After a robust monsoon season this summer (so thankful)- we are excited for a beautiful fall. Look forward to seeing everyone in West Texas 🌞
📸: @caseycdunn
A typical summer day at Willow House ☀️ It might be hot this time of year, but summer also means less crowds and more time to lay by the pool. Our rates are also a little lower than normal for the next couple of weeks. Time for an impromptu road trip! 😍
Thank you so much to everyone who has already applied for the 8th annual Willow House Artist Residency program! The application will remain open until May 15th. Please share with any artist who you think might be a good fit!
The application will ask you to share more about your artistic practice, as well as why you’re drawn to our unique region. We’re excited to welcome a wide range of artists to work alongside each other at Willow House. You can find the application at the link in our bio, or on our website under ‘artist residency’. We look forward to hearing from you! This residency costs $550. This allows us to pay our staff, and to maintain the property during the residency. Please reach out to [email protected] with any additional questions or concerns.
We’re happy to announce the application for our 2026 artist residency is now open! We look forward to welcoming artists of a wide range to far west Texas. Email us at [email protected] with any questions. Link to the application in bio.
Image and work by Cruz Ortiz, 2023
There’s a lot happening quickly around the Big Bend border wall, and it’s important to separate fact from speculation. It has taken a lot to make sense of what is going so I wanted to make Sure we are all on the same page to be able to help create a coherent conversation over what is seemingly happening in lightening speed. DHS is actively using Section 102(c) to build barriers in some of the most sensitive lands along the U.S.–Mexico border, including national parks and private ranches. This authority lets the agency waive dozens of federal environmental, historic, and cultural laws, which is why construction is moving fast and with limited oversight.
While this is happening in Big Bend, it’s not just a regional issue — it’s a national problem:
* Legal precedent: Using Section 102(c) in sensitive public lands could make it easier for future administrations to override protections across the country.
* Impacts on all public lands: If unchecked, this sets a precedent where federal agencies could bypass environmental and cultural laws on millions of acres nationwide, not just along the border.
* Why it’s happening now: Leadership has chosen to exercise this power in Big Bend, a region previous administrations avoided due to cost, remoteness, and environmental sensitivity.
* Why it wasn’t done before: Big Bend’s rugged terrain, low crossing numbers, and ecological and cultural value made earlier administrations cautious.
* Other examples nationally: Disputes over public land in Utah, Alaska, and Minnesota show this tension between federal authority and environmental protection is ongoing across the U.S.
* Paths forward: Courts, mitigation efforts, state and landowner involvement, public advocacy, and Congressional action remain the practical ways to slow, limit, or shape the project.
This isn’t just about one wall — it’s about how the federal government can use its authority over public land nationwide, and why Americans need to understand and engage with these decisions.
Looking back at some spectacular photos @marcusc_photo shared from the beginning of the year and we are so grateful to be ending this year in the same magical spot where we started it💫Whether you’re looking for somewhere special to end your 2025 or to begin your 2026, we have the perfect place for you here at Willow House! Check out our website today to see what’s still available🌅
#VisitBigBend #FarWestTexas #desertmagic #desertretreat
Busy writing our letters to santa at this gorgeous desk✨Looking for someplace magical to spend your holidays? Head to our website to book your stay at Willow House! It would also make the perfect Christmas gift😉 #visitbigbend #farwesttexas #desertstay #holidaygiftideas
It’s always a good time to visit Big Bend National Park! If you’re looking for a cozy place to warm up at the end of a long day exploring, book a stay with us at Willow House🌟We’re just a few miles from the park entrance and have everything you need to unwind and relax in comfort💛
#visitbigbend #farwesttexas #holidaytravel #desertretreat
📷 by @marcusc_photo
