My trip to Alpine, Texas was a very long drive on a Greyhound bus with my hostess Annie Hiamey from Dallas, Texas in November 2021 after my assignment at the World Food Championships Tournament. We traveled for hours on open roads.
At a point, I was just wondering where she was taking me. Before then, I have heard so much about Alpine, Texas, and I was looking forward to an opportune time to come visit and have an experience.
Alpine is a remote, high-desert gem, 90 miles north of Big Bend National Park and Mexico. Alpine, the county seat and the largest town, is 220 miles southeast of El Paso in northwestern Brewster County. Brewster County, is the largest county in Texas, is located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, and is the site of Big Bend National Park, the largest park in the state.
Alpine was founded in 1882 and is a city in the county seat of Brewster County, Texas, United States, with a population of 6,029. Alpine offers an oasis of academia, arts, and cowboy culture splashed across a picturesque valley. Alpine with the arrival of the railroad and was first called Osborne and then Murphyville until it was incorporated as Alpine in 1888, the city developed as a service center for a huge ranching area (sheep and Hereford cattle).
In Alpine, I realized Annie was the only Ghanaian residing there, but she is always happy alone there. There are a lot of clubs and services in Alpine that make the residents busy like the Lions Club which she is a member. There is also the Kiwanis and other clubs as well. I like Alpine, Texas for its beauty, great weather, and friendly people.
Alpine and Ghana, West Africa has so much in common; the people and the hospitality, the dark skies in some part of the remote areas in Ghana. They say hello as you walk down the path, and you get a wave with one-index-finger lifts off the steering wheel as they drive along the road. Musicians play almost every night at bars and music halls.
One fascinating thing about Alpine is the number of times trains run across almost every three hours and some are about two miles long. I miss the wind speed, the dark skies, the sunrise, and the sun set across the mountains.
We visited the Fort Davis National Historic Site, Davis Mountain State Park, McDonald Observatory, Alpine Murals, the scenic loop drive, and a trip to Balmorhea. The scenery drives around Fort Davis are second to none.
I also had the opportunity to witness the Art walk Festival and fellowship at the Grace Christian Fellowship for their Fall Festival and Thanksgiving Dinner Service.
My hostess made sure that, I had one of the best times while in Alpine, even though most of the places were shut down because of the covid pandemic.
I hope to explore more areas, attend the Star Party, and the Marfa Mystery Light and have the same enriching experience very soon on my next visit. This time, I will be coming along with some other friends and colleagues.
During my visit, I met with the Executive Director, Mr. Robert Alvarez, and the Public Relations Assistant of Brewster County Tourism Council and Economic Development, who gave me souvenirs and a marketing kit of the Big Bend Region. This will help hoist the destination of Brewster County and the City of Alpine, its brand perception, and also promote it as a more desirable leisure destination for the people of Africa.
One of my core values in journalism is the importance of professional development. And one of the best ways to gain experience is to immerse me in a new environment. Not just experience it as a tourist, but also understand what it means to be a journalist on assignment and the responsibility that comes with it, discovering the heritage, history, and culture.
Alpine is a favorite place for hikers and those who want to get away from the crowd and connect with nature is at the top of the list for great vacation ideas. Even though it’s very far, the destination is worth the journey. It also has a State University, Sul Ross State University. Alpine, Texas today is the home field for the Sul Ross Lobos baseball team and minor league Alpine Cowboys.
There are vast opportunities in the Big Bend Region that entrepreneurs can look into. Being a sports journalist from West Africa, I see the niche of soccer development in Alpine, TX that will bring in large–scale tournaments for the youth in the region as well.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mayor Catherine Eaves and also the people of Alpine for being the winners of four Texas State Travel Awards.- “Top travel destinations and attractions across the Lone Star State” along with “the top places, businesses and things to do, luring travelers to hit the open road and explore this great state.”
I am excited to know that, Mayor Catherine Eaves’ diversity project commitment, is to increase the growth of Alpine in diverse initiatives, programming, and community investments. I am very obliged for the opportunity to introduce Big Bend and Alpine, Texas as the Eden of the Far West destination to my people in Africa.
Reference:
Texasmonthlypromotion.com
Texastravelawards.com
Alternate titles: Murphyville, Osborne
By The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica
Writer: Enoch Worlanyo is a Ghanaian-based award-winning sports journalist, a food judge, writer, a broadcaster with a passion for positive-impact adventures, exploring underrated destinations, and Ghana’s most loved storyteller.