Amigo Inn RV Park

The Great Outdoors

Falcon Lake is also known as Falcon International Reservoir and was created in 1953 when they completed the Falcon Dam across the Rio Grande near the town of Falcon. The lake is some 28 miles long and covers over 83,000 acres. It follows the route of the Rio Grande that forms the country border here between the USA and Mexico.At the southern tip of the lake is Falcon State Park. The almost 600-acre park is located just north of the town of Roma and has some great recreational opportunities. Fishing is popular, with a range of species present in the lack, including largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. There is a boat ramp here for easy access and a fish cleaning station.Boating is popular thanks to the broad expanse of water found here. There’s plenty of space for everyone, whether quietly fishing or traveling at high speed on a jet ski or enjoying some water skiing. Off the water, you could try your hand at geocaching or maybe explore more of the park on the 2.8 miles of trails.To the east, past McAllen, is Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico but protected by the barrier of South Padre Island. This 98,000-acre refuge is home to several endangered species, and it is the site for reintroduction of captive-bred species such as the aplomado falcon. You can also see rare Texas Ocelot and Gulf Coast jaguarundi here if you are lucky.Within the park are two trails. The shorter Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Trail is a 4-mile loop that is great for birdwatching and wildflowers. The much longer Laguna and Cayo Atascosa Loop Trail starts at the same trailhead, but circles the Laguna Atascosa and covers over 27 miles. This all-day hike is graded as easy and follows the shoreline of the Laguna.

Exploring the Area

The town of Zapata is just a couple of miles from Amigo Inn RV Park and has all the amenities you need for RV camping in the area.As you’d expect, being a frontier area, this area has a lot of history. The Frontier Ranch Museum in Zapata is the brainchild of artist David Mertens and an eclectic collection. In the museum, you’ll find Native American artwork and artifacts, items with a Mexican influence, and exhibits on the history of the area. You can also buy some of the things and, of course, the artist’s work, which is heavily influenced by the local history. It’s a fascinating place worth a few hours to visit when you are RV camping at Amigo Inn RV Park.A more traditional exhibition is the Zapata County Museum of History. The museum traces the growth of the town and local area through collections of artifacts. It also has an interactive exhibit on the flooding of the old city of Zapata when they built the dam. Next to the museum is the Zapata County Sesquicentennial Trail Park, with scenic views amongst the palm trees and a pretty pond. The park also has restrooms and a playground for the kids, so it would make a nice distraction after visiting the museum.Further south in McAllen is the Quinta Mazatlan, a Spanish Revival Style building that was completed in 1935. It is now a plant and bird sanctuary, which aims to bring visitors closer to the local nature. The mansion covers several acres, with beautiful gardens to explore and try to spot the wildlife. They also hold regular events on the grounds, with music, demonstrations, and craft stalls. This part of Texas is a beautiful place to visit while motorhome camping near Amigo Inn RV Park.