The Destination provides entertainment space for all Midlanders

At first glance, the Industrial Drive location looks like leftovers from a Trade Day event, interesting but a little confusing. However, once the barn-style front door opens, an eclectic quaint oasis greets you.

“I’m in the real estate business and I got the property about seven or eight years ago. (The previous owner) worked for a construction company, but he fell and couldn’t walk anymore. Well, he did it again and again surgery, but he became an artist. He owns the entire property and is selling it because he can’t take care of it. At the time, I just thought it was a good investment,” explained Gloria.

Martin, Gloria and other family members from El Paso moved to Midland to work during the oil boom in 1981. With his father always on the move, building, repairing or improving became the norm, instilling grit and close family ties at a young age, Martin said. So when it came time to create a name that reflected the end of their journey, “destination” was the perfect fit.

To say the Salazar family worked hard would be a serious understatement. The pristine overgrown and dilapidated lumberyard from the ’50s still stands, with siblings tirelessly pulling weeds and throwing logs. Five years of cleaning, collecting and building have resulted in this hidden gem, and now clients can see and feel the creative spirit of dwelling throughout the open area.

Divided into themed garage-style seating areas, items like hubcaps and old car parts fill the FracRat Garage, while lost-and-found hats for weekend parties hang from the rafters of the Hat Shop. An old headboard forms chairs in the work-shoe polishing area, and “The Little Cabin”, complete with a functioning fireplace, sits across from Midland’s only beach (“The Tiki”). Each area has historical marker plaques explaining the building process and more. The main stage features an upside-down drum set, cornholes, a full bar, food trucks and a stray rooster putting cherries on it.

However, the road here proved challenging. After The Destination opened in May 2019, the lights only turn on on the third Thursday of every month. Then, with the 2020 pandemic, the hatch was re-locked. After restrictions are eased in 2021, the Salazars welcome the Midlanders back to their retro haven, but still face the adversity of their first year. Still, Martin and Gloria remain hopeful and persistent in their dreams.

“We have to be flexible because if something doesn’t work, we have to try something new,” Gloria said. “It may not be overnight and honestly probably not next year or the next year, but people will find this place. There is something for everyone.”

Martin and Gloria pride themselves on creating a comfortable, community-driven space for everyone who walks through The Destination’s doors, and they’ve established a series of weekly musical guests and genres. From the Tejano Destination Showcase to Open Mic Night, guests are greeted with exciting performances every Thursday and bands on Fridays and Saturdays.

In the end, while The Destination has a visually pleasing aesthetic and design, the Salazar family’s compassionate, warm and welcoming attitude makes the venue a place where people want to spend their weekends and quality time with good friends.

“It’s important for us to provide people with a great environment and experience through a combination of music and atmosphere,” Martin said. “We’re gatekeepers, we’re gatekeepers, we’re security, but I love it. It’s almost like adrenaline; it keeps me going. It’s entertainment, it’s what we provide, and it’s priceless. “

Destination season runs from March to November. To learn more about show times, check out their website: www.thedestinationmidland.com