Annual festival held in October.
Local Organizations
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Gardens
Located 4 miles SE from Fort Davis on Hwy 118, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Gardens is comprised of 507 acres of semi-desert grasslands and igneous rock outcrops with a riparian canyon and spectacular views from all
directions. Visitors may explore the nearly 5 miles of hiking trails which range
from the more strenuous Modesta Canyon Trail that leads into a hidden canyon
with its year-round spring, to the moderate Clayton’s Overlook Trail which
provides a 360-degree hilltop view plus a Geology Exhibit, to a combination of
other adventurous trails.
Inside the fenced Botanical Gardens enjoy the stroll along the ½-mile Trans-Pecos
Natives Path, as well as take in the sights at the Pollinator Garden and Overlook,
the Scenic Vista Trail, the Native Grasses exhibit, and over 200 species and
subspecies of Chihuahuan Desert cacti at the Maxie Templeton Cactus Museum
Collection.
Discover grassland birds at the Bird Blind with its 30-ft. long water feature, learn
about the mining of the Big Bend Region at the Mining Heritage Exhibit, and enjoy the
Powell Visitor Center and Gift Shop.
Open Mon-Sat. 9-5; Sundays 12:30-5:00.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years Day.
Adults: $6.50 each; Children 12 and under: Free
432-364-2499
www.cdri.org
Club Fort Davis – After School Program
Club Fort Davis – After School Program is a non-profit organization that provides a supervised after school setting for K-5 students at the Dirks-Anderson Elementary School.
Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County
Supplemental food distributed to those in need. Also provides emergency food and school supplies.
Food Distributions are twice a month to Fort Davis and Valentine. Please see website for hours.
Fort Davis Indian Club
Booster Club
Contact Brittany Hinojos
Fort Davis Lions Club
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis was an active military post from 1854 to 1891. It is one of the best surviving examples of a frontier military post in the Southwest. An entrance fee is charged at the Visitors’ Center.
The Fort Davis National Historic Site has four miles of hiking trails, including the section of trail that links to the Davis Mountains State Park. A map is available at the visitor’s center. The trails mostly climb through the striking rock formations of Sleeping Lion Mountain, with splendid vistas as the trail climbs. Interpretive signs along some trails identify vegetation and other natural features.
Hours: 8am to 5pm
Closed on the following days:
Christmas Day – December 25
New Years Day – January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observed – Third Monday in January
Thanksgiving Day – Last Thursday in November
Fort Davis Recycles
RECEIVING STATION HOURS
Except Holidays
Tuesday – Friday, 8 AM – 1 PM
Saturday 7 AM – 3 PM
Questions, call the center 432-249-1557
LOCATION
603 Military Drive, Fort Davis, TX
The Jeff Davis County Receiving Station is to the north and east of the Courthouse on the corner of Military and Compromise Streets. You can reach it from Highway 17 by turning east on either Compromise or Cemetery Streets. (Map below)
RECYCLING IS FREE AND EASY
The Jeff Davis County Receiving Station is to the north and east of the Courthouse on the corner of Military and Compromise Streets. You can reach it from Highway 17 by turning east on either Compromise or Cemetery Streets.
Cardboard is recycled by placing the material in the containers just after entering the facility on the right. Costumers must break down all boxes before placing in cardboard bins.
When recycling in the Compactor, the attendant will ask you to sign in and also look at what you are bringing. This is to prevent contamination of the Compactor, which causes an expensive fine for the County. The Compactor, at the far northwest corner of the receiving station, accepts many types of recyclable products. See below WHAT IS RECYCLABLE & WHAT IS NOT at this facility.
Once the recyclables are compressed by the Compactor, they are reduced in size by 4 to 1. When the Compactor is full it is hauled to Austin to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) to be separated on an assembly line and bailed for shipment to places where they can be reused.
WHAT IS RECYCLABLE & WHAT IS NOT
| If you need to clean up your property, remember the
Receiving Station accepts more than just cardboard and what goes into the compactor. |
| The attendant will meet you at the gate to learn what you need to dump so he can assist you and assess the fee. |
| EFFECTIVE October 27, 2020
RECEIVING STATION FEES
|
|
| 30-gallon bag of trash | $3.00 |
| 50-gallon bag of trash | $5.00 |
| Roll off | $42.00 per yard |
| Living Room Chair | $18.00 each |
| Couch | $24.00 each |
| Mattress or Box Springs: | |
| Twin | $12.00 each |
| Double & Queen | $18.00 each |
| King | $24.00 each |
| Water Heaters | $18.00 each |
| Stoves | $18.00 each |
| Washers | $18.00 each |
| Dryers | $18.00 each |
| Dishwashers | $18.00 each |
| Refrigerators must be RED Tagged | $30.00 each |
| Freezers must be RED Tagged | $30.00 each |
| Large A.C./ Heaters must be Red Tagged | $30.00 each |
| Chipable Limbs | $6.00 per yard |
| Non Chipable yard waste | $35.00 |
| Receiving station accept tires if they are not on rims (wheels). | |
| Small to regular size tires | $3.00 |
| Larger tires | $5.00 |
WE DO NOT ACCEPT
Glass, Dirt, Rocks, Bricks, Cinder Blocks, Cement, Motor Oil, Car Batteries, Chemicals or Paint, Rims, Wire
HISTORY OF RECYCLING IN JEFF DAVIS COUNTY
Twenty years ago Elaine Harmon, curator, and Jerry Yarbrough, superintendent of FDNHS, started an all volunteer recycling program. They collected recyclables and delivered them to Alpine to the center created by Hal Flanders. After Hal’s death a new city manager dismantled the recycling infrastructure. Ten years ago Jeff Davis County tried to set up recycling with Duncan Disposal, now Republic. Volunteers staffed every Saturday morning to help people recycle. After a year of work by 100 volunteers, we learned that Duncan was not recycling.
Creation of the present recycling system was made possible in 2011 with a $10,000 grant from the National Park Service Foundation with the help of John Morlock the new Superintendent. Many in‐kind contributions were given to grade the site for the compactor, compact the base, add a reinforced concrete pad, and bring in 3‐phase electricity.
In all a $20,000 investment was made to have single stream recycling with Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) whose goal is to prevent anything recyclable from being dumped in a land fill it operates. In their new contract with the County, TDS because of their increased costs, increased the hauling fees for our compacted recyclables. Jeff Davis County was paying $10,000 per year to provide free recycling for its citizens. Hauling fees went up $5,000 which was too much for the County Budget. The total budget for the Receiving Station is $97,000. Dumping fees only bring in $15,000. Solid waste disposal costs taxpayers $82,000 per year.
A group of dedicated volunteers put on a fish fry fundraiser November 2015 and raised the $5,000 needed. Over 100 people attended the fish fry and 40 people donated from $100 to $1,000 in sponsorships. Volunteer efforts and generous donations have been a hallmark of recycling in Jeff Davis County and are one reason for its success.
BECOME A PARTNER WITH FORT DAVIS RECYCLES
Send Donation to:
Fort Davis Recycles
PO Box 2176
Fort Davis, TX 79734
Partners in Fort Davis Recycling
Rick Herrman and Margaret O’Donnell
Pam Nelson Harte
Mike and Debby Murphy
James and Tammy King
Todd Jagger
Beth and Larry Francell
Sue Ashworth
Curtis Evans
Dave and Linda Hedges
Jerry and Susan Pittman
Western National Park Association
Madge Lindsay
Ray and Liz Leach
Liz Sibley
Porters Grocery
Martin and Sherry Stringer
Pam Breithaupt
John K. Lowe
Hugh Scanlen
Tim Roberts and Karen Little
Victoria Lowe
Jimmy Bencomo
Willis and Maria LeJune
Texas Nature Conservancy
David and Ana Schreiber
Friends of Jeff Davis County Library
A volunteer organization that endeavors to make Jeff Davis County Library an increasingly important asset by encouraging greater public awareness, use, and support of the library and by assisting the librarian and staff in improving services and facilities.
FJDCL presents fun events open to the community including the “Midsummer Night’s Dream Garden Party,” poetry readings, book signings, educational programs, and an annual holiday chamber music concert. FJDCL collaborates with the Sul Ross Theatre Program to offer the delightful Shakespearean themed event. Local and visiting poets and authors contribute to other programs.
FJDCL is dedicated to promoting lifelong learning through annual scholarship awards to graduating seniors in Jeff Davis County. Graduates may apply their scholarship to their chosen educational path.
Jeanine Bishop, President
Friends of the Fort Davis National Historic Site
The Friends of Fort Davis National Historic Site is a group of citizens whose goal is to work in partnership with the National Park Service. We strive to improve the facilities, fund furnishings and displays, support living history events that tell the story of the role that the Fort Davis Army Post played in the settling of the American western frontier.
M – F, 9 am – 5 pm
Visit our Facebook page.
Girl Scouts Of The Permian Basin
Year round leadership development program for girls ages 5-17.
Education & camping for youth, Group facility rentals.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9am-6pm
Grand Companions Humane Society
Grand Companions helps people save and connect with homeless pets through our rescue shelter and adoption programs.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Visit our Facebook page.
Jeff Davis County Library
Located in Memorial Square, Fort Davis, TX
Monday – Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm
McDonald Observatory
The observatory’s three largest instruments are the 362″ Hobby-Eberly telescope on 6,600-foot Mount Fowlkes, the 107″ Harlan J. Smith and 82″ Otto Struve telescopes located on 6,800-foot Mt. Locke. The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118 and under one of the darkest night skies of any major observatory in the continental United States.
Operated by the University of Texas at Austin, the observatory has several large research telescopes and hosts astronomers from around the world. Self-guided tours are possible from 10am to 5:30pm. Solar Viewing sessions are conducted twice daily at 11am and 2pm. (reservations are strongly encouraged) Daily tours follow Solar Viewing.
The observatory has evening Star Parties on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays which are led by knowledgeable staffers. (reservations are required) A star party showcases interesting stars, planets and other astronomical objects including live views through telescopes from 8 to 24 inches in size. The observatory is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Bring a jacket, since the mountain air cools quickly.
A gift shop featuring astronomy related merchandise and the StarDate Cafe are located in the visitor’s center. Accurate information for opening hours and tours can be found at mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors
Click here for the Astronomy picture of the day!
Mobile Comunidad
Mobile Comunidad is an outreach program of the Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library and Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County, in partnership with the Jeff Davis County Library, committed to lifting people up by meeting a variety of social service needs right where they live.
Hours vary. See website for the van’s scheduled stops.
Raise Your Hand Texas
Raise Your Hand Texas supports public policy solutions that invest in Texas’ 5.4 million public school students. We work in communities throughout the state to educate, engage and activate advocates who care about public education – all while keeping five values in mind: integrity, democracy, courage, equity, and pragmatism.
We are reinventing public education for the future – because the future of Texas is in our public schools.
Smoke in the Mountains
Festival Fundraiser for the JDC Volunteer Firefighters
Texas Star Party
Gathering of amateur astronomers and their families and friends to observe celestial objects in the dark skies of Fort Davis and participate in other astronomical events and activities.
The Nature Conservancy of Texas
About 10 miles north of the McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118 North (Davis Mountains Preserve). A non-profit wildlife conservation organization, using science-based research and a non-confrontational approach to protect the unique diversity of animals and plants native to our state. The Madera Canyon Trail adjacent to the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area is open from dawn to dusk year-round.
Visit our Facebook page.
Trans-Pecos Bird Conservation, Inc.
Director Cecilia Riley
Manages the Davis Mountains Hummingbird Festival
Alpine Chamber of Commerce
Marathon Chamber of Commerce
Marfa Magazine
Museum of the Big Bend
Start your journey to Big Bend at the Museum of the Big Bend!
For more than 90 years the Museum of the Big Bend has been collecting and exhibiting artifacts of the vast Big Bend region. Encompassing the Davis Mountains and the borderlands of Mexico, the Big Bend has been inhabited for over 11,000 years. The Museum showcases this human history and culture reflected through the contributions of the Native Americans, the Spanish, the Mexicans and American settlers. The Museum hosts rotating exhibits including Trappings of Texas
featuring the best of contemporary Western art and custom cowboy gear every April.
The Museum is located in Alpine at the northeast corner of the Sul Ross State
University campus and can be reached from Entrance Four from Harrison Street.
Admission and Parking is Free! Donations are always welcomed. The Museum is
handicap accessible. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Hours: Closed on Mondays
Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 1pm-5pm
Visit our Facebook page.
Website:
www.museumofthebigbend.com
Phone: (432) 837-8143
Email: maggie.rumbelow@sulross.edu
Address: 400 N Harrison, Alpine, TX 79832