ABOUT
Willow House is a twelve casita desert retreat on over 250 acres of private land. With unobstructed views of the Chisos Mountain Range, it is the perfect location to relax and unwind in Far West Texas. Its close proximity to Big Bend National Park allows guests easy access to the Rio Grande River, Chisos Basin hikes, and everything else the area has to offer. If you are not much of a chef, there are several restaurants within a 3 mile radius that are open for dinner 7 days a week. If you enjoy cooking, the communal Main House has a fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Whatever your style while traveling, we built the space to be versatile. We encourage our guests to take a sunset cruise around the property, stargaze around the fire at night, mix a cocktail, and hopefully meet a few new friends along the way. The space is well suited for entire group events as well- serving as a serene setting for a wedding, milestone birthday or company retreat.
THE CONCEPT
The Willow House concept was born after a trip to Big Bend National Park that sparked a love for Far West Texas and the freedom that comes with exploring this remote part of the world. We set out to offer our guests a unique place to stay, unlike anything else in the area. Willow House is the perfect combination of remoteness and accessibility, community and privacy, sophisticated interiors and comfort. The proximity to the park makes Willow House desirable beyond its design. Guests are close enough to Big Bend National Park (6 miles to the entrance) to hike South Rim for the day and be back on property for a sunset dinner. Willow House is built entirely with views in mind. The size and topography of the land ensure our views of the Chisos Mountain Range are never jeopardized by any future developments in the area. The hope is to create a place that stands the test of time.
THE BUILD
Willow House sits on just under 300 acres of raw land. The structures, completed in Spring 2019, are single story stand-alone casitas. The water source for the entire property is a water well powered by a solar pump. Two heavy duty reverse osmosis systems filter the well water. Drilling our own water source was a big moment for the project, as water is scarce in this dry, high-desert region.
The structures were built with three principles in mind:
1) Respect for the natural landscape
2) Preservation of the Chisos Mountain Range views (for everyone in the town, not just our guests)
3) Protection from the elements (namely strong winds and sun).
The design is sophisticated yet comfortable. We mixed design elements from high desert areas with warm modernism and a hint of inspiration from Georgia O'Keeffe's unforgettable southwestern style. In all design decisions, we chose to use colors and textures that naturally existed on the land. For rock walls and pathways throughout the property, we used rocks that we sourced and collected from various areas of the property. For the shade structures, we used dead ocotillo branches we found around the property. In order to build structures that stand the test of time, we have used high-quality materials that are durable in a climate that can be dramatic.
THE FOUNDER
The land found her.
“I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.”
“There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, its charm.”
“Life is a great adventure... accept it in such a nature.”