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Terlingua TX Homes & Real Estate for Sale
About Terlingua
Terlingua is a historic quicksilver-mining district and census-designated place in southwestern Brewster County, in the Big Bend country of Far West Texas. It sits near the Rio Grande between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, next door to Study Butte and Lajitas. Most people know it for its ghost town, its chili cookoffs and a lot of open Chihuahuan Desert. Homes here range from adobe and stone places tucked among the old mining ruins to off-grid builds on desert acreage. Terlingua suits buyers who want a full-time home, a second home or a getaway a few miles from a national park entrance, and who are comfortable living a long way from city services. Legacy Broker Group's Alpine – Far West Texas office serves Terlingua and the greater Big Bend.
Legacy Broker Group listings in Terlingua
Search homes in Terlingua
$225,000
2 Beds 1 Baths 1,346 SqFt
140 Cut Across Road, Terlingua, TX 79852
$179,000
1 Bed 1 Bath 465 SqFt
3600 Terlingua Ranch Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852
$360,000
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,472 SqFt
2727 Terlingua Ranch Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852
$460,000
2 Beds 3 Baths 1,278 SqFt
881 Mud Spring Road, Terlingua, TX 79852
The multiple listing information is provided by LERA MLS. Copyright ©2026 LERA MLS. All Rights Reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Based on information from Unlock MLS (alternatively, from ACTRIS) for the period through 10/15/2026. Neither the Board nor ACTRIS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. All data is provided “AS IS” and with all faults. Data maintained by the Board or ACTRIS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Some IDX listings have been excluded from this website.
Data last updated: 10/15/2026 13:32
The information being provided by Central Texas MLS is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Central Texas MLS.
Based on information from South Texas MLS, LLC as of 2026-10-15 13:32:22. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. South Texas MLS, LLC provides the MLS and all content therein “AS IS” and without any warranty, express or implied. MLS aggregate data is a copyright of Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) and that the reader may not reproduce or distribute the MLS aggregate data.
© 2026 Bryan-College Station Regional Multiple Listing Service. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or Legacy Broker Group. Data last updated 09/23/2023 16:30.
The data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or NTREIS. Consumers may not reproduce or redistribute NTREIS data since the use of this data is only for people viewing this web site.
Information contained on the computer print-outs of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of the HOUSTON REALTORS® INFORMATION SERVICE (HRIS) is furnished by MLS Participants for dissemination to other MLS Participants, for their exclusive use, and should not be relied upon by Buyer/Tenant or any other person. There is no express or implied warranty by HAR or MLS as to the accuracy of such information, which should be independently verified by Buyer/Tenant or such other person. MLS does not verify the information and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy.
Terlingua on the map
Each marker is a Legacy Broker Group listing in Terlingua — click for details; a sold one links to Significant Transactions.
Living in Terlingua
- Big Bend National Park (National Park Service) — Canyons, desert, the Chisos Mountains and the Rio Grande next door. Official hours, fees, visitor centers and seasonal tips.
- Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife) — Texas' largest state park and an International Dark Sky Park, with hiking, biking, horseback trails and river access off FM 170.
- Terlingua Common School District — Official site of the local district, which runs Big Bend High School, a single PK-12 campus on Roadrunner Circle.
- Big Bend Chamber of Commerce — Local chamber for Study Butte, Terlingua and Lajitas, with a member directory, events, meeting schedule and area maps.
- Brewster County, Texas — Official county site for the area, which has no city government. Find commissioners court agendas, elections, the sheriff and county events.
The vibe
Terlingua began as a mining camp. Prospectors found cinnabar here in the 1880s, and Howard Perry's Chisos Mining Company was founded in 1903 and built the camp that became today's ghost town. By 1922, about 40 percent of the quicksilver mined in the United States came from Terlingua. Production fell off through the 1930s, and after World War II the town emptied. Tourism brought it back to life in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1967 the Chili Appreciation Society called it the Chili Capital of the World, and two rival chili championships are still held here the first weekend of November.
The country is rocky open desert with mountain views in every direction. Adobe and stone ruins sit scattered across the hillsides of the old Chisos Mining camp, and present-day homes stand right among them. Out on Terlingua Ranch, a property owners' association covering nearly 210,000 acres, houses sit on tracts that run from a few acres to well over a hundred. Elevations there are roughly 3,200 to 3,900 feet, with views of landmarks like the Christmas Mountains and Nine Point Mesa. Much of the area is off the grid, so solar panels, rain-catchment tanks and dirt roads are a normal part of the landscape.
The pace is slow, and social life centers on the ghost town. The Starlight Theatre opened as the Chisos Theater for the miners in the 1930s and reopened in 1991 as a restaurant and saloon. It shares a long front porch with the Terlingua Trading Company, which operates in the old Chisos Mining company store. That porch is the unofficial town square, where live music, a cold drink and a long sunset are the evening routine. The old Terlingua Cemetery nearby is a quiet reminder of the mining years.
Market snapshot
As of August 2026, HAR.com reported an average home price of $187,706 and $320 per square foot in the 79852 ZIP code, with about 285 listings for sale. Movoto's August 2026 report showed a median list price of about $197,000, or $210 per square foot, down 21 percent from August 2025. Homes sat a median of 281 days on the market. The two sources measure different things, so the per-square-foot figures don't match. Use them to get a sense of direction, not as an appraisal. For a longer-term baseline, the Census Bureau's American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the ZIP at $111,200.
Most of what's for sale around Terlingua is raw land, especially small off-grid tracts on Terlingua Ranch. Finished homes are a much smaller share of the market, and higher-end listings are rare. Long marketing times are normal here, which gives patient buyers room to negotiate. We couldn't verify a current average price per acre for Terlingua land from a published report, so ask our Alpine office for recent comparable sales before you make an offer.
Selling in Terlingua?
Thinking of selling a home in Terlingua? A Legacy Broker Group Broker Price Opinion is free, and it starts with the market you are actually in.
Amenities
Public schools are run by the Terlingua Common School District, which also serves Lajitas. It operates a single K-12 campus, Big Bend High School. In 2022, the district's most recent rating in the Texas Education Agency accreditation table we could confirm, it received a C. Everyday errands are limited. The nearest bank is in Study Butte, the nearest pharmacy is in Alpine, and dining revolves around the Starlight Theatre and a handful of other spots around the ghost town and Study Butte. Most homes outside the old townsite have no city water, sewer or gas lines. Owners rely on rain catchment, hauled water, solar and generators, and wells are expensive with no guarantee of usable water.
The outdoors is the main draw. From the Study Butte junction, State Highway 118 runs about 3.7 miles to Big Bend National Park's western entrance. FM 170, the River Road, heads west about 17 miles to the Barton Warnock Visitor Center, the eastern gateway to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Lajitas is about 21 miles southwest of Terlingua on FM 170. Big Bend Ranch State Park covers roughly 311,000 acres. Texas Parks and Wildlife says more than 300 bird species have been documented there, the most of any Texas state park, and it's home to Madrid Falls. For bigger errands, Alpine is about 78 miles north of Study Butte on SH 118, roughly a two-hour drive. El Paso is about 300 miles away, Austin about 500 to 520 miles and Dallas-Fort Worth about 560 to 600 miles.
Terlingua FAQs
How is the Terlingua real estate market right now?
In the last 30 days, 1 home sold in Terlingua, down from 3 in the 30 days before. 1 active listing was on the market in that time. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Terlingua, MLS data as of November 12, 2026.
What is the median sale price of homes in Terlingua?
Too few homes have sold in Terlingua in recent months to report a median sale price. We report one only when at least 5 sold in the period, so it never points to an individual property. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Terlingua, MLS data as of November 12, 2026.
What is the median list price of homes in Terlingua?
Over the last 30 days, the median list price of homes in Terlingua was $1,900,000. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Terlingua, MLS data as of November 12, 2026.
How long do homes take to sell in Terlingua?
Over the last 30 days, the median time on the market for homes in Terlingua was 71 days, against 193 days in the 30 days before. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Terlingua, MLS data as of November 12, 2026.
How can I get the Terlingua market report every month?
Open the Terlingua TX Market Report on our Market Reports page (legacybrokergroup.com/market-report-collection/) and choose Subscribe to the report. It is our own report, built from MLS data, and it comes to your inbox each month.
What county is Terlingua, Texas in?
Terlingua is in southwestern Brewster County, in the Big Bend region of Far West Texas. It sits near the Rio Grande, next to Study Butte and Lajitas.
How far is Terlingua from Big Bend National Park?
Very close. From the Study Butte junction, State Highway 118 runs a little under four miles to the park's western entrance.
How far is Terlingua from Alpine?
Alpine is about 78 miles north of Study Butte on State Highway 118, roughly a two-hour drive. It's where most residents go for a pharmacy and larger shopping.
Is Terlingua really a ghost town?
The old Chisos Mining Company camp became a ghost town after the mines shut down around World War II. Today the ruins share the hillside with occupied homes, a restaurant, a trading post and lodging.
Do homes in Terlingua have city water and electricity?
Many don't, especially on Terlingua Ranch, where there are no water, sewer or gas lines. Owners typically use solar power, rain catchment and hauled water. Drilling a well is expensive and doesn't guarantee usable water.
What is Terlingua Ranch?
Terlingua Ranch is a property owners' association of nearly 210,000 acres between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, with about 5,000 property owners. Its lodge sits off State Highway 118, north of Study Butte.
What schools serve Terlingua?
The Terlingua Common School District runs one K-12 campus, Big Bend High School, which also serves Lajitas. Check the Texas Education Agency's website for the district's latest accountability rating.
When is the Terlingua chili cookoff?
Terlingua hosts two chili championships, the CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship and the Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff. Both are held the first weekend of November.
Where do people eat and gather in Terlingua?
The Starlight Theatre, a restored 1930s movie house in the ghost town, is the best-known restaurant and live-music spot. Its shared porch with the Terlingua Trading Company is where much of the community gathers in the evening.
How long do homes take to sell in Terlingua?
Homes in Terlingua usually take many months to sell, much longer than in a typical Texas town. That gives buyers time to do their homework on water, power and road access.
What outdoor recreation is near Terlingua?
Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are both close by, with hiking, birding, river canyons and the scenic River Road along the Rio Grande. Big Bend Ranch State Park alone covers about 311,000 acres.
Market and community sections reviewed 2026-11-12.