Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
This campaign is closed
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
Restore the Ritchey
The historic Hotel Ritchey has waited patiently for a new life and new purpose for nearly half a century. It is one of Alpine's oldest buildings and the last to be renovated as part of the revitalization of Murphy Street, the heart of Alpine's historically Latino business district. Help make this treasure a crown jewel of the Big Bend region once again. With your support, the Ritchey owner Mattie Matthaie can finish structural repairs, electrical upgrades, install plumbing--which the building has never had--and reconstruct the two-story porch, which will have the best mountain sunset views in Alpine. Together we can turn the Ritchey into a community arts and performance space as well as a modern day saloon, serving coffee, wine, beer and locally prepared food.
The Ritchey will be a social hub where locals and visitors alike will want to start their day with coffee and later kick off their boots after a day working on a ranch or hiking in Big Bend. It's expansive, adobe-walled courtyard is the perfect setting for parties, live performances, and outdoor film screenings. Marrying the best of Alpine's past and present, the Ritchey will showcase the rich history and vibrant arts scene of far West Texas.
HISTORY OF THE RITCHEY
The Hotel Ritchey was built in 1886 across from the Southern Pacific train station and cattle-loading pens that were the commercial heart of Alpine, Texas. First name the City Hotel, the building was sturdily constructed with 18-inch adobe bricks and cypress wood framing. For almost a century it offered a bed for the night, stiff drinks and home-cooked meals to ranchers, cowhands, and railroad workers. Cowboys used to have shooting contests on the balcony by taking aim at silver dollars on the stockyard pens across the street. It is rumored that the back of the hotel was once a bordello. The Ritchey's walls have witnessed a lot. Despite being designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1965, the Ritchey was abandoned in the 1970s.
ABOUT MATTIE MATTHAEI
I was a successful builder and developer in Austin before moving to the Big Bend region 7 years years ago. Most of my career has been spent restoring old buildings, so I immediately fell for this shuttered, Old West relic when I first arrived in Alpine. I have reached the limits of what I can personally do to restore the Ritchey. The building has been so neglected that banks won't touch it, so now I need your support to finish saving it.
VIDEO CREDITS
DIRECTOR, EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Megan Wilde
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Tim Wilde
CAMERA AND SOUND ASSISTANTS: Tim Wilde and Avram Dumitrescu
HISTORIC PHOTOS: Courtesy of the Archives of the Big Bend, with help from David Keller
MUSIC BY
"Spaghetti Western Showdown" by AudioMint
"Toi Dedans" by Löhstana
"Rackin It Back" by Cliff Bruner & The Texas Wanderers
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Big Bend Hoopers, Sul Ross State University Ballet Folklorico, Pumpkin & Heidi of Wasserman Wranch, Marlys Hersey, David Keller, Big Bend Flash Mob, Elena Hernandez-Peña, Amy Oxenham, Elliott Ybarra, Amy & Nathan Struthers, the Wilde & Struthers Tea Party Girls, Cowgirl Kellie Straw, and Justine.