Growing Together in Raymondville

Visitors to Raymondville can enjoy the lush semi-tropical climate and surrounding beautiful natural resources. What once was a small farming community now is a city with various eateries and quaint retail shops for its local residents and annual Winter Visitors.

The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Raymondville and a celebration including a parade, dance, food and fireworks made for a birthday party to remember!

With nature in our very own backyard and inviting climate, Raymondville boasts outdoor recreation. With farm/ranchlands and the Laguna Madre only a short drive away, outdoor enthusiasts can plan various activities to include birding, fishing, hunting, sailing, and golfing.

Other destinations only driving distance include the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, the beautiful South Padre Island, and the Mexican border towns are sure to offer great shopping excursions.

Raymondville’s golf course is a 9-hole golf course with two par 5 and two par 3 holes. It is home to golf tournaments, fund raising events, and a popular place for local students, residents, everyday visitors, and Winter Visitors to enjoy.

The outdoor fun is not limited to nature activities as sports also play a major role in recreation. Area youths participate in competitive sports including little league and soccer.

Raymondville begins the year with the Willacy County Heritage Gala held in January. This celebration features the county's rich heritage and includes a tour of the Historical Museum, a live auction with items such as artwork by local artists, gourmet dinners, and various hunting and fishing trips.

The Willacy County Livestock Show is held the last week of January at the Willacy County Show Grounds on South Business 77. This annual event has taken place since the early 1950's and has grown throughout the years with participation from the young and young at heart. The highlights of the county fair include arts and crafts, art exhibits, food booths, baked goods, carnival, and rodeo. Fall brings the highly anticipated "Wild and Willacy" Heritage and Nature Festival. Natural attractions are available for nature lovers to experience first hand. Tours are scheduled on local private ranches and hosted by nationally renowned field guides for the best birding and spotting of wildlife. This festival also offers seminars on 7 Native plant landscaping, birdhouse building, attracting butterflies and dragonflies, and identifying grass and trees that is abundant to our area.

This time of year also brings our annual winter visitors, which are welcomed by a "Welcome Back Winter Texan" BBQ dinner organized by the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce. This event allows the community to meet our northern friends once again and get acquainted with any new visitors that have chosen Raymondville for their winter stay.

December brings plenty of excitement for the community. The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony held at the Downtown Pocket Park begins the joyous season followed by the annual Christmas Parade.

Visitors destined to experience the natural treasures of the area will soon find nature at its best and hospitality the size of Texas.

Nature enthusiasts will find numerous species of migratory birds, sea life and plant life abundant to the area. Spotting the unique Ferruginous Pygmy Owl at an adjacent ranch 10 miles North of Raymondville shall prove to be the highlight of any bird enthusiast.

For those looking for a water adventure, a short drive East to Port Mansfield will offer the shores of the Laguna Madre. Only nine miles out by boat, the Gulf of Mexico provides an avid fisherman some fishing to remember.

Downtown Raymondville offers quaint shops with unique gifts, costume jewelry, and home décor. Discount retailers are also located strategically throughout the city.

Shopping malls are a short 20-minute drive south to Harlingen where malls and shopping plazas are plentiful. Brownsville and McAllen are also home to some major shopping grounds with shopping malls and flea markets and both are approximately a 45-50 minute drive away.

The Mexican border towns also provide plenty of shopping opportunities where unique home décor, fabrics, purses/wallets, and hats are among some of the items found. This shopping experience is only a 50-minute drive and the margaritas and Mexican hospitality are well worth the drive!

Hidalgo, Texas is now home to the “coolest” game in town…ice hockey. State Farm Arena, the newest sports facility in the Valley, and experience the RGV Killer Bees in action.

The Arena also boasts live entertainment with music to suit a variety of interests. The legendary George Strait was welcomed with a sell-out Rio Grande Valley crowd. The Arena not only hosts concerts but also family & children's shows and sports events.

The local school groups present spring and Christmas band concerts and theatre productions for the community at little or no cost.

Tejano dancing is indigenous to the area with dance halls throughout the Valley to showcase the fancy footwork.

Performing arts facilities in Harlingen, Brownsville, and McAllen provide diverse programs of visual and performing art.

These two lakes' history dates back almost to the discovery of America. Look for the historical marker west of Raymondville on Hwy 186 in front of El Sal del Rey.

Approximately 20 miles west of Raymondville are El Sal de Rey and La Sal Vieja lakes. Spanish explorers claimed El Sal del Rey or "The Salt of the King"for the King of Spain. Salt was taken from it for 40 years before it became part of the land grant given by the King to Juan Jose Balli of the Spanish Army.

El Sal del Rey covers about 500 acres with its underground depth unknown. It is said to be 90% pure and lies 12 feet above sea level. It has no connection to any other body of water and the secret to its formation is not known. Salt blocks removed from any spot in the lake are quickly replenished in a matter of two to three days. Engineers have estimated that the lake can produce four million tons of salt. The depth of the water varies from completely dry to 2 feet in dry periods to more than 10 feet during heavy rainfall.

The lakes have had several owners since the King of Spain including the Byron Campbell family of Raymondville. U.S. Fish and Wildlife has acquired the lakes and offer them for nature tourism.

Source: Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce's History Cookbook from an article written by Elouise Campbell.

Described as "one of the 10 best fishing areas in the country."

Located just 22 miles east of Raymondville, visitors will find the peaceful shores of the Laguna Madre. Avid fishermen can enjoy bay and deep-sea fishing while others may want to simply stroll down the lighted fishing docks. Just nine miles from Port Mansfield bird watchers can experience the beauty and solitude of South Padre Island National Seashore and Bird Sanctuary. For outdoor sports, the shallow waters and smooth clay bottom near port is where water skiers and windsurfers can safely practice their talent.

Whether it is the fishing, birding, or water sports Port Mansfield is a site to see. Make plans to visit this quaint fishing community and experience nature at its best.

Contact the Willacy County Navigation District at (800) 663-5707 for land leases and boat stall leases or the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce at (956) 944-2354. An airport for small aircraft is available for guests wanting to fly in to the fishing community.9

City of Raymondville Economic Development Corporation

700 FM 3168,
Raymondville, Texas 78580

(956) 689-1862