FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS Residents list positives of living here BOOM TOWN Growth continues Reel Fun, Real Relaxation Fishing, birding, water, history attract visitors SPONSORED BY THE DEL RIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2012-13 | LIVABILITY.COM/DEL-RIO/TX DEL RIO, TEXAS ®
Del Rio, a city of approximately 38,000 people is largely defined by its proximity to Mexico. Residents, commerce and tourists flow with ease back and forth via the Del Rio Border Crossing. Del Rio is near Laughlin Air Force Base and its warm temperatures throughout the year attract many long-term winter visitors. A draw for year-round recreation is Lake Amistad, a reservoir along the Rio Grande shared with Mexico, and Amistad National Recreation Area.
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FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONSResidents list positives of living here
bOOm TOwNGrowth continues
Reel Fun,Real RelaxationFishing, birding, water, history attract visitors
Fast Factsn del Rio typically welcomes scores of “winter visitors” each december. many of these winter residents have treated the city as their second home for years, escaping harsh northern winters.
n amtrak’s sunset limited route between louisiana and california serves the del Rio area, and national park service guides from the amistad national Recreation area board the train to educate passengers about the area’s natural and cultural heritage as part of the trails & Rails program.
Amistad Res.
Rio Grande
Pecos R.
Comstock
Pumpville
Juno
Del Rio
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VAL VERDE
pOpuLATIONDel Rio: 36,000 • val verde County: 48,879
LOCATIONDel Rio is located 153 miles west of
san Antonio and 156 miles south of san Angelo.
bEGINNINGSDel Rio’s original name was san Felipe del Rio
until 1883, when the first post office was
established and the name was shortened.
FOR mORE INFORmATIONDel Rio Chamber of Commerce 1915 veterans Blvd. Del Rio, tx 78840 (830) 775-3551
www.drchamber.com
del rio at a glance
What’s online Check out photo galleries and videos of Del Rio at livability.com/del-rio/tx.
Del Rio
A Place to Cool offDel Rio’s local waterways provide oases
during the warmer summer days. these watery
playgrounds include san Felipe Creek and lake
Amistad. san Felipe Creek is a waterway fed by
the san Felipe springs. this creek extends nine
miles and carries an average of 50 million to 90
million gallons of water through downtown Del
Rio each day, eventually depositing the water
directly into the Rio Grande River. this creek is a
popular spot for fishing and swimming. More
information can be found at www.cityofdelrio.com. lake Amistad is located 12 miles northwest
FISHING, bIRdING, wATER SpORTS, HISTORy ANd mORE mAkE dEL RIO A GREAT pLACE TO vISIT
RealRelaxation
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Some people say Del Rio is for the birds – bird-watching, that is. Others will tell you it’s for the fish. Or the ancient art.
Whatever they like most about Del Rio, visitors agree: This is a destination that offers a vast number of ways to enjoy your leisure time.
“It’s a very diverse community, with a variety of things to do,” says Donna Langford of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can relax and do as much or as little as you please.”
Lake Amistad for Outdoor-loversDel Rio’s year-round tourist season lures visitors
from around the world, and is especially popular with winter tourists f leeing snowier regions and summer vacationers. Perhaps the area’s most famous attraction is Lake Amistad, straddling the U.S.-Mexican border, whose 854-mile shoreline is longer than the Texas Gulf Coast. The lake is known internationally as a rich fishing area, particularly for bass of several varieties.
stoRy By LAuRA HILL | PhotoGRAPhy By bRIAN mcCORd
Clockwise from top left: Whitehead memorial museum; diablo east section of lake amistad national Recreation area; birding at laguna de plata bird Watching sanctuary
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Fishing at sunset on the devils River
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“The lake is just a gorgeous area,” Langford says. “Families love to come here and stay at local campgrounds by the lake where they can fish and enjoy water sports like skiing, diving and boating.”
The area boasts nine campgrounds and three places where visitors can rent condo trailers, cabins and even houseboats. Del Rio also offers 1,500 reasonably priced rooms at 13 hotels, five by the lake, and the Indian Head Ranch bed-and-breakfast, overlooking the lake, which also offers exotic game hunting.
del Rio for birding, History, Art and wineNow, about those birds. Del Rio is perfectly placed
along the migration routes used by feathered flyers, making it a paradise for bird-watchers, who can spot terns, riparian birds, aquatic birds, desert and grassland birds, king fish and warblers. The Amistad National Park Service offers monthly birding tours of the park.
History is a large part of the area’s charm, from ancient American Indian petroglyphs in Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site and the White Shaman Preserve to the Whitehead Memorial Museum on South Main Street, where Judge Roy Bean – “the law west of the Pecos” – is buried. The area’s
rich Mexican-American heritage is celebrated at Casa de la Cultura, which hosts events and classes.
Val Verde Winery, the oldest bonded winery in Texas, is the place for tastings, tours and occasional musical events. And art-lovers enjoy monthly art walks to explore the city’s galleries.
del Rio Conveniently LocatedGetting to Del Rio is easy. The city is a quick drive
150 miles west of San Antonio and south of San Angelo. It’s served by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited. Del Rio International Airport, with twice-daily United Airlines flights, and the city’s three rental car agencies help make air travel easy.
“We recently finished a nearly $2 million renovation of our terminal,” says airport manager Billie Jo Grafton. “It’s absolutely unique, and it suits the Del Rio environment – very West Texas, with warm tones that make it comfortable.”
The terminal’s new seating, convenient layout, efficient customs and security, free parking, and quick accessibility from anywhere in Del Rio have made it popular with travelers.
“It’s like being in an easy chair at home versus walking through the mall on Saturday,” Grafton says. “People love it.”
the Whitehead memorial museum comprises nine different buildings, each featuring an array of artifacts and period pieces that assist in preserving and honoring the history of del Rio and val verde county.
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RESIdENTS LIST pOSITIvES OF LIvING HERE
For All the
ReasonsRight
Del Rio has a lot going for it. There is a diverse and friendly population, great weather and
beautiful Lake Amistad. Plus Del Rio is poised for economic growth, with increased efforts in place to attract more business and industry to the community.
Never wanted to LeaveOne resident who arrived in the
city in 1968 and never departed is Donna Langford, director of the Del Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau. Langford and her husband, Bill, moved from Abilene to Del
Rio in 1968 so that Bill could begin teaching automotive technology at the brand new high school.
“We got involved in our church, our young daughter’s school, my husband’s school, and we made a lot of friends,” Langford says. “We never wanted to leave.”
Langford eventually worked for the school district and then owned a hair salon, and for the past 15 years has been with the Del Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Bill and I raised two children who are successful, which speaks highly of the education system,” she says. “I have been happy in
Del Rio for nearly 45 years.”Col. Tom Murphy also knows
about the positive aspects of Del Rio. The Massachusetts native arrived in Del Rio in 1989 to undergo pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, and eventually became assistant flight commander through August 1994. After being assigned to several different states after that, Murphy returned to Laughlin AFB in July 2010 and today is commander of the 47th Flying Training Wing.
“The great thing about returning to Del Rio in 2010 was seeing some of the same faces I
stoRy By kEvIN LITwINPhotoGRAPhy By bRIAN mcCORd
donna and bill langford relax with their dogs on the patio of their home on lake amistad.
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knew when I was here in the early 1990s,” Murphy says. “Guys like Lonnie Ricks, who owned Ricks Furniture where I bought furniture for my first home. It is now Ashley Furniture, and Lonnie is still there.”
Regarding activities and recreation, Murphy says his wife, Carla, enjoys shopping and the city’s restaurants, while the couple’s son, Tommy, plays varsity baseball for Del Rio High School.
“I like going to Roosevelt Park to
watch Tommy, and hang around with all the other parents,” he says. “People are really friendly in Del Rio. I notice it often.”
Home in del RioA Del Rio native who left for
college and then returned to the city is Al Arreola Jr. He is a 2000 graduate of San Felipe Del Rio and attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and in 2010 was appointed executive director of the
Del Rio Chamber of Commerce.“I know there are many like me
who want to come back home to Del Rio, so as we look to the future, we need to make sure our economic growth can offer opportunities for all our generations,” Arreola says. “There is a saying: ‘I’m not from Texas, but got here as soon as I could.’ Well I’m from Texas, but I’m especially blessed that I’m home in Del Rio.”
Top left: Donna and Bill langford’s home on lake Amistad bottom left: Col. tom Murphy and Chief Master sgt. Ray Devite donate to the 2012 Air Force Assistance Fund. Above: Baseball game at Roosevelt Park
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boomtown
Lake Amistad and the Amistad National Recreation area are located northwest of del Rio in val verde County.
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Business
wATER ANd wORkFORCE ARE TwO AmENITIES FuELING dEL RIO’S CONTINuEd GROwTHtownT
he intersection of revitalization and growth is a good place to be, and that’s where Del Rio finds
itself these days.The city is benefiting from
construction in every quarter. Whether it’s new roadwork or other infrastructure renovation, new businesses coming in or entire areas being revitalized and renewed, Del Rio is on the move. And thanks to a well-educated workforce, plenty of natural resources and a pro-business attitude, there’s plenty more where all this is coming from.
“We have a lot to offer, and people continue to realize that,” says Al Arreola Jr., executive director of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce. “We are well positioned to capitalize on the major projects both here and all around us.”
Roads Lead the wayMultiple road projects are
helping to infill areas of Del Rio that needed transportation improvements, and also are providing opportunities for new businesses and residential areas. Veterans Boulevard, the city’s main thoroughfare, has been repaved and upgraded, as have Bedell and
Dodson avenues. These improvements are being anchored by new hotel growth and expansions in the city’s growing health-care sector.
ports to plainsDel Rio is also avidly watching
the developments being spurred on by the Ports To Plains Alliance, which is advocating for a major highway thoroughfare from the seaports of Mexico up through the United States and eventually to seaports in Canada. As planned, it would run directly through Del Rio, Arreola says.
State Loop 79/Laughlin Air Force base
On a smaller but no less important scale, Del Rio saw the opening of the new State Loop 79 roadway, which encompasses the entire city and connects the lakeside toward Laughlin Air Force Base. And speaking of Laughlin, it was declared the busiest airfield in the United States in 2011, and Del Rio continues to benefit from the myriad activities there.
“They are as healthy as ever, and so the base’s contributions to us continue,” Arreola says. “We continue to benefit from their employees, who shop and live here,
stoRy By jOE mORRIS
Photo CouRtEsy oF NAtioNAl PARK sERviCE
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Del Rio’s Own Corporate Housing Professionals Since 2005
All Del Rio locations include furnishings, linens, cable TV, wireless Internet, washers and dryers.
and by also providing goods and services to the base itself as much as possible.”
San Felipe Springs/Acuna partnership
Underlying it all is the San Felipe Springs, a source of water that is literally centuries from being tapped out.
“We know that we have that sustainable resource for a long time, and having a stable water supply has been key to our business and residential growth,” Arreola says. “It is the literal groundwork that consistently helps us bring in new development.”
Now add in a 40-year, ongoing relationship with Acuna, Del Rio’s neighbor across the Mexican border. That partnership has not only led to significant industrial development between the two municipalities, but also for shared economic growth that will only continue with the major developments to come.
“The Ports to Plains project, and the many other things happening, are really going to be a way for Del Rio to capitalize on all that it has to offer,” Arreola says. “All these things are in line with what we’ve been doing for years, even decades, so we are definitely going to benefit.”
The new State Loop 79 roadway is now open in del Rio.
Biz Briefsdel Rio’s niGhtliFe scene contRibutes to the city’s thRivinG
economic climate and makes it easy to Find a little Fun.
dOC HOLLIdAy’SBiz: Dance hall and restaurantBuzz: Doc Holliday’s, which re-opened in Del Rio in April 2012, offers music, food and nightlife. An indoor dining room and an outdoor patio provide space for eating and socializing, and an area for playing pool and darts is available. Doc Holliday’s also offers a late-night menu that features items such as pizza by the slice.(612) 850-5619
vERANdA bEER ANd wINE GARdENBiz: Wine barBuzz: Owned by wine connoisseurs Mark and DJ Goddard, Veranda Beer and Wine Garden provides more than 30 red and white wines, as well as approximately 20 varieties of beer. Light appetizers and desserts such as cheesecake and chocolate strawberries are also offered. In addition to an indoor sitting area, guests can enjoy a tropical garden complete with a waterfall and stream.www.verandawineandbeergarden.com
CHApARRAL NIGHT CLubBiz: Night club and barBuzz: Open since 2011, Chaparral Night Club offers music, dancing and a variety of special events such as Girls Night Out and holiday parties. Guests can also take in live entertainment; past performers include Grupo Duelo and the Josh Peek Band. Chaparral Night Club is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.www.chaparralnightclubdelrio.com
wHITE HORSE LOuNGEBiz: Restaurant and barBuzz: White Horse Lounge, located inside Ramada Del Rio, features a stocked bar and a menu that includes appetizers, burgers, Mexican food, steaks and other items. Customers can enjoy the lounge’s big screen televisions, SIRIUS radio, outdoor cigar patio and more. White Horse Lounge is open daily until 2 a.m., opening at 4 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends.www.ramadainndelrio.com
CLub ARRIbABiz: Night club and barBuzz: Club Arriba offers high-energy music and drink specials, as well as contests and special events. The club also gives back to the Del Rio community and has worked with organizations such as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Early Childhood Intervention and The Children’s Shelter. Club Arriba is open from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.www.clubarribadelrio.com
Flavorful Fare, lakeside viewsRestauRants alonG del Rio’s lake amistad oFFeR tasty dininG options
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World’s Greatest Hamburgers & Fudds Favorites
As its name strongly suggests,
Casa De vino is also the place to
find your favorite wine as the
restaurant features over 3,000
varieties of wine from around the
world. Casa De vino is open from
3 p.m. to 12 a.m., tuesday through
saturday.
lorina’s cantina lorina’s Cantina is a family-
operated establishment offering
beer, wine, mixed drinks and food
specials. sit outside and enjoy a
lakeside view on lorina’s covered
outdoor patio. lorina’s also
features five big-screen tvs,
darts, pool, a 2012 live golf
machine, and karaoke on
Wednesday and saturday nights.
Be sure to stop by lorina’s on
Wednesday for steak night and
order the special 10-ounce rib-eye
with baked potato, salad, beans,
roll and chili toreados for just
$15.00. lorina’s is open daily from
2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
– Barbara Biehlerleft: icon bar and Grill’s corona chicken is served atop a bed of rice pilaf. above: casa de vino is a wine store, wine bar and restaurant.
Ph
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By
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Arts & Culture
The eyes have it in the scenic
and inspiring city of Del Rio,
where several artists have
paintings, sculpture, pottery,
jewelry and photography
showcased at various studios and
galleries. here are some examples:
el comite cultural del PueBlo’s casa de la cultura
Del Rio and sister city Ciudad
Acuña, México, straddle the
border and share common
hispanic culture, and helping to
preserve those traditions is El
Comité Cultural del Pueblo’s Casa
de la Cultura, located on Cantu
street in Del Rio. Besides art
pieces, the Casa hosts educational
programs for children and adults
that include ballet folklórico,
ceramics, computers, drawing,
literacy, painting, piñata-making
and rondalla. More than 40,000
people participate annually in
the Casa’s programs.
First Friday artWalkAn estimated 5,000 people
participate each month in the
First Friday ArtWalk, which occurs
in several galleries throughout
downtown Del Rio. the walk is
sponsored by the heARt of Del
Rio, an association of galleries
with diverse clientele. Each event
runs from 7-9 p.m., and many of
the participating galleries have
live bands and food.
Feast your eyesdel Rio aRt scene is beautiFul to behold
Clockwise from top: murals decorate buildings across the street from casa de la cultura; pam bunch paints at the lee bunch studio Gallery in downtown del Rio; the White shaman site features rock art dating back over 4,000 years.
more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.
Now that you’ve experienced Del Rio through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.
get the story Behind the Photo
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Ad Index 46 AmistAd mAnufActuredHomes
46 BuffAloWings&rings
45 cAminodelreyApArtments
22 cApritemporAryHousing
22 cHApArrAl/sugAr&spice
35 countryplAceliving
8 deltexrv&Auto repAircenter
46 edWArds-grAHAm insurAnceAgency
46 fAlconinsurAnce servicesinc.
37 fuddruckers
40 gAteWAyApArtments/ oAkWoodApArtments
c4 lAkeAmistAdmArinA
26 lAugHlinHeritAge foundAtionmuseuminc.
46 leeBuncHstudiogAllery
25 lonestArselfstorAge
5 plAzAdelsol
40 rAmcountry cHryslerdodge
c3 rAmAdA
41 rioBrAvocAncer &Bloodp.A.
46 roncAstlepHotogrApHy
Ad Index (cont.) 27 sAm’sBootcorrAl
25 soutHWesttexAs Juniorcollege
8 texAscommunityBAnk
23 tHeBAnk&trust
2 tHecityofdelrio
46 tHelittlescHoolHouse
46 tHeseed
c2 vAlverderegionAl medicAlcenter
Del RioAmenities & Services•FreeWi-Fiinallguest&conferencerooms