11 Fun Things To Do in Terlingua, Texas
Terlingua, Texas is a small town tucked in Southwest Texas. It was once a mining town, but now it’s biggest industry is tourism. And it’s a great place for unique outdoor experiences, great food, and interesting historic sites.
The main reason people go to Terlingua is to visit Big Bend National Park. But there are lots of other things to do while you’re in Terlingua too!
Best Things To Do in Terlingua, TX
Shop at The Terlingua Trading Company
I’m including The Terlingua Trading Company first because here you can pick up a brochure for the self-guided walking tour of the Terlingua Ghost Town! (More on that below.)
Historically, this store was the Chisos Mining Company Store, and it’s where you could find anything a household might need. Now it’s still the spot to shop in Terlingua! There are gift items, clothing, souvenirs, AND there was even a little bookstore in the back which you KNOW I loved!
The porch to this building is also an attraction in and of itself. It’s a spot where locals and visitors can hang out and chat, with shade from the sun.
Check Out the Terlingua Ghost Town
Pick up a ghost town brochure and then go on a tour of the historic Terlingua Ghost Town.
Here’s a little history: Terlingua used to the be the home of a mercury mining town. But it was abandoned in the 1940s (hence the Ghost Town aspect). It started to be repopulated in the 1970s, and now the main industry is tourism, as people visit Terlingua as a gateway to Big Bend National Park.
There are several interesting stops on the Ghost Town tour:
- Mine Shaft — Be sure to peer down into the abandoned mine shaft!
- Perry Mansion — The home of the mine owner.
- Holiday Hotel — An old hotel that now has been refurbished to house guests again.
- The Perry School — One the school for locals. You can mostly just see the outside of it because it is basically ruins now.
- St. Agnes Church — This was the church where residents of the mining town had monthly services from a visiting priest. Now it’s sometimes used for weddings and special occasions.
- Terlingua Jail — A little one-room jailhouse, mostly used for locals who had a bit too much fun.
Visit the Terlingua Cemetery
While the Terlingua Cemetery is technically part of the Terlingua Ghost Town tour, it’s also a bit removed from the rest of the stops, so I think it deserves it’s own spot on this list.
The cemetery is located just a few blocks from the main street of downtown. It’s a beautiful and sobering spot, with graves ranging in date from 1903 to more recent deaths.
Many of the graves have personalized decorations and tributes. And I always think it’s fascinating to see the history of a place through a cemetery. For example, there are a lot of deaths here in 1918…which is when the world experienced the 1918 Influenza.
Eat at The Starlight Theatre
The most well-known restaurant in Terlingua is The Starlight Theatre. And it definitely has some of the best food in town.
This was once a movie theater built in 1939. It got its name though when a storm blew the roof off.
Now it’s a restaurant (with a roof). And you’ll find live music and delicious food. Everything we ate here was delicious, but the Brussels sprouts especially were probably the best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever had!
Pro Tip: Get here well before the restaurant opens and line up for a spot! During busy season (Spring especially) the wait can be hours long. We had a least a two hour wait, so we killed time by taking our Ghost Town tour while we waited.
Have Tacos at Taqueria El Milagro
Taqueria El Milagro is the most popular spot to get tacos in Terlingua and it’s SO good! Again, everything we had was delicious, and I loved the vibes here. It was the perfect casual spot after we spent a day hiking in the National Park!
You’ll sit outside at picnic tables under a covered pavilion and have beautiful desert view. And I could tell that both locals and tourists love this spot.
Have Breakfast at Espresso y Poco Mas
Espresso y Poco Mas is a great spot to get breakfast in Terlingua. It’s a little food spot that serves breakfast burritos, breakfast plates, French toast, waffles, and more. They also have a small lunch menu with sandwiches and quesadillas.
We had breakfast early there one morning and sat out on the patio, watching the sun rise over the desert and listening to the roosters crow. It was so peaceful and lovely and the food was great!
Eat BBQ at DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ
DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ is the spot to get barbecue in Terlingua. And it really is SUCH good barbecue. I had the brisket sandwich and it was amazing!
This spot is a vibe too, because they often have live music. We felt like we got the true Southwestern experience eating brisket and listening to country music.
Visit Big Bend National Park
Obviously the most popular thing to do, and probably the reason you would even be in Terlingua in the first place, is to visit Big Bend National Park. Terlingua is an easy home base for people visiting Big Bend, as it’s just about 7 miles from the park entrance.
We’ve got our whole Big Bend itinerary here, but suffice it to say there is a TON to do here. Some of the most popular things: visiting Santa Elena Canyon, hiking in the Chisos mountains, and crossing the Rio Grande to visit Boquillas, Mexico.
Visit Big Bend Ranch State Park
Even though Big Bend National Park is the big attraction here, don’t forget about Big Bend Ranch State Park. It sits right next to the National Park, and has similar hiking experiences and landscapes.
Some popular things to do here include driving the River Road, visiting the Big Hill Lookout, and enjoying the hiking trails.
Go on a Canoe Trip on the Rio Grande
One of our favorite things we did on our trip to Big Bend was a canoe trip on the Rio Grande!
We did our trip through Big Bend River Tours. We chose the half-day trip which took us along the river and through Dark Canyon in the State Park. It was SO cool and such a unique way to experience the landscape. The paddling is easy and the guides were so knowledgeable about the area and the river.
There does have to be enough water in the Rio Grande to make the trip through, something that has become more of an issue in recent years because of both climate change and political decisions controlling the flow of the river.
We had just enough water to make the trip, but I know people who have had their trip cancelled because there wasn’t enough water. So if you plan a trip, make sure you call your outfitter the day before or on the day of your trip to make sure it is still on.
See the Night Sky
Big Bend National Park is a Dark Sky National Park, which means the stars are INCREDIBLE. Like, this is one of those places where you can clearly see the Milky Way streaking through the sky.
Core memory for me: Walking outside of the little spot where we were staying in the desert near Terlingua and seeing a shooting star with a fiery tail!
Although Terlingua is a town, it’s still pretty small, so the “city lights” don’t do much to interfere with the star viewing experience.
Make sure you set aside some time one evening to stay up late and admire the night sky.
Where to Stay in Terlingua
Terlingua is full of unique accommodations, including camping spots, yurts, cottages, and more.
We stayed at Ten Bits Ranch and thought it gave us a really authentic Western experience.
Here’s a map of other places you can stay near Terlingua:
More Southwest National Parks Resources
- Visiting Big Bend National Park with Kids
- Big Bend National Park Itinerary
- Things to do in White Sands National Park
- Sledding in White Sands National Park
Like this post? Save it for later for your trip to Big Bend and Terlingua!
