Lone Star Observatory | Off-Grid

Hosted by Dallas · Alpine, Texas

4 guests max · 1 bedroom · 2 beds · 1 toilet

First Hipcamper Club

Earn this patch by being the first to spend a night outside at a new Hipcamp.

Near Big Bend National Park

Within a 60-minute drive from the Persimmon Gap.

Lone Star Observatory is a private patch of off-grid Chihuahuan Desert deep within Big Bend's Terlingua Ranch, with one of the darkest night skies in North America directly overhead. There is nothing for miles to dim the stars. This is open desert with a small footprint: a solar-powered cabin with a real bed for when you want walls and a roof, a rock fire ring for relaxing evenings, and plenty of land to spread out and enjoy. Camp the way you like, then sleep in comfort. There is also a one-of-a-kind painted school bus on the property—a long-running art project that adds to the character of the place. It is not part of the guest space, but it photographs beautifully against the desert landscape and endless sky. You'll be surrounded by some of the region's most iconic destinations, including Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, the Terlingua Ghost Town, and miles of untouched desert with hardly another soul in sight. Return each evening to a warm fire and a sky so full of stars it hardly looks real. Wide open, genuinely private, and truly dark. Bring plenty of water and supplies from Alpine on your way in (about an hour away, and the nearest full-service town), then let the desert do the rest.Lone Star Observatory is a private patch of off-grid Chihuahuan Desert deep in Big Bend’s Terlingua Ranch, with one of the darkest night skies in North America directly overhead. There is nothing for miles to dim it. This is open desert with a small footprint on it: a solar-powered cabin with a real bed for when you want walls and a roof, a rock fire ring for the evenings, and plenty of land to spread out on. Camp the way you like it, then sleep soft. There is also a one-of-a-kind painted school bus on the land — a long-running art project that is part of the character of the place. It is not part of the guest space, but it photographs beautifully against the desert and the sky. You are surrounded by the big stuff: Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, the Terlingua ghost town, and miles of desert with no one in it. Come back at night to a fire and a sky so full it does not look real. Wide open, genuinely private, genuinely dark. Bring water and supplies from Alpine on the way in (about an hour — the nearest full-service town) and let the desert do the rest.

Select a site

Filter by

Lodging

1 site

NewInstant book

Lone Star Observatory — Off-Grid

Cabin · Sleeps 4 · 1 bedroom · 2 beds · 1 toilet

Lone Star Observatory is a private patch of off-grid Chihuahuan Desert deep in Big Bend’s Terlingua Ranch, with one of the darkest night skies in North America directly overhead. There is nothing for miles to dim it. This is open desert with a small footprint on it: a solar-powered cabin with a real bed for when you want walls and a roof, a rock fire ring for the evenings, and plenty of land to spread out on. Camp the way you like it, then sleep soft. There is also a one-of-a-kind painted school bus on the land — a long-running art project that is part of the character of the place. It is not part of the guest space, but it photographs beautifully against the desert and the sky. You are surrounded by the big stuff: Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, the Terlingua ghost town, and miles of desert with no one in it. Come back at night to a fire and a sky so full it does not look real. Wide open, genuinely private, genuinely dark. Bring water and supplies from Alpine on the way in (about an hour — the nearest full-service town) and let the desert do the rest.

Campfires allowed

Toilet

No potable water

Pets allowed

Showers

No picnic table

Be the first to review

Share your experience here to help other campers.

Location

Alpine, Brewster County, Texas, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Dallas C.

Joined in June 2026

Lone Star Observatory | Off-Grid

Select a site

Lodging

Lone Star Observatory — Off-Grid

Location

Hosted by Dallas C.

Things to do nearby

Similar campgrounds nearby

Popular searches in Texas