A quiet hamlet of 400 people at the junction of US-90 and US-385. Marathon exists because of the railroad, survives because of the Gage Hotel and Big Bend National Park 36 miles south. Captain Albion Shepard named it after the plains of Marathon, Greece. The high desert elevation means cool nights and some of the darkest skies in the continental United States. Bortle Scale 1: as dark as it gets without leaving Earth. The Gage Hotel has been drawing travelers since 1927. Beyond that, there's not much here. That's the point.
Where to Stay
The Gage Hotel
Built in 1927 by architect Henry Trost. 45 rooms ranging from shared-bath simplicity to private casitas. Condé Nast Traveler readers voted it #17 in the United States. Texas Highways named it #1 small hotel in Texas. Heated pool, spa, 27-acre garden. The anchor of Marathon and the reason most people stop here.
Eve's Garden Bed & Breakfast
Seven hand-built guest rooms surrounding a greenhouse courtyard filled with roses and bougainvillea. An organic oasis in the desert. Each room has a private bath. Something different from the Gage.
Where to Eat
12 Gage Restaurant
Award-winning restaurant inside the Gage Hotel. Seasonal menu built on local game, beef, and vegetables from their own 27-acre garden. Leather chairs, fireplace, cowboy-chic decor. Patio with fountains when the weather cooperates. Open for dinner 5:30-9pm. Reservations recommended.
Brick Vault Brewery & BBQ
On-site nanobrewery paired with properly smoked meats. Part of the Gage complex. More casual than 12 Gage, same attention to craft.
Where to Drink
White Buffalo Bar
Adjacent to 12 Gage Restaurant. Texas Monthly named it one of Texas's top hotel bars. Big Bend Brewery on tap, extensive tequila selection, proper margaritas. The town's only real bar, and it's a good one.
Getting Around
Car needed? Essential
You need a car. Marathon is a speck on the highway, and Big Bend is 36 miles south. No public transit, no rideshare, no shuttle.
Beyond the Park
The sky is the main attraction after dark.
Dark Texas Skies at Marathon Sky Park
Bortle Scale 1: as dark as it gets on Earth. Part of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest in the world. Star parties with 20- and 24-inch observatory telescopes. $10 for adults, kids free. The Milky Way is visible from anywhere in town, but the Sky Park offers guided viewing.
Gage Gardens
27 acres of green in the high desert. Orchard, vineyard, pond, native plants. An oasis that supplies the hotel restaurant. Open to guests and worth a walk.
Pro Tips
- Stay for the stars. Marathon has some of the darkest skies in the continental United States.
- Book 12 Gage Restaurant in advance. It's the only fine dining for miles and fills up.
- The town has 400 people. Don't expect much beyond the Gage complex. That's the appeal.
- Fill your tank before heading to Big Bend. Gas stations are sparse.