Leapin' Lizard Guest House

A charming solar/rain-catchment adobe and stone cabin in a prime location, very private, with an unbeatable view of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend NP. This small off-grid/solar/rain catchment cabin offers a queen sized bed and utmost seclusion. COUNTY OCCUPANCY TAX: While Airbnb collects and remits Texas state occupancy taxes (6%), and they are included in your total from Airbnb, it is up to hosts to collect and remit county o.t.s. (7%). I send guests a request for the county tax payment before your arrival. It comes through Airbnb as a payment request, and is 7% of your total, excluding service fees. It must be paid before your reservation date. AUGUST 8, 2020. A BRIEF NOTE ON COVID 19: Due to the pandemic, I have changed a few procedures concerning accepting reservations, meeting my guests, orienting folks as to how the house's systems work, and cleaning and safety protocols. 1) If you wish to let me know whether you are fully vaccinated, it would be so appreciated. I, myself, am. I also take the utmost care to social distance and wear a mask when it’s wise to do so. 2) Once guests make a reservation, Airbnb provides instructions on finding the guest house. I no longer meet folks in person and guide them here. !!!!3) I provide paper copy inside the guest house as to how things work, where to find the drinking water, etc., rather than orienting people in a personal walk-through. It can’t be stressed enough that everyone must read this information. PLEASE DO NOT LOAD UP THE INCINERATING TOILET WITH TP OR LOTS OF URINE! IT COMPLETELY IMPEDES THE BURNING PROCESS and causes a disgusting problem. Read the material provided, please! 4) At the end of your stay, please strip your own linens and put them and used towels in the plastic trash bag provided, found inside the hamper in the bedroom. Also wash thoroughly in hot water all dirty dishes, leaving them to dry in the rack provided. 5) If for any reason we need to interact indoors, masks will be worn by everyone and a social distance of 6' is required. In order to be open safely, these requirements must be met by all. I do my part, as always, by providing an impeccably clean and sanitized place to enjoy. That being said, thanks for your interest in the Leapin' Lizard! The Leapin' Lizard Guest House is a small rain-catchment and solar-powered adobe and stone house on 20 acres, located 2 miles from Terlingua Ghostown, the cultural center of Terlingua's universe. It's convenient to both Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Hiking, mountain biking, rafting and canoeing, atv, jeep, air tours and golf are all activities close by. The porch of the Terlingua Trading Company in the Ghostown is the local 'family room', where live music is often played. The Starlight Theatre, also in the Ghostown, offers fine dining and music as well. The Leapin' Lizard sits at the end of a dirt road - very private and peaceful, with an uninterrupted view of the Chisos Mts. in Big Bend Nat. Park. It's located 1.5 miles off of the pavement, but it's a good road, maintained by a p.o.a., and fine in any weather for any vehicle with normal clearance. On the rare occasion when it rains, there may be a muddy spot or two, but nothing impassable. It’s an all-weather road. Water at the guest house is provided by a rain-water collection system, fairly common here in our desert. Mindfulness about the amount of water you use is important here. The Leapin' Lizard is also a solar-powered place, and while there are lights, plus you can charge any usual devices you may have, leave high-electricity-use items such as hair dryers at home. Please don't bring ANY appliances of your own such as fans, coffee-makers, MEDICAL DEVICES or electronic toys... An oscillating floor fan is provided during the warm months. The adobe has a very comfortable queen-size bed, with linens and towels provided. There is also a cot available, which works well if there are two friends in your party, or an adult and child. No toddlers please, as there are safety concerns; the house sits in a native environment and there are steps, rocks, and cacti all around. If you have a young child that you hope to have stay, let's talk about it first. Wi-fi is available on the property, but not accessible inside the guest house. You'll find a good signal and a comfortable place to (Email hidden by Airbnb) ing soon! 5G internet service. The outdoor kitchen has what you need to fix meals from breakfast burritos to steaks, including a small propane refrigerator, a 4-burner cook top, and a charcoal Weber grill. There is no oven and no microwave. Drinking water and a few spices are provided, as well as coffee and cooking oil. The coffee systems are a choice of a porcelain Melita cone/ filter and insulated carafe, a French press, or an old-fashioned enameled stovetop percolator. There are plenty of dishes and utensils of all kinds. The kitchen facility is simple but very serviceable. The sink is an old enamel/cast iron one from the 50's, with built-in drain boards and cupboard space below. There's a large stainless steel container with a faucet that provides water to the sink. You can also bring hot water for dish washing from the spigot located in the outdoor shower a few steps away, in the enameled kettle provided for that purpose. Simple, but it works. The, ahem, bathroom facilities are about 30' from the house, in a little adobe structure that houses a county approved propane incinerating toilet, and the most necessary requirement - a seat with a view. An incinerating toilet is waterless and meant mostly for solid waste, but can also handle some liquid. Peeing in the great outdoors is not a requirement and at your discretion, but is greatly appreciated. ALL t.p. goes in the trash can provided, NOT in the incinerator; wet t.p. impedes the burning process. The stone outdoor shower is plenty private, yet you can still enjoy the view of the mountains over the top of its cedar gate. There's plenty of hot water. There's also a patio that's separate from the house, shaded by a raised deck, where you're welcome to throw down a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars or just enjoy the sunset view from a different perspective. There's another building, which began life as a two-stall horse barn, about 200 feet west of the rental (the porch/ main windows/views from the rental face east, towards the National Park). It's where I live. I understand, however, that peace and privacy are two of the best things about being at my guest house, and I make certain you have plenty of both. Hope to see you in Terlingua! You have access to the whole 20 acres, the adobe bedroom, the porch, which contains the kitchen area, has a small dining table, and comfortable seating for relaxing with a book or enjoying the view. The stone addition to the adobe can be used to set up a cot when needed, and also has a sink and countertop. There is aseparate 8'-high deck, nice for stargazing or throwing down a sleeping bag, with a shaded area on the stone patio below. Up on the deck is a great place to be, weather permitting, during any of the meteor showers that occur throughout the year. Also a nice place to just enjoy the mountain view! Please, no extra people are allowed on the premises for parties or gatherings other than your own group, without asking first. Sorry, no pets. I'm available to address any needs and questions my guests may have, but unless they initiate fellowship, I give folks plenty of space and privacy. I've met some wonderful people who have stayed with me, but understand that everyone is different and some are more interested in friendly interaction than others. I've lived in Big Bend 36 years and am happy to share my knowledge of the place, the outfitters and activities here, some of the best hikes to do, etc. Feel free to ask! There are also a few chores I do around the place, such as watering plants and checking on your drinking water supply, that I take care of as unobtrusively as possible - generally when you are out and about enjoying your day. Some things I love about my 'neighborhood' are the view! And the quiet! And the proximity to area attractions... I also consider the folks across the Rio Grande to be my neighbors and friends, and if you are so inclined and have a passport, it can be a wonderful experience to cross over (by rowboat) into the village of Boquillas, Coahuilla, Mexico. Located across the river from Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park, the crossing reopened there (finally!) awhile back. I mention it here so that if this interests you, you'll know to bring your passport. (Note: Boquillas has been closed since the pandemic began. It may be worth checking to see if that policy still holds before you arrive.) There is no taxi sevice or public transit in Terlingua. I feed the birds here in the winter and early spring months, and you're likely to see a variety of feathered locals at the feeder, especially in the spring. Scaled quail come in, as do Scott's orioles and Mexican cardinals. It's common to hear the coyotes singing in the evening or early morning. There are also several great horned owls that hoot in the early hours of the morning, mostly during the warmer months. A note on the Leapin’ Lizard’s resident dogs; I have two, an older heeler/Aussie mix named Willow, and a young heeler named Ruby. Willow seldom visits my guests, but Ruby is a social animal! She loves everybody and can be pretty enthusiastic about meeting new friends. Please do not give them any leftovers or treats! If you have allergies to dogs or are just uncomfortable with them, my guest house may not be the best choice for you, as they spend much of their time outside and it’s difficult to keep them from visiting. Also, as you come and go from the property, please drive slowly and be aware Willow and Ruby may run out to meet or follow your vehicle. Thank you!