Terlingua
A former mining town on the edge of Big Bend that turned into one of the most memorable stops in West Texas.
Terlingua grew up around mercury mines, and the Chisos Mining Company went bankrupt in 1942. The old stone buildings, the hillside cemetery and the Starlight Theatre porch are what remain, and they make a fine starting point for a trip into Big Bend country. The first Terlingua chili cook-off was held in 1967, and the town still gathers for it every year.
After dark, look up. Big Bend National Park was designated a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park in 2012.