Marfa, Tx., at first blush, merely another West Texas watering hole of less than 2,000 souls. On closer scrutiny, Marfa is a remarkable destination well worth the journey.
Justine Spinoza edited this video of our first, but not last, visit to Marfa. Her video is also well worth an overview of Marfa:
Marfa, Tx Landscape
West Texas landscape is not for the faint of heart. When Donald Judd, NYC artist, traveled through the area, he became enamored with the open space. In the 1970’s, with the help of the Dia Art Foundation, Judd left NYC, bought some WWII warehouses and began fulfilling his artistic philosophy to link art and the environment. He invited other artistic friends to join him in Marfa.
Donald Judd sculpture at the Chinati Foundation
This began the attraction for writers, artists, musicians, theater and movie companies to congregate in Marfa. As Sam Schonzeit, an artist, told me, “Every day there is a cultural event taking place in Marfa. There aren’t five events, but there is always one.” What we discovered was the variety of these events. Possibly a play tonight, a reading tomorrow, a new exhibit the following day. With a small amount of ingenuity on your part, Marfa can be as entertaining as Houston.
Things to Do and See during your visit to Marfa, Tx:
Fountain at El Paisano Hotel in Marfa, Tx
El Paisano Hotel:
Built in 1930 by Charles Bassett, the El Paisano hotel has hosted some of the great movie stars of all time: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean when they filmed Giant. The hotel has changed little since the 1930’s. There is a relaxed elegance to the Spanish Colonial architecture. At bedtime, open the windows and allow the cool desert air drift into your room. No phones in the room, but there is WiFi (yea!). In the evenings a live band might be playing on the patio. Sip a Margarita and unwind from the hassles of the big city life.
El Cosmico
El Cosmico:
If El Paisano isn’t your style, try the quirky El Cosmico. Set up camp, rent a renovated-retro trailer
Retro trailer
Teepee
Experience the uniqueness of a Yurt.
This well-designed, maintained camp area will bring you a new perspective one the world.
Food Shark
Food Shark: This food trailer prepares the best fallafa this side of New York City. When your order is ready, the young man inside the trailer leans out the window and calls your name on a megaphone. Long lines of picnic tables provide seating with locals and visitors alike. Don’t be shy, talk to the person across from you. You’ll be surprised at what you learn.
Big Bend National Park is a hop, skip and jump from Marfa. Big Bend is the least visited national parks of all US parks. There is an incredible amount to see and enjoy at the park, but I will leave this for a later post.
Put Marfa, Texas on your Bucket List!!
