Home Care In Bend, TX

Texans love the prickly wilds of Big Bend National Park, where a sky island of mountains rises from a vast desert floor, and everything looks straight out of a John Wayne Western.

But if you’ve never visited, it can feel intimidating.

“It’s wild, it’s rugged, and we’re far from a lot of services that people are super accustomed to,” says Tom VandenBerg, chief of interpretation and visitor services at the park. “That’s what makes it special.”

According to a report released in May, the number of first-time visitors to Big Bend National Park jumped in 2022, with 56% of the 1,000 people surveyed saying they made their inaugural trip there last year. For a newcomer, the vastness seems almost unreal.

The park sprawls over 801,163 acres in far West Texas—making it bigger than Yosemite National Park in California. At first glance, it’s a remote, bristly expanse populated by things determined to scratch, poke, or bite you.

Don’t freak out.

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Yes, cacti are everywhere. Steer clear. Venomous snakes sometimes slither among the rock and cactus; watch where you place your hands. Black bears reside in the park. Give them a wide berth and consider yourself lucky if you glimpse one. And keep an eye out for scorpions, tarantulas, and javelinas, too.

Most of all, plan ahead and know what to expect when you get there.

Peak visitation at Big Bend National Park is October through April. In summer months temperatures can reach 110 degrees along the Rio Grande and on the desert floor.

Get ready for a road trip. Most folks drive to the park. Major highways to the region include Interstate 10 (if traveling from Houston, San Antonio, or Austin), Interstate 20 (if coming from Dallas and Midland-Odessa), and State Highway 90 (via Del Rio). See map. The nearest commercial airport is in Midland-Odessa, about 235 miles from park headquarters.

The Chisos Mountains Lodge in the Chisos Mountain Basin offers basic hotel rooms and five stone cottages. Book ahead, but also keep in mind the lodge’s headquarters building is scheduled for demolition and reconstruction starting in 2024. Even though lodge rooms won’t be torn down, they will likely close temporarily—as will the restaurant. Camping is a great option, either in one of the park’s three developed campgrounds or in the backcountry. (Permit required.)

Hotels, private campgrounds, and an eclectic mix of rental properties that includes yurts and clear domes are also available in nearby Terlingua or Study Butte, or in Marathon.

Admission to the park is $30 for a private vehicle or $25 for a motorcycle for seven days.

You won’t need anything fancy, but you will need good hiking shoes; lightweight, loose-fitting clothing; a hat with a wide brim; sunscreen’ insect repellent; snacks; and lots of water. If you plan to go off trail in the backcountry, bring a compass.

It’s all about hiking at Big Bend National Park, and you’ll find more than 150 miles of trails in the mountains, along the desert floor, and near the Rio Grande.

The challenging 12-mile South Rim Trail climbs 2,000 feet to the top of a ridge, where the desert floor ripples away like gray-green elephant hide into the distance. Hardy hikers can scramble to the top of Emory Peak, the highest point in the park at 7,825 feet.

For a shorter but equally spectacular hike, opt for the Window Trail, a 5.5-mile round trip to a notch in the rock where water pours over the lip, framing a perfect, wedge-shaped view of the Chihuahuan Desert. The Lost Mines Trail offers a lot of bang for the buck, in the form of big views of surrounding mountains.

Don’t miss Santa Elena Canyon, where the Rio Grande cuts through a narrow high-walled canyon, and a trip to the historic hot springs, where you can dip a toe (or more) in an old stone-lined pool at the edge of the river.

Not all the coolest attractions are located inside park boundaries.

Terlingua, a 20-minute drive to the west, is an old ghost town with an eclectic mix of mining ruins, lodging options that include tipis and clear domes, outfitters that offer guided rafting and cycling trips, the Terlingua Trading Company & Bookstore, and a handful of restaurants, including the Starlight Theatre Restaurant & Saloon (with a front porch, where musicians often gather and entertain visitors) and the newly reopened La Kiva.

Even farther west you’ll find the resort of Lajitas, which offers lodging, a golf course, a small store, and a pen that houses the town’s mayor, a goat named Clay Henry. From Lajitas, you can access the even wilder terrain of Big Bend Ranch State Park, known for its mountain biking and remote camping opportunities.

Before you head out, remember where you’re going, says park ranger VandenBerg.

“Don’t be surprised when you get here that it’s a desert and it’s very, very hot,” he says. Check the official park website for the latest information regarding park closures and conditions (such as heat advisories) and remember that reservations are needed for all campgrounds and lodging within the park.

Bring all the essentials you’ll need during your stay. Nearby Marathon and Terlingua offer a few staples, and there’s a camp store in the park, but the nearest full-service shopping is in Fort Stockton, a two-hour drive from Panther Junction.

“There’s not a Walmart right down the street,” VandenBerg says. “It’s very limited so come with what you need.”

Next, slow down.

“Parks are a national treasure, and you shouldn’t rush,” VandenBerg says. Some park roads are paved, but others are gravel and rugged enough that you’ll need four-wheel drive. “Our roads are designed for a leisurely 40 mph and anything faster is dangerous.”

Know your capabilities. “Hiking many miles in a desert isn’t for everybody and that’s OK. Don’t overestimate your abilities and do not underestimate the desert.”

Park officials recommend carrying a gallon of water per person a day, or two liters per half day. “Even in winter, [Big Bend] can be very hot and heat illness can be a concern any time of the year,” VandenBerg says.

Fourth, consider leaving Fido home. Dogs are allowed in the park but not on trails, and they must be on a leash at all times.

Cellphone service is spotty, but you can usually get reception at Panther Junction Visitors Center. Beyond that, don’t count on it.

Most important of all, have fun. “Enjoy the park for what it is, be open to it and curious about it,” Vandenberg says. “It’s a dramatic, wild place filled with wildlife and big open places, but realize it is a desert and you do need to respect it.”

Your Guide to Camping

Explore our map of campgrounds across the state and read more about how to have a successful trip.

Go to the Camping Guide

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include comments from Fort Bend ISD and final percentages for ballots cast.

Updated 12:35 a.m. Nov. 8

Voters were in favor of increasing Fort Bend ISD's tax rate, polling results show Nov. 8, with all polling locations reporting.

On Nov. 8, 26,307 ballots, or 56.95%, were cast in favor of the district’s proposed tax rate of $0.9892 with 81 polling sites reporting, according to Fort Bend County’s election website. Meanwhile, 19,883 ballots, or 43.05%, were cast in favor of maintaining the current rate of $0.9492.

"The approval of the measure ... means the district can provide competitive salaries for teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians and all other benefits-eligible staff members among its 12,000-plus employees," a Nov. 8 statement from FBISD reads.

All election results are unofficial until canvassed.

Updated 10:45 p.m. Nov. 7

Voters are supportive of raising Fort Bend ISD's tax rate, polling results show on Nov. 7, with ballots still being counted.

On Nov. 7, 23,439, or 57.51%, of ballots were cast in favor of the district’s proposed tax rate of $0.9892, according to Fort Bend County’s election website. Meanwhile, 17,317 ballots, or 42.49%, were cast in favor of maintaining the current rate of $0.9492.

A total of 40,756 ballots were cast from Oct. 23-Nov. 3, according to Fort Bend County’s election website.

All election results are unofficial until canvassed.

Posted 7:50 p.m. Nov. 7

Voters are in favor of raising Fort Bend ISD’s tax rate, early polling results show on Nov. 7.

What’s happening?

FBISD's voter-approval tax rate election ballot initiative, known as a VATRE, would raise the district's tax rate by $0.04 per $100 valuation for the 2023-24 fiscal year, if approved by voters. The initiative is up for consideration under Proposition A, as previously reported by Community Impact.

As of 7:41 p.m. on Nov. 7, 15,946, or 59.16%, early voting ballots were cast in favor of the district’s proposed tax rate of $0.9892, according to Fort Bend County’s election website. Meanwhile, 11,010 early voting ballots, or 40.84%, were cast in favor of maintaining the current rate of $0.9492.

A total of 26,956 early voting ballots were cast from Oct. 23-Nov. 3, according to Fort Bend County’s election website.

In case you missed it

On Oct. 2, FBISD board members heard the result of a third-party financial efficiency audit that revealed the district’s spending is in line with peer districts in the region and state, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Despite revenue being added by recent bond approvals, that money is earmarked for other infrastructure projects, such as new schools and upkeep of existing schools.

But to pay for teacher raises and meet the unfunded House Bill 3 state mandate of hiring a uniformed officer at every campus, a tax increase is necessary to provide additional revenue for those expenditures, Deputy Superintendent Steven Bassett said.

On the ballot

For all Fort Bend County election results, click here.

To read Community Impact’s complete 2023 voting guide, click here.

All election results are unofficial until canvassed.

Education Reporter

Dave joined Community Impact in March 2023 and has a background in multiple forms of media, marketing and communications. He is a former university publications reporter, writer and editor, as well as freelance writer. He has written about education, government, poverty, health, sports and public safety. Most recently, he worked for Reform Austin News.

By Emily Lincke

Education Reporter

Emily joined Community Impact in August 2021 and is an education reporter for the northern Greater Houston area. Previously, Emily worked for a small-town newspaper in El Campo, Texas, for two years. Before that, she interned and freelanced for the Houston Chronicle and worked as a freelance photographer and writer in the Houston area. A controversial fact about Emily is that she prefers sugar cookies over chocolate chip cookies. She graduated with a print journalism degree from the University of Houston in 2018.

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Fort Bend County residents will vote on parks and mobility bonds next month that could fund millions of dollars in transportation and recreation projects.

Voters in the largely suburban county southwest of Houston will have the chance to approve a roughly $712 million mobility bond and a $153 million parks bond in November.

Mobility projects include items such as road repairs and construction as well as traffic safety improvements in different parts of the county.

The county also hopes to build a sports complex, develop cricket fields and pickleball courts and upgrade various facilities using the funding, among other projects.

Additionally, about $245 million from the mobility bond will go to projects that are already underway. The costs of many projects increased due to inflation, said Fort Bend County Judge KP George.

George said the county wants to provide good infrastructure for a growing population as the area nears 1 million residents.

"People continue to move into Fort Bend County," he said. "Why? Because we have a good quality of life here."

The bonds will not increase the tax rate if passed, according to the county commissioners court.

RELATED: Fort Bend ISD voters pass $1.26 billion bond to go toward construction, technology improvements

The propositions have drawn both support and opposition from local municipal leaders. Some say the measures are needed to keep the area up-to-date, while others worry that commissioners are overspending.

Stafford city council member William Bostic said he thinks the bonds are "needed and timely."

"I feel that it's going to help propel Fort Bend into the future," he said. "We're one of the fastest growing counties in the nation and these are issues that we're going to need to fix."

Meanwhile, Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman described the bonds as an "overreach." He acknowledged that the city would miss out on $50 million in funding for parks and mobility projects if the measures don't pass, but said he still has concerns about the bonds.

"At the end of the day, I'm OK with that," he said. "And I think the residents of Sugar Land are going to be OK with that because of the fact that it needs to be a lower amount (and) more prioritized."

George said he hopes to provide information to Fort Bend County voters so they can make an informed choice.

"I am confident that they will make the right decision at the ballot box," he said. "And (at the) end of the day, whatever that decision, we accept it and that's how democracy works."

The county will hold informational meetings about the bond at the University Branch Library in Sugar Land on Oct. 16; the Sienna Branch Library in Missouri City on Oct. 18; and the Mission Bend Library in Houston on Oct. 24. All meetings will run from 6-7 p.m.

Fort Bend County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, has become a hotspot for people to live, work and build their businesses, thanks in part to rising new developments and transportation projects.

Spanning nearly 900 square miles, Fort Bend leads the region in affordability, quality of life, level of educational attainment and population diversity, with 29 percent of their population being foreign born, the highest percentage in metro Houston, according to the Partnership's Houston Facts publication.

Since 2000, Fort Bend County’s population has tripled and is expected to reach 1.8 million by 2050, according to Woods & Poole.

Fort Bend is primed for more growth as new developments and infrastructure projects get underway that will drive businesses and connectivity.

Infrastructure

Only 30 miles southwest of Houston, Fort Bend County encompasses six thriving cities including Fulshear, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford and Sugar Land. Home to various transportation networks like I-69, Westpark Tollway and Fort Bend Toll Road, residents have convenient access to all the Bayou City’s top attractions and other cities.

To accommodate growth, several infrastructure projects are underway.

Proposed in 2016, the Highway 36A project aims to create a major transportation corridor by adding 65 miles to the existing Highway 36. An environmental study will be initiated for the proposed project later this year, after being delayed due to the contract needing updates. If the project comes to fruition, Highway 36A would run through Brazoria, Fort Bend and Waller Counties, relieving congestion, improving freight movement and providing more hurricane evacuation routes.

Additionally, the Westpark Tollway, which leads into FM 1093 that serves Fort Bend and Harris Counties, is currently under construction. The project will extend the Westpark Tollway from FM 723 to the Texas Heritage Parkway.

In March, Fort Bend County announced $70 million in funding for 30 mobility projects. The new funding will increase the county’s investment in the northbound segment of Grand Parkway frontage road construction—from Westheimer Parkway to Cinco Ranch Boulevard. The funding will also support segmented frontage road construction along Highland Knolls Drive to the north and FM 1093 to the south on either side of the Grand Parkway.

Business Community

Home to a diverse and growing commercial sector consisting of Fortune 500 companies, large employers, international businesses and innovative startups, Fort Bend has become an ideal location for businesses due to its talented labor market and close proximity to Houston.

Over the last decade, Fort Bend’s business community has skyrocketed from 8,600 businesses to nearly 15,000, according to the Fort Bend County Economic Development Council.

In 2021, Frito-Lay, the $18 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. expanded its facility in Rosenberg. The $200 million investment will add two manufacturing lines for Funyuns and tortilla chips, as well as increase capacity in its warehouse to enhance capabilities and enable future growth. The project is expected to be completed this year and will provide 160 new, full-time jobs.

“We’ve called Rosenberg home for nearly 40 years. Throughout that time, the support of Fort Bend County has helped us invest in the right areas so that we can continue to grow and provide jobs to the community,” said Laura Maxwell, senior vice president of supply chain, PepsiCo Foods North America.

Other major employers include Amazon, FedEx, UPS, SLB, Champion X, Dollar Tree and Texas Instruments.

Additionally, Fort Bend houses seven business parks that offer development-ready and redevelopment spaces.

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Quality of Life

Recently crowned the second-best county to live in Texas, Fort Bend County is famously known for its exceptional quality of life.

From catching a baseball game at Constellation Field and taking a stroll through Seabourne Creek Nature Park to attending a concert at the Stafford Center or the Smart Financial Center, there is no shortage of activities.

Sugar Land Town Square, a 1.4 million-square-foot mixed-use development, offers a multitude of dining and shopping options. This premier destination is strategically placed at the at the intersection of U.S. 59 and Highway 6 and features a 300-room full-service hotel and conference center, an 82,000 square-foot City Hall, 167 mid-rise residential condos, 566,000 square feet of Class A office space and 223,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. Anchored by a central plaza and green space, the Sugar Land Town Square provides the ultimate gathering space for concerts, festivals and other community events.

Another one of the county’s biggest allures is its award-winning education system and access to top-ranked colleges and universities in greater Houston. Boasting six school districts and four institutions of higher learning, including the University of Houston – Sugar Land, Fort Bend continues to lead the region in educational attainment, with 48 percent of adults having a bachelor's degree or higher, the highest percentage than any other county in Greater Houston, according to the Partnership's Houston Facts publication.

As more people move into Fort Bend, new developments are underway.

Austin Point, a first-of-its-kind 4,700-acre master-planned town, is set to revolutionize Houston living. Strategically placed at the future intersection of the Grand Parkway and the Fort Bend Parkway, Austin Point will feature 1,600 acres of mixed-use commercial development, including 14 million square feet of apartments, retail, office and medical space.

Additionally, the new development will include a walkable downtown area with an “innovation zone” that will feature hospitals, technology and life sciences labs and corporate headquarters.

When fully completed, the development will consist of 14,000 homes, with an estimated population of 50,000, more than Rosenberg, which has about 40,000 residents.

The first phase of the development, which recently broke ground, will include the main amenity, The 1824, a central park and community center with a café, wine bar, large front porch, an event lawn, children's play area, beer garden, food truck court, walking trails and a dedicated space for outdoor fitness activities and games.

“[Austin Point] reaches families of all life stages, from the single mom with two kids to the young couple that's looking to move out to the 'burbs and start a family, the mature families with kids, moved-down grandparents that are chasing their grand-babies out to the suburbs,” said Mike Miller, senior vice president of Signorelli’s land division, developer of Austin Point. “[It] really caters to this diverse county and allows for housing to respond to all those needs.”

Other new developments include The Grid, a 192-acre mixed-use center. Located at the gateway of Houston’s innovation corridor on I-59 in Stafford, The Grid provides more than 350,000 square feet of office space, hotels, pop-up shops, a food hall, rooftop dining and 2,400 urban residences. The Grid features vibrant public green spaces for concerts, festivals and outdoor movie screenings. The first two phases of the project have been completed.

"Fort Bend County is ripe for a large-scale, authentic, high-end mixed-use center, which is exactly why we chose this site for The Grid,” said Brian Murphy, managing principal of Edge Realty. “With excellent access to other parts of Greater Houston, one of the fastest growing populations, the highest median household income in the region, and a pro-business culture, Fort Bend was the obvious choice for us."

Discover more about Fort Bend County and how it continues to foster growth at the Greater Houston Partnership’s Future of the Houston Region on Oct. 31.

A new ownership team has taken the reins at one of Central Texas' most iconic restaurants. The lights are back on at Hudson's on the Bend.

Jeff Blank created a sensation with Hudson's on the Bend after opening it near Lakeway in 1984. One of Austin's first celebrity chefs, the charismatic Blank created a space that stood out with its bucolic location and a fine dining menu that included unexpected proteins like rattlesnake and wild game.

The white tablecloth restaurant served as a fine dining destination for decades and also spawned The Mighty Cone, one of the hallmark dishes at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the main dish at a trailer of the same name.

Blank sold the restaurant in 2016 and it has gone through several iterations since, most notably under the brief guidance of chef Billy Caruso and sommelier Chris McFall, who showed much promise at Hudson’s before closing it without explanation in February 2017.

A subsequent version by a management group that included a new property owner, real estate developer Dilum Chandrasoma, also was short lived.

Chandrasoma, a longtime Hudson’s regular during Blank’s tenure, has partnered with a new chef and ownership group that reopened the restaurant in July. Here's what you need to know.

Who are the new Hudson's on the Bend owners?

The husband-and-wife team of Carlin and Chef Joseph Farner have partnered with general manager Danny Romo. The couple met Romo as regular diners at Soto on South Lamar Boulevard, where Romo worked as manager.

Romo knew that the Farners had been looking for a brick-and-mortar location for their food truck. He raised the stakes by introducing them to Chandrasoma, who wanted a local group to take over Hudson’s, the property of which he has owned for almost a decade.

More:Austin's best pizza truck closes indefinitely, restaurant version remains open

“It literally happened, it felt like, overnight,” Carlin Farner said of the opportunity. “We feel a very great responsibility. We feel like we’re carrying on this tradition. People truly treasure this place, and we want to bring it back not only to what it was but making it a little more modern and approachable, so it’s not just for special occasions anymore.”

What is Chef Farner’s background?

The Michigan native, who has cooked for more than 25 years and arrived in Austin almost 20 years ago, served grilled sandwiches out of his food truck, Press Kitchen ATX at the Far Out Lounge, for a year before this opportunity arose. He was the chef at Backspin Texas Sports Bar & Grill for a decade and has also worked at Grey Rock Golf Club and the Belmont.

What are Chef Farner’s plans for the menu and the restaurant?

“I love what Jeff Blank did and wanted to do some nods and homages to the original chef, while making it more approachable for today,” Farner said. To that end, the menu features dishes with duck, quail, elk and lamb.

Farner is utilizing the property’s decades-old smokeshack for smoking and cooks on a grill fired by pecan wood.

“This is the most amazing kitchen I’ve ever worked in,” Joseph Farner said.

More:Top Drawer Thrift plans move from Burnet Road after rent nearly doubles

He says he intends to serve local and seasonal food with “something for everyone,” from handmade pastas to gluten-free bread.

“He’s getting to be more creative than he’s been in a really long time, and he’s having a lot of fun,” Carlin Farner said of her husband and partner.

What about the space?

Carlin Farner, a marketing and events veteran who serves as “the glue” of the operation, says the new owners have softened the industrial space slightly but much remains the same.

And the wine list?

Hudson’s, especially under McFall, once boasted an impressive wine list. That deep list is gone and the new owners say the new offerings are a work in progress.

What are the hours of service?

Hudson’s on the Bend is currently serving dinner Thursday-Sunday and Sunday brunch. They intend to add Friday lunch service in the near future, along with live music.