Notes from the host
Bottle House
Located at 110 West Murphy Street, the former (1890 - 1920) Historic 'Bottling Works' (see history at end) is a luxurious & spacious, completely renovated/modern 1,300 sq. ft. home with 3 bedrooms DISCLAIMER: 3rd bedroom is actually the very large Living Room/Dining Room/TV Room as you enter with a twin day bed/couch ...(4 beds total: 1 queen, 1 full, 2 twin)1 bath, fully stocked kitchen (gas stove, dishwasher, microwave, large fridge, washer and dryer), central air/heat. Again, note that the day bed with 2 twins is located in the very large front room as you enter with the living and dining room on the far side.
The dog ($25 pet fee per dog) and child friendly home is located across the street from the railroad tracks/Amtrak so there is train noise. I provide individually wrapped earplugs for sensitive sleepers, as does the Holland Hotel 1 block away (the "nicest" hotel in town:) There is high speed internet. Large flat screen TV with DVD player and loads of movies. No cable.The entire house is all yours/complete privacy. There are concrete floors throughout with comfy rugs. The Bottle House is filled with art (lots of Texas artists) and charm.
The Bottle House is very spacious with 2 private front entrances and 1 back door. Dining under the shaded ramada outside or star gazing in the backyard are fave activities.
As you enter the living room, there is a day bed/couch with 2 twin beds to your right (one pulls out easily from beneath the top mattress and can be moved anywhere). Down the hall to the left is the master bedroom with a queen sized bed. The bedroom off the master has a it's own side entrance/exit and full bed and large closet. It is accessed from the master through a sliding door. All beds have soft sheets, light down comforters (nights are chilly in the high desert) and down pillows
The Bottle House is 2 doors down from several fun shops and restaurants where you can dine on healthy take out food, enjoy sunset views from the recently restored Historic Ritchey Hotel "Wine Saloon" 2nd floor deck (1/2 block down on Murphy St), or enjoy the Saturday Farmer's Market at the Visitor's Center 4 blocks away. These businesses are all within a 5-10 min walk from Historic Murphy Street. The place is incredibly well located for exploring on foot and street parking is super safe!
Holland Street is one block north of Murphy Street and it is the other main street (on the north side of the tracks: Amtrak:) Alpine used to be named 'Murphyville.' Murphy street used to be 'Main Street' before the advent of the railroad and this artsy street is undergoing revitalization in downtown Alpine with murals, restaurants and galleries.
Alpine is located at the 'hub of the wheel' with the neighboring communities of Marfa (West/huge minimalist art scene:Donald Judd), Marathon (East/Gage Hotel), Fort Davis (North: McDonald Observatory/Historic Fort) are approx. 20 minutes away in any given direction.
Holland Street boasts: The Holland Hotel (1 block) with a great bar and restaurant, the Reata restaurant (upscale: 3 blocks), the world famous Railroad Blues honkytonk pub/music venue (3 blocks),the Rangra movie theatre (1 block), several art galleries/fabulous shops ; and locally owned Front Street Books/Cedar coffee shop with the best West Texas 'Cow Dogs' (food truck) next door (including vegan:).
Sul Ross State University is about 8 blocks east on Holland. Sul Ross has a great Museum of the Big Bend and a huge indoor salt water pool that is open to the public and costs $2. There are also some great hiking trails behind the university that give you an amazing 360 view of the country (15-20 minutes up). There is a desk on the top of Sul Ross Hill that has a notebook in it to record your ruminations - fun activity!
See if you can find the desk and the "Bicycle Tree nearby" (most folks can't :) Rule of thumb: keep the dome house in your sights:) The skies in our country are unfathomably clear and beautiful so make sure to schedule a Star Gazing party at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis about 45 minutes away. Our backyard is also a great spot for a more relaxed experience of star gazing:) The Fort in Fort Davis is also a lovely spot.
Balmorhea boasts the largest spring fed public pool in the state, with amazing cottage them out! (via Texas State Parks website)
Big Bend National Park/the Mexican border are about 45 minutes south. (Terlingua Ghost Town boasts the Starlight Theatre/Restuarant, Desert Sports runs river trips/biking trips: great folk)
Big Bend Ranch State Park tends not to be as busy as BBNP and has a wonderful (and cheap) bunkhouse for accommodations OR the old adobe ranch headquarters that is dreamy. Great camping, hiking, biking etc..The Solitario region is awesome and one of our fave spots.
Other:
Blue Water Grocery Store for organic food on Hwy 118 south.
Saturdays: Farmer' s Market from 9 - 12 is 4 blocks away at Visitor's Center.
The old Ritchey Hotel Saloon right down the street from you
My friend and helper Jessica 432 386 5076 is your go-to person if you have any immediate needs when here or I am a text away :) Hubby Hiram is available at 432 386 3550.
Call/email me with any questions.
Art work in the Bottle House is by Woody Farris (Fredericksburg), Tom Curry (Gallery behind the bottle house), Shiloh Sibley-Curtforth (photography), Bob Bell (Alpine), Karen Nakakihara (Alpine: pottery with whimsical animal designs), Liz Sibley (mosaics- Alpine/Austin), Charles Bragg, Butch Hancock, Saul Steinberg and many others.
Please check out by 11 am unless you have made other arrangements with us.
Please smoke outdoors ( and remember we're in the beautiful tinder box of the mountainous Chihuahuan desert :)
*Not responsible for accidents that occur on the property*
