All I can say is "He is the Host with the most"

This is my kind of place. It's straightforward. It's beautiful...and it had Maggie who's a doll. I've only great things to say about Tarantula Ranch. I love the distance from things, I love the vistas...I love the region. I'll always come back.

Very rustic and down to earth!

I wish there would have been more photos of the home and casita, likely we would not have stayed since we had 6 adults traveling together. Due to lack of cell coverage it was difficult getting hold of the owner to allow us access to the property, perhaps giving us a gate code prior to arrival would have made it easier. The Mule!!! omg, She was something else. In the morning when the sun came up and we could see where we were it cancelled out many of the issues we had. The view is spectacular.

Loved the view. Small cabin is one room plus bathroom. The road is rough so it takes about 20 minutes to go the 2.5 miles but it was worth it for tge view. Maggie the donkey is a trip!

The cabin was hard to find, but the host was extremely helpful in trying to find the property for us which we appreciate. But the cabin had no linens and was dusty, no mats on the floor. The floor was just a sorry excuse of a floor with a creaky bathroom. It just seemed like the host didn't care what the cabin looked like because it was in a place where you couldn't find many places to stay and we couldn't go anywhere in the night. We left after one night stay and didn't stay the 2 nights even though we paid for it as we couldn't stand the place. It is not a place we will return to and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The cabin was great, the drive to it from the main highway is not difficult but is beautiful. Close enough to the National park to be a very reasonable drive (by west Texas standards). Curt’s property feels extremely remote, and is great for quiet introspection or peaceful resets at the end of a long day of hiking. AC and heater worked great to keep temp regulated in cabin. You will likely use both during your stay( it is the desert, after all). The small cabin is no frills, and I think of it as an adventure cabin. Shelter from weather and critters, plus a few amenities you really wouldn’t expect to find this far out like real plumbing and electricity. This ain’t a hotel in the middle of the city, so keep your expectations reasonable. Some other reviewers have clearly not ever been away from New York City. Curt’s place was exactly what we expected plus a whole heap of natural beauty. We saw kangaroo mice, roadrunners, wild boar, huge whitetail deer, and owls, but no snakes. I plan to stay at Curt’s again. We also got a glimpse at his large cabin which has substantially more space and a more relaxed vibe than the small cabin we stayed in. If I ever go out with a big group I would definitely consider staying in the large cabin or renting both. Thank you Curt, until we meet again!

We enjoyed our stay and Curt was a great host. Lovely views and the equine critters were friendly. Bring carrots and apples for them.

Tarantula Ranch is one of the most beautiful places in the Big Bend area. It has an amazing view of the mountains. Curt was a gracious host with PERFECT directions to get to his ranch. He is very funny. Very nice rustic cabins. I took advantage of renting both cabins for my birthday. Curt does tell you ahead of time what to bring with you i.e. your own beddings, towels, utensils, etc (Covid) but the cabins (both) are equipped with refrigerators, oven/toaster oven on the smaller cabin, AC, heart etc. Curt even invited us to the deck that sits on top of the mountain to witness one heck of a sunset. It is called “God’s Country,” for just that reason, its spectacular views. Curt was especially nice to my dog Peppa-Pig, which I did appreciate that very much. I highly recommend Tarantula Ranch to everyone. I WILL BE BACK to visit and stay there, that’s for sure! Thank you, Curt and God bless. Gracie V—Austin, TX

Everything was as stated-barely. I live on a dirt road and traveled on several during my stay in west Texas but none were as ill-maintained as this rutted track. We used low gear and four wheel drive and wished we had higher clearance. The queen bed is a mattress on a metal frame that was stained. Glad we brought our own bedding. The kitchen faucet was duct taped. The listing says it is newly renovated however there were water stains above the bed that had started to mold. The paint on the plywood floor was worn off in many spots and the screens were broken or ill fitting. We woke up to literally hundreds of moths in the bathroom. Most amenities were as listed, but there was no washer, dryer, stove, iron nor hair dryer as listed under amenities in the listing. The hot tub was wonderful but it is at the main house up a steep hill on the rutted road from the cabin. Frying pans were available- we assume for the hot plate, but no dish soap to clean with after. There were piles of dead bugs inside each light fixture and heavy dust everywhere- I am not sure what the cleaning fee was used for, especially with bring in our own linens and dinnerware. If possible on VRBO I would supply pictures of all of this to prove I am not exaggerating. We looked for another place, willing to pay for this and somewhere clean, however everything between there and Big Bend was sold out. On a positive final note, the sunsets were spectacular.

My husband and I stayed the weekend at Curts small cabin, we had an amazing time. Curt was so friendly and gave us tons of information about what we could do in the area. It's a nice scenic drive from the property into Big Bend National Park. The cabin was clean and well kept and there were a couple donkeys, dogs and a horse to keep us company. We will definitely be booking there again, 12/10!

Curt was such a character! My favorite part, by far, was the donkeys!! They were so much fun. But the views were beautiful, the pool at the lodge was awesome, and we loved having the hot tub for stargazing in that pitch black sky. If you’re up for an adventure, this is your place. It’s a studio, so only 2 people can really be comfortable. But the little AC unit kept up & we even woke up cold every morning!

Was just what I was looking for secluded with a crazy few. The owner was great gave us tips on everything. Will be back

If you want a roof, four walls, electricity, and water in the desert that's what you get. There was mule/donkey poop/urine all over the place. The smoke detector was on a shelf next to the TV, not mounted properly. He tells you to bring toilet paper and then doesn't have a hanger to hang it on. There wasn't a hook anywhere to hang a towel or jacket, no shelves to place anything on, no storage at all. The fan supplied looks as if hasdn't been cleaned for several years. The shower head was broken. There was enough dust/dirt under the bed you could have grown corn. The mules/donkeys were always in the way they were very bothersome. The only real good thing about the place was the isolation it was quiet and the stars were great, but that's about it. Everything else about it was quite underwhelming.

Owner would only communicate over the phone (no text or email). The owner did tell us prior to coming but made us bring our own sheets, towels, kitchen gear, pillows, blankets, paper towels, water, toliet paper to the property due to "COVID". Property did not look as advertised - the floor was dusty, the blinds were broken and I have seen better bathrooms at truck stops. We were also unable to find the hot tub that was advertised on the listing.

The donkeys are the best. They're as friendly as anything. The road up is a doozy. Be ready to bounced a lot. It's secluded and quiet. The small cabin is clean, with a bathroom, kitchenette, small table, and bed. It's not the Ritz, and if you're looking for that, you won't be happy. But if you're looking for a great backcountry experience, you won't be sorry you came here.

My daughter and I enjoyed the peace and quite for 5 nights. The donkeys are very entertaining. The views are breathtaking. Once on the road to Big Bend it is about 50 miles to all the hiking and sites in the national park. State park is not to far either.Thanks Curt for all the info about the area. Hope to be back soon.

We had a great time. We stayed 5 nights and enjoyed hiking, kayaking and relaxing. Watching the stars come out from the hot tub was amazing. The mules added so much character to the place. Curt was the perfect host with a wealth of information and some really great stories! We would love to come back again!

My daughter and I enjoyed the peace and quite for 5 nights. The donkeys are very entertaining. The views are breathtaking. Once on the road to Big Bend it is about 50 miles to all the hiking and sites in the national park. State park is not to far either. Thanks Curt for all the info about the area. Hope to be back soon.

Curt doesn’t do too much technology stuff, so get ready to communicate old school style! He gave me very thorough directions over the phone to write down the morning of my departure from Austin. I enjoyed chatting about the local wildlife, culture & of course his small Menagerie of animal friends! They all have stories, just ask! Eileen the horse, a rescue from a wild herd that crossed over from Mexico in the1990s with one lame hoof Makes her way slowly around the property all day. Now say her name out loud. You now have some idea about your host’s personality! There are 2 donkeys, 2 chocolate labs, a house cat & a wild Roadrunner that he feeds. I loved it! Buyer beware: this is real wilderness. If you aren’t able to handle probable encounters with scorpions & potential run ins with various other creatures with venom, claws & teeth (somewhat less probable), you might need to reconsider. You’ll also be advised that the rough roads are fine for your car. Mine was okay, but it did feel hairy at times. I have a Honda Odyssey minivan. The dirt roads can also be rocky. If you have a choice of vehicle, just bear this in mind.

Beautiful views, especially on clear night up on the look out deck/hot tub up on the hill away from the cabin. The host is as friendly as can be with a heart of gold. This cabin is an excellent way to visit the Big Bend area on a budget. I recommend bringing a small camping grill if you visit in the summer so you don't have to cook indoors. That will help with keeping any extraneous heat out the cabin.

Don't forget to get your 4-wheel drive. The location on top of a mountain makes it worth it. Though I didn't get to stay at Curt's place due to water leakage, I loved the warmth and friendliness of him. I would have loved to stay at the cabin and enjoy the view.

Comfy bed, fast coffee maker, even better views, and some four legged friends (dogs burrows & a sweet old horse) Curt is an incredible host. He has an incredible place. I only stayed one night, we spoke in advance and gave exact directions on how to get there. Good location, not far from Terlingua (30 min is nothing in the Big Bend). He has great knowledge of the area and encouraged me to explore his property. Made a quick hike before check out, will definitely be back for 2-3 days in the future! I’ll take advantage of the hot tub next time as well. It’s in a cool spot overlooking the property. West Texas is the Best Texas because of places like this and people like Curt. Thank you for your hospitality Curt!

Has been over 2 weeks and still have not received my Damage deposit back Will never do Home away again

Very easy

Curt has some incredible property out at the end of the road in Terlingua. The views are outrageous and the solitude factor is pretty darn high. Curt was very helpful in getting me directions (cell service is limited/nonexistent, so don't rely on GPS while you're on the road) and recommending some scenic areas I might want to check out while I was down there. But I knew what I was there for...the pristine night skies! This area of Terlingua is situated in an exceptionally light pollution-free area of the country, so anyone who likes to stargaze or dabble in some astrophotography will be handsomely rewarded during a new moon. The smaller cabin is perfect for a solo traveler and I enjoyed waking up to the burros outside my front door every morning. This is a rugged retreat and if you need to unplug from things for a while this little cabin is highly recommended.

It was exactly as we had expected to be. We were prepared for the off-roading as that's part of our expedition. The drive to the property is off-road, so be prepared to take your SUV. We loved it, it was perfect for my husband and I. The animals added an extra sweet treat to the experience. You'll want to wake up to the view, it is all worth it.

the picture of our cabin was not what the cabin was like. it was no more than 350 square ft. the original picture had a jacuzzi in it. there was not one. there was no towel racks, no place to put up groceries, no place to prepare meals, no place to sit outside, because the burros always wanted to hang with us. it was so bad

The pictures in the advertisement were some what deceiving. There was no hot tub present. Somewhat smaller than expected. There were some simple things that should have been present but were not. No towel racks in bathroom, no toilet paper holder, no hooks for jackets, no towel holder in kitchen area. WiFi comes an goes. My husband enjoyed his time there, very peaceful, sunrise an sunset were beautiful. Overall time spent was good. Thank you.

We booked this room for our wedding night after we got married in the Terlingua Ghost town. After a call to explain directions a few days before our trip, we met Kurt at the gate to his property so he could let us in and fill us in on all of the property details. He's a great person and we spent quite a bit of time talking to him about the area and life in general. He recommended a nice ~ 4 mile hike that took us to views of the Chisos and Boquilla Canyon - awesome sunrise views! He has a few friendly burros and a horse that roam the property as well as plenty of wildlife (we saw a bobcat crossing the road to the room early in the morning!). We had the small room which was exactly as described - a small room with all of the amenities you need in the desert - shower, AC, sink, hot plate/microwave and cooking supplies, and a nice soft bed. There's a cable TV too but who's watching TV our here!? My only complaint was we only booked 1 night there but next time we will stay longer!

The cabin is small but met our needs perfectly. The views, especially from the observation deck but not exclusively there, were worth way more than what we paid for to stay there. Curt is a very helpful host. My wife and I really enjoyed our visit. Thank you Curt!

Curt is an awesome property manager and super friendly! Would definitely stay here again. If your looking for a place with views and not too far from Big Bend, this is it!