Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 6

Alpine, West Texas: Sul Ross State University; things to do

Sul Ross State University  

Located on the campus, the Museum of the Big Bend & Map Room (400 N. Harrison St., (432) 837-8730.  Tu-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm.  Free.) this museum displays fossils, black-and-white photographs of West Texas, and early Texas art.  However, it is most famous for its collection of 2,000 historical maps and atlases focusing on Texas.  Informative about Big Bend National Park is also available.

exterior of Museum of the Big Bend & Map Room on Sul Ross State University campus
in Alpine, Texas

taxidermied black bear in Museum of the Big Bend & Map Room
on Sul Ross State University campus in Alpine, Texas

In 1981, several students here carried a desk up to Hancock Hill, right above the Mountainside dormitory.  They began studying there in the beautiful surroundings. One student left a notebook in a desk drawer, and when he checked later discovered that someone had written in it.  He left a reply and soon the tradition of the notebook in The Desk was born.  Students, staff, and visitors alike began hiking Hancock Hill for respite and to visit The Desk.  Now, the completed notebooks are kept in the Archives of the Big Bend in the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library.  To reach The Desk, take Entrance 4, drive to the top, turn left and park at the highest point behind Mountainside dorm.  Look for a trail heading uphill and continue climbing to a rock pile at the top, and then follow the trail to The Desk.  Allow 20 minutes to hike from the parking lot. 



Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: Hotel Paisano; hotel review

Hotel Paisano   207 N Highland Ave., (432) 729-3669.  Pool (heated seasonally); fitness center; restaurant.  Pets ok.  No smoking. 

exterior of Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas
Warner Brothers filmed parts of “Giant” in this hotel and used it as headquarters while filming the movie.  Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean stayed here for the first few weeks, then moved to larger accommodations, but they and the other 150 cast members and crew continued gathering here to dine in the restaurant, socialize in the lobby, and to watch dailies from a projector that director George Stevens set up in the ballroom.  Giant photos of the filming hang on the walls, and there is a special room off the restaurant that is devoted to film-related memorabilia.  Built in 1930 by Trost & Trost, who also built the Gage hotel in Marathon, this hotel’s facilities include a lovely, though small indoor pool area.  At the entrance, a bank of gift shops invite browsing.  Coffee and fresh lemonade are always available in the expansive lobby furnished with solid couches and stairs, and once I settled into one I did not want to get up again.  If you want to go for broke, reserve the Rock Hudson Suite.  It is the hotel’s largest, with a large living and dining area, small kitchen, two bathrooms, a bedroom, and a large front room.  It also features a large rooftop terrace with patio furniture and is the perfect place to hold a small dinner party. 

lobby of Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas

images from "Giant" set at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas

images from "Giant" set at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas

indoor pool at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas

Well reviewed Jett’s Grill serves everything from a homemade burrito at breakfast to a pistachio-crusted sirloin steak and Black Angus GIANT burger for dinner.  The chicken-fried steak is also very good, and the margaritas rock.  Snacks and cocktails are served on the patio. 

Jett's Grill at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas

outdoor patio at Jett's Grill at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas


Another star visited town not too long ago and stopped in at the Stripes convenience store.  Located inside a gas station with the same name, this is where Anthony Bordain ate when he was in town.  Here to film what turned out to be his last episode of “Parts Unknown,” he apparently visited on a holiday and everything else was closed.  He ate a fried burrito, which reputedly did not impress him. 

exterior of Stripes gas station and convenience store in Marfa, Texas

interior of Stripes gas station and convenience store in Marfa, Texas

More things to do in Marfa.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: Marfa Lights Viewing Center; things to do

Marfa Lights Viewing Center   On US. 90, 9 miles E of town, (432) 729-4772.  Open 24 hours.  Free.  Pets ok.

Marfa Lights Viewing Center in Marfa, Texas
Marfa is famous for these elusive lights.  A viewing platform outside of town marks the best spot to view the phenomenon.  Bring a portable chair and some wraps for warmth at night.  Here, looking toward the Chinati Mountains, the mysterious mostly-colored orbs sometimes appear at night.  There is no rhyme or reason to which nights or at what time.  For more than 100 years--they were first reported in 1885--they have inspired much speculation and legend as to their origin and remain unexplained.  The night I visited, several locals shared stories about how they had seen the lights in the past and what their experience was like.  The lights are described as splitting apart, melting together, disappearing, reappearing, and more.  Once we determined that some lights we were seeing were car lights from the highway, and started looking in the right direction, we still didn’t manage to see those Marfa Lights.  However, this is all validated because the story has been told on TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries.”  The next week, when I visited San Antonio, I did, finally, see the Marfa Lights.  Restrooms, picnic tables, and campsites are available.





More things to do in Marfa.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: Chinati Foundation; things to do

Chinati Foundation   1 Cavalry Row, (432) 729-4362.  Visitor center open W-Sun 9am-5pm.  Guided tours $10-$25; limited access self-guided tour $5-$10.  Reservations advised.

entrance to Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas
Founded in 1986 by acclaimed sculptor Donald Judd, who fell in love with the area’s light and shadows, this display space installs works on a permanent basis.  It displays enormous indoor and outdoor installations.  Judd’s 100 large-scale concrete boxes formed from aluminum are displayed through two stark, clean-lined, very large buildings.  Six former barracks display Don Flavin’s colored fluorescent light installations.  The facility encompasses 34 buildings on 340 acres of land that was formerly a military base known as Fort D.A. Russell.

gift shop at Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas





Another building downtown displays John Chamberlain’s 22 sculptures formed from wrecked car pieces. 

exterior of downtown Chinati Foundation center in Marfa, Texas

exhibit of John Chamberlain pieces at downtown Chinati Foundation center in Marfa, Texas

More things to do in Marfa.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: Introduction to Marfa+AYN Foundation (Das Maximum) and more art galleries+old buildings; things to do

Introduction to Marfa 

Tough to get to.Tougher to forget.But once you get here . . .. . . you get it. 
train tracks into and out of Marfa in West Texas
Founded in the 1880s as a water stop for trains, the high desert town of Marfa nowadays is surrounded by working cattle ranches but is still on the quiet side and has only one traffic signal.  The town is known for its high-caliber art galleries, which famously aren’t open at regular hours.  This lackadaisical attitude makes for hit-and-miss viewing, which can be quite disappointing when the gallery you really want to see can’t be bothered to open.  One local says, “Thousands of people come out here from New York and wander around like lost children.”  This tiny town--it is home to less than 2,000 people--has been a co-star in many movies, including “Andromeda Strain” (1971), “No Country For Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” (2007), and most famously “Giant” (1956).  And good to know in summer, at an altitude 4,685 feet (or is it 4,711 or 4,843 feet?, there is plenty of confusion), it is often one of the coolest places in the state.
More information.


Old Buildings

courthouse in Marfa in West Texas

Palace theater building in Marfa in West Texas

really old building in Marfa in West Texas

artistic patchwork fence in Marfa in West Texas

Art Galleries

AYN Foundation (Das Maximum)  107-109 N. Highland, Brite Bldg., (432) 729-3315.  Sat-Sun noon-5pm.  Andy Warhol’s “The Last Supper” on one side, Maria Zerres “September Eleven” on the other.  The big mystery here is how to open the door.  I would have left without entering had someone not exited--opening the door for me.

entrance to AYN Foundation (Das Maximum) Andy Warhol art gallery
in Marfa in West Texas

art gallery not open in Marfa in West Texas

art gallery not open in Marfa in West Texas

art gallery not open in Marfa in West Texas

art gallery not open in Marfa in West Texas

this art gallery IS OPEN in Marfa in West Texas


More things to do in West Texas.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: The Water Stop; restaurant review

The Water Stop  1300 W. San Antonio St., (432) 295-3732.  B-L daily 11am-3pm.

front patio at The Water Stop in Marfa, Texas
Appearing to be a welcome mirage after the dusty drive into town, this counter-service stop serves up some exceptional grub.  It seems that everything on the menu is delicious--you can’t go wrong.  I opted for a giant biscuit--homemade prickly pear jam came with it--that was both delicate and crispy and actually too much for me to eat.  Which was a good thing, because my dining companions were all asking for nibbles.  I paired it with a side salad that was stuffed with all kinds of veggie goodies.  My companions selected a roasted chicken avocado toast and a cheeseburger and were equally pleased.  My drink selection was surprisingly delicious--a colorful watermelon lemonade--but additional options include house cold-brew coffee, ice cold beer, and wine.  Though we were mighty pleased with the warm greeting we received inside the cool interior space, outdoor seating is available on an inviting, expansive patio.  In the past, this sweet spot has operated as several other restaurants, a grocery store, and an Exxon gas station. 
dining room at The Water Stop in Marfa, Texas


kitchen at The Water Stop in Marfa, Texas


biscuit and salad at The Water Stop in Marfa, Texas

More things to do in West Texas.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: BIG Art or Roadside Art; things to do

BIG Art or Roadside Art in West Texas


Prada Marfa 
1.4 miles outside of Valentine on right side of Hwy., 20 miles northwest of Marfa.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas
Installed in 2005, this permanent sculptural art work was made by Berlin-based artists Elmgreen and Dragset.  It is filled with shoes and other luxury items from Prada’s 2005 collection.  But leave your credit card in your wallet--this store never opens.  For you Instagrammers, hashtags and @ addresses are provided on a plaque.  At some point, visitors started attaching love locks to an adjacent fence much like is done on bridges in Europe.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas

love locks and other things on fence adjacent to Prada Marfa art installation
 in Valentine, Texas



“Giant” movie set art installation
On Wyatt Ranch, west of Marfa.

"Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas
Just a little farther down the road from Prada Marfa, you’ll see this giant art installation by California-based artist John Cerney.  Situated on the ranch where part of the movie was filmed, this site includes huge cutouts of Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean (this was his last film), another of Rock Hudson in a yellow convertible, and in the background a set of the film’s house.  Dennis Hopper was also in the movie, but he is missing from this display.  Music by Michael Nesmith emanates from fake rocks.  The overall experience is quite exciting.

Rock Hudson in yellow convertible on "Giant" movie set art installation
 in Marfa, Texas

James Dean on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas

Elizabeth Taylor on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas






World’s Smallest “Target” Store
On US 90, west of Marathon.

woman prepares to shop at World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas
Just look for the red target sign to find the last of the big three roadside art installations.  This tiny building--a former switch station building for the railroad--mimicks a Target store, complete with red shopping cart and basket, but you won’t be doing any shopping here.  Colorful graffiti covers the inside, but be careful in there--it has been known to harbor a hiding rattlesnake or two.  The building abuts a train track, so sometimes you’re lucky enough to see one pass by.  No artist has claimed this project.

graffiti inside World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas


More things to do in Marfa.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images and video ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Marfa, West Texas: BIG Art or Texas Roadside Art; things to do

BIG Art or Texas Roadside Art in West Texas


Prada Marfa 
1.4 miles outside of Valentine on right side of Hwy., 20 miles northwest of Marfa.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas
Installed in 2005, this permanent sculptural art work was made by Berlin-based artists Elmgreen and Dragset.  It is filled with shoes and other luxury items from Prada’s 2005 collection.  But leave your credit card in your wallet--this store never opens.  For you Instagrammers, hashtags and @ addresses are provided on a plaque.  At some point, visitors started attaching love locks to an adjacent fence much like is done on bridges in Europe.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas

love locks and other things on fence adjacent to Prada Marfa art installation
 in Valentine, Texas



“Giant” movie set art installation
On Wyatt Ranch, west of Marfa.

"Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas
Just a little farther down the road from Prada Marfa, you’ll see this giant art installation by California-based artist John Cerney.  Situated on the ranch where part of the movie was filmed, this site includes huge cutouts of Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean (this was his last film), another of Rock Hudson in a yellow convertible, and in the background a set of the film’s house.  Dennis Hopper was also in the movie, but he is missing from this display.  Music by Michael Nesmith emanates from fake rocks.  The overall experience is quite exciting.

Rock Hudson in yellow convertible on "Giant" movie set art installation
 in Marfa, Texas

James Dean on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas

Elizabeth Taylor on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas






World’s Smallest “Target” Store
On US 90, west of Marathon.

woman prepares to shop at World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas
Just look for the red target sign to find the last of the big three roadside art installations.  This tiny building--a former switch station building for the railroad--mimicks a Target store, complete with red shopping cart and basket, but you won’t be doing any shopping here.  Colorful graffiti covers the inside, but be careful in there--it has been known to harbor a hiding rattlesnake or two.  The building abuts a train track, so sometimes you’re lucky enough to see one pass by.  No artist has claimed this project.

graffiti inside World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas


More things to do in Marfa.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images and video ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Valentine, West Texas: BIG Art or Texas Roadside Art; things to do

BIG Art or Texas Roadside Art in West Texas


Prada Marfa 
1.4 miles outside of Valentine on right side of Hwy., 20 miles northwest of Marfa.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas
Installed in 2005, this permanent sculptural art work was made by Berlin-based artists Elmgreen and Dragset.  It is filled with shoes and other luxury items from Prada’s 2005 collection.  But leave your credit card in your wallet--this store never opens.  For you Instagrammers, hashtags and @ addresses are provided on a plaque.  At some point, visitors started attaching love locks to an adjacent fence much like is done on bridges in Europe.

exterior of Prada Marfa art installation in Valentine, Texas

love locks and other things on fence adjacent to Prada Marfa art installation
 in Valentine, Texas



“Giant” movie set art installation
On Wyatt Ranch, west of Marfa.

"Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas
Just a little farther down the road from Prada Marfa, you’ll see this giant art installation by California-based artist John Cerney.  Situated on the ranch where part of the movie was filmed, this site includes huge cutouts of Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean (this was his last film), another of Rock Hudson in a yellow convertible, and in the background a set of the film’s house.  Dennis Hopper was also in the movie, but he is missing from this display.  Music by Michael Nesmith emanates from fake rocks.  The overall experience is quite exciting.

Rock Hudson in yellow convertible on "Giant" movie set art installation
 in Marfa, Texas

James Dean on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas

Elizabeth Taylor on "Giant" movie set art installation in Marfa, Texas






World’s Smallest “Target” Store
On US 90, west of Marathon.

woman prepares to shop at World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas
Just look for the red target sign to find the last of the big three roadside art installations.  This tiny building--a former switch station building for the railroad--mimicks a Target store, complete with red shopping cart and basket, but you won’t be doing any shopping here.  Colorful graffiti covers the inside, but be careful in there--it has been known to harbor a hiding rattlesnake or two.  The building abuts a train track, so sometimes you’re lucky enough to see one pass by.  No artist has claimed this project.

graffiti inside World's Smallest "Target" Store in Marathon, Texas


More things to do in West Texas.

Itinerary for road trip through West Texas.

Things to do in El Paso.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images and video ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Las Cruces, New Mexico: Visit historic Mesilla; things to do, restaurant reviews

Visit historic Mesilla

Located 3 miles southwest of Las Cruces, this well-maintained and restored historic town was a Mexican border town until 1854.  Legend has it that the notorious Billy the Kid was jailed by Sheriff Pat Garrett and tried for murder here in 1881.  Mesilla Plaza, located in the center of town, is a state monument and listed on the National Register as a historical landmark.  Adobe buildings holding shops and restaurants line the streets along with the region’s oldest operating movie house, the oldest brick building in New Mexico (the Thunderbird de la Mesilla), and the historical 1885 adobe Basilica of San Albino church.

Basilica of San Albino church in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Thunderbird de la Mesilla in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Billy the Kid Gift Shop in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Pistachios wine shop in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

● Double Eagle Restaurant/Peppers   2355 Calle De Guadalupe, on the plaza, (575) 523-6700.  Located within a National Registered Historical Building constructed in the late 1840’s, the Double Eagle offers a series of richly decorated dining rooms decorated in vintage Victorian style.  It claims to be the most haunted restaurant in New Mexico and has appeared on TV’s “Ghost Adventures.”  A confirmed claim to fame is the chandelier seen in “The Godfather,” which hangs in the entry.  Indeed, more ornate chandeliers hang throughout.  The restaurant is known for great steaks, and is the only restaurant in New Mexico that ages its steaks in house.  The old-time bar dispenses Green Chile Vodka, a Green Chile Bloody Mary and Martini, and a Border Berries Margarita--all of which go well with the very popular Green Chile Wontons appetizer.



"The Godfather" chandelier in entry to Double Eagle Restaurant
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

bar at Double Eagle Restaurant in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

drinks await at the bar in Double Eagle Restaurant
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

dining room seen through oval window in Double Eagle Restaurant
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Featuring a more casual and colorful tropical atmosphere, Peppers operates in the central courtyard known as the Billy the Kid Indoor Patio that features giant ferns and plants and is known for its Mexican dishes.

Peppers dining room in Double Eagle Restaurant
in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

● La Posta de Mesilla   2410 Calle de San Albino, (575) 524-3524.  Originally constructed in the 1840s, this building is now a compound with a sprawling restaurants and several shops.  The menu offers traditional Mexican cuisine and an assortment of unusual margaritas--including the Chile Rita and the Mesilla Valley Jalapeno Margarita.  Clint Eastwood ordered up the combo plate when he was in the area filming “The Mule.”  I particularly enjoyed the spicy blackberry-habanero margarita.  I took a photo of the grey parrot in a huge cage in the center area, where other birds and also sharks and piranhas are housed on display.  I later learned the bird’s name and called it out to “Sugar” as I was leaving.  She looked startled and then did a little dance for me.

entrance to La Posta de Mesilla in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico


The Virgin of Guadalupe tile word inside La Posta de Mesilla
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico


server with spicy blackberry-habanero margaritas in La Posta de Mesilla
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Sugar the gray parrot in  La Posta de Mesilla
 in Mesilla, Las Cruces, New Mexico



More things to do in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Things to do in nearby El Paso, Texas.

Things to do in West Texas.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers