Visiting McDonald Observatory
McDonald Observatory welcomes guests to its astronomical facilities in the beautiful Davis Mountains of West Texas. Since there are no overnight accommodations at the Observatory, we have compiled the following information for your convenience when visiting the area. During peak visiting times, accommodations may be full, so we recommend making reservations in advance.

• Balmorhea State Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• Davis Mountain State Park
• Fort Davis Courthouse
• Fort Davis National Historic Site
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Hwy 118/166 Scenic Loop
• Monahans Sandhills State Park
• Museum of the Big Bend (Alpine)

The Town of Fort Davis
Fort Davis is 16 miles southeast of McDonald Observatory.
For more information contact:

Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce
800.524.3015 or 432.426.3015
email: ftdavis@overland.net
http://www.fortdavis.com
 

McDonald Observatory Information Line
877.984.7827 or call 432.426.3640 9am to 5pm daily.

Restaurants & Cafes

• StarDate Cafe at the McDonald Observatory Visitors Center; breakfast pastries, sandwiches, soup, salads, tamales, quesadillas; open daily 9am-5pm. Also open Tues., Fri. and Sat. evenings during Star Party nights.  Café Star Party hours are; April-Aug. 8:30pm-11pm, Sept. & Oct. 8pm-11pm, Nov.-March 5pm-9pm.  432.426.3644
• The Black Bear at the Indian Lodge (in the Davis Mountain State Park); open daily 7-10am,11-2pm, 5-8pm; Sunday hours 7-9:30am, 12-2:30pm, 5-8pm; 432.426.3254
• Cueva de Leon, 11:30-3pm & 5-9pm Mon.-Sat., 432.426.3801
• The Desert Rose, 7:30-2:30pm Mon.-Sat., 432.426.2124
• Dry Bean Cowboy Opry House; open 7-9am, 11-2pm and 5:30-9pm; closed Wed.; 432.426.2675
• Fort Davis Drug Store at the Old Texas Inn, grill & soda fountain, 8-4pm daily, 432.426.3118
• Hotel Limpia Dining Room, 5:30-9:30pm Mon.-Sat. (Sun. lunch only) 11:30-2pm, 432.426.3241
• Murphy's Pizzeria & Cafe, 11am-9pm Tues.-Sat., 432.426.2020
• Mary Lou's Highway 118 Cafe, 6:30 am-2:00pm Sun.-Fri.,closed Sat., 432.426.3898
• Poco Mexico Cafe, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 432.426.3939
• Pop's Grill, 9-9pm daily, 432.426.3195
• Prude Guest Ranch, scheduled meals, call for information, 432.426.3201
• Tommy's Seafood, open March through October Wed.-Sat. 6pm-9pm, 432.426.2451

Lodging
For more information on lodging, visit http://www.fortdavis.com

Hotels & Motels

• Butterfield Inn Cottages, 432.426.3252
• Fort Davis Motor Inn & RV Campground, 800.80-DAVIS & 432.426.2112
• The Hotel Limpia; Historic rooms & off-site cottages; 800.662.5517 & 432.426.3237
• Indian Lodge; in the Davis Mountain State Park; 432.426.3254
• Old Texas Inn, 800.328.4768 & 432.426.3118
• Prude Guest Ranch, 800.458.6232 & 432.426.3202
• Stone Village Motel, 800.649.8487 & 432.426.3941

• Neill Doll Museum Bed & Breakfast, 432.426.3969 & 432.426.3838
• Old Schoolhouse Bed & Breakfast, 432.426.2050
• The Veranda Country Inn, 888.383.2847 & 432.426.2233
• Victorian Rose Bed & Breakfast, 432.426.2007
• Wayside Inn, 800.582.7510 & 432.426.3535
• White House Inn B & B (Alpine, Texas), 432.837.1401

• Overland Cottage, Jimmy or Kathy Bencomo, 432.426.3232 & 426.3018
• Veranda Country Inn Carriage House, 888.383.2847

• Bear Track Guest House, leave message, 432.661.8492 & 432.634.4389
• Cypress Point & Hummingbird Cottages, 800.752.4145
• La Cabaña Escondida (The Hidden Cabin) & La Casita Verde (The Little Green House), 432.426.3097
• The Webster House, 800.752.4145

• Crow's Nest Ranch; Cabins, full RV hook-ups, cabins and campground, tent camping; 432.426.3300
• Davis Mountains Community Headquarters; Cabins, A-frame, RV Park; 432.426.3918 & 432.426.3872
• Davis Mountain State Park; (Full RV hook-ups, electrical & regular campsites, full rest rooms and dump stations. On Hwy 118 five miles north of Fort Davis; 432.426.3337
• Fort Davis Motor Inn & RV Campground, 800.80-DAVIS & 432.426.2112
• Overland Trails RV Park and Campground, 432.426.2250
• Prude Guest Ranch; Full RV hook-ups, cabins, no tent camping; 800.458.6232 & 432.426.3202

• Baeza's Thriftway Grocery & Gas, 432.426.3812
• Bencomo Motorport Exxon, 432.426.3232
• Fort Davis Chevron, 432.426.3314
• Mountainside Grocery/Liquor, 432.426.3382
• Stone Village Grocery & Gas, 432.426.3772
• Fort Davis Auto Parts, 432.426.3529

• Overland Trails Laundromat, 432.426.2250
• Jarratt's Laundromat, 432.426.3827

• Fort Davis Family Practice, 432.426.3217
• Fort Davis Veterinary Services, 432.426.3086
• Big Bend Regional Medical Center (Alpine), 432.837.3447
• Emergency Fire & Ambulance Service, 432.426.3900 or call 911

Road Conditions

Texas Department of Transportation, 800.452.9292