Marfa is a small town in Far West Texas that is quickly gaining popularity for its art scene. Home to fewer than 2,000 residents, it might not seem like there’s much to Marfa, but this unique destination is full of intrigue, artistry, and an incredible sense of community pride. On our recent visit to Marfa, we sat down with the city’s Director of Tourism, Abby Boyd.
“Marfa is such a magical, amazing place, and I don’t want to rub any of the polish off of it,” she tells us, “but I think that some people come here, and they just see a movie set.” In reality, Boyd wants people to know that there’s so much more to this small Texas town. Beyond the quaint storefronts and film industry history (yes, they filmed “Giant” here in 1955), Marfa is a community of hardworking people with a passion for arts and culture. There’s something about it that attracts creative minds from around the world to the remote region of Far West Texas. Here’s why we think you should visit the Texas town of Marfa while it’s still a hidden gem.
8 The Chinati Foundation
The Chinati Foundation is one of the top reasons to visit Marfa, Texas. This contemporary art museum covers 340 acres of land on the former site of Fort D.A. Russell and houses the ideas of artist Donald Judd. Booking a guided tour here is the best way to understand the concept of each unique piece. A tour of the full collection is $30 per person.
7 Meeting Artists While They’re At Work
One of the best parts of visiting Marfa is the opportunity to not only appreciate art but engage with the artists who create it. Marfa is a town full of creative minds, and there are nearly 20 permanent art galleries to visit. We met South African artist Guy Sealey inside the LÉANA CLIFTON Studio and Gallery while he was meditating over his latest work, a piece inspired by the notion that people need to incorporate kindness into their everyday actions.
Beyond meeting artists at work, there are plenty of shops to explore that sell local artwork. Purchasing a piece of artwork in Marfa is the perfect way to take a piece of West Texas home with you.
6 Trendy Restaurants
A highlight of visiting Marfa is definitely the food. For a small town, Marfa boasts a huge variety of restaurants, many of which use fresh local ingredients in their dishes. Margaret’s in Marfa is a trendy spot with a lively bar and cozy atmosphere. Their cheese toast is a must-try.
For high-end dining, have a multi-course meal at Cochineal. We sat down for a six-course dinner, including House Heritage Grain Bread with Rabbit Rillette and Winter Fruit Mostarda, Wild-Hunted Nilgai with Burgundy Truffle Aioli and Cultivated Mushroom, Autumn Squash with Golden Beet and Carrot, Wild Texas Boar with Heritage Grain Pasta, and Southwest Free-Range Bison. We topped it off with a delicious Autumn Tarte Au Fromage with persimmon, tamarind, and spiced rye. The menu changes weekly depending on what’s in season.
5 The Marfa Lights
The Marfa Lights are an urban legend of the region that travelers can try to spot during their visit. The unexplained lights can be seen from a designated viewing platform on the outskirts of the town, looking out between Marfa and the Paisano Pass. While there is no current explanation for these mysterious glowing orbs, the theories range from aliens to ghosts and more.
Boyd tells us that 1886 is the earliest account of Marfa lights, seen by a ranch hand which was moving cattle. Since Marfa is on a migration path for Native Americans, it was once thought that the mystery lights were just campfires in the distance, but further investigation has proven this isn’t the case. We saw the lights during our visit to Marfa, and there is nothing quite like the otherworldly orbs dancing in the distance after nightfall.
4 Charming Hotels
For such a small town, Marfa has an impressive collection of hotels for guests to choose from. We stayed at the Hotel Saint George, which is comfortable, cozy, and centrally located, making it easy to explore the town on foot. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the hotel bar is a lively meeting spot for the guests.
Travelers can also book rooms at the iconic Hotel Paisano, which is best known for being the home base of the cast and crew of the movie Giant, which was filmed in Marfa in 1955. The Lincoln Marfa is another boutique hotel option that is comfortable and has a homey feel.
3 Prada Marfa
On the way to Marfa from El Paso, travelers can pull off to the side of the road and view the infamous Prada Marfa. Despite its appearance, this is not a luxury brand store in the middle of the desert. It’s an art installation designed to look like a store. It was created by artists Elmgreen & Dragset back in 2005. The inside of the sculpted store is inaccessible and holds real Prada items from that year’s fall collection. It’s a unique attraction that is seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
2 It’s A Great Stop En Route To Big Bend
Marfa is one of the few towns to stop at along the route from El Paso (where most international flights arrive) to Big Bend National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts traveling to Big Bend from El Paso may want to consider breaking up the long drive with a night or two in Marfa along the way. Stopping there means seeing a different side of West Texas and taking in the art scene that this town has become so famous for. It takes approximately three hours to reach Marfa by car from El Paso and another three to each Big Bend National Park from Marfa.
1 You’ll Experience Texan Hospitality
Arriving in Marfa, we were treated to warm greetings from everyone we met. In talking to Abby Boyd about whether this was the infamous Southern Hospitality we’d heard of, she told us it was Texan Hospitality.
“It’s not just where you’re located. It’s your identity. It’s a lovely thing,” says Abby of being Texan.
For more information on Texas, visit TravelTexas.com.