Tucked away in the historic Terlingua Ghost Town, Casa Mariposa is a charming restored rock ruin offering spacious outdoor living. Enjoy morning coffee and star gazing on the tranquil patio or relax with a campfire amidst desert peace. With its full kitchen, two bedrooms, and indoor bathroom plus an additional semi-enclosed outdoor shower area.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue
Mountain view
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
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
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.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the house: WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Shower
Towels provided
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Garden
Work spaces
Office
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Tile flooring in public areas
Smoke-free property
Location highlights
In a rural location
In the mountains
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
• Children allowed
• No pets
• No Events or Parties Allowed
Pets
Pets not allowed
Note from host: Charge may apply
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
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. Visit our Terlingua travel guide
Is Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town?
On-site parking is available at the 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).
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Casa Mariposa: Restored Rock Ruin in Ghost Town Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We really enjoyed Casa Mariposa. Perfect for a couple. Good location with several good restaurants within a mile or two. The Starlight Theatre, Bar and Grill has amazing food, and we caught some great live music when there. The bed was really comfortable, which is a must after a full day of hiking. The A/C's cranked, which is also a must. I was concerned that we would be too far from the good hiking, but that was not true. We were within 30 min to 1 hour of the best hiking in the park. Plus, the drives were enjoyable with some spectacular views along the way. The key is "don't get in a hurry". Stop and smell the cactus along the way. I highly recommend Casa Mariposa.
We loved our stay!! The patio is absolutely perfect for morning coffee and happy hour cocktails! The bed was comfy and with the fans on, we were perfectly comfortable temp wise. The new bathroom is great (don't know if I could've handled the outhouse in the dark of night!) This is such a unique house - I really wish the owners gave some historical information about it!! If you need fancy, this isn't for you. But if you want a comfortable, beautiful, unique, rustic Terlingua experience - this is definitely the house!! My only issue is they indicate it sleeps 4 - technically, yes, it would, but the second bedroom is literally only a futon in a small room, so for kids or teenagers maybe, but not another couple - which is kind of a shame, because I would love to bring some friends with us to stay here!
Conveniently located near the ghost town of Terlingua which is much more lively than the name implies. Access to Big Bend NP hiking trails and Rio Grande within 35-45 minutes. Appreciated the ability to cook meals at the house and having a hot shower to rinse the days hiking dust off. The highlight was the dark night skies and the ability to see so many stars and the Milky Way. Will stay again when we visit the area.
Casa Mariposa was a perfect place for us to stay while we explored Big Bend National Park and the surrounding area. Quiet, spectacular sunrise views and a great mix of comfortable accommodations in a natural setting. Can’t say enough about how special our experience was at this unique place to stay.
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….