Rest Stop at El Cosmico

[Or Part 3: Poking around West Texas's Most Discussed Desert Oasis and an Exciting Upcoming Event]

A favorite topic among Austinites is Marfa, Texas. It’s a town deep in middle of nowhere West Texas – seven hours from any major city – and it’s shrouded in reverent mystery. It is said that this is where all the artists moved once Austin got to be too big, and they formed their own private universe out under the Marfa Lights away from prying eyes. After backpacking in Big Bend, Ryan, Bethany and I drove up to Marfa to see what all the fuss was about, and to camp at the only destination between Austin and Ciudad Juarez: El Cosmico.

The Teepees at El Cosmico are something out of a dream – the floors are covered in killim and cowhide and warmly decorated with vintage Bolivian blankets. This is where I’ll stay if when I return.

For $12 a night we pitched our tents next to the hammock grove and made ourselves dinner in the outdoor community kitchen. This place was a warm welcome back into the realm of civilization – straightforward people, simple appointments, quiet (except for noise from the nearby highway).

“Little Pinky”, my favorite trailer…

The outdoor bath and showers at the ranch are minimalistic and utilitarian, surrounded by grapevines. The simple use of thoughtful materials was one of the highlights of El Cosmico for me.

The “Cozy Coach”, a beautiful 1951 trailer…

This place is serene and dusty and bursting with quiet energy. It’s the kind of place one can go not just to relax, but to look deeply inward and recharge. I can’t wait to return for longer, with no plans and nowhere to be, to just sit and listen to the universe.

Marfa is the kind of place that one doesn’t get to travel to often, but there is one really good reason to head out there next weekend:

Our friends at GirlsGuild are heading out under the desert sky to celebrate music, art, food, and friends at the Trans-Pecos Gathering of Music and Love, September 27-30th in mystical Marfa, TX. They’ll tool, develop, stitch, and animate in a series of workshops, with four incredible artists sharing their skills. When the day’s work is done, they’ll be sharing stories and collaborating on cooking a campsite feast thanks to our friends at Feast for Days, followed by sweet songs under the stars from musicians including Ben Kweller, Amy Cook, and Heartless Bastards.

Workshops:

Lee Webster – 16mm Cameraless Animation
Natalie Davis – Leather Workshop with Canoe
Teruko Nimura & Tahila Mintz – Fabric Cyanotypes

Get registered for the workshops to save your spot, then let GirlsGuild know if you’re coming by RSVP’ing on the Facebook event for details. It’s going to be a blast!