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Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town

Photo gallery for Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town

Stairway to the Entrance
Patio
Bedroom
Patio at Night
Shower Building

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

View map
Terlingua Ghost Town, TX
  • Starlight Theatre
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Santa Elena Canyon
  • Big Bend Library
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Balcony
Garden

About this property

Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town

Summary:
Casa Mariposa: Live Like a Local at this Restored Rock Ruin in the Historic Terlingua Ghost Town.
• Restored Ruin with Spacious Outdoor Living
• This is Our Quintessential Ghost Town Rental
• Located in the Historic Ghost Town
• Kitchen, Bedroom and Cozy Room
• Full Indoor Bathroom PLUS a semi-enclosed outdoor shower

The Space:
Casa Mariposa is tucked away on the Ghost Town hillside, surrounded by history. You will be a short trail walk away from all the Ghost Town has to offer: restaurants, art, shopping, and entertainment. This historic miners’ rock house has all the charm Ghost Town living has to offer. Conveniently located between the iconic Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas’s largest state park.

Spend some time in this restored limestone ruin from the historic Terlingua mining days. Using the original footprint, the house was partly remade in the 1970s. The owners completed an additional restoration in the 1990s and have continued refurbishments recently.

Casa Mariposa is equipped with a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and a full bathroom. The outdoor living space is spacious and tranquil. It is perfect for your morning coffee, outdoor dining, relaxing in the shade, admiring Terlingua’s incredible sunrises and sunsets, and star gazing. Relax with a campfire, and soak in the desert peace.

The 475 square foot interior has a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a full bathroom. You will spend much of your time enjoying the breezy shade of the outdoor living area. There is a brand new indoor bathroom with hot water, shower, sink, and flushing toilet. Outside, there is also a semi-enclosed bath house has a shower and sink and a quaint outhouse with Chisos Mountain views.

The Master Bedroom - You’ll find a comfortable queen size bed and plenty of space for all your belongings. Large windows open out to the patio. Peruse the little collection of books of local interest. The master bedroom has its own entrance and shares a very thick rock wall with the kitchen and the Cozy Room.

It should be noted that there is not a connecting door between the main bedroom and the rest of the house. Guests need to going outside, on the covered patio, to move from one side of the house to the other.

The Cozy Bedroom - This simple hideaway behind the kitchen is my favorite room in the house, but it is tiny. The full-size futon just fits in the space. There is beautiful ceiling of vigas and sotol, a saltillo tile floor, and a little nicho for your knick-knacks. It maintains the tiny windows that were part of the original design of the miners’ home.

Kitchen - The kitchen features handmade cabinets and a handmade table along with stove, fridge, microwave, toaster, and coffee pot. Cookware, spices, etc. are available if you’re in the mood to make your own meals.

Please note:
Part of Terlingua Ghost Town’s fun is a bit of funk. It is rugged and remote country. While most guests prefer the new indoor bathroom, some adventurous travelers prefer to use the original semi-enclose bathhouse or the outhouse. Because we are located on the hillside, there are multiple levels. Be prepared to walk up and down short steps and dirt trails. There’s also a trail through the ruins to the famous Terlingua Porch.

Terlingua is in the Chihuahuan Desert in a remote and rural area. There are no streetlights, and the road to the house is about a half mile of unpaved road. Please drive slowly.

Please, do not climb on any of the ruins or remove any artifacts. It is a fragile area.

Interaction with Guests:
We manage several properties and live a few miles away. We are available by phone, text, email, or messages through Airbnb. We are typically only on site for cleaning or maintenance issues.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view
Barbecue

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
Charge may apply
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
• Children allowed • No pets • No Events or Parties Allowed

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Terlingua

Located in Terlingua, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Homer Wilson Ranch is a local landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Map
Terlingua Ghost Town, TX

What's nearby

  • Starlight Theatre - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Big Bend Library - 13 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Many Stones - 14 min drive - 16.0 km
  • Big Bend National Park - 15 min drive - 16.0 km
  • Barton Warnock Visitor Center - 17 min drive - 22.1 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Starlight Theater - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Venga - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Chili Pepper Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪High Sierra Bar & Grill - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Espresso Y Poco Mas - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Starlight Theatre and within 9 miles (15 km) of Big Bend Library and Many Stones. Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 87 out of 113 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 23 out of 113 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 113 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 113 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 113 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Aaron T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring Break at Big Bend

Casa Mariposa was the perfect base for a Spring Break trip for my sons and me. Close to the park, and several great places to eat closeby. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary Beth B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique place close to Big Bend

Unique home conveniently located near Big Bend National Park. Beautiful patio to enjoy the dark skies of Texas!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

john

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Interesting place that is exceptionally clean and comfortable. Great location with easy access to everything Terlingua has to offer.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

J N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique and perfect accommodations for hiking & jeeping

Very different and unique - gives you a feel of the outdoors with comfort and convenience of modern living. We used this place as a basecamp for our daily adventures and would recommend for individuals. Also has a pet roadrunner whom just hung around us a lot….
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leah R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Rental in center of Terlingua

Had a great few days in Terlingua visiting family nearby. The Casa was so really nicely updated, comfortable, great beds, quite, beautiful view of Big Bend in the distance. The Casa is close by food and shops. Although as guest said the bathroom is in one area and the kitchen the other it worked perfectly for us. I will be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Little Casita

Great location to the park, able to watch the sunrise over the Chisos Basin from the porch. Really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Great location for visiting the park. House is unique while still having all the amenities. I like the big porch and fenced in yard. House was comfy and everything worked well. Kids were happy with the internet
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Authentic Big Bend Haven

This is an amazing home. We will stay here again and again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Melissa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique

I thought it was a really cool place to stay. There is two bedrooms, main bedroom bed is comfortable, second bedroom is a fold out bed that wasn’t the best. Had everything we needed in the kitchen. The bathroom was nice and large. You have to go outside to go from main bedroom to kitchen which didn’t bother us at all. The outside area is really nice with places to sit and a table to eat. This is close to starlight theatre which was a really good place to eat. One of the closest places to stay to Big Ben other than staying in Big Ben. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location

Very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bridgette P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay!

We loved staying at Casa Mariposa! Very unusual and interesting architecture. Awesome accommodations.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amber M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique mountain house

This was a cute house with nice views and privacy. Walking distance to restaurants and shops. About 10 minutes to Big Bend National park and 20 to Big Bend Ranch State Park. House was clean and we had 0issuesnno issues while therr.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Tobby T., Monahans, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ghost Town Weekend

Very quaint & charming no frills place in the heart of Terlingua's Ghost Town. The outdoor shower is awesome!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend at Casa Mariposa

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa Mariposa. It was a great place to meet up and spend a weekend with our son. We especially enjoyed the outdoor seating areas where we could enjoy our morning coffee in a shaded area and gaze at the stars in an open area.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

David T.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

Awesome weekend! The place is absolutely perfect!!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

jamie a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Enjoyed our stay!!! Hope to come back in the future!! Merry Christmas!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Mix

Set about 30mins +/- from Big Bend NP in Terlingua Ghost Town.. beatiful comfortable place in a mystical place. Sunrise is more than special.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Megan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Outdoor Space

I really appreciate how easy the owners made everything with their directions and tips prior to arrival. We were even able to arrive in the dark thanks to their guide. Property was very clean and everything was laid out nicely. We were glad to stay in that area and enjoy the stars and the local happenings. A great spot and we lacked for nothing.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

Although the property would not be for everyone, we loved it. Finding good local dinner restaurants can be a challenge.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dara R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Casa Mariposa

Beautiful property! The outside patio is where we spent majority of time. Would return 💜
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nikki B., Ankeny, Iowa

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring Break to Big Bend

We spent three days (four nights) at Casa Mariposa as our home base for visiting Big Bend National Park. It was a great location and doesn't take long to get to the park. After long days of hiking, we spent the evening enjoying the outdoor living area. The check-in process was easy. Communication was great. A fun and unique experience for our family.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Benoit L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming place in the desert !

We had an excellent family trip in mariposa for 3 days ! The check in process was very clear, the owners being very caring. Beautiful house, all comfort included what is amazing in such a place. Very convenient for a family (2 adult and a 7 years old child). Very close to Big Bend, we were able to visit the national park during 3 days. We highly recommend this place for an incredible trip in big Bend !
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karin C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Butterfly House… Casa Mariposa!!

What a unique, cozy, comfy Rock house! Loved our stay here:) It was perfect for our Big Bend adventure. The management was very responsive and helpful with any concerns! All the little details were a bonus! Scott and Karin
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

6/10 Okay

Don L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Kerosene Bedroom

Beautiful place, loved everything. Only issue would be the bedroom had a heavy kerosene smell to it. We slept on the futon, behind kitchen, which it was surprisingly good the futon.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Annie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Authentic accomodation in an unique neighborhood.

Owner is quick to respond.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

About the host

Hosted by Janet Eby

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Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests