Rural Texas Has a Problem—Alpine Found the Answer

In this episode of The Building Texas Show’s Mayoral Series, host Justin McKenzie travels to Alpine, Texas, to sit down with Mayor Catherine Eaves for a candid and substantive conversation about rural governance, emergency medical services reform, tourism growth, civic engagement, and the future of Far West Texas. Alpine serves as the gateway to Big Bend National Park and is positioning itself as the “Dark Sky Capital of Texas.” But beyond tourism, the city is facing real-world challenges—most notably the potential loss of its third-party EMS provider and the economic realities rural communities face in delivering essential services. Mayor Eaves, a former science educator and dual-credit professor with Lone Star College, brings a unique civic lens to leadership. From launching City Government 101 courses to forming a monthly leadership huddle with Brewster County, Alpine ISD, and Sul Ross State University, this episode highlights a replicable model of rural collaboration. Topics Covered: • The EMS crisis facing rural Texas communities • How Alpine is responding to ground ambulance challenges • The role of interlocal agreements in rural governance • Tourism strategy and historic downtown designation • Big Bend visitor economy impact • Dark sky tourism and branding • Sul Ross State University’s role in workforce development • Civic education and public engagement If you're interested in rural economic development, Texas leadership, or the real mechanics of city government, this is a must-watch episode. Visit Alpine Texas: https://visitalpinetexas.com Learn more about The Building Texas Show: https://www.buildingtexasshow.com #LetsTalkTexas #AlpineTexas #TexasMayors #RuralTexas #BigBend #DarkSkyCapital #BuildingTexas 00:00 – Welcome to Alpine, Texas 01:02 – How Catherine Eaves Became Mayor 02:57 – Why Civic Education Matters 03:47 – Growth & Retiree Demographics 03:57 – New City Manager & Financial Strategy 05:14 – Tourism Economy & Big Bend Impact 05:49 – The EMS Crisis Facing Alpine 09:42 – City & County Collaboration Model 11:51 – Leadership Huddle Strategy 13:23 – Interlocal Agreements in Action 13:46 – Historic Downtown District 14:40 – Dark Sky Capital of Texas Vision 16:39 – Recreation & Kokernot Field 17:00 – Mayor Eaves’ Podcast: Small Town Big Stories 19:52 – Sul Ross State University’s Impact 21:23 – Where to Plan Your Visit to Alpine 22:50 – Final Thoughts on Alpine’s Future