The story of the Theta Chi chapter house at Drake University isn't just a tale of bricks and mortar; it’s a narrative of hard-fought resilience, community brotherhood, and the enduring spirit of an underdog chapter that refused to fade away.
The Vagabond Years
For the first three decades of its existence, the Gamma Tau chapter of Theta Chi was effectively homeless. Following its chartering in 1949, the brotherhood operated like a nomadic tribe across Des Moines. They rotated between temporary spaces, church basements, and leased properties on Cottage Grove, Carpenter Avenue, and Kingman Boulevard.
Every move was a battle against financial strain and low numbers. At one low point in the 1950s, the chapter’s entire inventory of furniture sat locked away in a storage unit while the active members met in the private living rooms of local alumni. Without a physical home, recruiting new men against established campus fraternities felt nearly impossible. Yet, the small band of brothers held onto their charter by a thread.
Discovery at 1320 34th Street
The turning point came in 1975. Nearby, the sisters of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority were facing their own severe membership decline and could no longer maintain their property at 1320 34th Street.
The property itself was rich with history. The original structure was a grand, stately home built nearly 125 years prior. Seeing an opportunity to finally anchor the fraternity, Theta Chi’s alumni corporation stepped in.
Using funds originally intended for a minor addition to a smaller property, they secured the purchase of the old Alpha Xi Delta house.
Moving into 1320 34th Street breathed immediate, electric life into the chapter. For the first time, the letters of Theta Chi hung permanently over a prominent lawn near campus. With a dedicated home to rally around, Gamma Tau underwent a dramatic renaissance. Within less than a decade, the "houseless underdog" grew into the largest fraternity on Drake's campus, packing the house with over 90 active members by 1983.
The Dire Choice
For forty years, 1320 34th Street served as the epicenter of Theta Chi life. It was a place of endless memories, late-night study sessions, and legendary brotherhood events. But by 2014, the toll of time became undeniable.
The century-old building was in a dire state of structural disrepair. Remodeling the labyrinth of aging plumbing, faulty wiring, and decaying foundations would cost almost as much as starting over. The chapter faced a crossroad: let the house fade into a safety hazard, or take a massive leap of faith.
The alumni and actives chose to leap. They launched a highly ambitious, multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign spearheaded by the chapter's "Ox Building Corporation." Defying the odds, generations of Gamma Tau alumni rallied to fund a complete rebirth.
In 2015, the brothers packed up the old house one final time, moving across the street into a temporary holding property affectionately dubbed the “Red Lion.” Shortly after, excavators tore down the original structure at 1320 34th Street, clearing the dirt for a brand-new legacy.
The Modern Fortress
Partnering with Story Construction, the new chapter house rose rapidly from the plot where the old home once stood. In the fall of 2016, the brand-new Theta Chi house opened its doors.
Designed meticulously for modern Greek life, the new facility was a far cry from the cramped, drafty quarters of the 1970s. It features:
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A spacious, fully finished basement built for chapter operations.
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A dedicated, private ritual and chapter room.
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An elevator for modern accessibility.
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Comfortable residential space designed to house nearly 30 live-in members.
When the letters went back up on the brand-new façade, it signaled a new era. The beautiful facility instantly became a powerful recruitment tool, drawing classes of 20 to 30 new members at a time.