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Del Rio is a city of about 35,000 people on the Rio Grande in southwest Texas, the seat of Val Verde County and a border crossing to Ciudad Acuna in Mexico. It grew up in the 1860s around the San Felipe Springs, whose clear water still feeds irrigation canals and the shaded San Felipe Creek through town, and it is home to Laughlin Air Force Base.
Downtown and the historic San Felipe neighborhood keep stone and brick buildings, the lively Brown Plaza and the Casa de la Cultura. The Whitehead Memorial Museum gathers frontier buildings and exhibits, and Val Verde Winery, founded in 1883, is the oldest operating winery in Texas. The mansion of Dr. John R. Brinkley, the notorious goat-gland doctor who ran a powerful border radio station, still stands on Qualia Drive.
Just west of town, Amistad National Recreation Area protects a huge reservoir on the Rio Grande, popular for boating, fishing, swimming and ancient rock art. Seminole Canyon State Park, with its prehistoric pictographs, is about 40 miles northwest.
A national park unit around Amistad Reservoir on the Rio Grande, with clear blue water for boating, fishing, swimming and scuba diving, plus campgrounds and rock art sites in the canyons. Start at the visitor center on US 90 for maps and rules, and carry plenty of water in the heat.
A group of large artesian springs on the east side of Del Rio that have supplied water to the area for centuries and gave birth to the town. The springs feed San Felipe Creek, which flows through shady parks. Some spring areas are fenced for water protection, so enjoy them from public paths.
A family winery founded in 1883 by Italian immigrant Frank Qualia and still run by his descendants, making it the oldest operating winery in Texas. Visitors can tour the historic adobe buildings and taste its wines, including a well-known port. Check tasting hours before you go.
A museum complex on a downtown block with historic buildings, a replica of Judge Roy Bean's saloon, exhibits on ranching, the Black Seminole Scouts and local life, and the graves of Judge Roy Bean and his son. Allow one to two hours, and check opening days before visiting.
A city park along San Felipe Creek with grassy banks, shady trees and spring-fed water clear enough for summer swimming, plus picnic spots and sports areas. It is a favorite way to cool off in the heat. Bring water shoes, and watch children near the current.
A state park about 40 miles northwest of Del Rio, near Comstock, protecting canyons with some of the oldest pictographs in North America, painted thousands of years ago. The Fate Bell Shelter can only be seen on ranger-guided hikes, so check tour times, and wear sturdy shoes.
The historic heart of Del Rio's San Felipe neighborhood, a community plaza surrounded by older buildings and local venues. It hosts Mexican Independence Day celebrations, concerts, Cinco de Mayo and other festivals. Visit in the evening during events, when the plaza is at its liveliest.
The Spanish style mansion built in the 1930s by Dr. John R. Brinkley, the infamous goat-gland doctor who broadcast from a powerful border radio station across the river. It is privately owned, so view it from the street, and learn more of his story at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.
A community cultural center near Brown Plaza that promotes Mexican American arts and heritage through exhibitions, folk dance, music classes and festivals, with colorful murals nearby. Check its calendar for performances and workshops, and pair a visit with a walk around the plaza.
Del Rio's historic downtown along Main Street, with early 20th century stone and brick buildings such as the Kress building and old banks, plus local restaurants and shops. It is easy to explore on foot in the morning. Look for historical markers explaining the town's border history.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: JherreraCODR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Zereshk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Cqui, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Zereshk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Cqui, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
