TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Kleberg County TX
Kleberg County

Texas Towns
A - Z
Kingsville Hotels

Corpus Christi Hotels

 

RIVIERA, TEXAS

Kleberg County, Texas Gulf Coast

27° 17' 55" N, 97° 48' 54" W (27.298611, -97.815)
US 77
State Hwy 285
11 miles S of Kingsville the county seat
57 miles SW of Corpus Christi
22 miles NE of Falfurrias
9 miles W of Riviera Beach
Population: 703 (2017) 550 (1980, 1990 and 2000)

Book Hotel Here > Kingsville Hotels | Corpus Christi Hotels
View of Baffin Bay from Riviera Texas
A view of Baffin Bay
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Riviera, Texas' turns 100 on November 10, 2007

History in a Seashell

Theodore Koch purchased the land around present Riviera from the King Ranch in 1907. He established the town of Riviera on the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad tracks. Koch had actually visited the French Riviera and evidently had fond memories (and a good imagination) for that's what he named it. A couple from Chicago built the first house, but the climate didn't agree with the wife. They left and Koch moved in and ran the building as a hotel.

1910 brought the new bank building (the State Bank of Riviera) and a telephone system. The telephone exchange was operated out of a private residence. Why? Because that's the way they did things in 1910. The exchange didn't move until 1975.

Koch's plan was to develop both Riviera and Riviera Beach. The two were at first connected by a simple dirt road, although a landscaped boulevard was planned. In 1912 Koch had a railroad line extended from Riviera and the futures of both towns looked bright. The train was a streamlined affair with round windows resembling portholes (no photos available). The train ran several times per month, bringing prospective land buyers and future residents. It also resulted in the development of the town of Vattman.

By 1916 Riviera Beach had a park designed by a florist. Not just any florist, but one imported from Pasadena, California. The resort's infrastructure was excellent, but a seven-year drought ruined things. Then a hurricane blew in on August 16, 1916 and Riviera Beach was nearly wiped away as clean as Indianola. They rebuilt, but things were never quite the same.

Riviera did survive, however, and finally got around to incorporating in 1964.
Riviera Texas Koch Company old photo
Office of Koch Company
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker
Riviera Texas Koch family
The Koch family in November of 2007 at Riviera's 100th Anniversay
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker
Riviera Texas 1910 bank building
You'll need to get off the highway to see the town
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Riviera TX First Fire Truck and Bank Building Museum
Riviera's First Fire Truck and Bank Building Museum
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker, October 2007
More Texas Banks | Texas Museums
Riviera TX - Church

A church Riviera
TE Photo, August 2000
More Texas Churches

If you go:

Riviera is a town where you should watch your speed. Because it's on the highway and there is only one traffic signal, the 35 mph limit is rigidly enforced. There's also a school zone that includes the highway.

To get the full picture of the town's history we would recommend taking the short drive to Riviera Beach. Although there is nothing left of Mr. Koch's envisioned resort - you can see that his plans were workable, had nature not been so cruel. On the map Baffin Bay and Loyola Beach look protected by Padre Island.

Riviera Beach connects with Loyola Beach just a few miles north, and for birders, this is where they'll find K - Huber Park. You can then return to Hwy 77 by FM 628 that passes the former town of Vattman, Texas.
Riviera Texas Aerial View
Riviera in its heyday
Vintage photo courtesy Gerald Walker
Riviera Texas main street South Boulevard old photo
Riviera main street
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker

Indian Burial Ground historical marker, Riviera Texas
"Eight miles east to Indian Burial Ground" historical marker
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Historical Marker (Intersection of US 77 & FM 771 in Riviera)

Indian Burial Ground
(Dietz Archeological Site)

Centuries old, this burial ground was once used by the primitive Karankawa Indians. A little-known group, this coastal tribe cared for Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca when he was shipwrecked in Texas in 1528.

Although previously looted, the site produced over 20 skeletons when excavated by archeologists in 1927 and later. Also found were large quantities of burned human bones (suggesting ritual cannibalism), potsherds, arrowpoints, flint tools, fire implements, and shells.

European explorers found the Karankawas unusually tall and muscular, but were repelled by their habits of tattooing and painting their bodies and smearing themselves with alligator grease to keep off insects.

Much ritual attended Karankawa death, especially that of boys and young men, who were mourned for an entire year. Three times a day the family wept for the departed youth. After a year, the mourners purified themselves with smoke in a special rite.

Ordinary persons were buried in shallow graves with some tools and ornaments, but shamans (medicine men) were cremated during a ceremonial dance.

Never very numerous, the Karankawas drifted into Mexico after the white man's diseases and enmity reduced them to a handful of survivors.
1970

Civil War Raid from Camp Boveda historical marker, Riviera Texas
"Civil War - Raid from Camp Boveda" historical marker
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Historical Marker (Intersection of US 77 & FM 771 in Riviera)

Civil War
Raid from Camp Boveda

On December 23, 1863, Captain James Speed of General Napoleon J. T. Dana's Brownsville-based Federal army force raided the unguarded King Ranch. Objectives to take or kill Captain Richard King and destroy the Confederate cotton trade. King, forewarned, escaped.

At the ranch the raiders killed Francisco Alvarado, captured confederate Captains John Brown, Alvin Dix, W. S. Gregory and James McClearly and Chaplain Hiram Chamberlain; rifled all buildings; dispersed ranch employees, set the slaves free, confiscated all the horses and mules, impounded Confederate cotton, saying that if it were burned or moved, King's life would be forfeited; warned of more raids from Boveda.

Mrs. King and her children moved to San Antonio for the durations of the war, and the confederate cavalry of Colonel J. S. "RIP" Ford - called Cavalry of the West - came to protect the cotton road and the area. Federate units moved away from Boveda.

Camp Boveda was at a ford 2 miles east of here on Los Olmos Creek -- Lot 1, block 15, Koch subdivision one, present Poteet Ranch.

Its seven cypress-walled water wells probably had served the army of General (later president) Zachary Taylor in 1846.
1965


Riviera, Texas Forum

  • Subject: Loyola Beach and Riviera
    Upon reading your article regarding Loyola Beach and Riviera, I noticed it was written by a Wayne Simms. As I remember, Wayne was stationed at site 55 in Riviera, in the Navy base located in Kingsville. I corresponded with him while he was stationed in Alaska. Then, I lost track of his whereabouts. He was a family friend. He would have known me as Lynda or Lynn Pace. My mother, Gracie, owned the Ranch Cafe in Riviera. By the way, my Mom owned, operated, and named the original The Green Frog, and coined the phrase, "Service with a hop!" I would be inerested in knowing if this is the same "Wayne Simms" I knew. I write prose and poetry, jingles and songs, and a few articles, all about Texas. In fact, I am now in the process of developing the old "Hitching Post," of which you showed a picture. You ought to see it now! ... Thank you.- Lynn (Pace) Sasser, August 11, 2006

  • Subject: Riviera, Texas
    My Grandfather was born in Riviera (he pronounces it Rivera as well) in 1913 because his mother and father had moved there in 1912 due to the efforts of a land promoter, most likely Mr. Koch. They did not stay however and moved on to land between Taft and Gregory, as Riviera was not economically viable as per my greatgrandparents' recollections. They ultimately relocated to Corpus Christi in the 1960s. - Jon Todd Koenig, September 25, 2005

  • I know little about this place but what I've learned is amazing. Pronounced "Rivera" by locals, it was a dream of a man blessed with money but cursed with a location too remote, even by today's standards. Located on Baffin Bay just south of Loyola Beach, it once sported a large wooden hotel ( burned in the teens, I believe) a railroad to Corpus Christi, a bank along with many other buildings to include sidewalks (still existing) and fire hydrants. A local restaurant has pictures including one of the hotel. Built to lure citizens to a "Riviera" type setting, I believe it failed due to being so remote and possibly due to hurricane strike. I think it was there from the 1880's until the hotel fire in the early 1900's. - Chip Haymond, August 06, 2004
  • TX Kleberg County 1920s Map
    Kleberg County 1920s map showing Riviera, Riviera Beach & Baffin Bay
    Courtesy Texas General Land Office

    Riviera, Texas Area Towns:
    Kingsville the county seat
    Corpus Christi | Falfurrias | Riviera Beach
    See Kleberg County | Texas Gulf Coast

    Book Hotel Here:
    Kingsville Hotels | Corpus Christi Hotels | More Hotels

    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
    Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
    South South Texas Hill Texas Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Texas Ghost Towns counties Texas Counties

    Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
    TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
    Texas Counties
    Texas Towns A-Z
    Texas Ghost Towns

    TEXAS REGIONS:
    Central Texas North
    Central Texas South
    Texas Gulf Coast
    Texas Panhandle
    Texas Hill Country
    East Texas
    South Texas
    West Texas

    Courthouses
    Jails
    Churches
    Schoolhouses
    Bridges
    Theaters
    Depots
    Rooms with a Past
    Monuments
    Statues

    Gas Stations
    Post Offices
    Museums
    Water Towers
    Grain Elevators
    Lodges
    Stores
    Banks

    Vintage Photos
    Historic Trees
    Cemeteries
    Old Neon
    Ghost Signs
    Signs
    Murals
    Gargoyles
    Pitted Dates
    Cornerstones
    Then & Now

    Columns: History/Opinion
    Texas History
    Small Town Sagas
    Black History
    WWII
    Texas Centennial
    Ghosts
    People
    Animals
    Food
    Music
    Art

    Books
    Texas Railroads

    Texas Trips
    Texas Drives
    Texas State Parks
    Texas Rivers
    Texas Lakes
    Texas Forts
    Texas Trails
    Texas Maps
    USA
    MEXICO
    HOTELS

    Site Map
    About Us
    Privacy Statement
    Disclaimer
    Contributors
    Staff
    Contact Us

     
    Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved