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Alpine
Initially called Murphyville, Alpine became the seat of Brewster County in 1887, but with Big Bend National Park just a bit to the south it has been dubbed the “Hub of Big Bend.” A town of style and Western charm, Alpine has an extensive collection of galleries and antiques shops. You can stroll through the historic district, explore the Museum of the Big Bend, or spend your days in the great outdoors, camping, hunting, mountain climbing, swimming, hiking, or golfing. Alpine has 255 economical, 153 moderate, and 29 first-class accommodations.
Slide show about Big Bend
Eat! Sleep! Terlingua!Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park, 79834
432-477-2291 (Chisos Mountains Lodge)
432-477-2251 (Panther Junction Visitor Center)
nps.gov/bibe
Accessible from Alpine via TX Hwy. 118 (108 miles), Marathon via U.S. Hwy. 385 (69 miles), and Presidio via FM 170 (92 miles), Big Bend National Park encompasses the entire southwestern tip of Texas, 801,163 acres along the bend formed by the Rio Grande as it turns north. The river flows through the park for 118 miles. Go beyond your initial impression of endless untamed wilderness to examine your surroundings more closely, and the desert will disclose treasures of unequaled beauty and unparalleled diversity. The terrain features sheer rock canyons and rugged mountains, some more than 7,000 feet in elevation, and the climate changes accordingly. Within the park thrive more than 1,200 plant species, 75 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 67 species of amphibians and reptiles. Facilities include five visitors centers, a post office, National Park Service campgrounds, a trailer park, stores, gas stations, and a lodge with a restaurant and gift shop. Panther Junction Visitor Center open daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Rangers conduct walking tours throughout the year. Admission: $20 per vehicle (good for one week), seniors free with pass, bicycles $10, annual park pass $40. Contact the visitors center for backcountry camping permits, information, maps, and brochures.
Museum of the Big Bend and Desert Cactus Garden
Sul Ross State University, Entrance 4, U.S. Hwy. 90 Alpine, 79832
432-837-8730 (gallery)
432-837-8143 (tours)
sulross.edu
For more than 70 years, this museum has been collecting and displaying artifacts that help explain the history of the vast Big Bend region. More than 20 different species of cacti native to the area flourish in the museum’s garden. In addition to the permanent installations, the museum features temporary exhibits and a Native American cave for children. Open Tue.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 1–5 p.m. Admission: Free (donations accepted). Call for guided tours.
Events
Gallery Night
432-837-3067
alpinegallerynight.com
Nov. 16–17, 2007
Bringing together artists from across the Southwest, this event celebrates the arts, with the cooperation of Alpine’s galleries, private studios, and art-related shops. The goal is to enrich and educate the audience through personal interaction with artists, and it’s all for free. Collage, ceramics, fiber arts, jewelry, metalwork, and handmade books are among the art forms represented. Live music, arts and crafts, and food booths add to the fun.
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
432-364-2490
cowboy-poetry.org
Feb. 29–Mar. 2, 2008
Poetry on the range? Why not? The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering ropes ’em in at Sul Ross State University to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Cowboys and cowgirls recite their poetry in the land that inspired it. The festivities include music storytelling, Western culture, and a cowboy church service.
Theatre of the Big Bend
432-837-8218
sulross.edu
June 22–Aug. 5, 2008
This theater company brings college and community together in the tranquility of the Big Bend. Founded by the Sul Ross State University Department of Fine Arts and Communication, the company was formed in 1965 and has presented more than 150 plays in 39 seasons. This summer, shows include Greater Tuna, Always Patsy Cline, and Petra’s Pecado.
Travel Intinerary
Marfa, Alpine, Marathon - 4 Days
Marfa is perhaps best known for its odd Marfa Lights–ghostlike lights, with no clear source, that often appear in the night sky. The annual Marfa Festival celebrates this phenomenon over Labor Day weekend. It’s just one of the attractions in this quaint West Texas town where the movie Giant was filmed.
Explore the Marfa Courthouse, built in 1886–1887 and a wonderful example of the Second Empire style that was the architectural rage in mid-19th-century Europe. A fun lunch spot is FoodShark Marfa, a funky mobile café specializing in Mediterranean food (a Marfalafel, anyone?) that’s usually parked across from the Marfa Book Co. (on Highland Avenue).
Reserve a room at the Hotel Paisano and have dinner at its Jett Grill, which offers a selection of seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes. In the morning, enjoy coffee and the newspaper in the courtyard, with its stunning fountain.
Next it’s off to Alpine. Learn about your final destination in the region, Big Bend National Park, at the Museum of the Big Bend. Get lunch or dinner at Reata, the original location of the famous restaurant named after the ranch in Giant and notable for its “cowboy cuisine,” and check out the live music at Railroad Blues. Visit Alpine’s Apache Trading Post for books and souvenirs before heading to Marathon.
Marathon is known for the historic Gage Hotel, but don’t miss the opportunity to spend a night at Eve’s Garden Organic Bed and Breakfast and Ecology Resource Center, where you’ll find healthy meals made with local and organic ingredients and you’ll stay in a straw-bale adobe house that’s available for groups and families–a classic example of modern living in the Old West.
Before heading off to the park, create your own picnic-to-go at the French Company Grocer (206 N. Avenue D). Established in 1900 as Marathon’s first general store, this place has all sorts of goodies, as well as a covered eating area with wireless Internet access if you want to hang out for a while.
