In a picturesque town like Alpine, nestled within the stunning landscapes of West Texas, the last thing anyone wants is for decaying buildings to cast a shadow over its beauty. However, that’s precisely what seems to be happening across from Sul Ross State University (SRSU), as two buildings, one of which was once the beloved Lobo Bar & Grill, stand in a state of disrepair, raising concerns among community members.
The buildings, located within close proximity to the university campus, have drawn the attention of local residents, particularly those who care deeply about the image of their community. Big Bend Times (BBT), a local news outlet, recently shared photographs of these structures, and the images paint a bleak picture. Boarded windows, cracked walls, peeling paint, and dilapidated signs are some of the stark features that mar the buildings’ appearance.
“These buildings do not make a good impression of Alpine or SRSU when visitors see them decaying across from campus,” the BBT caption accompanying the photos read. “Who owns them? Think they would mind a community clean-up, repair, and mural screen installation to make them less of an eyesore? Count BBT in on any community efforts to make these buildings, our community, and SRSU make a better first impression.”
The sentiment expressed by BBT resonated strongly with the community, as comments poured in supporting the idea of revitalizing these structures. Robert M, a local resident, commented, “Lobo Bar was falling to pieces even when it was in business,” while Eileen R added, “Totally agree!!!” Sylvia P concurred, saying, “Nailed It,” and Rachel T humorously described the situation as “shabby chic a’la little town pretend.”
Despite the clear consensus on the need for action, Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves did not respond to Big Bend Times’ attempt to seek her perspective on the issue by the time this article went live. It will be updated with Eaves’ comments if the responds.
The Lobo Bar & Grill, which once occupied one of the decaying buildings, has been closed for years. Although the business still maintains a Facebook page filled with fond memories, the last time a post was made was back in December 2019, nearly four years ago. It appears that the owners have opted for a different approach, as indicated by an anonymous message received by Big Bend Times. The message claimed, “I work with someone who knows the owners of Lobo Bar, and they said they ‘would use it for family and friend events only.’ And it looks horrible. That’s obviously not happening.”
The community’s frustration is evident, as they witness these prominent yet neglected buildings deteriorate further. The prime location across from SRSU serves as a first impression for visitors to Alpine, making the need for their revitalization all the more urgent.
In summary, the buildings across from Sul Ross State University, especially the once-popular Lobo Bar & Grill, have fallen into disrepair, prompting the community to rally for a cleanup and revitalization effort. With widespread agreement that action is needed, Alpine residents hope to restore their community’s positive image for all to enjoy.
As a frequent visitor to Alpine, I agree with this article. It looks horrible. The mayor and city ignoring this is not going to make this go away. The owners ambivelent attitude about the buildings conditions does not help. I hope that the residents in Alpine do not cool off about this. Since this does not help SRSU at all, maybe get them involved.
This is the sad legacy of zoning policy, which has been gradually eroding the quality of life in towns and cities for almost a century. Anyone can look at the Alpine city zoning map and see why there are a bunch of decrepit businesses along that corridor. It’s because legally that’s all that land can be used for. Sure, they don’t technically have to be decrepit, but I don’t see a Tesla dealership or Amazon warehouse going up any time soon.
Demand your city government rezone or de-zone that area and allow apartments or houses to be built there. Better yet, demand they de-zone the whole city so that people can choose to use their properties for what makes sense now, not what made sense when the zoning laws were created.