Many people have asked how I came up with the idea of our hunting cabin. The answer is easy. A friend of mine's dad from high school had a rustic cabin totally off the grid located on the Terlingua Ranch just outside of Big Bend National Park. I had been to Big Bend a few times for canoe trips and hiking but never stayed outside of the park itself. One spring break my friend invited a few of us to come out for the week. We had to pack everything we were to use for the week since the nearest grocery store at the time was 2 hours away. This included ice for our beer! And being students, we drank lots of beer!
Unfortunately I have no photos of the interior. These photos were taken with film cameras since digital was not around at this time. But from these few photos of the exterior, you can easily see the similarities between it and my cabin. The views where what I loved most about this place. You could lay in one of the many bunk beds inside and see the sun rise above the mountains in the distance.
The cabin was completely off the grid. We had to haul water in from the Ranch Headquarters. Located miles away along unimproved roads. We used a 12V pump to pump the water from the collection barrel into a 55 gallon barrel in the rafters of the cabin. This allowed for gravity to provide a little water pressure for the kitchen sink and outdoor shower. Lighting was done with propane lights plumbed to a central tank outside the cabin. There was a propane cook top in the kitchen area for cooking and a BBQ grill and open fire ring outside. The privy was just an outhouse located near the cabin.
For gun lovers such as my self, you could shoot in any direction with no fear of hitting something you did not want to destroy. By the end of the week it was not uncommon for us to make 100+ yard shots with 22 pistols at empty cans. With 22 ammo at $.99 per 50 rounds... there was plenty of practice.
Unfortunately I have no photos of the interior. These photos were taken with film cameras since digital was not around at this time. But from these few photos of the exterior, you can easily see the similarities between it and my cabin. The views where what I loved most about this place. You could lay in one of the many bunk beds inside and see the sun rise above the mountains in the distance.
The cabin was completely off the grid. We had to haul water in from the Ranch Headquarters. Located miles away along unimproved roads. We used a 12V pump to pump the water from the collection barrel into a 55 gallon barrel in the rafters of the cabin. This allowed for gravity to provide a little water pressure for the kitchen sink and outdoor shower. Lighting was done with propane lights plumbed to a central tank outside the cabin. There was a propane cook top in the kitchen area for cooking and a BBQ grill and open fire ring outside. The privy was just an outhouse located near the cabin.
For gun lovers such as my self, you could shoot in any direction with no fear of hitting something you did not want to destroy. By the end of the week it was not uncommon for us to make 100+ yard shots with 22 pistols at empty cans. With 22 ammo at $.99 per 50 rounds... there was plenty of practice.
That’s our cabin! Daddy and his friends. He bought the lot back in the 70’s and he and his buddies improved upon it ever year. Have t see. It look that way, though. The very best memories I have are of that cabin —even carved my initials in the inside of the front porch railing! Thanks for posting the memories.
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I'm interested in stone build reclamations as our county had scored a new low in preserving these sites with dignity. Fieldstone construction is quite common--but restoring it is uncommon, so bravo. I think light into the structure is a big challenge since the appeal of shed roof extensions over a porch is so great. Having said this, as much window--with a classic wooden shutter helps make an attractive window space that can be secured when not in use via the french. So keep on it-- I certainly wish I had seen more preservation projects in the north--where shelter belts in a protectorate are necessary.
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