Stillwell Ranch Store and RV Park

We have spent the last few days here at the Stillwell Store RV Park located on Texas Ranch road 2627 just outside of Big Bend National Park. It is a very laid back environment down here! Every evening we gather around the porch to tell stories and have a bit of fellowship. Barbara is the second from the left sitting in the brown rocker. Nan, the daughter of the current owner, is seated the second to the left of the door and is a great story teller. The gal in the gold shirt by the post is Miss Della who is a local gal and quite personable.

This painting is of Hallie Stillwell and hangs in the Hallie Stillwell Hall of Fame and Museum on the grounds. Hallie was the wife of the founder of the Stillwell ranch who started the ranch in 1906 and they were married in 1918. Hallie lived a very long life and kept the ranch together with the help of her children after the death of her husband Roy. She was a very talented writer, rancher, business person, etc. and was much respected throughout the region. She was the first Queen of the International Chili Cookoff in Terlingua, TX and held that position each year until her death in 1997.
If you look closely you will see some rocks on the hill above that make the brand of the Stillwell ranch, 4 L, which stands for the four L's in Stillwell!

Life on the ranches in this area is very marginal as it is so arid. One ranch is 80,000 acres and only has 300 head of cattle. If they get rain they go up to 400 head! Many ranches are being sold to outside investors and money people who just want a place to escape to and play cowboy. Land sells for up to $350.00 per acre here! This is only a part of the accomodations for RV's here. There is another section for 30 amp and another one for primitive camping. If we wanted to we could stay here for a month with full 50 amps and hook ups for $300.00 per month. It is tempting as we have the satellite dish for internet and tv but we are so far out that the cell phones don't work!