Falcon Lake, part 1 - the bass fisherman's gateway to old Mexico, and much more - San Antonio Road Trip Travel

Courtesy Cindy Beard, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Want to get away to a place that’s a little off the beaten path, yet not completely away from civilization? A place that has history, excellent bass fishin’, bird watching, and an opportunity to explore both sides of the Tex/Mex border?

Do I have a location for you …

Sunset on Falcon Lake as seen from Guerrero, TAM, MX

History

The heart of the Falcon Dam Project is a dam and hydroelectric power generating plant 15 miles northwest as the crow flies from the small town of Roma, TX.

Built and owned jointly by the USA and Mexico, Falcon Dam produces Falcon Lake, logically enough. The lake is the source of water for the city of Mission, TX and is a legendary location for bass fishing. The lake itself is around 100,000 acres in size and stretches roughly 40 miles.

Spanish folks settled the area in the 1700’s, much to the chagrin of the native Indian population, who proceeded to raid the settlements and steal the settlers’ cattle. Water was scarce and the Rio Grande River became not only a good place to locate towns and villas, but eventually the Rio Grande would become the border between Mexico and the Republic of Texas. And we all know how contested that border was back in the days of Sam Houston and that pesky Santa Anna fellow.

The ruins of Old Guerrero - history permeates this region

As a consequence of all of the fighting many of the original towns were fortified to protect themselves from outside attacks. The flags of seven nations – Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the USA, the Confederate States of America, and in some places the short lived Republic of the Rio Grande – at one time flew over this region.

Falcon Dam itself was completed in the early 50’s. Prior to that time the Rio Grande was easily crossed by traders or soldiers. Today the only legal crossing of Falcon Lake is across the dam, which has a roadway built on top of it.

Construction of the dam forced the relocation of several towns, notably Carrizo, Texas which was resettled and renamed Zapata, Texas, and Guerrero Viejo, Tamaulipas. Guerrero Viejo, one of the older colonial cities in Mexico and an international resort in the 1940’s and 1950’s, was relocated to the present site of Nuevo Guerrero. However, the ghostly remains of Ancient Guerrero can still be visited when the lake levels are low.

To be continued ...

--PirateJohn--

www.PirateJohn.com

John@PirateJohn.com

For more info:

The dam is located at 26°33′32″N 99°09′53″W . Put that into Google Earth or most mapping programs and it should take you right there. If that doesn’t work, look for the Mexican town of Nueva Ciudad Guerrero and then just follow the edge of the lake on the south side of town. The roadway running along the lake runs on top of the bridge and continues into Texas. The tiny town of Falcon Heights, TX would be the US side of the bridge and dam complex.

President Eisenhower’s speech dedicating Falcon Lake in 1953. Mexican President Ruiz Cortines also attended:

alturl.com/k32h

Insider tips:

Mexican Route 2 runs along the border. It is also sometimes referred to as the Nuevo Laredo – Reynosa Carretera (Highway). It’s a scenic drive, and starts out being a major road as you leave Reynosa. However, the closer that it gets to Nuevo Guerrero the narrower it gets, and by the time you are near either of the Guerreros the road is two lanes wide and barely wide enough in spots for two trucks to pass side by side. Like many Mexican highways, shoulders are an option that you shouldn’t count on and the road may or may not have striping. A basic rule of driving in Mexico applies here: avoid driving after dark.

The border crossing at Falcon Dam is a minor crossing and may not be open 24 hours. The latest information that I have is that the Falcon Dam crossing is open from 7AM to 9PM, but that the crossing at Roma, 15 miles to the southeast, is open 24 hours a day. For current information call the Customs and Border Patrol office in Roma at 956/849-1678.

You can combine a trip to Falcon Lake by crossing at the only cable operated ferry still plying the Rio Grande, the Los Ebanos, TX ferry. Los Ebanos, TX to Nuevo Guerrero, TAM is roughly a leisurely 50 mile drive. Article at http://www.examiner.com/x-14975-San-Antonio-Road-Trip-Travel-Examiner~y2009m6d25-Los-Ebanos-Texas--The-last-handpowered-ferry-on-the-USMexican-border

** Don't forget - You will need your passport to get back into the USA! **