Marfa Lights Rest Area, US67/90, 9 miles East of Marfa TX - Highway Rest Areas on Waymarking.com

For a rest area in the desert, this one is VERY NICE!

The pit toilets are the nicest we have ever been in -- modern and not awful. REALLY.

They are kept immaculatey clean, and there is low-flow water service from a rain cistern here to wash your hands with.

The facility very well designed, with generous seating and parking to accommodate visitors who want to see the famous Marfa Lights.

There are interpretive signs here about WWII history at nearby Marfa Army Air Field, the Marfa Lights, and signs about the Chihuahuan Desert and wildlife.

The historical markers read as follows:

MARFA LIGHTS

The Marfa Lights, mysterious and unexplained lights that have been reported in the area for over one hundred years, have been the subject of many theories. The first recorded sighting of the lights was by rancher Robert Ellison in 1883. Variously explained as campfires, phosphorescent minerals, swamp gas, static electricity, St. Elmo's fire, and "ghost lights", the lights reportedly change colors, move about, and change in intensity. Scholars have reported over seventy-five local folk tales dealing with the unexplained phenomenon. (1988)

and

SITE OF
MARFA ARMY AIR FIELD

During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) established a significant number of training airfields across the state of Texas. The USAAF Western Flying Training Command selected Marfa as the site for an advanced multi-engine flying school in 1942. Due to an initial lack of supplies and properly trained personnel, the USAAF struggled at first to establish the command effectively and to provide adequate housing for those who served here. The airfield had four hangars, five runways and a unique angled parking apron. There were also several auxiliary fields in the area. Support personnel here included a Women's Army Corps unit established in 1943 and African American troops, assigned primarily to motor pool duties. Trainees included allied Chinese flying cadets, the first class arriving in September 1944. After Germany surrendered in May 1945, the USAAF considered deactivating Marfa Army Air Field and placed the installation on standby status. However, the need for additional transport aircraft in the Pacific campaign temporarily extended the mission of the airfield. In June 1945, the USAAF placed the airfield in the Troop Carrier Command as home of the 818th Army Air Forces Base. The USAAF formally deactivated the base in September 1945, and the gradual exodus of the military had a devastating impact on Marfa. The military sold off buildings, many later used for civilian purposes in Marfa, Alpine and other locales. Today, all that remains of the once impressive site are foundations, runways and the memories of those who proudly supported the airfield during the war. Texas in World War II - 2007

This is a great place to stop along the US67/90.

Highway Number: US 67/US90 Common Name for the Highway: San Antonio Highway Highway Access Direction: Either Direction Rest Area Name: Marfa LIghts Viewing Area rest stop Facilities: picnic tables, viewing area, historic markers, desert interpretive signs Services: none Special Features: MARFA LIGHTS! Famous the world over :) Historical Markers WiFi: no

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/26/2019 Raven visited it 10/05/2018 WalksfarTX visited it 03/28/2018 Sneakin Deacon visited it 03/14/2017 wb96bobwhite visited it 12/23/2016 Benchmark Blasterz visited it

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