Alpine Texas, Historic Alpine and Alpine Hotels. (original) (raw)
History in a Pecan Shell
Osborne was the original name of the settlement in 1882. It later became Murphyville after two brothers named Murphy registered the plat in 1883. Finally in 1888 it was named Alpine.
Growth was slow, but as soon as the townspeople realized that no one had built roads connecting Alpine to the rest of the world - things started happening. In 1921 they opened Sul Ross State Normal College which later became Sul Ross State University.
The town incorporated in 1929.
In 1940 the government opened Big Bend National Park and Alpine naturally became a popular entry point. There's no doubt that the University has played a large part in Alpine's growth.
The goodly number of students (or what passes for a goodly number in West Texas) at Sul Ross State University makes Alpine the host to the only fast food franchise west of Del Rio and South of Pecos.
Someone has arranged rocks on hills near the campus - to help further identify the town. Normally one has to travel to a military installation to see such a display.
Alpine, Texas Landmarks/Attractions:
Photo courtesy Beth Nobles for www.texasmountaintrail.com, 2008
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

The First Christian Church in Alpine
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2007
The Alpine Amtrak Station
TE photo
The Granada Theatre in Alpine
TE Photo, 2001
Bob Hext's "Tres Amigos"
Photo courtesy Keith "Kchisos" Williams

Alpine in snow
Photo by Keith "Kchisos" Williams

Travelogue
Holly Isn�t Just For Christmas Anymore by N. Ray Maxie
"...Amtrak is the only way to travel these days. That is of course, if you are retired, not on a schedule and in no hurry to get any place, as my wife (of fifty years) and I am. Amtrak passenger trains serve Alpine on a regular schedule in both directions. We travel Amtrak Houston to Alpine frequently and occasionally to other far away places. It takes us only one day of travel each direction to and from Alpine. Obtaining a rental car, we may stay over five or six days, based at a local motel. The full round trip makes a week of �senior adult� fun and mostly carefree vacationing for us..."
US 90 and US 67; Merging Highways by N. Ray Maxie
"These two US Highways merge for 34 miles in far West Texas, mostly between Alpine and Marfa. There, together, they go through Alpine, skirt around the picturesque Paisano Peak and Twin Peaks, both 6050 feet high. Then on to Marfa where 67 leaves 90 and turns south into Presidio, ending at the Mexican border... 90/67 also passes another very interesting landmark. One you won�t want to miss..." more
Alpine Tourist Information
Alpine Chamber of Commerce: 432-837-2326
Website: www.alpinetexas.com
Book Hotel Here > Alpine Hotels
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.









