Page 51 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2025-2026 Pixie Preserve Birders looking for the Clay-colored Robin or Hookbilled Kite may find them in Pixie Preserve, previously known as Chihuahua Woods Preserve. Located three miles west of the intersection of Expressway 83 and Business 83, take Business 83 to the west to a point where it curves to the northwest. Go straight on the road that continues west along the railroad. The preserve will be located on the right side of the road. Sabal Palm Sanctuary & Historic Rabb Plantation House The Sanctuary is home to many native species of plants and animals that reach the northernmost limit of their Mexican range here and do not occur elsewhere in the U.S. Cradled in a bend of the Rio Grande along the U.S./Mexico border, the Sanctuary harbors one of the most beautiful and critical ecosystems of South Texas and Northern Mexico. Sabal Palms once grew profusely along the edge of the Rio Grande in small stands or groves extending about 80 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Today, only a small portion of that forest remains, protected on 557 acres of this Sanctuary. Many Mexican species live in the forest including Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Great Kiskadees, Least Grebes, and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds. Sabal Palm Sanctuary offers over three miles of nature trails leading through the old-growth palm grove and even down to the Rio Grande River. There is also a long wetlands boardwalk and six observation areas. The Historical Rabb Plantation House, which now serves as the headquarters and visitor center for the sanctuary, was built in 1892. The Rabb House is one of the few remaining examples of the Rio Grande’s plantation legacy. The Sanctuary is open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Wednesdays and some holidays. Daily admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children (12 and under). There are also 12-month memberships available, $50 for family and $30 for individual. From U.S. 77/83 turn left on International Blvd., then turn right onto Southmost Rd. (FM 1419). Continue for six miles and look for Sabal Palm Grove Rd. on the right, the Sanctuary is located at the very end of the paved road at 8435 Sabal Palm Grove Rd., Brownsville. For information call (956) 541-8034, email gsfinc@gmail.com, or go online to www.sabalpalmsanctuary.org. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, located south of Alamo, has over 2,000 acres of land dedicated to the preservation of native plants and animals of the Rio Grande Valley. Known worldwide as a “birder’s paradise,” many rare birds have been spotted at the refuge including some tropical species that come no farther north in the U.S. Bird watchers have documented over 400 species of birds - the second highest total of any National Wildlife Refuge. Located within the refuge are over 12 miles of walking trails with observation decks and photo blinds for wildlife watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. The refuge hosts lush subtropical vegetation that provides habitat for 300 American butterfly species, an equally exciting number of species of dragonflies, and such rarities as the threatened Texas Tortoise and Texas Indigo Snake. The resacas and wetland of the refuge attract a variety of water birds and other wildlife. The visitor’s center is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by and inquire about the various programs that are offered at the center. The many walking trails are open from dawn until dusk. Be sure and check out the rope bridge that takes visitors through the canopy. There are special events throughout the year as well, check the events calendar on www.fws.gov/refuge/santa_ana for more info. Admission is $5 per vehicle. The refuge is located seven miles south of Alamo and one-fourth mile east of the junction of Highway 281 and FM 907 at 3325 Green Jay Rd. For information call (956) 784-7500. Valley Nature Center Our Secret Garden, set in the midst of an urban community, the VNC has an exciting interactive visitor’s center leading into an impressive six-acre nature park. The park has a mile of interpretive trails through a recreated Tamaulipan thorn scrub forest, with an extensive collection of South Texas native plants. Their Mission is to provide educational opportunities, and foster understanding and appreciation of the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s unique natural flora and fauna. The Valley Nature Center offers a variety of fun and educational programs throughout the year for adults and children. The Valley Nature Center is located at 301 S. Border Ave. behind Gibson City Park in Weslaco. Open Tuesdays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed for major holidays. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for Seniors (55 and older), $3 for children (12 and under), and free for all VNC members. For additional details call (956) 969-2475, visit www.valleynaturecenter.org, or email info@valleynaturecenter.org. World Birding Center Not just one, but nine unique locations in the Rio Grande Valley. Each site of the World Birding Center has its own attractions for both the first-time visitor and expert birder. Not one season, but all seasons - as more than 500 bird species make the Birding Centers not-to-be-missed nature destinations. Desert terrain, riverside woodlands, palm-fringed resacas, barrier islands and crashing surf. Together, the nine different sites that make up the World Birding Center paint a colorful backdrop for birdwatching in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. From scenic bluffs high above the Rio Grande to teeming wetlands and coastal prairie, the World Birding Center
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