Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
An Altamira oriole at a feeder in Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley
LocationHidalgo County, Texas, United States
Nearest cityMission
Coordinates26°10′23″N 98°22′57″W / 26.17306°N 98.38250°W / 26.17306; -98.38250[1]
Area764 acres (309 ha)
EstablishedJanuary 28, 1944
Visitors31,287 (in 2025)[2]
Governing bodyTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
WebsiteOfficial site

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is a 764-acre (309 ha) state park in Mission, Texas, United States. It is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and serves as the headquarters for the World Birding Center.

History

The park had its beginnings on January 28, 1944, when the parents of Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Lloyd M. Bentsen Sr. and his wife Edna Ruth Bentsen, along with Elmer and Marie Bentsen, donated 586 acres (237 ha) of land to the State Parks Board for a nature habitat.[3] The park currently encompasses 764 acres (309 ha).[4]

The park is a prime area for birdwatching and butterfly watching. When Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park became the headquarters of the World Birding Center's network of nine sites in 2004, vehicular traffic was banned and RV camping was discontinued.[5][6] More than 325 species of birds and over 250 species of butterflies have been recorded in the park.[7] The park is particularly popular among butterfly watchers.[8] The North American Butterfly Association operates the National Butterfly Center adjacent to the park.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  2. ^ Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown for 2025". KXAN.com. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  3. ^ "THC Bentsen Rio Grande". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Behrens, Tom (2009). Camping Texas: A Comprehensive Guide to More Than 200 Campgrounds. Globe Pequot Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7627-4605-7.
  5. ^ Parent, Laurence (2008). Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites: Revised Edition. University of Texas Press. pp. 170, 171. ISBN 978-0-292-71726-8.
  6. ^ Carville, D. J. (June 2003). "Edinburg launches the first site of the World Birding Center". Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.
  7. ^ Combs, Susan. "State Park Profiles". Window on State Government. State of Texas. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Bahamón, Alejandro; Campello, Alex; Pérez, Patricia (2008). Inspired by Nature: Plants: The Building/Botany Connection. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-393-73251-1.
  9. ^ "North American Butterfly Association". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  10. ^ "National Butterfly Center". National Butterfly Association. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
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