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Riviera's
First Fire Truck and Bank Building Museum
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker, October 2007 |
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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.
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Riviera
Beach in its heyday
Vintage photo courtesy Gerald Walker |
Riviera
main street
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker |
Office
of Koch Company
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker |
The
Koch family in November of 2007 at Riviera's 100th Anniversay
Photo courtesy Gerald Walker |
You'll
need to get off the highway to see the town
Photo courtesy of Sarah Reveley |
Eight
miles east to Indian Burial Ground
Historical Marker photo courtesy of Sarah Reveley |
"Civil
War - Raid from Camp Boveda" historical marker
Photo courtesy of Sarah Reveley |
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.
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Copyright John Troesser |
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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
To
share history or photos of Riviera, Texas, please contact
us.
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