Who Owns Lajitas Golf Resort
Lajitas Golf Resort is owned by Texas businessman Kelcy Warren. Warren purchased Lajitas Golf Resort, not the entire Lajitas community. The ownership question can be confusing because the resort, its Black Jack’s Crossing golf course, privately owned lodging homes, and the unincorporated community of Lajitas are related but not identical things.
What Lajitas Golf Resort Is
Lajitas Golf Resort is a remote Big Bend destination along the Rio Grande, positioned between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The Lajitas Golf Resort property encompasses 27,000 acres and combines lodging, dining, outdoor activities, an airport, and golf facilities.
For golfers, the central attraction is Black Jack’s Crossing, the resort’s 18-hole course. The course is part of the resort experience, alongside accommodations ranging from hotel rooms and cottages to condos and homes.
That last category matters when discussing ownership. The resort offers some privately owned homes as lodging options.
Lajitas is also the name of the surrounding unincorporated community in Brewster County. Owning or operating a resort in Lajitas is not the same as owning every parcel, business, residence, or historic attraction in the community.
The Current Owner of Lajitas Golf Resort
Kelcy Warren is the person publicly identified as the owner of Lajitas Golf Resort. He is a Texas businessman who acquired the resort operation after Steve Smith’s ownership period.
This answer applies to the overall Lajitas Golf Resort business and its golf destination. Not every individual home offered for rent, every neighboring tract, or every business in the Lajitas community is owned by Warren.
That distinction is especially important for anyone researching a land purchase, a boundary question, an easement, or a privately owned residence. Resort ownership is the useful answer for a vacation, golf trip, or general-interest question.
How Lajitas Resort Ownership Changed
Kelcy Warren acquired Lajitas Golf Resort after Steve Smith’s ownership period. Warren acquired it while the business was under financial distress.
That ownership change explains why older travel stories, golf features, and local accounts may identify Steve Smith as the owner. Those references can be historically correct while no longer describing the current ownership of the resort.
It also helps explain why broad online searches sometimes return conflicting answers. A page may be referring to:
- A former owner rather than the current owner
- The Lajitas community rather than the resort
- A lodging listing rather than the resort company
- Black Jack’s Crossing rather than the full resort
- The course designer or a resort executive
For a current golf-trip question, Kelcy Warren is the relevant ownership answer.
Who Owns Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Course
Black Jack’s Crossing is the golf course at Lajitas Golf Resort, so it is associated with the resort ownership held by Kelcy Warren. The course is not presented as a separately owned public golf club on the resort’s official golf information.
Lanny Wadkins designed Black Jack’s Crossing. Wadkins is a World Golf Hall of Fame golfer and the course architect, but he is not the owner of Lajitas Golf Resort.
The “Black Jack” name is also historical rather than an ownership reference. The course is named for U.S. Army General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, whose military campaign against Pancho Villa brought him through the region.
A famous architect’s name can appear prominently in golf-destination research. In this case, the roles are straightforward:
- Kelcy Warren: resort owner
- Lanny Wadkins: Black Jack’s Crossing course architect
- Black Jack’s Crossing: the resort’s golf course
- Lajitas Golf Resort: the larger lodging, recreation, and golf destination
How To Verify Current Ownership Details
Ownership can change, and a broad ownership answer is different from a title search. Use this process if you need the most current answer for a booking, business inquiry, or property matter.
Step 1: Define What You Need Confirmed
Decide whether you are asking about the resort company, Black Jack’s Crossing, a lodging home, or a specific piece of land.
For a condo, home, neighboring lot, access road, or boundary issue, use the exact street address or legal property description instead.
Step 2: Contact the Resort for Business Information
For current resort operations, contact Lajitas directly through its front desk at 432-424-5000 or its general email address, [email protected].
Ask for confirmation in specific terms, such as: “Is Kelcy Warren still the owner of Lajitas Golf Resort?” If your question concerns golf operations, identify Black Jack’s Crossing by name. Record the date of the response.
Step 3: Use Property Records for a Legal Ownership Answer
For a property matter, identify the specific parcel.
A title search should identify the legal owner, the parcel’s legal description, recorded easements, and any ownership entity involved. This process also covers homes marketed as resort lodging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Lajitas golf course?
Kelcy Warren is the publicly identified owner of Lajitas Golf Resort, and Black Jack’s Crossing is the resort’s 18-hole golf course. The official golf information does not identify a separate owner for the course. Lanny Wadkins designed Black Jack’s Crossing, but he is its architect rather than the resort owner.
Is Lajitas Golf Resort the same as the town of Lajitas?
No. Lajitas is an unincorporated community in Brewster County, while Lajitas Golf Resort is a 27,000-acre resort destination within the broader area. The resort does not represent ownership of every residence, business, or parcel in the community.
Does Kelcy Warren own every home available at the resort?
No. The resort offers privately owned homes among its lodging choices. Those homes may be available for resort booking, but a private homeowner’s property ownership is separate from ownership of the larger Lajitas Golf Resort business.
