For three decades, Phi Delta Theta was the premier Fraternity at the University of New Mexico. Founded in 1946, the New Mexico Alpha chapter produced a New Mexico governor, a Vice Commandant of the Marine Corps, dozens of business legends and the Phi Delt who would lead the international Fraternity for almost fifty years.

The ancestral home of New Mexico Alpha was 1705 Mesa Vista Road Northeast on UNM’s Greek Row. The house was designed my noted Santa Fe architect Bradley P. Kidder, a Phi Delta Theta Colorado College architecture graduate who won many design awards including the Santa Fe Opera House. With a ground breaking in 1950, the original house was a L shape with comfortable living areas on the first floor and bedrooms on two floors and was built for $60,000. Additional space was added in the 1960s. Affectionately known as the “new wing”, this addition provided additional sleeping rooms and a new dining hall which served the chapter until the mid-‘70s when the charter was suspended. The house was sold to UNM and the proceeds were kept in trust. Should the chapter come back, the money could be returned to be used for a new chapter house.
The chapter did come back. An interest group was formed in spring, 1988 which occupied a rental house at 1816 Sigma Chi Road N.E. The house was small but provided not only a gathering place where these future Phis could meet, but was home to the legendary Rasta Pasta on Thursday Night Live.

The Interest Group quickly came together and outgrew 1816 just as fast. A second house was rented at 1709 Sigma Chi Road NE. As the Interest Group became a Colony in October 1988, the house had six live-in members and provided the perfect space for colony meetings and the growing future Phis including the Refounding Fathers and Alpha, Beta & Gamma Phikeia classes and was the first chapter house to hang a charter on the wall after reinstallation on April 29, 1989.

In August, 1990, the former DG and Tri Delt house at 1700 Mesa Vista Road NE became available. This 20,000+ square foot house had 24 bedrooms and provided expanded living and social spaces for the growing chapter. New Mexico Alpha thrived at 1700 for many years, even winning several Gold Stars and the Kansas City Trophy at the Toronto convention in 2002 for the best chapter in all of Phi Delta Theta.
However, in 2008, due to declining numbers leading to failing chapter operations, New Mexico Alpha’s charter was suspended and 1700 was vacated. While providing a home to Phi Delta Theta for 18 years, 1700 was in need of repair. The boiler in the basement was legendary in its regular failure. With the chapter vacated, UNM made the decision to tear down the house instead of renovate it. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Today, all that remains is the pained flag in the street and Bond Numbers on the curb.

After a five year absence, New Mexico Alpha was rechartered in October, 2013. Since that time, the Chapter has met in the Student Union building and they have had social and Brotherhood events in rented spaces. The chapter has done well, but Fraternities without houses are always challenged to compete against Fraternities with their own home.