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03-30-2006, 10:35 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 398
M.O.C. #3846
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Big Bend National Park
Just outside the Big Bend NP gate on TX Highway 118 at the intersection of TX Highway 170 is the Big Bend Motor Inn and RV Park.
For $24 a day we have 30 amp FHU, network cable TV and free WiFi.
A descent place in the absolute middle of no and where called Study Butte or sometimes called Terlingua, TX
We've had fun in the Big Bend NP and today we waded in the Rio Grande.
If the Lord is willing, later this year we'll wade in the Artic Ocean.
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03-30-2006, 03:32 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Topeka
Posts: 1,121
M.O.C. #2215
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We stayed in that very park two years ago. It's really cool to go outside at night ... you feel like you're on an island of light and totally surrounded by dark. They didn't have wi-fi when we were there.
Don't forget to hike into Santa Elena Canyon, if you haven't already, and a hike back to Hot Springs is definitely worth the effort! The Scenic Drive to Presidio is absolutely amazing and a tour of the Terlingua ghost town is pretty neat too!
We loved it there ... hope you can stay awhile and enjoy all that Big Bend has to offer!
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03-31-2006, 12:58 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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Hey, Virgil, isn't that a fun place to visit? As Vicki said, we stayed in the same park. Although it's hard to tell we found out that Study Butte and Terlingua are separate cities, right next to each other. The rv park is 3 miles from the gate to Big Bend. I think the two towns combined have something like 200 or maybe 400 population. I'd swear most of them were rural. The nearest real grocery store is at Presidio, 67 miles and minimum 90 minutes away. And it's a Mom and Pop store.
The drive to Presidio took us 4 1/2 hours to cover the 67 miles because we kept stopping to look and take pictures. On the south side you may see some old buildings, kind of down in a small valley but close to the road. That's a set from the movie Streets of Laredo. I would not recommend towing the Montana to Presidio on that road, though. There are some 10% marked grades on that road.
Have fun. We want to go back there someday to see more than we did in our 11 days or so.
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04-01-2006, 03:46 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 398
M.O.C. #3846
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Steve and Vicki,
This is truly a unique place. We did indeed see Santa Elena Canyon, the hot springs and the Rio Grande Village where by the way there were also 30amp FHU campsites inside the park. The elevation differences inside the park are interesting ranging from 2000 feet at the river to 5780 up in the Chisos Mountains at the "lodge".
The locals tell me that the population within a 50 mile radius is now 1500 and they mostly drive to Alpine for groceries. Since you were here they have added a cell tower and of course the wifi, a bank with an ATM, a liquor store, several restaurants and a few shops. They even have a golf driving range. Obviously, it is growing, one can tell be the price of the real estate and the number of agents.
We've enjoyed it here.
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04-02-2006, 08:48 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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Yes, we really enjoyed the area. Interestingly, there was a cell tower when we were there and we had a strong signal there and through almost all of the park despite Cingular's map showing no coverage in that area. I guess they need to update the coverage maps. Some of our neighbors had no usable signal but we did.
We talked about stopping there after leaving Mission, TX, in early March but our timing didn't work out. We do want to come back.
By the way, some of what they call 4x4 roads there are very driveable with two wheel drive. In fact, on the one that goes to (somebody's) jacal we encountered a full size older Oldsmobile, the really big one, motoring right along.
Enjoy. I think that park is a jewel that is often overlooked. We sure enjoyed it.
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