Marfa
The enigmatic city of Marfa sits in the high desert of Texas, surrounded by distant mountains in the daylight and mysterious ghost lights at night.
A vanguard for minimalism and modern art, Marfa continues to mystify and amaze visitors.
Lights, Art and Air
Fittingly named after a character in a novel, Marfa has a history of attracting creative spirits. Founded as a railroad water stop in the 1880’s the city limits are still bound on all sides by working cattle ranches, many still operated by their original descendants. On any given day you can find these natives in one of the many fine restaurants, galleries, or cultural events Marfa offers, along with visitors from all over the world who come in for urban dislocation.
On the surface, it is a typical rural town - a main street, a court house, churches and well-kept houses. Look deeper and you will find restaurants and art collections to rival New York or Berlin, a hotel filled with movie star’s memories and unrivaled eclectic accommodations, and campsites, or the modern Hotel Thunderbird.
Until the 1970s, Maria was best known for the ghost lights and as the film location for James Dean’s final picture, “Giant”, also starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and Dennis Hopper. The classically beautiful Hotel Paisano, served as the center of activity durning the making of the movie. Now, the well-appointed rooms offer modern conveniences while preserving the spirit of its past. If you are unable to stay there, a visit is a must - sit by a roaring fireplace in the lobby or enjoy the outside courtyard and fountain.
In 1971, Donald Judd, the renowned minimalist artist, moved to Marfa from New York City with the intention of permanently installing his art. Since Judd’s death in 1994, two foundations have been working to maintain his legacy: the Chianti Foundation and Judd Foundation. The Chianti Foundation now occupies more than 10 buildings and has on permanent exhibit works by such artists as John Chamberlain and Dan Flavin.
While in Marfa, don't forget to find your way to the viewing station east of town where you can study the mystery of the Marfa Ghost Lights as they dance across the foothills of the Chinati Mountains. Seen by the earliest settlers to the area, they continue to mystify travelers and passersby, and are part of the continuing enigma and magic that is Marfa.
