Sweet Adobe Home

This sweet adobe home from the 1950s is nestled in a garden of fruit trees and succulents. A private patio has a ramada (covered patio) and is perfect for outdoor dining, BBQ and stargazing. The home was lovingly renovated and maintained by my parents for 25 years. Beautiful tiled floors, furniture and outdoor touches reflect their love of Mexico. Marathon is an eclectic, rural town in the heart of the Marathon Basin and a great place to explore the region, be it Big Bend, Ft. Davis or Marfa. The house is in the old "Mexican" side of town. It still has that open and friendly neighborhood vibe. Don't be surprised if when sitting on the front porch in the quiet, early morning hours, enjoying a cup of coffee, you see a family of javelinas or wild turkeys running by the gate. But no need to worry, because there is a fence to keep the property safe. Seeing local birds and wildlife is a wonderful part of living in Marathon. The house has a covered garage to shade your car from the sun. The adobe construction helps keep the house cool during the day. Nights are cool even in the summer, but there are air conditioners just in case. The guests will have the entire house and yard available to them. The only place that is not accessible are the sheds in the backyard. I am not in Marathon but am available by phone, and you'll have contact information for neighbors who can help in person. Marathon is a peaceful place and has one of the darkest and starriest skies in the country (Class 1 Dark Sky). A vibrant variety of birds flock to the water and vegetation in this high desert town. It was established in 1882 by Captain Albion Shepard who said the surrounding plains reminded him of Marathon, Greece. The railroad runs right through town and the ghostly horns blowing at night remind you of the time when Marathon was a principal shipping point for most of the Brewster County ranchers. Today, the historic Gage hotel still operates but now for curious travelers. There you can enjoy the great White Buffalo Bar and a fine restaurant. Marathon is also home to some pretty amazing BBQ at Brick Vault Barbecue and Brewery (named one of the top 25 new barbecue joints in Texas by Texas Monthly), and coffee/breakfast/lunch spots at V6 Coffee Bar or the more traditional Oasis Cafe among others. You can also always shop at French's Grocery for organic fare to make at home. The Post Park, an old Comanche watering hole, is a short drive down Post Road and is a lovely place for a picnic or just to enjoy the sunset and watch the birds, javelinas, turkeys, deer and jack rabbits as you stand on some of the oldest rocks from the Paleozoic age on the Marathon Uplift. Big Bend, Marathon Basin, Marfa, Ft. Davis & McDonald Observatory are all within an easy drive. The best way to get around is with a car. There are Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains that stops in Alpine, about a half hour drive from Marathon. And it's an easy walk to the Main Street from the house, but there's plenty of parking, so most people choose to drive. The third bedroom with a queen sized bed and its own bathroom and shower is a separate apartment just across the garage from the main house. It's very nice and where I stayed with my kids when I visited my parents when they lived there. It is not an adobe structure but a more recent add-on. You can easily access the main house just across the garage through the kitchen door. There is no central air or central heating. There are individual heaters in all the rooms and air conditioners in the windows. The heaters are free standing and are certainly safe but may not be appropriate for little kids since they are just at their level. We have two blow up mattresses that are available if your party has more than 6 guests. Please note that there is an extra charge of $10 per additional guest. Although children are welcome, please know that house is not baby proof!