Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parts of the site are still being developed but many of the trails are complete as is the
cheery visitor center.
WHAT THE…? GRAPEFRUIT
So unattractive it's compelling, the bizarre
World's Largest Grapefruit
(La Placita Park, 801 Conway Ave)
could be a model for a fatal internal growth if it weren't a highly stylized citrus fruit. It's 6 miles west of McAllen
in Mission, just south of US Business 83.
TOP OF CHAPTER
The Upper Valley
The semi-arid scrublands between McAllen and Laredo are sparsely populated northwest
of Rio Grande City and have a certain desolate beauty. Falcon International Reservoir is
favored by fishers.
The
Los Ebanos Ferry
( 956-485-2855; car with driver $3.50; 8am-3:45pm)
, the only hand-pulled
ferry across the Rio Grande, carries people over an isolated section of the river west of
McAllen. The ferry can carry three cars and several people on each five-minute journey.
Privately operated since 1742, the ferry isn't a vital transportation link. Note that the
US side of the river has been militarized with an overwhelming new inspection facility,
fences and frequent patrols. The local village is quite poor and tourists are the only real
color. It's 6 miles south of US 83 on FM 886.
Rio Grande City
POP 14,500
Fifty-two miles west of McAllen in arid Starr County, Rio Grande City is in the heart of
border patrol efforts to stem drug- and people -smugglers. The territory to the west is des-
olate, although to the east Winter Texans and other developments are spreading from
McAllen.
The town was once a busy trading center, and several brick buildings dating from the
19th century do a slow burn in the sun around town.
La Borde House
( 956-487-5101;
www.labordehouse.com
; 601 E Main St; r $70-90)
is an 1893 villa de-
signed by a French architect; it has been restored and converted into a small B&B. It has a
