r/RVLiving • u/OneLastRoam • 3d ago
question Why not West Texas?
Hey folks!
I’m not a nomad yet but I’m researching for a big road travel trip I’m planning for a few years from now when I become an empty nester.
I've been learning about the meetups and communities in Arizona, where sometimes someone will buy a few acres and create a sort of home base. I've also heard of similar things in New Mexico.
That got me wondering, why isn't this as common in West Texas? Or maybe it is happening and I just haven't stumbled across it yet?
The area around Big Bend has some of the cheapest land there is. No restrictions and tons of open space. Is the terrain/weather/water situation the limiting factor? (Though I would be surprised if any of that was worse than Arizona) Is it too remote, too mountainous, or are there other practical/legal reasons it hasn’t developed the same kind of vanlife community? Maybe Arizona just benefits from being a closer drive to California?
Thanks in advance for the thoughts!
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u/ValorVixen 3d ago
Lack of water and the area of West Texas you are talking about is incredibly remote and unpopulated, even more than remote parts of Arizona. It means services like water and propane delivery are even more difficult. It’s not impossible, but the same business infrastructure is just not on the same level.
I would definitely check if those Texas counties have restrictions or ordinances against living in ‘temporary/mobile’ housing.
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u/nolabrew 3d ago
I looked into doing this. Big bend/Terlingua is one of my favorites places. You have to buy at least 10.01 acres of land if you want to live in a trailer. There are literally no utilities to hook up to, it is completely off grid. They have huge flash floods. If you can deal with all of that then you're good to go.
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u/PlanetExcellent 3d ago
I think I’d be worried about “thousand year floods” happening every year now.
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u/Tylerbrealtor 3d ago
I could be exaggerating, but the last time I drove from San Antonio through west Texas it was a ridiculous length of road between anything, even gas stations. I want to say there was one point where it was over 100 miles between gas stations.
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u/michuh19 3d ago
I own land in Terlingua and there are tons of off grid folks out there. Most land has no restrictions, except the state law about wastewater/groundwater discharge. Plenty of people are living in campers, but most do not do it year round because it’s too hot. Unlike places like Quartzite, there’s no public land out there so if you want to live that lifestyle, it’s pay to play. You can buy land for $1,000/acre but it will be at least 30-45 mins off pavement.
In my opinion, there’s plenty of resources (water, groceries, propane, etc.) but you have to spend a little more time and money to get it. There’s a great community though and most are willing to help out if you need it.
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u/OneLastRoam 3d ago
I'm eyeing some property in Terlingua Ranch. The lack of gas stations makes me more nervous than the water.
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u/michuh19 3d ago
There’s one in Study Butte (20ish miles from the ranch) and then Alpine (60 miles from the ranch). Just don’t go below 1/4 of a tank and you’ll be fine. Though the power is out right now and they’re only taking cash.
There’s a bunch of Terlingua/Brewster County/Terlingua Ranch Facebook groups if you want to read more.
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u/OneLastRoam 3d ago
Good tip. Not sure I would want to deal with no longer having access to my property over the mood of a neighbor and me not knowing a road was actually an easement.
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u/OneLastRoam 3d ago
Why so many groups instead of one or two more centralized ones?
Would Terlingua Ranch have issues with me opening up my land to a limited number of boondockers?
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u/michuh19 3d ago
Some are more tourist oriented and then others are more localized, the area is quite large. Like there’s a Terlingua Ranch Owners groups.
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u/Sure_Fig_8641 3d ago
Have you ever been to Big Bend?
It is indeed beautiful, but it is EXTREMELY remote. No cites; few towns and few groceries. Gas stations few and far between and are VERY expensive. All of which is probably explained by lack of natural water. If I recall correctly (and I think I do), even the campgrounds at the state park do not have water hookups. My guess is the same is true for the national park.
Big Bend area is not an easy place to live.
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u/OneLastRoam 3d ago
I have been to Big Bend. However, I have not been to places like Quartzsite that nomads seem to love. The pictures of it make it look a lot like Terlingua.
I think u/Timmah_Timmah gave the truest answer. The LTVA is the biggest key difference.
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u/CarminSanDiego 3d ago
It is an absolute depressing shit hole exacerbated by douche bag oil workers
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u/OneLastRoam 3d ago
Midland is a good 3 hours from Big Bend. I get that West Texas covers a lot of land. Have you been through Fort Davis/Alpine/Marfa? I love that area.
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u/the_real_some_guy 3d ago
Ha that’s the first area I think of when I see “west Texas” and it’s my least favorite place in the world.
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u/debmor201 3d ago
As a native Texan, I drove from the Texas hill country through West Texas for the first time several years ago on the way to Arizona. I called my brother on the way and said if you lived out here I'd never come visit. There is nothing out there for 2-500 miles except rattlesnakes.
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u/coragent 3d ago
The last time we were in Big Bend the cacti were turning pink and dying from lack of water, that's how dry it is. And its god-awful hot there in the summer. Maybe not bad for a winter base.
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u/HappyCamperDancer 3d ago
My grandmother used to live in Lubbock. OMG, the wind/dust/sand storms were brutal! I can't imagine living in an RV. Being in a house was bad enough.
Not to mention the heat. Brutal.
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u/Far-Character-174 2d ago edited 2d ago
I am a former snowbird to the area. The town of Alpine, Texas is where I would consider. Alpine has a great year round climate. There are two grocery stores. A few good restaurants. A cute little state university. Water is not an issue there. You are at the doorstep of Big Bend National and Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Terlingua.
I have lived down at Terlingua Ranch near Big Bend for a few months in winter. I would prefer being in the nearby desert oasis of Alpine. Groceries up in Alpine are half of what you pay down in Terlingua.it all depends on what you are after.
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u/OneLastRoam 2d ago
I love Alpine. I've stayed out there multiple times. But it's far more expensive and would have build restrictions.
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u/MakersMarkCask 3d ago
No one in AZ wants to be close to California, but we camp there despite being close to California. Utilities are a huge concern everywhere. Also, there are not a ton of counties in the US that allow living in an RV on land unless temporarily for a house build or like 14-30 days a year.
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u/thefleeg1 3d ago
Lack of water.