Hotels & Lodging: Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa
From Julie
Ever since iconic minimalist sculptor/furniture artist Donald Judd decamped to Marfa, Texas, the place has exuded an under-the-radar art world cool. So it's not a surprise to find some of the hippest lodging anywhere here, a classic midcentury roadside hotel overhauled by Lake/Flato Architects in 2005, outfitted with custom-made furniture by local designer Jamey Garza, industrial lights from Jielde, Peruvian Frasada blankets, and Indian cotton sheets. For more information, go to the Thunderbird Hotel.
March 26, 2009
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Hello, Wonderful pictures of a modern hotel. love Siv
Hi, I've looking for that leather chair (is it leather?) on the 8th picture (fron the day bed photo) for a while, any idea where I can find it?
Thanks!
We just stayed in Marfa a few weeks ago. It was out of our way, but we were excited to go based on articles I read like this one. We were extremely disappointed. This place does not exude an under the radar cool. The reason a hotel like the Thunderbird (similar to scores of hotels in Palm Springs and other places) gets so much attention is that it is out of place in this tiny, ordinary town. It is the "ironic" factor, which frankly I'm a little tired of. As we discovered, a little funky goes a long way in Texas. There were more open churches than galleries. Really. I have a list of all the galleries in Marfa - there are 14 total but that includes the lobby of a hotel, one place that is appointment only, another that is a "space" (empty when we were there), another we walked by had a few paintings on a wall of a non-art business. Many were open only on weekends. 9pm on a weeknight, and there are no restaurants open. We had to eat at a gas station. Seriously. We walked the streets and it was a quiet, depressed-feeling place with boarded up houses and empty streets. I feel that journalists, always scraping for new material, have painted Marfa with the wrong brush.
just back from a trip to marfa...it is enchanting!
Hi Roxana,
The chair in the 8th photo is a leather butterfly chair, and can be sourced from http://www.circa50.com/butterflychairs.html
Good luck!
--Julie
RE: M.McDonnell's comment
I think her experience is probably a more realistic idea of what to expect in that part of the state. I am a Texan but haven't yet made it to Marfa, despite being the world's biggest Donald Judd fan. It's because anyone who knows the area knows it's not a mecca of funky or cool. It's rural and extremely out of the way, which is why Judd moved there in the first place. I hate to hear stories of people having a bad time there. West Texas can be beautiful but you have to know what you are getting into and research places to eat, places to stay, sights to see ;) Don't road trip without having a plan here as gas stations can quickly become your only dinner choice. Keep the gas tank at least half full, watch out for buzzards, and enjoy :)
Does anyone have info on where to find the white and red patio chairs?? (or to have them made) We are dying to get them for our pool. Any info would be mucho appreciated!!!
We posted a source for the Epic Hero patio chairs not long ago. Go to:
http://www.remodelista.com/2009/03/26/outdoors-epic-hero-furniture-in-la/
Good luck!
I've stopped in Marfa a couple of times while en route to somewhere else (camping at Big Bend and skiing in Taos). Marfa is a good place to visit for a day. You go get breakfast at the Brown Recluse, do the Chinati tour, get some pizza at Pizza Foundation, see a couple of galleries, try and see the lights, and spend the night at the Thunderbird. It's a good time.
Great selection of Cool Hotels indeed! How would you categorize them all, they all seem to share a common theme that I call (in my own language, for lack of a better layman's term) "Mod Squad". But there's also a smattering of Shabby Chic hotels in your collection. Pls help me out on the proper design terminology.
PS: Love your hotel finds!! Can I have your permission to repost them (w/ the proper credit)? Pls advise.
Thanks much,
dian
san diego
