pool area was lovely. Though it was too cold to go for a swim, it was wonderful just chilling out there with a drink and a smoke. In the morning, they served a small breakfast in a common room. There was coffee, fruit, yoghurt, muffins and granola. The only negative I can think of would be that there was no wireless internet in the room. Though apparently there was at the pool area, but I couldn't get a signal. However, free wifi was available in the common room next to the lobby.

It was a very nice, comfortable place to stay. They had a lot of cool little amenities that definitely made the whole experience more interesting, and it fit the landscape very well. Everyone at the front desk was also very nice and accommodating. The one thing though that other users have reported in is that you should definitely check your credit card statement after going here. They seem a bit prone to make mistakes for whatever reason, but are more than happy to work with you if you see anything odd.

Hotel is really nice (love the shampoo and body lotion they provide) but the room is pretty stuffy (rainy this weekend) and the cable tv went out. Other than that, liked everything about this hip and modern hotel.

Let's bump this rating up to closer to five stars. No reason for other hotels in Marfa to have a higher rating than the Thunderbird. When I gave it a bad rating way back in 2009, I was mostly upset about two things: 1) hated how the parking lot was like a roadside motel and right in front of your hotel door and 2) hated how the lounge wasn't open. Well, I was completely surprised to pull up the other day and see that the parking lot had been turned into a nice patio/garden. And the Capri across the space is an amazing bar/restaurant space. Austin would kill to have a lounge that great. Kind of like the Hotel San Jose. Of course, the rooms remain the same - very minimalistic. But that's fine with me. I think that the Thunderbird is my top hotel choice in Marfa now. No reason for this place to have such few stars. Great place to stay. And the soaps/shampoos are really nice. I paid maybe $150/night after tax in March? What a great deal.