Casa de Creosote: Starry, cozy off-grid Cabin, Terlingua Ranch.

The cabin looked a little off on the outside but inside it was very homey and warm and welcoming. Very cute inside the cabin and the host was very social and friendly. He gave very clear directions and suggestions to make our stay comfortable and memorable. I would definitely recommend staying here! The night sky was just beautiful and the sunrise was amazing. I’d stay again.

I had a great stay at Jim's cabin.its a great place to really feel part of the area.comfy, great views good place to base yourself to explore this unique and beautiful part of Texas.

Exactly, exactly what we were looking for!

Jim the host is a good soul. The shower and the floating chair on the porch that made you feel like you were going to fly into the Stars were my favorite part of my stay. A memorable experience and a good spot to stay for the big bend park. Would come back!

Wonderful pioneer experience- “Little House in the Desert”

Great place to get Off-Grid, amazing view of the night sky and just perfect for me.

I liked that is was far away from people and we mostly had the place to ourselves. It was so pretty and so much fun to see the life away from city. However, plan for your stay. Pray for good weather because of inclement weather, rainy or overcast days, you will be hard pressed for electricity. We lost electricity more times than I can count and every night. We chose the worst time to go since it rained and was overcast. I wish we had chosen better times since it made that part hard.

We loved this off-grid little house so much! It was perfect for our family, and looked exactly like the pictures. It seemed to have a personal touch and built out of love. It also had everything we could possibly need for our stay. The only issue is that the ranch did not have free showers and the pool was 8 per day per person. It wasn’t a big deal, just different information than what was provided to us. We would definitely stay here again!

The view was majestic and room decent. I when there to get off the grid and relax, I believe I reached my goal.

Awesome time at the casa would absolutely recommend especially for artist. Great place for creativity.

My partner and I booked this for a trip with our teenage son. We ended up having to leave after the first night and booked a different location. The host was responsive when we communicated. However, the description of this stay needs to be more transparent and informative. We can see where this stay would be a better option for a couple or 2 people willing to share a bed during cooler months. We are familiar with off grid but this stay isn’t like any of our off grid stays. In our opinion, it is more like a camp site w a shelter due to the unreliable amenities listed. Be advised, the other bed is in a loft which does not have a dedicated AC. The house as a whole traps heat. It was intolerable in the loft. The unit in the common space blows hot air. When we reached out about how to cool the place, host said to open windows and run fans. We got in around 10 pm and by 12 am electricity was off. Fans off. It was miserable. We would have come better prepared or booked elsewhere if we knew there would not be enough enough bank to run any power over night. Pots and counters were very dirt. We know it’s the desert but we’ve camped in cleaner tent sites than this. We do pay a cleaning fee. Water access was good. Bedroom area was fine until power went out. Host guessed this was due to storm or overcast. This was not the case as day we arrived was very sunny and clear skies. In sum, make sure to read through all reviews.

Beautiful and remote. Off grid, remote has its own flavor. I simply was unprepared for the harshness of the environment. The cabin is beautiful, built by the host, very unique and eclectic. Entirely surrounded by mountains a complete 360! It's in the dessert folks, it's hot and it's dirty! My 3rd trip to BB but I'm much older. Jim is great, he's a local with knowledge, colorful stories, very conversational. The night sky is undescribable. And be prepared these ranch roads are rough!Go in prepared, as Jim describes, and you will love it here! The cabin is totally rain water and solar, if you know you know, good mini fridge and a mini split downstairs that freeze you out ..but don't leave that room. The dessert reclaims all your cool instantly. I mainly slept in the car out front and Jim didn't mind one bit!

Jim was an amazing host, very knowledgable of the area, when staying you HAVE to listen to his music. Brings the entire vibe of the house together

Beautiful location. Great place to stay.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at the Casa de Creosote in Terlingua Ranch. Jim was incredibly welcoming, communicative, and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed while also giving us plenty of space to relax and enjoy our time:)The house itself was fantastic—comfortable, well-kept, and perfectly situated. The views were truly breathtaking, overlooking the surrounding mountains and offering a peaceful setting, especially at sunrise and sunset.If you’re looking for a quiet getaway with stunning scenery and a thoughtful host, this is the perfect place. Off-grid but well, you have all the amenities you normally need, still being in the middle of a desert so just be mindful, that's it!:) Relax and enjoy!

Nice, calm environment for your off-the-grid adventure. Close enough to Big Bend and Terlingua to enjoy the sites but far enough away from the crowd. We enjoyed the simplicity of it all, especially the big bright starry sky! Thanks, Jim!

The best off grid desert vibes, Jim was an attentive host and we had everything we needed for a perfect week of “glamping”

Great proximity to big bend, home is as described. Could have been cleaner but really enjoyed the stay.

We enjoyed our stay overall and found the property comfortable, but there were a few things future guests may want to know. The listing did not mention that the owner/property manager is on-site, which made the space feel less private and remote than expected. A few dishes were not fully clean on arrival, and the front door deadbolt could use replacement for added security. With clearer communication and a couple of small updates, this place could be an excellent getaway.

We were there during a lunar eclipse the views were amazing

Host was very informative and easy to reach. We loved the outdoor seating - swing chair and hammock. It was perfect for some R&R, we wished we would have booked in for longer.

*WARNING- VERY CREEPY HOST*When I originally booked this property, I was under the assumption that the property would only be occupied by myself and that I would have total peace and tranquility. I had no idea that the property owner lived feet away and would be up at all hours of the night with all of his lights on doing strange activities and giving us unwanted interactions. I think if this hadn’t been the case, we may have been able to get past the conditions of the place but the mattresses looked like they were found in a dumpster. Jim also told us upon arrival that we couldn’t flush toilet paper down the toilet and needed to put toilet paper in the trash can. Jim also found a list of reasons to enter the cabin and invade our space. It was conveniently always when we weren’t there. This made us feel violated and unsafe. We also heard Jim come up to the window of the downstairs bedroom at 5AM.

The cabin had everything we were looking for: 2 beds, indoor plumbing and a shower to boot! It was nice to have a fridge and a camping stove to heat up food when needed. The area is very peaceful and great to admire the stars. Jim was very nice, even offering to pick up anything we needed when he headed into town. It’s a lovely place to escape from the city and 30 min drive from the west entrance to Big Bend.

The Casa de Creosote was such a cozy and charming place for a peaceful getaway. Jim was a gracious and generous host who made our stay welcoming and fun. I recommend this cabin if you need a place to reset and recharge while enjoying the beautiful desert scenery.

Incredible stay here! Jim not only puts in considerable care and effort into keeping the property up-kept and making sure your stay is enjoyable but is also a gracious host with plenty of fun stories and local recommendations!

Perfect house that had everything we needed

The cabin was beautiful -the property is a work of art in itself. We had everything we needed and Jim made sure we were comfortable and warm when the weather got cold. The location was great for exploring the area -an easy drive to Terlingua and to the national and state parks. We definitely hope to come back!

Jim was an absolute legend! He was very communicative and very kind. I would definitely stay at his wonderful home again!

Came out to West Texas for a long weekend and this was exactly what we were looking for! The cabin is incredible, it's truly impressive that Jim built everything himself! You get your middle-of-nowhere feel while still being close to the park: 30 minutes to the entrance, another 30 after that to the popular trails. You are also close to Terlingua where they have supplies and restaurants if you need that. But we really enjoyed cooking our own food at the cabin - Jim has everything you could need to make dinner by a campfire, morning eggs, you name it. We also loved the peace & quiet, and the unmatched stargazing we had at night. Jim is also an incredibly nice man, and will fix things on the spot if anything is even remotely out of place. Not to mention his competitive pricing. If we can find our way to Big Bend again, we will probably stay here!

Excellent host. I enjoyed the time spent at this location. If I make it back to the area, I’ll book again.

Jim is a great host!

My Husband and I were so happy with our stay at this beautiful little cabin over Easter weekend! The host was wonderful and incredibly responsive. Amenities were great, exactly as listed and no surprises! We were able to be secluded from others to enjoy the serenity of the desert. We took advantage of the wonderful food at the lodge up the road as well as the showers. 10/10 would recommend this place to ANYONE looking for the perfect way to enjoy the beauty of West Texas.

Amazing view, cute house. Jim is really nice. Be aware, the main room is actually a loft. At least for now.

Had a tremendous time, host was very helpful as was everyone around town. It was a great trip. The weather wasn’t great but it was an anomaly that just happened to happen, the host accommodated and offered any assistance we needed. 10/10 would recommend. To the host: thanks for being helpful and responsive.

Jim’s cabin is built with love and everything inside is functional. We enjoyed our getaway. The cabin was as described. It was safe and complete silence in the evenings. We enjoyed hanging on the porch for sunsets and star gazing. Incredible. We didn’t have cell signal (kinda the point) but his wifi was great when we needed it. He was very responsive to our questions! Really enjoyed our stay!

Stayed 2 nights. Located 30 mins from Big Bend NP, 1 hr from Alpine. Host provided spot-on directions. GPS was also accurate, but landmark descriptions from host were super helpful. There are 2 bedrooms, 1 downstairs and the other in the loft. Downstairs bedroom is connected to the bathroom and currently separated by a curtain/sheet in the doorway. Lots of tools and stuff lying around in the bedroom; host is actively updating the cabin so we figured this was why the tools were in the bedroom. Bedroom 1 also an exterior door with private porch. There is running water and conservation is important (minimal flushing, super short showers); water supply is rain water (it's the desert). Upstairs bedroom is one large room, mattress is on the floor. There is enough space for an inflatable mattress, though I suggest battery powered air pump to conserve electricity (solar powered). There is a portable fan up here which worked beautifully the first night; second night the power went out and still not sure why (could be due to overcast skies?). We were able to open the window, though, and it was glorious. The beds were some of THE MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS we've ever slept on! The most noteworthy negative: no cell service and landline is cordless no way to contact anyone when power was out (wifi went with the power). Cabin was very clean inside. Prepare for amazing sunrises/sunsets!

We absolutely loved our stay in Big Bend. This was one of the most unique and memorable places that we have stayed. This cabin has been built with lots of love and care, and you can tell. The porch was one of the most beautiful parts of the property. Every morning we would watch the sunrise and every evening the sunset. I’ve never been somewhere more quiet and peaceful. Jim wasn’t able to be there for our stay, but made sure that everything was well taken care of for us. It seems that most guests love when he is around as you can tell by reading the guest book. You will not regret booking this VRBO. One thing to note that I think is important is that the cabin is “off-grid” meaning that everything is run off solar power and precious desert rainwater that is collected when it does rain. Make sure you are sparing with the power and water and I would recommend bringing some of your own! Additionally, the stairs to the lofted bedroom are steep! If you can’t climb steep stairs this may not be the listing for you until Jim is fully done with the second downstairs bedroom. Overall, great experience and loved this place!

We loved our stay! I appreciate the fact that pers are welcome. They enjoyed the dessert as well :) Property and amenities were exactly as described. Will definitely come back!!

The cabin was amazing. The landscape surrounding us was very surreal to wake up to. The cabin has a lot of charm, and the host was very attentive to any needs or questions. If i am back in the area, i would stay there again.

The property is smaller but is such a great stay right near Big Bend. The stars outside are just incredible and there was plenty of room for 4 adults to sleep. Everything went super smoothly and I would highly recommend staying here!

If you are trying to get away this is the perfect spot. The property is nice and clean. They have everything you need. It was quiet and private far from any roads or other properties.

Casa de Creosote may not be the kind of place for everyone, but some, like me, will find everything. I booked a 5-night stay because I needed to get away from it all and let my mind wander a little while. The Chihuahua Desert seemed like the ideal place, and Casa de Creosote looked remote, relaxed and rejuvenating. It totally delivered.The property owner, Jim Keaveny (who is a great musician...seriously, listen to Happy Man), met up with me the day I got there to show me around the place and explain how the off-grid cabin worked, the essentials of water and energy conservation, and to tell me about the area. I could tell how proud he was of his quirky, handcrafted cabin and how much he wanted people to enjoy and respect it. I enjoyed all of it.Folks should know that while there is an indoor toilet, those who wish to help conserve water can (and should) use the compost toilet as much as possible. I would also recommend bringing your own water--not that the water there isn't usable or drinkable, it is--but the fact that all the water there is collected from the rare desert rain, it would just mean a lot to bring your own.As for the area, the views are spectacular, the night sky is gorgeous, and the desert life is fascinating. I would spend my days taking in the mesas in an area so quiet I could hear ravens' wings slowly fold as they flew by. I would spend my nights staring out into the stars in awe.This place will reward you for what you put into it. Treat it kindly.

A beautiful cabin with breathtaking views! Absolutely perfect! We enjoyed our stay very much! Thank you so much Jim!

Everything was as advertised but there is so much more!! Jim was great about communicating and when my two grand children and dogs were added to the trip at the last second he was like no problem. He even brought us propane for the heater as it was unseasonably cold. Off grid with some luxury, 1 million stars with no light pollution, a fire everynight and a great host. Highly Recommend!! Terlingua is a small community andJim knew everbody, great recommendations and an incredible host. Thanks Jim

Jim's cabin was a great place to stay, away from the noise and lights of the city. The property is set with views in all directions and we were able to disconnect in a big way. Would recommend to anyone wanting to try off-grid living.

Great place and great views

Very Cozy and relaxing! Absolutely breathtaking surroundings!

love love love this cabin! Off grid living with a shower…can’t get any better than that. The hammock was a huge hit with our 4 year old and don’t get me started on the views and the sky!! Jim is the best host. We will definitely be returning!

Jim was gracious about his hand built home but we felt some things were a little too ambiguous once arriving. We traveled with a dog and in the summer heat in the desert and only solar powered window A/C it was way too hot. We also didn’t know the “bedroom” was lofted. And we also didn’t know that the wonder lives on the property only a few feet away. The listing could use a little bit more info on a lot of these things. We did not end up staying here. With our dog not allowed in Big Bend we had to take him somewhere he could be kept cool and comfortable during the day. This place might be better for a couple that is not traveling with any animals and in the cooler months.