Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below is a list of questions that are frequently asked by those who have visited our lodge and cafe.
Click Here for a list of attractions to see while you're visiting!
Yes! In the summer of 2023, owners Scott and Jenny turned over operations of the Lodge to the nonprofit Mobile Comunidad, a social services outreach organization. Learn more at mobilecomunidad.org. Rates and operations remain essentially the same with some upgrades and re-opening the on-site restaurant to serve breakfast and lunch Fridays through Mondays from 8am to 2pm. The name has been returned to the original name: Mountain View Lodge.
We are pet friendly! We charge a fee of $30 per pet for your stay. Please call for pre-approval as we have a limited number of pet rooms.
View our full pet policy here: Mountain View Lodge Pet Policy
Guest rooms with two full-size beds accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children 12 or under.
Guest rooms with single queen beds accommodate up to 2 adults.
Cottage 1 accommodates up to 2 adults and 3 children 12 or under.
Cottage 2 accommodates up to 2 adults and 4 children 12 or under, plus an infant or toddler.
Our guest rooms in duplex cabins feature kitchenettes, equipped with a small fridge, microwave, coffee pot, two mugs, coffee with condiments, dinnerware, paper towel, and kitchen table with chairs.
Note: Absolutely no cooking is allowed in the duplex cabins; if you try to plug in any extra electrical devices, you will blow out the electrical outlet and may cause a fire. We will charge your credit card on file for damage to the cabins caused by unauthorized kitchen appliances.
Our larger cottages do have full kitchens stocked with essentials (pots and pans, dinner ware, cooking oil, salt, and pepper), with full-size stove, oven, and refrigerator.
We have a gas grill with some utensils and a fridge, along with seating under a covered pavilion near the cabins.
Our on-site Café offers breakfast and lunch regularly, and weekend dinner options depending on the season. View hours and menu here.
Check in is 3 pm. Check out is 11am.
We have implemented a contactless check-in process: On the day of your arrival, you will receive a text when your room is ready, with the room number and instructions. Any time after you receive the text, you are welcome to come over and make yourself at home.
You may request an early check-in or late check-out. We cannot guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate you, and we appreciate advance notice so we can schedule housekeeping.
Yes! Each guest room is supplied with fresh sheets, towels, comforters, and fluffy pillows. We also supply tissue, paper towels, coffee, sugars and creamers, and amenities including lotion, soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
No. The best television in West Texas is outside your cabin door! So many guests have told us they were glad not to have a television because it led to more creative family time. We know you'll enjoy your time with us, gathering with friends and family under the pavilion, gazing at the stars, watching for birds and wildlife, or hiking and exploring the surrounding mountains.
Our larger cottages do have TVs, but no cable. You will have wifi so you can log in to your own streaming services.
Guest rooms have 4-cup drip coffee makers. We provide coffee packs.
Cottage 1 has a 12-cup drip coffee maker. We provide a starter package of Big Bend Coffee Roasters ground coffee.
Cottage 2 has a Keurig coffee maker. We provide a starter package of Big Bend Coffee Roasters K-Cups.
Yes! Each guest room has its own wall unit with heat, cool, and vent options, giving you control of your indoor temperature.
The larger cottages are equipped with central heat and air conditioning.
We offer discounts to military families and first responders. You can apply the discount when you book online; just click the Discounts and Specials tab.
Ask us about our state rate for guests traveling for the government and discounts for repeat guests, extended stay, and friends and family.
Each duplex cabin has two rental units. You’ll share a wall with your neighbor, but the rooms do not connect. The private porch and entry for the rooms are on opposite ends of the cabins.
For more privacy, you can rent the larger 1- or 2-bedroom cottages and get the whole building to yourselves.
We have a dirt driveway that curves around behind the historic building if you’d like to look for birds or wildlife. Please stay on the gravel walkway. If you stray into the field you may encounter snakes hiding in the tall grass or goat heads (hard, pointy stickers that can poke through the soles of your shoes).
For longer hikes on maintained trails, we recommend the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, the interconnected trails at Davis Mountains State Park and Fort Davis National Historic Site, or the Davis Mountains Preserve (Madera Canyon trailhead accessible year-round).
We have one cabin with a wheelchair ramp that is partially accessible. It has a single queen size bed, a remote to control the heat and air conditioning and plenty of room for a wheelchair to maneuver in the main room. However, a wheelchair will not fit into the prefab bathroom in the cabin. We have added grab bars by the toilet and shower and can provide a shower chair on request, but you will need to be somewhat mobile to maneuver onto the toilet or into the shower
No. The laundromat on Cemetery Road in Fort Davis may be open. Another option is the new laundromat next to the Doughnut shop in Alpine.
About 17 miles. The Observatory is 16 miles north of Fort Davis on Highway 118, and we are lessthan a mile south of Fort Davis on 118. Allow a half hour driving time to account for slower speed limits and watch for wildlife in the mountains!
Yes! Our Cafe is open Monday-Thursday and serves breakfast from 8 am to 11 am followed by lunch until 2 pm. We are also open on Saturday and Sundays for the above hours as well as dinner until 8 pm. For other dining options, go to FortDavis.com to see a list of restaurants and the type of food they serve. Or ask us for the latest. We recommend calling ahead to confirm hours and days of operations.
Small groups and special events are what we do best! Our cabins and cottages, dining room, meeting room, covered outdoor pavilion, and sunroom accommodate up to 40 guests. Call us for a quote for your school or church group, family reunion, workshop or training, birding or photography field trip, motorcycle club, wedding, or any other special occasion!
Local Attractions To Visit
Suggestions from our area expert!
- Make sure to visit the interpretive center and the two bird blinds (one by the interpretive center, another right where you turn left into the campground).
- My favorite hike is the one that starts behind the interpretive center and peaks at the summit near Skyline Drive, with fabulous views. (That hike is strenuous – if your kids are younger, you can also drive to the top of Skyline Drive and stop at scenic overlooks.)
- Another, shorter hike is the one that starts behind the Indian Lodge and Black Bear restaurant.
- You could easily spend 2-3 days just hiking the trails at the Davis Mountains State Park and Fort Davis National Historic Site.
- You can also hike Madera Canyon at the Davis Mountains Preserve (drive eight miles past the Observatory on Highway 118 – the trailhead is behind the parking lot for the Lawrence E. Wood picnic area on your left).
- I recommend making a day of it (take extra water, snacks, shorts, t-shirts, sweaters and warm jackets - and check the weather! It can be all over the place. We can have an ice storm on Tuesday, and by Friday it can be in the 70s. Best to be prepared for anything.) I would start in Alpine, with a visit to the Museum of the Big Bend on the campus of Sul Ross State University - I HIGHLY recommend this stop, especially with kids!
- You can also hike to the top of the hill behind the university to find the old desk that students put up there years ago. It's a rite of passage for new students of the university to hike up and record their thoughts in a notebook in the desk.
- Downtown Alpine: Shopping, several art galleries, and a nice book store lining main street, across from the Amtrak depot.
- Coffee/breakfast/lunch in Alpine: Judy's Bread & Breakfast for homemade biscuits, pancakes, and ginormous cinnamon rolls. Great coffee at Cedar Coffee Supply or Reata where they also have a reasonably priced lunch menu and a nice patio for outdoor dining. You'll also find some great food trucks in Alpine: Cowdog (our personal favorite!), Maria's Mexican Food, and Tri-La-Bite. These can all be found on Yelp or Facebook and are all within a few blocks of the four-way flashing light. You can park on Main Street and see what's open and looks interesting!
- In Marfa: The Chinati Foundation and Building 98 are interesting if you have time for short tours. You can walk through the grand lobby of Hotel Paisano (where Liz Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean stayed during the filming of "Giant"). Hotel Paisano also has Jett's Grill: good food and drinks on the patio next to a giant fountain. Someone recently built giant cutouts with scenes from "Giant" on the highway West of Marfa. You'll pass them on the way to Prada Marfa and can stop for photos!
- Other good food in Marfa for dinner before heading to see the Marfa Lights: James Beard nominated Convenience West BBQ
- Marfa Lights: They appear about 12% of the year, not seemingly tied to time of year or weather, but most likely to be seen right before sunrise or just after sunset according to a researcher who studied them for years with a time-lapse camera. If you're running short on time (it can get dark early), you can get carry-out in Marfa and picnic at the Marfa Lights Roadside Park viewing area!
- Plan a couple of hours at Fort Davis National Historic Site – walk through the museum, army barracks, and across the parade grounds to the Officer’s Quarters, then the walk up to the fort hospital is worth your while. Read the signage about injuries and illness that befell residents and find out how they all fared! (Interesting activity with the kids.) Also at the Fort, you can hike straight up the side of the Sleeping Lion volcanic rock formation to an overlook. Ask in the visitor’s center for a map of the hiking trails around the Fort.
- Food: Ice cream at The Caboose, an actual restored caboose that serves Blue Bell and Henry's homemade ice cream, Blue Mountain Bar & Grill (the only bar in town) for a fancier dinner or if you want a glass of wine or cocktail - outdoor seating on a nice patio.
- Shopping: J Davis Emporium and Grand Companions Thrift Store (across from Stone Village Market) are fun to browse. Davis Mountains Nut Company is next door (I am addicted to their key lime and orange twang flavored pecans!) It is worth a stroll down main street in Fort Davis. Most shops have re-opened, and the town gets decorated for Christmas!
- Maybe not for the kids, but a winery recently opened west of town on Highway 166, and they are open for wine tasting on weekends – Chateau Wright
Glad you clicked on this, it is a hidden gem! Walk through botanical gardens and a cactus greenhouse to identify plants found in the deserts of the southwest. Bird blind out by the cactus greenhouse. Butterfly and hummingbird gardens on the walk out. Definitely hike Modesto Canyon to the spring at the bottom. I recommend hiking the whole loop and up to Clayton’s Overlook (geology exhibit) before heading back to the visitor’s center.
