Texas border city springs up around a military base
A few miles from the US-Mexico border, Del Rio springs up around the San Felipe Creek in Texas. In the city’s early days, the creek was a lifeline for farms, vineyards and orchards, and the springs feeding into it include swimming holes that draw visitors from miles around. As the site of Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio is “a place that will feel like home pretty quick,” says Blanca Ozuna, RE agent & owner of B. Ozuna Realty Group. “When I get [military] families who have decided to buy a home after two years of being here, they say they knew it was home. Everybody tries to get to know each other.” The military base contributes to a total population of 35,000 in the city, which serves as the seat of Val Verde County.
Home of Laughlin Air Force Base
Laughlin Air Force Base is the largest pilot training base in the United States Air Force and the area’s biggest employer, with more than 1,400 military personnel and 1,300 civilian employees. Residents might also find jobs at Val Verde Correctional Facility, about midway between Del Rio and the base.
Access to Laughlin’s southern terminus is available via Texas State Highway Loop 79. US Routes 90 and 377 form an L-shape in the heart of the city, about 3 miles from the Rio Grande and the US-Mexico border. The International Bridge on Route 277 accommodates vehicular and pedestrian traffic for the crossing to Ciudad Acuña in Mexico.
The City of Del Rio Transportation Department operates a fixed-route system Monday through Friday, with buses running to medical facilities and retail centers. Two of Amtrak’s train routes stop in Del Rio: The Sunset Limited, which runs between Los Angeles and New Orleans, and the Texas Eagle, which connects Los Angeles and Chicago. San Antonio International Airport is 160 miles away and accessible via Route 90.
Swimming in San Felipe Springs
Though recent droughts have lowered the water table, swimming and other water-based activities are a huge part of life in Del Rio. Waterfalls, hidden coves, and short bluffs adorned with vibrant rock art keep things lively at San Felipe Springs, one of the largest springs in Texas. Lake Amistad, a popular bass fishing spot, is 20 miles away. The ongoing “Field of Our Dreams” development project will add new ball fields to give sports leagues a dedicated space for practice and competitions.
Historic neighborhoods with Spanish Mission-style homes
Del Rio’s median home price of $242,000 is low by state and national standards. Most fixer-uppers and starter homes cost $75,000 to $150,000, and plenty of well-maintained homes in the central section of town are priced from $200,000 to $400,000. On the outskirts, larger builds on multiacre lots sell for $450,000 to $700,000. “South Del Rio is known for being our most historic part of town, where you’ll see some of the oldest homes,” Ozuna says. Many homes in these historic southern neighborhoods were built in the Spanish Mission style, with stucco walls and arched entryways.
Del Rio residents should steel themselves for hot weather. Sweltering summers are bookended by severe thunderstorms in spring and fall, and temps stay high all year round.
Ancient pictographs and cultural events
Pictographs dating back several millennia dwell within caverns in and around the town. The Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center is tasked with documenting the artifacts. Local history is on display at the Whitehead Memorial Museum, and the nonprofit Casa de la Cultura hosts cultural events like the Cinco de Mayo Pachanga in the Patio and Calaveras Y Calacas (“skulls and skeletons”) on Dia de los Muertos in November. City staff oversaw renovations on the Paul Poag Theatre in 2023, improving the safety and accessibility of the 450-seat venue.
Southwestern-style restaurants and Texas’s oldest winery
A southwestern vibe sets the stage for the restaurant scene in downtown Del Rio. Steakhouses, barbecue and Tex-Mex joints, and authentic Mexican taquerias line up along the bustling stretch of Route 90. A short ride down Hudson Drive leads to Val Verde Winery, the longest-operating winery in Texas, which has been pouring its vintages since 1883. Heading north on Route 377, locals find fast-food chains, shopping centers and big-box retailers.
The San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District
About 10,000 students attend schools in the San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, which gets a C-plus from Niche. For higher education, Sul Ross State University and Park University both have campuses in Del Rio.
Crime rates in Del Rio
Rates of violent crime typically trend low by state and national standards, according to FBI data. Property-related crime rates also tend to be lower but have been known to spike sharply throughout the past five years.
Photography Contributed By
Adam Michaud
Video By
Samantha Houtchens
