Alpine
ACTIVITIES
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Brewster County Courthouse Hall of History: Photographs of early
Brewster County and Alpine places and people are on display in the great
hall of the historic 1887 courthouse.
Farmer’s Market: Open Saturdays from 9 a.m. till noon, year-round,
rain or shine. In the Hotel Ritchey courtyard at the corner of 5th and
Murphy Street.
Hancock Hill: The Hancock Hill area behind Sul Ross State University
contains 2-3 miles of hiking trails with great views of Alpine and the
surrounding area. Points of interest include bicycles hanging from trees
and an abandoned desk that was hauled up the hill in 1981 by three
enterprising students. Be sure to sign the notebook in the desk drawer.
Holland Hotel: Built in the early 1900s with design contributions from
renowned southwest architect Henry C. Trost, this historic hotel features all
the elements of Spanish Colonial Revival – arches, tile floors, embossed
wood beams, and courtyard.
Historic Walking and Windshield Tour: Take a leisurely stroll or drive
around Alpine’s downtown and get a glimpse into our architectural history,
dating from the late 1800s. The tour guide/map is available at the Alpine
Visitors Center.
Kokernot Park: Alpine’s municipal park includes a walking/fitness trail,
playground and dog park. Stroll past Poet’s Grove, where the cowboy poets
gather for a chuck wagon breakfast each February, to historic Kokernot
Lodge and its outdoor amphitheater. The Lodge was built as a clubhouse in
the early 1930s next to the now-dry Burgess Spring, an important
watering hole for early travelers and settlers.
Kokernot Baseball Field: Styled after Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the field
was built in 1947 by rancher Herbert Lee Kokernot Jr. Red clay for the
infield was hauled in from Georgia, and native stone quarried from
Kokernot Ranch was used to build the outfield wall and grandstand. The
Kokernot Ranch "06" brand was incorporated throughout the stadium,
along with intricate ironwork of baseballs complete with painted threads.
The field is home to the Sul Ross State University Lobos, the Alpine (High
School) Bucks, and the Alpine Cowboys – a professional team and the
2012 Pecos League champions. The Cowboys season is from late May
through early August; tickets are typically available on game day.
Museum of the Big Bend: Since 1925, this museum on the Sul Ross
University campus has told the story of the Big Bend and Davis Mountains.
A children’s corner makes the museum a great place for the entire family.
For exhibits and events, see pages 15-18.
Paisano Pass Volcano: Visit the roadside marker five miles west of
Alpine on Highway 90 to learn more about the volcano that helped to form
this area millions of years ago.
Performing Arts and Live Music: Alpine’s cool summer nights are the
perfect setting for theatre-under-the-stars performances by Theatre of the
Big Bend, Sul Ross State University’s summer theatre program. Since
1983, the Railroad Blues has been the place to go for live music in Alpine –
from honky-tonk and Tejano to blues and rock. Live music can also be
heard at Harry’s Tinaja, the Holland Hotel, Granada Theater and area
restaurants on select nights.
Sul Ross State University: Situated in the hills overlooking Alpine, the
University is a great place to wander and enjoy great views and
spectacular sunsets. There’s an impressive cactus garden in front of
Lawrence Hall at Entrance 2 off Highway 90.
Turner Range Animal Science Center: The Center hosts rodeos and
horse shows throughout the year. On any given day, visitors might be lucky
enough to watch university students and 4H club members practicing in
the S.A.L.E. Arena, located behind the main building.
2017-18 Community Guide & Chamber of Commerce Directory | alpine TEXAS 23