Page 8 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2026-2027 The Magic Valley’s early 20th Century transition into an agricultural powerhouse is retold at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, which also embraces nature conservation as a wing of the World Birding Center with hike and bike trails. Visitors to the museum on the Rio Grande can learn about the steam driven irrigation pumps that transformed the Valley into a year-round farming phenomenon. Visitors can wander the museum’s grounds for free, where hummingbird and butterfly gardens are filled with native plants, and where many of the Valley’s amazing bird, butterfly, and dragonfly species are regular visitors as well. The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center is located at 902 S. 2nd St. in Hidalgo. It is open Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission for the museum tour is $3. You can also schedule a historical trolley tour; the trolley fee is $5 per person. Bike rentals are available for $6 per day. For $40, you can obtain a photography permit and use the luscious green landscaping as a unique setting for picture taking. For more information call (956) 843-8686, visit www.cityofhidalgo.net, or check out the Facebook page. Quinta Mazatlan on 804 Bales Road is located a couple blocks south of La Plaza Mall off 10th Street in McAllen. A historic adobe mansion built in the 1930s anchors this 25-acre urban sanctuary, now expanded with the Center for Urban Ecology featuring a Children’s Adventure Garden, Rio Walk, Sensory Garden, Sky Walk, and immersive nature experiences. Native Thornforest habitat, water features, and bird feeding stations attract Valley wildlife throughout the grounds. Visitors can enjoy birding trails, sculptures and art exhibits, nature programs, tours, workshops, a gift shop, and special events. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays until dark. Follow Quinta Mazatlán on social media @QuintaMazatlan or call (956) 681-3370. Brownville’s Resaca de la Palma State Park has about 1,200 semi-tropical acres of land along an ancient resaca of the Rio Grande River, the park provides a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city of Brownsville just a few miles away. The park features 11 miles of trails, and four observation decks overlooking the resaca (Oxbow Lake). Private vehicles are not allowed on the park’s trail system, but the trails may be accessed by hiking, biking, or the park’s nature tram. The nature tram provides a guided tour of a 3-mile paved loop through the park during Visitor Center hours. Bird watchers may spot colorful South Texas specialty species, like the Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, and Great Kiskadee. Freshwater habitat throughout the park provides the perfect environment for a variety of waterbirds, including species like the Green Kingfisher, Least Grebe, and Mottled Duck. During migration many Warbler, Oriole, Flycatcher, and Hawk species pass through this area. In summer, Groove-billed Ani and Yellow-billed Cuckoo join the resident species nesting throughout the park. For the butterfly enthusiasts, the park is one of the best places in the Rio Grande Valley to find Blue Metalmarks. Bright, showy Mexican Bluewing and Band-celled Sister butterflies may be spotted along the tram road and trails. Admission is $4 for adults, children under 12 years old are free. Texas Park Passes are available for purchase at the visitor’s center. The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. The park gates are open daily from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the park grounds are open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can access the park by using the self-pay station when the Visitor Center is closed. The park is located four miles west of Brownsville off FM 1732 (Olmito) at 1000 New Carmen Ave. For more information, please call (956) 350-2920 or visit the website at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/resaca-de-la-palma. You can also visit the social media pages at https:// www.facebook.com/resacadelapalma/ or on Instagram @ resacadelapalmastatepark for regular updates. History and nature meet on the scenic bluffs above the Rio Grande where the World Birding Center in Roma can be found on the old plaza of a once-thriving steamboat port. The Roma Bluffs are located in the renovated historic Francisco Margo home, at 610 N. Portscheller St., in Roma’s National Historic District. The home features a traditional Spanish Courtyard with many bird feeders. During winter months many birds come in to feed, making it possible to view them up close. An observation deck located in the old Customs House on the river overlooks the river for viewing of birds. It offers scenic views of the City of Miguel Aleman, in Mexico. Open Mondays through Fridays year-round, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seasonally, October to March seven days a week, but may vary depending upon volunteer coverage. Call (956) 849-4930 for information on seasonal weekend hours of operation. The South Padre Island Birding Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary is located at 6801 Padre Blvd. Nearly 400 species of birds have been seen on South Padre Island and many of them, including the colorful Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, Tricolored Herons, and Clapper Rails, make their homes in the marshes along the center’s 3/4-mile-long boardwalk, sharing space with alligators, a wide diversity of fish, crabs, and freshwater turtles. The center features a five-story tower that overlooks the Laguna Madre, a museum style exhibit hall depicting the natural environments and wildlife of the island, and a documentary about the island’s bird life. Educational “Gator Talks” take place daily at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., and guided birding tours occur almost daily through online registration. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call (956) 7616801 or visit www.spibirding.org for more information.
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