News Release

Solicitation for New Lodge Contract Cancelled

Over many years, unstable soils have resulted in damage to the Chisos Mountains Lodge. The NPS will soon begin a planning process to evaluate solutions for remediation.

News Release Date: March 6, 2019

Contact: David Elkowitz, 432-477-1139

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX –  Today, the National Park Service (NPS) cancelled the solicitation for a new concession contract (# CC-BIBE002-19), which provides lodging, food and beverage, automobile fuel, retail, RV park, and other visitor services within Big Bend National Park. Cancelling the solicitation follows the recent receipt of an engineering report to examine the extent of the instability of the soils beneath the Chisos Mountains Lodge (Lodge). Additional analysis and a planning effort, with public input, will be required to determine feasibility and options to remediate the problem in a manner that is financially and environmentally sustainable over the long-term

Existing dining and retail services, and overnight accommodations in the Chisos Basin, will continue without interruption.

In April 2018, the NPS issued a prospectus to solicit bids for the new concession contract to succeed the existing contract (# CC-BIBE002-08) after expiration. Prior to release of the prospectus, the NPS commissioned a study of the soils beneath the Lodge. Although the results of the study were not available prior to release of the prospectus, the prospectus informed potential offerors the NPS was researching the problem. 

The NPS recently received the report, which outlined the extent of instability and damage caused to the Lodge, as well as made recommendations for various short and long-term mitigation. While the lodge remains structurally stable, long-term remediation of the existing structure will likely require extensive reconstruction and soil stabilization under the building. The NPS will look at all reasonable options to resolve this challenge prior to issuing a new solicitation. Constructed in 1964 and modified numerous times since then, the Lodge is an important part of Big Bend’s history and any major reconstruction or replacement will need to consider the impact on the area’s natural and cultural resources

“The NPS is cancelling this prospectus as the condition of the Lodge is more complicated than it was believed to be when the prospectus was issued, and may cause a greater impact to the operations of a future concessioner than anticipated,” explained Superintendent Bob Krumenaker. To avoid an interruption of visitor service, the NPS intends to extend for one year the existing concession contract with Big Bend Resorts, LLC, part of the Forever Resorts family of companies.

The NPS intends to issue a new concession solicitation that will include the updated plans for the Lodge.

For more information, please contact:

David Elkowitz
Management Assistant
432-477-1139 or e-mail us