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Best Big Bend Restaurants: Top Terlingua Restaurant

Big Bend Restaurants, Terlingua Restaurants

Whether you seek the best of Big Bend restaurants or the top Terlingua restaurant, topping the list for both is the Bad Rabbit Cafe located at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge resort.

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It started out as a design for a boys’ school crest, but the Terlingua Rabbit was just too wild to stay at home. When artist Bill Neale’s creation joined forces with the likes of Carroll Shelby and friends, and adopted the name Crazy Rabbit, it was the beginning of fast living and fast cars.

Per Neale, he had designed the “heraldic rabbit” for Dallas attorney David Witts when Witts had plans to develop his 200,000 acre Chiricahua Ranch into a combination hunting park and boys’ school. “The boys school didn’t materialize for a lot of reasons,” says Neale, “but we didn’t waste the crest.”

During a hunting/partying expedition in the early 60’s, the idea of the Terlingua Racing Team was born and so was Crazy Rabbit’s new career. In an early Racing Team press release, Neale explained the meaning of the crest’s elements: “The rabbit thrives in the Big Bend and being fast of foot was picked to dominate the design. He’s holding his right front foot up to say ‘Hold the chili peppers in the chili.’ The sun is there bcause it always is in the Big Bend country. The feathers represent the three Indian tribes: Comanches, Apaches and Kiowa, that lived in the area and were responsible for the Terlingua name.

Although the three feathers appear to have been dropped when Crazy Rabbit was incorporated into the Terlingua Ranch logo, the original design still graces the ’67 Shelby Mustangs owned and run by many racing enthusiasts.

It is unclear how or why Rabbit’s first name changed from Crazy to Bad – maybe 30 years of being settled at Terlingua Ranch has slowed him down a bit. Or perhaps he’s adjusting to the changing times.

“Killer food. Best onion rings I’ve ever had. Handcut fries… Delicious vegetable quesadilla. Awesome burger. Great breakfast. Friendly folks. Just awesome.”–Gene J.

“Hard to imagine that one the best burgers of my life can be found here. Well done, just like I like it, but very juicy with grilled onion and jalapeños. Amazingly good!”–Jay B.

“The Bad Rabbit Cafe is a true gem… I didn’t meet the cook but wanted to tell him his food is truly delicious. We were surprised at how many items were on their menu. “–Texas Gal

“Wonderful experience. The rooms were just as advertised with comfy beds and hot showers. The Bad Rabbit restaurant is a wonderful gem in the middle of the desert.”–Robin B.

“They have a little on-site cafe called the Bad Rabbit which is a fun place to eat with live entertainment most evenings and a good solid breakfast in the morning.”–Corrie L.

Big Bend Accommodations: Terlingua Lodging Options

Big Bend Accommodations, Terlingua Lodging

Big Bend Accommodations: Terlingua lodging options at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge resort include cabin guest rooms, RV sites with hookups, trailer campsites and tent campgrounds.

Guest Rooms

Terlingua Ranch lodging includes 32 clean and quiet cabin guest rooms with great views of the surrounding Big Bend area mountains by day and a universe full of stars and galaxies at night.

RV Sites

Our Big Bend accommodations include 8 pull-through RV sites with power/water/sewer connections plus 12 back-in RV sites with power/water hookups and a handy dump station.

Tent Campsites

Our Big Bend lodging for campers includes seven private tent campsites, two open camp grounds with shared water spigots, and a horse camp for dry horse trailer camping.

Horse Corral

Our horse corral is conveniently located near our front office and offers pipe pens, large turnout paddocks and a loading chute. Shade and water are available but bring your own hay and feed.

“We enjoyed our stay so much. The cabins we wonderful! They were clean, fresh, beautifully decorated and cozy. The office staff was great. Everyone was friendly and helpful.”–Daphne W.

“[The] cabins have spectacular views from all windows. [We] stayed there over … Memorial Day weekend this year. They have redone the cabins, and they are much nicer.”–Laron S.

“The rooms are rustic and very clean with air conditioning and a hot shower which was a blessing. The quiet evening on the deck with wine and my honey was perfect.”–Sodaw K.

“I think this place is better than going to a local motel closer to the Big Bend parks because of the camp like experience, pet friendly, and THEY HAVE A POOL!”–Mary D.

“Quaint, quiet, cozy and inviting. Perfect for a secluded escape in to the hills or a stopover to Big Bend State/National Park. Gorgeous night-sky!”–John P.

“Great place to stay. The rooms were clean and the staff was very helpful and friendly.”–Matt S.

“Just before dawn I saw the most amazing starlit sky of my life. There were more stars than sky and a clear view of the Milky Way. It was worth that alone coming out here…”–Jay B.

“There is so much to do in the area. We went to Big Bend twice, road the motorcycle on the River Road, visited the Ghost Town and just had an all around great visit.”–Kim T.

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