Not only is El Cosmico a hip destination in Marfa, Texas, but this 21-acre property also put this tiny town of 1,772 residents on the map when it opened in 2009. Acapulco chairs, sculptural art, and Chemex pour-over coffee makers are serious proof this is not your grandparents' RV stop on a road trip.
Accommodations here are unconventional. Think vintage restored trailers, Sioux-style teepees, canvas tents, yurts, and old-fashioned camping tents.
When hotelier Liz Lambert bought the land, it was a pasture with only a horse shed and an Airstream. "The fence was loose, and you'd see pronghorn antelope on the property while you were taking a shower," Lambert says.
She partnered with Bob Harris at Lake Flato, a Texas architecture firm, who "came up with the concept of a design that emanated from a center circle, kind of like a spiral galaxy," says Lambert. "I was inspired by the saturated colors of east India, and in particular, the colors of buses and trains and rickshaws in India."
Sculptural art that doubles as a chair is just outside the entrance to this sky-blue trailer, with wide-plank flooring on the deck stained in a warm hue. Art around the property includes pieces by artist Tom Jean Webb and local Alpine painter Carolyn Macartney.
A wraparound patio gives the occupants of this trailer plenty of space to spend outdoors. Otherwise, El Cosmico offers courses in cooking and crafts.
A mini white Smeg fridge inside of Goldie, one of the trailers, jives with the blonde-wood interior.
Adding only a few pops of color keeps this safari tent-style interior light and bright.
A few coats of lavender paint make this Vagabond trailer's exterior pop against the desert landscape.
A white Acapulco chair — common in Mexican-desert design — is a modern touch to this restored vintage trailer. "Almost everything at El Cosmico was created specifically for this place — Jack Sanders of Design Build Adventure, the Cashiola Brothers, and Enabler are a few makers we work with closely," Lambert tells us.
Showcasing the best of regional designers' products as well as those who embody the hotel's vibe, El Cosmico Provision Co. is a popular stop for overnight guests and day-trippers alike.
