Three Decades in Terlingua
by Danielle Gallo
Crystal Allbright considered trading the big city life for Big Bend in the fall of 1990 . Her parents and older sister preceded her here , with her parents retiring and her sister raising a family in Alpine . She recalls watching the sun setting and the moon rising , and how it took her breath away . She wanted to stay .
By March of 1991 she had relocated . One draw was to finish her master ’ s at Sul Ross State University . Another was the idea that one didn ’ t need all the conveniences of urban life . One could simplify and get to the core of things , without all the clutter and the blaring of the TV . She became enamored with the layers of history , of indigenous people , settlers and ranchers , and the natural beauty of the geology , flora and fauna .
Allbright has twice been the featured artist at Alpine ’ s Artwalk festival . She paints in watersoluble oils and creates drawings . She is also an accomplished photographer . Her work was featured in the Big Bend National Park Calendar in both 2015 and 2020 . Additionally , she plays guitar and accordion , and has worked her way up to playing solo gigs at the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua , which she hails as a big personal accomplishment . “ I ’ ve been taking a break from art and music , which is a big part of who I am ,” she says . “ I had a Kodak Instamatic as a child , it ’ s something I ’ ve always done .
“ I hadn ’ t planned to become an educator , but that ’ s what Sul Ross offered at the time .” She studied art in college and earned her master ’ s in education with an emphasis in art from Sul Ross . As a teacher in the Terlingua School , she worked with students grades five through eight teaching language arts , computer skills and the Gifted-Talented program . In the course of making a photo essay for the Sul Ross newspaper , she took a river trip and fell in love with South County ’ s adventure industry . She began working for Big Bend River Tours during summers and holidays , learning the ins and outs of river guiding and getting involved with mountain biking . An avid road cyclist back in Dallas , it was a natural segue to exploring the Big Bend . “ I think it ’ s a wonderful way to get out in the desert and see it from a new perspective ,” she says .
Toward the end of her teaching career , she started working for Desert Sports , where she has been for the last 26 years . She is now a co-owner of the business . Interpreting the stunning natural beauty
14 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • September 2021