Discover Maverick County

Maverick County brings together architectural history, memories of military border posts, and landscapes along the Rio Grande. Several of the cultural and recreational destinations mentioned here are in Eagle Pass. When planning your trip, it is worth first deciding whether architecture and history, events, or walks by the water should be your main focus.

The courthouse, Fort Duncan, and aviation history

The Maverick County Courthouse in Eagle Pass was built in 1884–1885 and is considered an outstanding example of Victorian design. Its architecture combines the Romanesque Revival style with Second Empire details. A particularly tangible detail can be found in the clock tower: the original clock mechanism and original bell by E. Howard are still there. This makes the building's history evident not only in its exterior design, but also in a specific part of the structure.

Another historical chapter began on March 27, 1849. On that day, Captain Sidney Burbank founded Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass with Companies A, B, and F of the 1st U.S. Infantry Regiment. The fort served as a border post near the route taken by California emigrants. In 1938, the City of Eagle Pass purchased the site for use as a park and recreation area. Military history and the site's intended later use thus belong to different chapters in the history of the same place. The Fort Duncan Museum in Eagle Pass displays artifacts from Indigenous peoples, military exhibits, and local artifacts.

The history of Eagle Pass Army Air Field can also be placed in context using specific dates: it was activated in 1942 and converted into a basic flight training school in November 1944. Flight training ended in April 1945. Those who enjoy comparing historical developments over time will find a brief, clearly dated sequence here, alongside the older histories of the courthouse and Fort Duncan.

The Rio Grande and a range of excursions

Shelby Park covers 47.4 acres of parkland on the banks of the Rio Grande. People take morning walks at Maverick County Lake in Eagle Pass. Both offer a different focus from museums and architecture: the river and time spent walking outdoors take center stage here. The public Eagle Pass Golf Course offers nine holes; two tee options make an 18-hole experience possible. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between cultural stops, a round outdoors, and walks without having to combine them into a single itinerary.

The river landscape is also reflected in references to historic sites. At Paso las Islas, the Rio Grande divides into shallow channels that run between several islands. The site is privately owned. Paso de Francia was a ford across the Rio Grande in Maverick County and is associated with Alonso De León's 1689 expedition; this site is also privately owned. If you would like to include these places in your plans, check access arrangements in advance. The descriptions of the river channels and the historic ford also offer different reasons to engage with the river: one focuses on its landscape, the other on a crossing from history.

Culture, events, and evening entertainment

Art venues, event spaces, restaurants, and shops come together in Eagle Pass's 300 Block Art and Entertainment District. The International Friendship Festival takes place every year in March and features parades, food, and mini-golf tournaments. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the current dates in advance. In the evening, the Qué Pasa Lounge at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel offers live music, DJs, concerts, and karaoke nights. The program and opening hours may change, so check current events and times before your trip.

For families, it may help to organize excursions around shared interests: a day visiting the courthouse, Fort Duncan, and the museum offers a different focus from a walk by the lake or a visit to the entertainment district. Those who prefer to plan a sporting activity can consider including the public golf course. You can choose a vacation rental based on which of these stops matter to your trip. Look specifically for a location that suits your planned focus, rather than assuming the accommodation has amenities that have not been confirmed.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Chambers, Hutchinson County, Kenedy County, Dimmit, Willacy County, Midland, San Augustine County.

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