In the vast Big Bend country of far west Texas there is a land of canyons, high mountains, deep ravines and panoramic views. The area is sparsely populated and it's a long way to even a medium sized city.

You can expect to see wild life such as deer, javelina, quail and dove, as well as many others. There's a tremendous variety of desert plants. The air is clean and clear. This is home to Big Bend National Park, one of the nation's largest, and Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas. Mexico is just across the river (Rio Grande).

This gorgeous country has something for everyone. If you yearn for your own piece of ground where you can build a house, pitch a tent, or just relax and enjoy the scenery, this is it. If you're looking for a place to hunt deer, quail, doves, and javelina, or to pick up minerals and indian artifacts, this is your place!

Yet many Texans call Terlingua Ranch, and the area surrounding Big Bend, Texas' best-kept secret, because most Texans don't know about it, let alone most non-Texans.

Which brings us back to opportunity. Nowhere in the desert southwest--not in Arizona, New Mexico, or California--will you find better country. The big difference is price. If somebody were selling new cars in west Texas at 10% of the regular dealer price, people would beat a path to his door. Before long, the prices would adjust. Economists call this a "market inefficiency". Land for which you'd expect to pay thousands an acre is available for a few hundred an acre.

Like any market inefficiency, it won't last. I think the only reason for it is that not many people know about it. But that's changing. Ask yourself: how much nice rural land is available where you live for under $1,000 an acre?