Darkest sky in West Texas and the gateway to Big Bend National Park

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Entire apartment·Private host

Choose dates to view prices

Dates

January 2025

February 2025

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

Entire apartment

1 bathroomSleeps 221 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Free WiFi

Explore the area

Marathon, TX

Sul Ross State University
32 min drive
Big Bend Regional Medical Center
33 min drive
Museum of the Big Bend
34 min drive
Alpine, TX (ALE-Casparis Municipal)
37 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

Kitchen

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

for 1 cottage

includes taxes & fees

3 Jan - 4 Jan

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

One of the experimental buildings on our property, this structure was designed and built partially by the same artisan who did a good bit of the foundation work on Eve's Garden, one of the best examples of 'papercrete' building world wide and located in north Marathon. This building, named 'Na Bolom' or 'Jaguar House' in Mayan was constructed in the manner of the ubiquitous conical structures in Southern Italy, all through desert communities in the Middle East, Africa and is comfortable for two persons.Come try this amazing edifice in the wilds of the far west Texas, trans-Pecos region just north of Big Bend National Park.
There is a deck on the west side and access is encouraged to the other experimental building projects on La Loma Del Chivo. Free dust and wind are constants , as is the overwhelming brilliance of the great via lactea (milky way). Hot water provided( please quick showers , you are in the desert).

Air-conditioned apartment with patio, fridges and microwaves
Free WiFi
29.9 miles (48.1 km) from Sul Ross State University and 31.1 miles (50 km) from Big Bend Regional Medical Center

Property manager

owner/property manager

Languages

Czech, English, Polish, Slovak, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

Car required
Parking on site

Food and drink

Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Microwave
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices

Bedrooms

Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided

Entertainment

Games

Outdoor areas

Outdoor furniture
Patio

Laundry

Laundromat nearby

Comfort

Air conditioning
Heating

Pets

No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

Designated smoking areas
Note from host: Smoking allowed outside

Location highlights

In the mountains

Things to do

Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher

General

Property does not allow children
Unit size: 225 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Contactless check-in and check-out are available

Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

No pets allowed
Note from host: No pets in this building

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.

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

Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 6

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

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

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Darkest sky in West Texas the Gateway to Big Bend National Park

Darkest sky in West Texas and the gateway to Big Bend National Park Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10 Excellent

Meg C., McKinney, TX

6 Jul 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Great experience

Very cute little place, great stop on our way to camping in Big Bend. Small but well equipped. Do keep in mind that the shower opens directly into the bedroom (not bathroom), so the place is only suitable for folks who are very comfortable with one another, unless one wants to wait on the (great view) patio while the other showers.

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barb C.

18 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Out of character for us but a hoot!

Cool, comfortable and weird all rolled up in one.

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carrie W., San Benito, TX

8 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Big Bend Getaway

We were headed to Terlingua and always stay one night in Marathon and usually at The Gage. This little gem is so close to everything you need in Marathon. It was easily accessible, and we were greeted at check in and shown around the property. We enjoyed our night and will certainly stay again.

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bill K.

8 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Just what I needed

Clean room, very comfortable bed with high quality linens, and a nice hot shower. Exactly what I needed. Thanks again for having me.

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel K.

24 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

marathon bliss

excellent hostess. very responsive and thorough. uniquely superb interior design. excellent shower. beautiful night sky. immediate surrounding structures a tribute to creative humanity.

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacey

Travelled with partner

4 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Our host, Ingrid is absolutely amazing and so sweet! Her property is very special and loaded with unique treasures to admire. Absolutely the place to stay if you're looking for something different and unique!

10/10 Excellent

Rachel C.

27 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

A beautiful place to search my soul

I came to the property to stare at the big sky and ponder my life choices. My room was quiet, private, comfortable and so much fun! I love how unconventional the property is, and how everyone there seems to value sovereignty, the spiritual qualities of the land, and the value of human connection.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Samuel Shamus D.

28 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

PERFECT Launchpad for Big Bend Adventure!

This wasn't my first stay at this property, so I knew it would be great in terms of location and amenities, and it didn't disappoint! The owner was communicative, made sure we were cared for despite our (rather late!) check-in, and once again, we had another great adventure in the park the next couple of days. I'm hoping this will be available on our next trip too :)

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael

18 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Marathon is unique, charming, and a place we should all visit. This place made it even more of all of those.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeannie

27 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

What a wonderful place to go to unplug and relax! Loved the view of the Milky Way and the other constellations. Thank you for having me

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

melissa

Travelled with partner

10 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

This place inspires creativity and implants the traveling bug into your heart! Super cozy, cool, and comfortable! Ingrid is a rockstar! Will be back!

Stayed 1 night in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lauren W.

3 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect for the trip we had in mind

Very unique. We enjoyed that we could walk out the front door at 4am, look up, and see the Milky Way. The bathroom and shower are very tiny. Be prepared to step outside to give some privacy. Definitely made for some good laughs. The bed was very comfy and clean sheets plus new comforter was a plus! Very close to the center of town, which we appreciated, especially since we treated ourselves to the Gage Spa after Big Bend!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Linda

23 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

The property was unique and different. Marathon needs more dining choices during the week.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

5 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

La Loma Del Chivo

We thoroughly enjoyed our night in Na Bolom. The decor was energizing, we had everything we needed for comfort, and loved that there wasn't a TV to distract us from enjoying the stars. As a couple in our 60's, getting to the toilet/sink was a bit of a hoot, but we did it. What a wonderful change from staying at cookie cutter, sterile chain hotels. Thanks to our hosts for creating a space that brought us out of our ordinary experience.

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin W.

16 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

Big Bend

The place was amazing, the house was nice and clean and the owner was super friendly and awesome! We will definitely stay here again. Oh and the views were amazing as well!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

David W.

9 Dec 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Magical little cottage

We treat ourselves to a night in Marathon after several nights of tent camping in Terlingua. Nebalom offers a nice bed and a warm shower in a very cool building. We really enjoyed the building in Goat Hill had fun sharing our pictures with our friends. I highly recommend this property for a nice getaway or stop over.

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Craig P.

21 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Place to stay for Quick Trip to Marathon

A truly unique place to stay for a quick trip to Marathon. A memorable location we will never forget and a story we will always be eager to share of the night we spent in an artists Paper-Crete home. Ingrid was very helpful, the views were amazing, even the west Texas thunderstorm, and the price was great for a one night stay in Marathon, TX. Def recommend.

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alex C., Monahans, Texas

31 Jul 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun place!

Love these neat places you find out in the middle of nowhere! My kind of perfect and the owners are my kind of people! Will def come back and very soon! Thank you Ingrid!

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stacy S.

17 Jun 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Marathon visit

We enjoyed Marathon and great location for us.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Bob R.

16 Jun 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Quirky

Where we stayed was cure and comfortable, but the surroundings were a bit trashy. Great value for the money

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shelly H.

20 May 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice time!

Enjoyed our stay! Property very clean and bed so comfy....peaceful morning coffee on the back porch!

Stayed 1 night in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gilbert T.

6 Jan 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Small but roomy

The property had a very unique design. It’s in a very small town burn with easy access to big bend national park. There’s very little light pollution so you can really see the stars at night. Would rent here again.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carrie Q.

31 Dec 2020

Liked: Cleanliness

The Perfect Place to Stay

We loved our stay here! The bed was so comfy after a day filled with hiking in the park. Our days were packed with activity, so we didn’t get to spend much time enjoying the other experiences provided by this little community. Next trip, we’ll be sure to spend more time hanging around the the grounds getting to know other visitors. This place was exactly what we were looking for in our stay. We can’t wait to come back!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Shamus, San Antonio

Travelled with family

10 Dec 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

I've been defining this place with the word "unique" in some of the best kinds of ways. It was exACTLY what we needed for our stay before and after our adventure in Big Bend, and it will be a part of our story for years to come! The owners were accessible right when they said they'd be, they were responsive, helpful, and made our stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible! Unique, yes, and simple, and, for us, an important part of our epic adventure!

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Craig P., Robbinsdale, MN, USA

7 Dec 2020

Liked: Cleanliness

Quiet, relaxing and adventurous

We REALLY enjoyed our stay here! Ingrid is a terrific host and the house we stayed in is an absolute piece of art. Everything was super clean and comfortable. There’s also a “community “ elevated deck to take in the beautiful Chihuahuan Desert sunset. We met several neighbors on our walks in the community and found everyone exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We are already planning a return trip to explore more of Big Bend National Park and the surrounding area. Thanks again to Ingrid and her neighbors!

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020