Posted: 4/8/2011 12:32:12 AM EDT
| What is there? I'm taking a(n involuntary) trip down there in about a week. Any Arfcommers from around there? |
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There isn't much to Balmorhea other than a really beautiful natural spring fed pool outside of it, but as mentioned, you would be only 23-45 minutes away from Fort Davis (historic fort, Mc Donald Observatory, scenic loop drive) Marfa (Donald Judd Foundation art gallery, Padres food and music) Alpine (Sul Ross museum, shooting range) and so on.
Unfortunately, it's a drought year so the mountain high desert will be dry and brown instead of the usual lush, green spring this year. In your drive around those towns, you will see an abundance of wildlife not found in the rest of the state in those numbers. Pronghorn, Audad, and Elk are out there in pastures that run along the highway. |
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Not much in Balmorea itself. Last time there was a place that sold ice cream and another that had tacos.
State park has a real nice natural spring fed swimming pool and a campground that sucks (hard gravel and full of biting ants) Very pretty country. Not a far drive to Alpine for groceries. Davis Observatory is close. Ft Davis is worth checking out. If you like hiking there are some good trails. Not sure what you have planned but if I had time I would head down to Big Bend National Park and hit Santa Elena Canyon or the Chisos Mountain Basin for a day. The Guadalupe Mountains would be another place to spend the day (or more). If you like to hike then hit McKittrick Canyon (9 miles). If you don't hike then don't go to the Guadalupe Mountains. You won't see much from the road. Frijole Ranch is the exception |
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When you fly Southwest from Austin to El Paso and look down about 2/3 the way Balmorhea is the blue lake in the middle of all that brown. Actually, the area is mostly green and quite lovely during the late spring and summer monsoon months (see photos above) |
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When you fly Southwest from Austin to El Paso and look down about 2/3 the way Balmorhea is the blue lake in the middle of all that brown. Actually, the area is mostly green and quite lovely during the late spring and summer monsoon months (see photos above) No... it's basically brown when you fly over it. I know about it's green as well as it's flora and plantlife when on the ground as I lived in Alpine and attended Sul Ross where I studied Agriculture and Range Animal Science which included the region's grasses. Edit to add: The photo at The Window in the Chiso Mountain, there is a plaque dedicated to my great uncle, Walter Prescott Webb who was one of the leading advocates in the creation of the [park. |
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Well that sheriff he found me out wandering all around El Paso the very next day. You see, I’d lost my mind on that broken white line before I even reached Balmorhea. Got that on right now . The first thing I thought of whever I read this thread . Loving county by Charlie Robinson 
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I should probably have told you guys that this was to get dive licensed at the springs  gotta take an open-water dive, and this was what my instructor picked. I'm definitely interested in Fort Davis.
Are there some restaurants or grocery stores around there? I think I'm going to be camping, gas is expensive and so are hotels. |
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Ft Davis is a great place to camp. There are showers. You can hike from the upper look out down to the fort. Real nice hike.
There is a small grocery store about a mile from the entrance to FT Davis. There is a campground at Balmoreah but brng a tarp to put under your tent or you will have holes in it before you leave. Any tent should also be free standing because you probably won't be able to get a stake in the ground. No shade trees in the campground and bring some spray for the ants. The spring fed pool is pretty & awesome. |
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There may be a few less things to visit. Fort Davis has been evacuated as a huge firestorm descends on it. My family's home is in imminent danger, the fire is burning the house across the road. Please say prayers for everyone down that way.
UPDATE: The fire is now in the vicinity of Toyahville and Balmorhea. It has made it from Marfa through Fort Davis and through Wild Rose Pass in five hours. That's about 50 miles. |
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The fire has consumed over 26,000 acres, killed livestock and wildlife. Over fifty homes and buildings have been burned, but thankfully, no injuries or deaths. McDonald Observatory closed. All area roads opened. Limited entry in Fort Davis (residents only). Power out in and around Fort Davis expected for days. This is a FEMA-declared emergency.
At this time there is still 0% containment of the blaze. |
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There may be a few less things to visit. Fort Davis has been evacuated as a huge firestorm descends on it. My family's home is in imminent danger, the fire is burning the house across the road. Please say prayers for everyone down that way. UPDATE: The fire is now in the vicinity of Toyahville and Balmorhea. It has made it from Marfa through Fort Davis and through Wild Rose Pass in five hours. That's about 50 miles. I'm sorry to hear this! Hope everybody stays safe - that area is the best part of Texas and I'm always trying to find a way to visit. |
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When you fly Southwest from Austin to El Paso and look down about 2/3 the way Balmorhea is the blue lake in the middle of all that brown. Actually, the area is mostly green and quite lovely during the late spring and summer monsoon months (see photos above) No... it's basically brown when you fly over it. I know about it's green as well as it's flora and plantlife when on the ground as I lived in Alpine and attended Sul Ross where I studied Agriculture and Range Animal Science which included the region's grasses. Edit to add: The photo at The Window in the Chiso Mountain, there is a plaque dedicated to my great uncle, Walter Prescott Webb who was one of the leading advocates in the creation of the [park. "Flora" IS plantlife. You're thinking flora and FAUNA. Fauna is "the animals of a particular region." Flora is "the plants of a particular region." |
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I wonder how the wildfires will figure into our plans. Guess we'll find out. How's everybody in the burned/burning zone fairing? Balmorhea and Toyahville remain unaffected but as of a few hours ago the following roads were still closed: Hwy 67 N from Alpine to Fort Stockton in closed, along with 17 N From Fort Davis to Balmorhea, 17 S from Fort Davis to Marfa, and Hwy 118 between Alpine and Fort Davis. The winds shifted causing flare ups. FIFTY houses and buildings were destroyed in Fort Davis. The fire burned right up to the edge of my family's home. I mean within feet. I am saddened that the media isn't really reporting the extent of the devastation in this community or the fact that at 60,000 acres and counting, this fire was at zero containment status. As of a few minutes ago, my aunt reported electricity was back up, but no cell service. _______________ EDIT: Well the cell service came on and the electricity went back down. Figures. |
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In all seriousness, right now is neither brown nor green but blackened and charred. People have lost homes, ranches are badly burned and livestock killed. It is one of the worst wildfires in the state history. One of the worst? How high up on the list is that? |
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When you fly Southwest from Austin to El Paso and look down about 2/3 the way Balmorhea is the blue lake in the middle of all that brown. Actually, the area is mostly green and quite lovely during the late spring and summer monsoon months (see photos above) No... it's basically brown when you fly over it. I know about it's green as well as it's flora and plantlife when on the ground as I lived in Alpine and attended Sul Ross where I studied Agriculture and Range Animal Science which included the region's grasses. Edit to add: The photo at The Window in the Chiso Mountain, there is a plaque dedicated to my great uncle, Walter Prescott Webb who was one of the leading advocates in the creation of the [park. "Flora" IS plantlife. You're thinking flora and FAUNA. Fauna is "the animals of a particular region." Flora is "the plants of a particular region." No, I was thinking flora and plantlife. Not flora and FAUNA. The "animals of a particular region" do not make up the colors of the region. |
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The fire has consumed over 26,000 acres, killed livestock and wildlife. Over fifty homes and buildings have been burned, but thankfully, no injuries or deaths. McDonald Observatory closed. All area roads opened. Limited entry in Fort Davis (residents only). Power out in and around Fort Davis expected for days. This is a FEMA-declared emergency. At this time there is still 0% containment of the blaze. Sorry to hear . They haven't said anything on our news about it. |
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60,000 acres burned and counting. It is being covered just Google Fort Davis wild fire or Jeff Davis fire, it is also covered as a secondary story to the Stonewall fires further north.
The best coverage has been through the Big Bend Sentinel and on Marfa's Public Radio website. It has made National news because this is now being touted as the worst fire season in the history of the state. Ongoing drought and improper range management has left our rangelands in a perfect condition to feed big fires. |
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Flora IS the collective plantlife of a region. It is redundant to state flora and plant life. Redundancy is not uncommon in language or text to emphasize a subject of wide range. For example, "all the birds and waterfowl, all the animals and creatures, all the grasses and plantlife" but in no way changes the subject content to include something that doesn't even make sense. For example, "The landscape looks brown from an airplane because of it's the flora and fauna." |
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Do you actually have anything of value to contribute to this subject other than your ego and desperate need to be right? The OP asked for things to do while in the area, things which are now dramatically limited given current circumstances. One should ask you that question. If you back up you'll see who tried to play expert and editor. |