Chisos Basin Improvement Projects

 
Artist rendering of new Chisos Lodge Building
Artist rendering of new main lodge building.

Pardon Our Dust

Thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act, work on two large construction projects in the Chisos Basin will begin in May 2025 and continue for approximately two years. As work begins, the Chisos Basin area will be closed to visitor entry. This includes the Basin Road, lodging units, Basin Campground, restaurant, NPS visitor center, camper store, and surrounding trail access. This work will ONLY affect the Chisos Basin area of Big Bend National Park. As major components are completed, park managers will assess which areas can be safely reopened to regular public access.

Stay tuned as construction contracts are finalized and work timelines are set.

 
Sunrise scene at Panther Junction

Big Bend National Park remains open throughout this project. Only the Chisos Basin area of the park will be affected. Over 800,000 acres and hundreds of miles of scenic drives (paved/unpaved), developed and primitive campsites, river access, and over 150 miles of hiking trails will remain open for visitors from around the world to enjoy.

Image credit: NPS

 
 
lodge conceptual image
Artist rendering of new lodge building

A Replacement for the Chisos Mountains Lodge

Constructed in 1964, the main Chisos Mountains Lodge is an important part of the park’s history. Generations of visitors have enjoyed the building’s modern aesthetic, large open interior, and expansive windows that frame the surrounding mountains and the classic view of the Window. Unfortunately, the Lodge was built on clay soils and soon suffered as the foundation moved and settled. Over the years, the settling caused significant damage to the foundation, roof, walls, windows, and building systems. Maintaining the building is no longer sustainable. In addition, burgeoning Big Bend visitation has far surpassed the kitchen and dining service capabilities of the facility.

In 2018, park staff began to evaluate solutions for a facility to serve the next generation of Big Bend visitors. Engineering studies established that repairing the failing foundation would require the complete removal of all walls and major features of the Lodge. The best option was to build a new building within the same footprint—a well-engineered facility that fits the landscape and meets high standards for energy, water, and operational efficiency to better serve the visitors of today and tomorrow.

In 2021, the NPS and Architectural Resources Group developed conceptual designs for a new lodge. The preferred design recognizes the Mission 66 aesthetic but includes improvements. The proposed building is clad in stucco, natural stone, and fire-resistant siding to blend with the environment. An elegant, angled roof, oriented to the south, allows for solar panels to capture energy throughout the day. Future visitors will enjoy the mountain views from the expansive outdoor terrace and reception area. For efficiency, the new retail store consolidates both the gift shop and camper store on the ground floor along with a “grab-and-go” food service. Behind the scenes, the mechanical equipment, food storage, and commercial kitchen are carefully designed to ensure the utmost in energy and water efficiency.

 

Replace Aged Waterlines

Water is the lifeblood of any desert, and in Big Bend, park managers are committed to using it as efficiently and responsibly as possible. To that end, a concurrent project will address the aging water distribution lines in the park’s developed areas, including the 3-mile pipeline from Oak Spring up to the Chisos Basin. Many of those lines date to the 1950s and have far exceeded their useful lives. By repairing or replacing damaged lines, upgrading storage tanks, and eliminating leaks, this project will ensure that the desert’s most critical resource remains available for thirsty plants, wildlife…and people.

 
 
  • First Look: Proposed Chisos Mountains Lodge Replacement

    First Look: Proposed Chisos Mountains Lodge Replacement

    In April 2022, the National Park Service hosted a virtual “first look” presentation on status and future of the Chisos Mountains Lodge, including the rationale for possible replacement versus rehabilitation, and to see for the first time a variety of site plans, floorplans, and artist renderings of a potential replacement for the Chisos Mountains Lodge main building.

    Duration:
    1 hour, 7 minutes, 10 seconds
 

Last updated: January 23, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-0129

Phone:

432-477-2251

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