ALPINE Activities
There ’ s lots to do in Alpine . Here are just a few options .
Alpine Country Club Golf Course : This 9-hole course located next to Kokernot Park is open to the public .
Alpine Murals : A number of murals can be enjoyed on a casual stroll along Holland Avenue . Check with the Alpine Visitors Center for a complete list .
Alpine Public Library / Re-Reads Book Store : In in 2013 , the Library Journal named Alpine Public Library the “ Second-Best Small Library in America .” Adjacent to the library is Re-Reads Book Store with a great selection of used books ; proceeds support library operations .
Art Galleries and Specialty Shops : Alpine has many art galleries and boutiques . Most are located in the historic downtown area . Choose from fine art , photography , antiques , gifts and souvenirs , books and maps , rocks and gems , arts and crafts .
Big Bend Brewing Co .: Big Bend Brewing Co . produces excellent craft beer . Brewery tours and beer tastings are Wednesday through Saturday at 4 p . m . Cost of $ 10 includes tour , tastings , a Big Bend Brewing pint glass ( full of beer !) and a bumper sticker . Open House 1 p . m . - 6 p . m . on the first Saturday of each month .
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 Markets : Yes , Alpine has two Farmers ’ Markets ! They ’ re open Saturdays from 9 a . m . till noon , year-round , rain or shine . One is in the Hotel Ritchey courtyard at the corner of 5th and Murphy Street , and one is at the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A .
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 26 & 27 .
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 theatreunder-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 .
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