BIG BEND COUNTRY: DEL RIO TEXAS

DEL RIO TEXAS

As you can see from the Welcome to Del Rio sign, Del Rio believes itself to be "The Best of the Border."

Del Rio is the county seat of Val Verde County. Agriculture in the Del Rio area in addition to cattle ranching, also has sheep, lambs and wool and mohair production from Angora goats.

Amistad Reservoir provides water sports and fishing.

Del Rio is the home to Southwest Texas Junior College and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College. That may be the longest college name we have ever seen.

Ciudad Acuna is the Mexican city across the Rio Grande from Del Rio. In Ciudad Acuna you'll find entertaining nightspots, restaurants and the usual fun shops you find in the Mexican border towns.

Nearby is San Felipe Springs and Moore Park. This is a lush oasis in a desert setting. The springs used to be a watering stop on the old Chihuahua Road that connected Indianola on the Texas Gulf Coast with Chihuahua City in Mexico. About 90 millions gallons of crystal clear, pure water flows from San Felipe Springs daily.

You'll find Val Verde Winery in Del Rio. This winery was started in 1883 by Italian immigrants. The fourth generation is now running this family operation.

You can get a Del Rio Walking Tour brochure from the chamber of commerce that will guide you on a walk around downtown Del Rio's historic buildings dating back to the 1800s, including the 1887 courthouse.

Park headquarters for Amistad National Recreation Area is just west of Del Rio on U.S. 90. The National Park Service oversees boat ramps, marinas, campgrounds and picnic areas on the American side of the huge international reservoir.

Devils River State Natural Area, accessed by reservation only, is a remote, scenic 20,000 acre preserve where the Chihuahuan Desert, Hill Country and Mexico's Tamaulipan Brushlands all meet up. The area is dry and treeless, except where Devils River's springs provide enough water to support groves of sycamores, oaks and pecans.

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