Luna Jacal
Also known as: Luna Residence; Bbh 168
Why it's listed
Set at the base of Pena Mountain in Big Bend National Park, this small house was built by Gilberto Luna, a pioneer Mexican farmer who settled the Alamo Creek drainage. The rectangular dwelling uses a large flat boulder as one end wall. Its walls are random limestone and sandstone blocks laid in mud mortar, three feet thick at the base and two at the top. Forked poles and ridge poles carry a roof of ocotillo branches, brush, earth and stone ballast, and jacal curtain walls divided the interior over an earthen floor. Luna lived in the area his whole life, raising a large family and farming the dry creek floodplain until his death in 1947 at age 109. The house is regarded as the park's prime example of the primitive Mexican shelter of early pioneer settlement and of adaptation to the local environment. The National Park Service restored it in 1971, though the soil-cement roof was judged an unfaithful repair.
Significance in brief: It is described as the prime example within the park of the primitive Mexican house-shelter typical of the earliest pioneer settlement. It is also considered a prime example of adaptation to the Big Bend environment. Its builder, Gilberto Luna, was a widely known local figure.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74000282, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | At base of Pena Mountain in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park |
|---|---|
| County | Brewster County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000282 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Gilberto Luna (builder) |
| Architectural style | Primitive Mexican jacal house-shelter |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by the National Park Service in 1971 and in good physical condition, though the soil-cement roof was criticized as not a faithful restoration. Listed as unoccupied and open to the public. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 29.21547, -103.53491 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74000282.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6703526
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.