Del Rio Grande 0618 by Del Rio News Herald

JUNE 2018

BRINKLEY MANSION A rare look inside the former home of the infamous doctor

NATIVE SON New Mayor Ralphy Lozano talks about his journey

JUNE 2018

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FATE BELL A tour to Seminole Canyonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed painted shelter

Rediscover Del Rio GRANDE / JUNE 2018

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

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GRANDE / JUNE 2018

FROM THE EDITOR

Good journeys! PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason CREATIVE DIRECTOR Megan Tackett WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Argabright Amanda Castañeda Greg Garetz Karen Gleason Taylor Goodwin Lee Hoy Jack Johnson Megan Tackett ADVERTISING Kim Dupill Ashley Lopez Albert Treviño PRODUCTION Jorge Alarcon Roland Cardenas Antonio Morales EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 247 ADVERTISING ashley.lopez@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250 STORY IDEAS karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

2205 North Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, TX 78840 delrionewsherald.com Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

This month, we’re inviting Grande readers to “Rediscover Del Rio.” For many of us, the advent of summer brings with it the allure of the vacation, a trip to a faraway city with spectacular museums, monuments and restaurants or an exotic beach with sugar-white sand and balmy breezes wafting in from the sea. And while we love getting away from it all, we also want to encourage you to look a little closer to home when planning your next trip, whether that’s a week, a weekend or an afternoon off. There are pockets of awesomeness all over Val Verde County. Some of them take some planning and doing to enjoy, while others are hiding in plain sight on some of Del Rio’s less traveled roads. I’d like to say a special thank you to Greg Garetz, chief of interpretation and resource management at the Amistad National Recreation Area, for putting together a comprehensive look at camping opportunities available in the ANRA. Another big thank you goes to photographers Jack Johnson and Amanda Castañeda for contributing the photos that illustrate Greg’s camping article. Our Amistad National Recreation Area is amazing resource that too few Del Rioans use. We hope that Greg’s overview of camping in the park will inspire more of our readers to take advantage of this beautiful resource. This month, Grande Creative Director Megan Tackett takes us inside two very special residences: the stunning Brinkley Mansion, built by Del Rio very own “mad scientist,” the infamous “goat gland” doctor, John Romulus Brinkley, and La Casita, a guest house brimming with Texas style, built by the personable and very downto-earth Clay Cowan. I took a trip to Seminole Canyon to take the Fate Bell Shelter tour. I visit Seminole Canyon at least once a year, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Fate Bell Shelter, an excellent example of the world-renowned rock art of western Val Verde County. It was a real treat to visit it again, and I’m excited to share this experience with our readers. Finally, I spoke with Del Rio’s new mayor, Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano, who promises to be a vibrant force in the local political scene. I believe that Lozano’s story of his search for community – his own rediscovering of Del Rio – will resonate as deeply with our readers as it did with me. Good journeys!

Karen Gleason Grande Editor

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

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GRANDE / JUNE 2018

CONTENTS 8

CALENDAR Keep busy this month at these local events.

TAKE 90 Commerce leaders kickstart initiative to boost tourism through Highway 90.

PLAN A DEL RIO DAY From sunup to sundown, plan the perfect, essential day in the beautiful Queen City.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME A longtime Del Rioan offers southwest digs to travelling professionals.

THE LONG ROAD HOME Del Rio’s new mayor is young, energetic, articulate – and yes, he’s gay

GRANDE PICKS Travel right with our selections from local retailers.

ROTARY RODEO

INSIDE THE BRINKLEY MANSION

A night at the rodeo always feels like a miniature escape.

A rare look inside Del Rio’s infamous tourist destination.

SLIP INTO SUMMER

FATE BELL

Ready-to-wear summer fashions from Russell’s True Value’s boutique.

Tour Seminole Canyon’s famous, remote, archaeologically-rich shelter.

Everything you need to know to plan the best campout at Amistad.

Our creative director wraps up the June issue.

CAMP AMISTAD

SHELTER

LAST LOOK

On the cover: Del Rio High School sophomore Ixel Frescas, who won most photogenic and third runner-up in the 2018 Miss Val Verde Pageant, walks down Old Spur 454 near Lake Amistad with a borrowed Samsonite suitcase from Hilda’s Thrift Store, located at 910 S. Main St. Ixel’s “Blame it all on my roots” t-shirt can be found at Russell’s True Value. 6

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

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JUNE CALENDAR

Keep busy this month at these fun local events

1 FRIDA PHOTO EXHIBIT 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Casa de la Cultura 302 Cantu St. The Mexican Consul and the Casa host this touring photo exhibition “Diego y Frida “Una sonrisa a mitad del camino.”

2 POP-UP BEER GARDEN 7 p.m. to midnight Del Rio Community Garden 210 Jones St. Enjoy a brew or two for a good cause. Proceeds benefit the Del Rio Parks Foundation.

15 NOCHES MUSICALES 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Casa de la Cultura 302 Cantu St. Take in the sounds of summer at Brown Plaza at the Casa’s first Noches Musicales event.

16 HATS OFF TO DAD MARKET 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Greenwood Park 501 Griner St. Grab dad a unique gift at the Little Market at Greenwood Park’s monthly vendor market.

29 MOVIE AT THE MUSEUM 8:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Whitehead Memorial Museum 1308 S. Main St. Catch a flick under the stars with family, friends and the museum staff. Movie starts at sundown.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

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GRANDE / JUNE 2018

Take 90

Tourist initiative draws travelers through southwest Texas corridor Story by MEGAN TACKETT; photo by LEE HOY

exas highways are the veins that pump its economy’s lifeblood, tourism, through the state’s body. A city with good circulation will thrive. One with poor circulation will struggle. The Take 90 Initiative is an idea thought up by two Del Rio natives as a way to increase tourism on Highway 90 from Castroville to Van Horn. The initiative encourages travelers to drive the southwest Texas roadway as an alternative to Interstate 10, said Take 90 kick-starter and current Austin resident Chris Jacob. According to Google maps, driving Highway 90 as an alternative to Interstate 10 is 25 miles and about 50 minutes longer. However, Jacob and Ramiro Guzman, another initiative instigator, said taking 90 is more about the experience and less about travel time. “Instead of getting on I-10 and seeing nothing, take the lesser travelled route and see all the small towns that are often overlooked in the rush of life,” Jacob said. In January, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce hosted visitors bureau and chamber officials from neighboring communities, and the group reconvened in April in the Uvalde to brainstorm their visions for the initiative. “It depends what the group wants to do,” Larson said. “If they want to do advertising or social media promotion, signage. Hopefully every year it will grow.” So far, commerce leaders from other cities along

Highway 90, including Texas Hill Country River Region Executive Director Annabell McNew, Brackettville Chamber of Commerce President John Hope and Terrell County Commissioner Dale Carruthers are all on board with the initiative. “I would think it’s going to benefit every city along 90 if we can promote this Take 90 initiative,” said Hope. “On 90 you’re seeing vastly different landscapes and vastly different communities,” McNew added. “You’re really seeing Texas.” Head individuals from local entities, including Whitehead Museum Director Michael Diaz, Amistad National Recreation Area Superintendent Chris Ryan and Seminole Canyon State Park Superintendent Randy Rosales, attended the January meeting to weigh in on Del Rio’s mostvisited attractions and how they can contribute to the initiative. Multiple meeting attendants suggested reaching out to the European and Asian market to bring large tourist numbers to the area. According to Rosales, about 40 percent of tourists who visit Seminole Canyon State Park are international travelers. The initiative, Larson said, isn’t specifically designated for only the cities along 90. Exceptions would be made to accommodate interesting pitstops take take travelers a few miles off the beaten path. CVBs and chambers can promote anything within 30 to 45 minutes off 90, including attractions like the McDonald Observatory outside Fort Davis. •

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

Have a Del

1. BREAKFAST You have a big day ahead of you. Start off with a healthy breakfast at The Solution. Try the acai bowl, which is full of vitamins and nutrients to keep you charged throughout the day. Or, try breakfast tacos from Chintos, a Del Rio staple.

Rio Day

2. AMISTAD HIKE

While it’s still relatively cool, drive out to Amistad National Recreation Area and take in sweeping views of the lake and watch for wildlife. Try the Sunrise Trail, a 1.5-mile-long stroll that takes you the through Val Verde County’s unique vegetation and landscape.

3. CREEK SWIM

Grab a towel, a swim suit and your favorite floatie for a quick dip in San Felipe Creek. Stop by the Blue Hole at Moore Park and jump off the suspension bridge if you’re feeling brave enough.

4. LUNCH

Grab a midday meal at one of Del Rio’s most cherished sandwich shops. Try the King Ranch Chicken Casserole at Brown Bag with a cup of tortilla soup or the Hurakarrana (named after one of Del Rio’s most popular bands) at Subs and Clubs.

5. SHOPPING

Make your way downtown and peek inside Del Rio’s quaint shops. Find one-of-a kind gems at antique and thrift stores like Casa Bella, Gracie’s Finds and Hilda’s Thrift Store. Check out boutiques like La Florentina, Miles Away From Nowhere and Clasyk for the latest in southern border style. 12

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

6. MUSEUM TOUR

Leave at least an hour to discover the new and rediscover the old at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. Three new exhibits were recently added including a Hall of Fame, a School House and a City Hall.

7. WINERY STOP

A visit to Val Verde Winery is an obvious mustdo during your Del Rio day. Treat yourself to a full tasting, and don’t forget to sample the Don Luis tawny port, the winery’s most awardwinning blend.

8. DINNER AND DRINKS

Finish off your day at one of Del Rio’s excellent steakhouses: Manuel’s, Cripple Creek or Wright’s. All three offer excellent entrees with creative cocktails. Or, if traditional Mexican fare is more of your style, try Memo’s or Malinda at the Ramada.

9. AFTER HOURS

Still have energy? Stop into the White Horse Lounge or Doc Hollidays for a nightcap. You might even catch one of Del Rio’s live bands.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

Clay Cowan, a local attorney, had La Casita built to accommodate traveling professionals who did want to stay in hotels.

Home Away FRom Home Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

As someone who travels frequently for work, Clay Cowan, a local attorney, understands the importance of hanging his hat in a comfortable space when cases take him to unfamiliar destinations. So when the opportunity came to purchase a downtown Del Rio property, Cowan didn’t hesitate to scoop up the land and construct a place for travelers to call home. The house, known as La Casita, is just a short walk away from many of the destinations Del Rio is known for: the San Felipe Creek, Casa de la Cultura, Brown Plaza, Paul Poag Theatre and the Whitehead Memorial Museum. It’s the perfect destination for visitors, whether for business or pleasure, to stay.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

“There was a need for out of town professionals to have a place to stay,” Cowan said. “They want to spread out. It’s more like home.” Cowan purchased the Pecan Street property after the previous owner, his friend Ramon Martinez, died in 2006. The property included an adobe home that Martinez, a long-time sheep-shearer, had built and expanded over the course of 50 years. “Over the years, as he made a little bit of money, he’d add a room here and add a room there. As his family grew, so did his house.” Cowan said. “When he died, his daughter reached out to me and asked if we’d be interested in buying the property and I said yes.”

La Casita is constructed from adobe and reinforced with a cement beam that keeps the structure secure in case of inclement weather.

Cowan admits he has an emotional attachment to adobe. The local attorney grew up in a turn-of-the-century Hudspeth County home, constructed from sun-dried clay bricks, that his parents inherited from Cowan’s grandparents. Cowan, however, could not reasonably remodel Martinez’s home to meet city building specifications, so he had to demolish and rebuild. “Because he had built in spurts, we couldn’t bring the house to modern code,” Cowan said. “We had to knock it down, unfortunately.” The 1,100-square-foot home took less than a year to complete, Cowan said. The house is constructed of dry stack adobe

“At the end of the day, this house will be standing in 75 to 100 years.” The house, located in downtown Del Rio, includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a spacious back patio.

block, which is wrapped with a plastered cyclone mesh and tied together by a concrete top cement bond beam for structural integrity. “At the end of the day, this house will be standing in 75 to 100 years,” Cowan said. “It is solid.” Inside, the house is complete with rustic, warm-toned finishings, like subtly-distressed tile flooring and countertops, vintage wood furniture and western-inspired artwork. “My idea was to make it like my home,” Cowan said. “Comfy, not foofy.”

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

La Casita features southwest-inspired art that Cowan has collected for the house throughout the years.

The home owner said he’s accumulated the furniture and artwork for La Casita through the years. Not many pieces draw any sentimental value for him except for one: an antique poker table and chair set. The small, slightly rickety poker table once belonged to his father, who would regularly sit at it with his friends for a game of cards while drinking beer or other adult beverages, Cowan said. Attached to the table’s legs are circular cup holders that are slightly burned from the many cigarettes that were once smoked at the table, he said. The house includes a guest bedroom, a half bath, a master bedroom with an en suite jetted tub, a spacious

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

living room, a washer and dryer and a kitchen complete with a dishwasher and refrigerator. Since its construction, many visiting doctors and lawyers have called La Casita home for a few nights. The house has also accommodated environmentalists who worked to rid the San Felipe Creek of carrizo cane. It even served as the venue for The Upstagers’ closing night after party. La Casita is relatively young considering the history that surrounds the house. But with the amount of care and attention to detail that went into its creation, this home-away-from-home is sure to welcome many more travelers for years to come. •

The house includes an antique poker table that Cowan received from his father.

Cowan furnished La Casita with comfortable pieces so guests feel right at home.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

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The Long Road Home Del Rio’s new mayor is young, energetic, articulate – and yes, he’s gay Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano became the center of a flurry of media attention just before and after his election: At 35, he is the youngest mayor in recent memory and he is one of the first millenials elected to public office in the area. He is also Del Rio’s first openly gay elected official.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

runo “Ralphy” Lozano, Del Rio’s new mayor, said his earliest memories of growing up here include the frequent visits he made to two businesses owned and operated by his grandparents: Lozano’s Texaco on Veterans Boulevard and Chema’s Tortillas on West Garza Street. “I remember my grandparents making the tortillas. I remember my abuelita with her little handkerchief hat and her little white apron. I remember my grandfather patting the masa, and I remember rolling out the tortillas by hand,” Lozano said. “And I remember being at the station with my grandfather Lozano, my abuelo Lozano, and I have a picture where I’m wearing the pecheras, the overalls with the Texaco logo, and a little cowboy hat. I remember being this little kid who felt like a big shot because I was at a gas station and that was cool. I’m a mechanic’s grandson, and my dad did all that stuff with his dad,” Lozano said. Lozano picked me up at the newspaper office in his blue Toyota pickup a few days after his election. As I opened the truck’s passenger door, he apologized for the mess, saying his life has been “a whirlwind” since the night he won the mayoral election. “I feel honored to have been elected, that Del Rioans chose me as their leader, but I’m not the kind of person that takes all the credit. I was not brought up that way. Everybody that was involved, my family, my friends, my team, they’re the ones that pushed me and got me here. There’s no way I would have done it without them,” he said. Lozano said he has been a little surprised by the reactions to his election. “Seeing the media outlets sharing my story, sharing what’s been going on, knowing how excited a lot of the people who feel disenfranchised are, it is overwhelming. I was not expecting to be on HuffPost. Who becomes mayor of Del Rio and gets on HuffPost? . . . It’s flattering because I’m getting a lot of attention, but I just want to be the best leader that I can be. That’s a promise that I know I can do,” Lozano said. We set out from the News-Herald and headed for the city’s growing north side. I asked him what it was like for him to come from here. “I realize how connected we are here in Del Rio. It’s a small city, and there are a lot of people that we don’t know. That

being said, I feel like we’re not strangers to each other. We open doors for each other, literally and figuratively. When something bad happens, everybody finds out about it within five seconds. They do like the chisme here in Del Rio, but the thing is, though, that it’s a community I’m proud of. We’ve gone through a lot. We have a lot of history here, and I carry that history with me,” Lozano said. Lozano also carries his own history with him. As a child, he attended The Little Schoolhouse, transitioning to public school as a fifth grader. “It was a shock, because I started to realize that I was a little bit different. I didn’t know why or how I was different, I just knew that I was a little bit more, maybe feminine is a good word to describe it. I was not into sports. I was not into anything that was typical of boys of that age. I had a lot of friends that were girls. I dressed differently. They all knew that Ralphy was different,” he said. Lozano said in middle school, he began to be bullied and remembers hating PE. “I remember this kid pushed me into a bench, and he called me a colorful word in Spanish. That was tough. In eighth grade, I realized what they were calling me: ‘the gay guy’, the ‘like that’ guy. Back then, there weren’t a lot of celebrities that were out, and we really didn’t use the words lesbian or gay, we used the term ‘like that.’ It’s a joke now, but then it was like an under-the-radar terminology,” he said. Lozano said he began to shut down, to exclude himself, to hide from his tormentors, but also from himself. “I was hiding from the truth, but in my sophomore year, I started opening up. Those of us that were ‘like that’ started reaching out the each other more and hanging out, and then my grandmother passed away, and that really affected me. I kind of gave up on high school, and I’ll be honest, I started skipping out. I passed all my grades, but I was no longer present. “I was really affected – being gay, being a minority like that and bullied and losing my grandmother that I was really close to – it all really affected me. The Flood of ’98 had just happened. There are a lot of things that shock a child. I graduated early, in January of 2001, which was still the Class of 2001, and I bolted,” Lozano said. Lozano moved, first to Tulsa, Okla., then to Chicago, where he attended his first gay pride parade and surrounded

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano said he is ready to lead the Del Rio City Council as mayor. Lozano said some of his earliest memories are working alongside his grandparents in their respective businesses, Chema’s Tortilla Factory and Lozano’s Texaco. Here, he is pictured outside Chema’s, for many years a landmark business in south Del Rio.

GRANDE / JUNE 2018

himself with other gays and lesbians. “For me the pride parade was like a rite of passage. I was like, ‘Okay, here is my community. Here’s the people I can relate to.’ I left Del Rio looking for community, looking to be included. . . And then I joined the military,” he said. “I joined because we had just entered war with Iraq. The Bush Administration at the time had just invaded Iraq, and I will be frank: I was a naïve little 21-yar-old, and I protested the war on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. But I took a look around at the protesters, and I was like, ‘You know what? I don’t even understand why we’re protesting.’ “So I joined the military because I wanted to learn all about it. I felt like it was an opportunity for career advancement, and I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Lozano said. Lozano said he learned a number of important lessons in the military. “The military taught me how to be out of my comfort zone. I had to be friends with people that were from Nebraska, that were from Florida, New York, all these men and women who had completely different perspectives about what it meant to be an American, what it means to be part of this country,” he said. “I also learned camaraderie, I learned teamwork, I learned military values, I learned chain of command, so many things I wouldn’t have learned in any other fashion. On top of that, I was security forces. I was in law enforcement, so not only did I learn military values, I also learned law enforcement values about doing the right thing and justice, martial law,” Lozano said. He deployed to Kuwait where he was assigned to airbase defense. Lozano said since he was the smallest target, he was put on the big gun in the vehicle turret on patrols. He also was part of the details that escorted the bodies of fallen service men and women onto the aircraft that would fly them home. “My service taught me about life, about meaning. I came back stateside, and I just couldn’t do ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ anymore because I was law enforcement. We did witch-hunts. I had to do witch-hunts on people like myself. It was the toughest thing to do. . . But that was the law back then, and I had supervisors who were trying to pick at me. They’d say something like, ‘So who’s your girlfriend?’ I’m 21 years old and still being bullied by a supervisor,” Lozano said. “I’m

proud of my service, and my experience in the military is something no one can ever take away from me. I am proud to have served my country honorably.” After completing his contract, Lozano left the military and went to work for Citi Group in San Antonio. A friend urged him to go to work for an airline and get out and see the world. Lozano took her advice and has never looked back. “I began my career with the airline industry and realized I had found my calling. I was hired at 24, and I’ve been flying for 11 years now,” he said. Lozano began flying with a regional airline based in Milwaukee, Wisc. He also began traveling and so far, he has visited all 50 states and all seven continents. Lozano said he also began identifying more closely with the ‘gay’ label. “In 2008 was the first time I traveled internationally on my own. I had never been out of the country outside of the military, so my first city on my own was London. I went there for three days, and I had the time of my life. I was like, ‘Oh, my God! London!’ And I have pictures, with that red hair and those blonde highlights. “I became the label, and I kind of lost myself there. I was still trying to find community with the gay community, but I never really felt that connection. I was never completely a part of it, and I never really understood why. The answer to that wouldn’t come until about 10 years later when I moved back to Del Rio, but I was always wondering,” he said. Lozano said during that time he began to accept labels other than “gay.” “A friend of mine told me I needed to find other ‘labels’ for myself, such as I’m outgoing. I’m dependable. I’m loyal. I’m all these things. . . I’m more than just that. I’m this, too. I’m a veteran. I didn’t even give myself that credit,” Lozano said. About that time, Lozano said his first longterm relationship ended, and he moved to Seattle, Wash., where he continued looking for a community where he’d fit. In 2014, he went to work for Delta and “kissed Seattle goodbye” and was based in Boston, Mass., for a time, then moved to Ypsilanti, Mich. Lozano said he also began realizing that he was returning to Del Rio – a lot. “I told myself, ‘Rafael, just move home.’ So I

did. I bought my house here in 2016,” Lozano said. Lozano said he encountered a crisis of identity and faith in the wake of the Orlando Massacre in 2016. Lozano said as he moved forward with plans for a reunion of the DRHS Class of 2001 in 2016, he took his cue from those who died in the mass killing as well as from the killer, realizing the man had acted, in some part, because he felt excluded. “Everybody, me, that guy, everybody. We’re all looking for community. We all want to fit in somewhere. We all wanted to be accepted for who we are,” Lozano said. “I called up my reunion committee and said, ‘We’re going to invite everybody, and nobody has to pay any dues. We’re going to include everybody in our class range, whether they went to Del Rio High School, Premier, Little Schoolhouse, Charter, whether they have a GED, whether they don’t have anything, all backgrounds, I want everyone to feel welcome, invited and included,’” he said. The move was a success. During their 10year reunion, the group drew 150 people. The second year, they had 250. It was during that time that Lozano’s thoughts turned toward running for city office in his hometown. “It was the Orlando Massacre that made me realize, divisiveness and being divided, is not communal, and I understand the complexities of being discriminated against. I know these things exist, but my philosophy is that you have to be part of a community. If you keep excluding yourself, the people who are against you are never going to understand you,” Lozano. When it comes to being mayor, Lozano said, “I drive the same streets a homophobe drives. I have the same problem, the same pothole. I can work for him or her, and if they still hate me at the end of the day, that’s on them, not on me. I’m going to do the best pothole fix-up I can do.” Most importantly, though, Lozano said he believes he has found his place. “I started growing into who I am now. I’m myself. I’m comfortable. I’ve experienced life, and I was youthful, and now I’m kind of in this family-oriented mindset. . . I’ve transitioned . . . I am my own individual, and I’ve realized that I’m part of the community no matter where I am. I don’t have to seek it,” Lozano said. •

“We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” - T.S. Eliot

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Ready to ride! Annual Rotary Rodeo kicks off Independence Day celebration Story and photos by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

he sport of rodeo is as much a part of Texas as the Dallas Cowboys and the historic Alamo. And in Del Rio, the annual Del Rio Rotary Club’s Independence Day Rodeo has become such an institution that families and visitors make their summer plans around attending this two-day event each year. “This year we’re serving as the sort of kickoff to the local Fourth of July festivities,” Tony Hernandez, a representative of the Del Rio Rotary Club and longtime rodeo supporter and organizer, said. “Our biggest concern each year is always the heat, and we’ve talked

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about moving it to a different date, like to January to coincide with the 4-H Livestock Show, but we know people make their plans to attend during the summer because their families are here, and it’s become such a tradition in this community.” This year will be the 14th annual iteration of the two-day event, which will be held this year June 29 and 30 at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds. Show times each night begin at 8, but the popular stick horse race for kids and sign-ups for other events, such as the mutton bustin’ and the scoop races, take place prior to that. Last year’s event drew more than 4,000 people to the fairgrounds.

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“We’ve always worked to make this a family-friendly event. We’ve focused on affordability. In fact, since we started doing this in 2004, we’ve raised prices on concession items only once,” Hernandez said. With the help of longtime producer Lester Meier, who provides the stock for the events, the Independence Day Rodeo brings a bevy of roughstock and timed events for the public to enjoy each year. This year will feature a pair of new activities fans can participate in including the chuck wagon races and the barrel rescue. Hernandez said there have always been ideas to make the rodeo a bigger event, and thereby drawing in more people which would mean more funds raised by the Del Rio Rotary Club, but he said the lack of manpower and available hands makes those ideas difficult to achieve.

“We’ve had trail rides, brought in bands, held dances, and they just haven’t worked. The biggest challenge has been the heat, but the lack of volunteers has been an issue as well,” Hernandez said. The event’s main purpose is to help raise funds for the various projects the Del Rio Rotary Club participates in or oversees. Recent monies raised have gone towards improvements at Rotary Park as well as the construction of the new splash pad. The club has also presented $15,000 in scholarships over the past year. “For a club with a little over 60 members, I am super proud of the work that we do with this event,” Hernandez said. “We’ve always wanted to keep it something for the entire family to enjoy. What better way is there to come out, enjoy a cool beverage and a tasty hamburger and just celebrate a part of Del Rio.” •

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Slip into Summer Ready-to-wear summer fashions from Russell’s True Value boutique Styling by MEGAN TACKETT; Photography by TAG OUTDOORS; Wardrobe provided by RUSSELL’S TRUE VALUE

Miss Val Verde 2018 Ashley Villarreal wears a long floral navy jumpsuit.

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Ixel Frecas wears a white sleeveless blouse and a flowing layered long black skirt.

Reyna Haynes smiles in an off-white slouchy blouse with a sheer floral shrug.

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Ashley wears a faded green, studded, mock turtleneck sleeveless dress.

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Reyna wears a white floral embroidered top.

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Ixel smiles in a floral embroidered blue dress.

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Thank you to our models, Ixel Frescas, Reyna Haynes and Ashley Villarreal, our photographer Taylor Goodwin and his wife Adriana Goodwin for allowing us to use her property on a Sunday morning.

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Campers pitch a tent under the stars in the backcountry along the Pecos River in the Amistad National Recreation Area. The most popular backcountry camping in the ANRA is on the Pecos River between five and 10 miles upstream of the Pecos boat ramp.

Under the stars

Camping in the Amistad National Recreation Area offers home-grown adventures Story by GREG GARETZ; photos by AMANDA CASTAÑEDA and JACK JOHNSON

here are three types of camping at Amistad: backcountry campsites, group campsites and front-country campgrounds Backcountry Campsites: Campsites are most often accessed by motor boat, but some can be reached by canoe or kayak. Some of the most popular campsites are located on the Pecos River between five and 10 miles upstream from the Pecos boat ramp, with 150-foot vertical cliffs for scenic beauty and wilderness atmosphere. This may be the most spectacular, National Park Service-y area at Amistad. It is accessible year-round and popular in the spring during runs of schools of white bass (sand bass). The upper Devils River area of Amistad is also popular for backcountry camping, in Big Satan Canyon and the Indian Springs Cove. The lake water there is crystal clear. Backcountry campers also like to camp in Cow Creek (by mid-channel 36

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buoy 14 upstream from Box Canyon) and in Castle Canyon (across and north of Diablo East boat ramp) on the eastern side of Castle Canyon. Canoeists and kayakers like to launch on the Pecos River in Pandale and take the 4½-day river trip down to the Pecos boat ramp. They are only inside the park for the final 1 – 1 ½ days of their trip, and camp on the side of the Pecos River upstream from where the powerboats can travel, due to water depth and an abundance of large limestone rocks in the river channel. Canoeists and kayakers can also launch on Highway 163 at Bakers Crossing and take the 2-3 day trip down the Devils River to the parks’ Rough Canyon boat ramp. Backcountry campers will need to coordinate their trip with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Devils River State Natural Area and make arrangements to camp at their backcountry campsites during a Devils River trip of this nature. An important point to note is that backcountry campers are now

required to carry out their solid human waste and toilet paper. This is a new requirement for Amistad and can be accomplished by purchasing and transporting, along with the rest of your camping gear, a commercially-produced, spill-proof and trash container safe waste bag system such as the Restop 2 or the Wag Bag, both of which are generally available for sale at stores where camping gear is sold. These waste bag systems, when properly sealed, can be disposed of in any trash can. An alternative is to use a dump-station compatible waste system which can then be disposed of at the park RV dump station located on the Diablo East access road. Carrying out solid human waste and toilet paper is a requirement at nearly all backcountry camping locations throughout the country, and Amistad National Recreation Area is simply implementing what is a standard practice that has been in place for years at most other locations. Backcountry campers are required to carry out all of their trash. Pack out what you pack in. There is no trash pick-up by NPS staff at any backcountry campsite locations. If there is an existing fire ring at your backcountry campsite, you can use it to build your open fire. Do not construct a new fire ring. If no fire rings are present, or you do not wish to use the existing fire ring, you can build your fire in a fire pan that is raised at least two inches off the ground. Campfires should not be left unattended while you go out on your boat to fish, water ski or explore. If the wind suddenly starts to blow, embers from your unattended fire could be blown into nearby dry grasses and start a wildfire. Your campfire should be completely extinguished before you break camp and go home. Try to follow these “Leave No Trace” camping principles: • Plan ahead for your camping trip so you are well prepared • Pack out your trash. Do not bury it. Do not bag it and leave it at your campsite. • Dispose of your human waste properly, using a Restop 2 or Wag Bag waste disposal system. • Leave your campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. • Minimize your campfire impacts. Use only dead and downed wood for your campfire. • Respect the wildlife. • Be considerate of other visitors. Group Campsites Amistad has three designated group campsites available to rent by reservation only, and the sites can be reserved up to 180 days in advance by contacting the front desk staff at our park visitor center. The minimum cost for the group campsites $30 per night for group sizes up to 15 people. For groups larger than 15 people, the cost is $2 per person per night. Payment must be made at the time of the campsite reservation. The three group campsites are the Rock Quarry, the 277 North Campground Group Site and the San Pedro Campground Group Site. There is no Senior or Access Pass discount for the group campsites.

An example of what not to do while camping at Amistad: Going to the bathroom on the ground, then throwing used toilet paper around the site. All campers are now required to pack out human waste in spill-proof containers like the Restop 2 or Wag Bag. GRANDE / JUNE 2018

Front country Campgrounds Amistad has five designated campgrounds in the park, and each has its own characteristics. They are all primitive campgrounds with no flush toilets, although they have vault toilets, which are glorified porta-potties. There are no electrical hook-ups, no sewage hook-ups, no internet connections. The cost per night is $4 ($8 per night at Governors Landing because of the potable water). If the camper has a Senior Pass (available to persons who have turned 62) or an Access Pass (for those campers who are handicapped), the cost per night is half the normal charge. Each campsite has a metal shade shelter, picnic table, and bar-b-que grill.

A pristine stretch of the Pecos River above the Pecos boat ramp beckons adventurers.

Governors Landing Campground: This campground includes 15 campsites suitable for tents, and several are level enough to accommodate an RV that is 28 feet or shorter. This is the only campground with potable water available, and the price per night is double that of the other campgrounds for this reason. This campground is located on high ground on a peninsula, with nice views of the lake at all lake levels. U.S. Highway 90 has a bridge next to the campground, and there is a Union Pacific Railroad bridge running parallel to the highway bridge, so you can expect to hear vehicle and truck traffic, as well as train traffic at this campground. Bank fishing on both sides of the peninsula are popular. There is a fishing dock protected from north winds, and swimming in the shade under the Highway 90 bridge is popular during the hot summers. There is a popular picnic area adjacent to the campground on the northern side of the campground peninsula, and which draws large crowds for swimming, wading and barbecuing during the summer. 277 North Campground: There are 17 campsites are available for either tents or RVs here. The sites are level and accommodate the largest RVs with tow vehicles with no problem. The campground has no potable water, and restrooms are vault-toilets. The campground is in a flat, low-lying area, and the lake is visible at most lake levels, but when the lake is 40 feet or more below normal, the lake cannot be seen from the campsites. There is a boat ramp that is available for use when the lake is relatively full, but is not usable at low lake levels. Bank fishing is available within walking distance of the campground. This campground is the closest to Del Rio for those who like to make quick runs to town for groceries or other items. The Highway 277 North bridge is adjacent to the campground and is close enough to be seen, but far enough away so the highway noise cannot be heard There is a submerged old highway 277 bridge adjacent to the campground that is visible at low lake levels and can provide excellent fishing opportunities when exposed at certain lake levels. 38

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Views from a tent pitched on the Pecos River.

Level areas of shoreline along the Pecos and Devils rivers and the Rio Grande in the Amistad National Recreation Area are perfect spots for camping.

An example of a thoughtful, well-planned campsite on the Pecos River.

San Pedro Campground: There are 35 campsites are available for either tents or RVs. The sites are level and accommodate the largest RVs with tow vehicles with no problem. The campground has no potable water, and restrooms are vaulttoilets. The campground is in a flat low-lying area, and the lake can only be seen from the campground when the lake is relatively full. When the lake is full, the lake comes right up to some of the campsites, making this an optimum campground at higher lake levels. There is an abundance of birds and wildlife at this campground. The access road loading to the campground is a one-mile stretch of gravel/caliche. Rough Canyon Campground: 4 campsites are available for either tents or RV’s. The sites are level and accommodate the largest RV’s with tow vehicles with no problem. The campground is adjacent to one of the parking lots at Rough Canyon above the marina, and has an adjacent restroom with flush toilets. Spectacular view of the Devils River arm of the lake is visible at all lake levels. There is a fishing dock protected from north winds adjacent to the campground. This campground is near the site of the 1928 Devils Lake Dam which is still intact and submerged beneath the waters of Lake Amistad. The top of the Devils Lake Dam powerhouse was actually exposed in 2013 when the lake reached a record low of 61 feet below normal (1055.9).

Spur 406 Campground: There are six campsites are available for either tents or RVs. The sites are level and accommodate the largest RVs with tow vehicles with no problem. The metal shelters are missing from three of the six campsites at the time of this writing in late April. The campground has no potable water, and restrooms are vaulttoilets. There are two boat ramps available at higher lake levels. This campground is along the side of the road that used to be the old U.S. Highway 90, which was submerged when the lake was filled, and the road name was changed to Spur 406. At high lake levels this is a popular campground. At low lake levels this campground is mostly empty, but appealing to those who like a little peace and quiet. Since Spur 406 is essentially a dead-end road, there is no through traffic in the area. Birds and wildlife are abundant in this area. Sewage Dump Station and potable water: The park has a free sewage dump station for the raw sewage (black water) and gray water for RVs. It is located on an easily-accessible turn-out on the Diablo East Access Road. Water is also available for re-filling RV water tanks. Along the outer edge of the turnout is a potable water spigot for use by campers needing potable water, since most of the campgrounds in the park do not have potable water. The potable water and dump station are free of charge. •

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Camping Picks

Make short work of fallen wood. Check out this camp ax with a non-slip grip and forged steel ax head. Buy it at Russell’s True Value.

Some necessities for the road less traveled

For those of us who can’t get started without that first cuppa joe, this eight-cup stainless steel coffee pot brews up the right amount of campfire coffee. Buy it at Walmart.

Nothing tastes as good as a meal prepared in the outdoors. Channel your outdoor chef with this traditional Coleman twoburner camp stove with side wind flaps. Available at Walmart.

Go prepared for almost every outdoor emergency with this 250-piece outdoor, camping and hiking first aid kit from Walmart.

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Shed a little light on the situation with this Promier 12 LED camping lantern available at Russell’s True Value.

Never be without a knife. A good all-around for the outdoorsman, a Buck folding hunter with a 3 5/8th inch blade. Available at Russell’s True Value.

Carry your gear in this Texas original, the always-stylish Jon Hart overnighter, available at Buffalo Girls.

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The Brinkley Mansion A rare look inside the former home of Del Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infamous doctor Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

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he house at 512 Qualia Lane, more commonly known as “The Brinkley Mansion,” has sparked the curiosity of Del Rioans and tourists for more than 70 years. Visitors can read the story behind the home and its previous owner, John R. Brinkley, on the historical markers located outside the pink mansion. Only a few guests, however, have peeked inside to see the architectural splendor that Brinkley, who is infamously known for his bunk “goat gland” procedures, left behind, and the thoughtful furnishings incorporated by the new homeowners throughout the residence.

“The Brinkley Mansion,” has sparked the curiosity of Del Rioans and tourists for more than 70 years. Alyssa Villarreal, the current homeowners’ daughter, said her parents, John and Donna Weston, purchased the home in 2006, making them the 7,200-square-foot mansion’s fifth owners. Villarreal and her family had long admired the home before it went on the market 12 years ago. “I’ve always liked history, and I love old houses,” Villarreal said. “So I was really excited when they bought this house.” The Westons periodically hold tours for special groups, guiding guests through the home’s four bedrooms, three bathrooms, basement, veranda, living room, formal dining room, kitchen,

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An enclosed veranda-style living space connects the home’s kitchen to the living room.

The Westons were careful to furnish their home with pieces that were representative of the Brinkley construction era while still staying true to their design esthetic.

Villarreal lined the bar with five books about John R. Brinkley. The family also kept magazine and news clippings about Brinkley that have been published throughout the years.

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• The Westons furnished the living room with a solid wood bar and matching upholstered chairs. • A white male stray calls the Brinkley property home. Here, he guards the outside entrance to the home’s kitchen, where servants would prepare the Brinkley’s meals. • A previous homeowner had the initials “JBR” etched on John Romulus Brinkley’s bathroom door.

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• A staircase leads visitors to Brinkey’s bedroom, bathroom, office and a room that was once used as a nursery. • While Brinkley’s name was once found throughout his property, including across the entrance gates, a plaque on a guardrail is the only remaining infamous last name. • The home’s interior design is so detailed that even the ceilings were completed with wood paneling.

parlor, office and nursery. The home is complete with four fireplaces, a fur drop, a hidden alcohol cabinet, a 1,063 pipe organ, original chandeliers and a “Brinkley” plaque affixed to an upstairs railing. Many rooms were completed with genuine wood paneling, one room bird’s eye maple and another with a nowextinct wood, Villarreal said. Her favorite room, Villarreal said, is the upstairs nursery, which is attached to the Brinkleys’ master bedroom, that was constructed with a large curved door and includes

Brinkley had this water fountain installed near the upstairs master bedroom, located near his office.

The home is complete with four fireplaces, a fur drop, a hidden alcohol cabinet, a 1,063 pipe organ, original chandeliers and a “Brinkley” plaque that lines an upstairs railing. a fireplace tiled with images of a Dutch landscape. Through the years, several books and documentaries have portrayed Brinkley as a quack doctor who, whether intentionally or not, killed several people through his procedures. And although her parents now reside in the home Brinkley eventually went broke in, she remains ambivalent about Brinkley. “When you talk to people who have lived in Del Rio for a long time, they idolize him,” Villarreal said. “Then you find out all these bad things about him, and people don’t like hearing that because he really contributed a lot to Del Rio. “ “I think he was kind of crazy, though,” Villarreal added with a laugh. •

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Artist Bill Worrell’s “Maker of Peace” statue outside the visitor center at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site echoes some of the anthropomorphic figures depicted in the region’s rock art. Worrell created the statue after visiting Seminole Canyon in the 1990s.

Fate Bell A visit to Seminole Canyon’s prehistoric rockshelter Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

he arid, rock-strewn, canyon-cut expanses of western Val Verde County seem an inhospitable land for people, a place to move through as quickly as possible and certainly no place to live. But if you take a closer look, if, for instance, you drive to Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, about 35 miles west of Del Rio on U.S. Highway 90, and you sign up for the walking tour into Seminole Canyon to visit the park’s famed Fate Bell Shelter, you’ll find something entirely different. Seminole Canyon Superintendent and Del Rio native Randy Rosales never tires of introducing first-time visitors to the hidden world of the canyon, a deep cut of limestone painted in swaths of cream, tan and black and dotted with hardy desert vegetation. Rosales directs visitors to be careful on the walk into the canyon, a long series of wide stairs that ends with another, steeper stairway that brings visitors onto the floor of the canyon. “Seminole Canyon is a very unique place, with a lot of history, a lot of stories. Some stories we know a lot about, and some are still a mystery even today,” Rosales said as he led a group into the canyon on a tour in early May. He stopped frequently and asked visitors to think of traveling through the landscape more than 4,000 years ago without the shoes, clothing or any of the other comforts of modern civilization. What would you need to survive is this landscape? Rosales asked. Water, fire, shelter, food, clothing, weapons, tools, visitors reply. “Today, everything is made for us, but they had to make everything for themselves, but everything you need is right in front of you. It’s just a matter of knowing what to look for, so as we hike down this trail, I want you to pay close attention to your surroundings, to the sky, to the ground, and see if there’s anything that you see that might be useful for your own survival,” he said. 48

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Limestone polished smooth by eons of desert floods and pockets of hardy vegetation serve as the front yard of the famed Fate Bell Shelter.

As the group continues, Rosales points out a yucca, a common desert plant with stiff leaves ending in sharp, needle-like points. The ancients found many uses for this plant, Rosales said, such as using the sharp tips and tough fibers as a needle and thread. Yucca roots contain a chemical called saponin, which can be used as a natural soap. Another desert plant, the prickly pear cactus, also has many uses, Rosales said. Its dried and opened pads were used as pouches, its fruits were a nutritious food source and its flesh holds water in the dry environment. And as odd as it seems in this parched landscape on the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, Rosales said, Seminole Canyon is a place created by water. Its earliest beginnings lie in the action of waves that rolled through the shallow sea that covered this part of Texas 100 million years ago. When that ocean receded, water, this time in the form of unimaginably powerful flash floods, began carving the canyon deeper and deeper into the limestone. “We average a flood about every two years. It takes about three to four inches of rain in a short time to create a flood in the canyon, the

water like a raging river, but within 24 hours, it will be gone, like the flood never even happened,” Rosales said. He tells visitors the worst flood he ever saw in the canyon was in 2010, when nine-and-a-half inches of rain soaked the park over a two-day period. “I could hear it all the way out on the highway, and when I came to the canyon, there was 20 feet of water going through here, rushing all the way down, and the flow was pretty fast, but by the next morning, it was all gone. All that was left was a little trickle,” Rosales said. He tells the story of how the canyon and the park got its name. The name “Seminole” today is most commonly associated with a Floridabased Native American tribe. “What a lot of people don’t realize about the Seminoles was that before they became an official tribe, they were made up of loose bands who’d been enslaved by other native American tribes. And when they escaped slavery, they went to the hardest places to get to, the swamps,” Rosales said. Those tribes were joined by escaped African slaves who became part of the Seminole hierarchy. Those former slaves joined the tribe, and members eventually made their way to Mexico. Their prowess

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Visitors carefully make their way down a short, slightly steeper set of stairs to access the floor of Seminole Canyon.

Randy Rosales, superintendent of the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, stands at the mouth of the Fate Bell Shelter after leading a recent interpretive tour into the shelter.

A large stone outside the Fate Bell Shelter shines from centuries of use by human hunters and cooks.

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as hunters and trackers led them to work for the Republic of Mexico in patrolling its northern borders. After the Civil War, the U.S. Army came calling, for the same reasons, Rosales said. “They were given the name Seminole Negro Indian Scouts, and their job was to patrol the trail from San Antonio to El Paso,” Rosales said. One of the Scouts’ camps was in the canyon, near a natural spring and called Painted Cave, then Seminole Springs. Eventually the Seminole name was applied to the entire canyon. Rosales also told one of the stories of the Seminole Scouts, the rescue of Lt. John Bullis, namesake of present-day Camp Bullis in San Antonio. After a short walk on the relatively level floor of the canyon, visitors make their way up a gentle slope along the canyon wall that faces east, climb a small flight of wooden stairs to the first of the two large rockshelters in the wall of the canyon. The rock art on the curving walls of the rockshelter is somewhat faded, the painted figures, shapes and designs in some cases thousands of years old. “This style of rock art is called the Lower Pecos River style, and the style has been dated at an average, about 4,000 years old, making this one of the oldest known rock art sites in North America, in Mexico, the United States and Canada combined, and there’s still a lot of mystery behind it. To put it in perspective, these paintings were being made at the same time the Egyptian pyramids were being built, at the same time Stonehenge was being constructed,” Rosales said. Rosales said it is still not known what person or group of people drew the rock art in Seminole Canyon. “They were long gone before the first Europeans ever explored the area, and no modern tribe has ever laid claim to them. And since we don’t yet have the author, we don’t fully understand what it all means. What we do know is that these drawings were extremely important to the people who made them,” he said. Rosales said it is known from studying other cultures around the world that painting and drawing were considered sacred, spiritual activities. Also, testing of the paint has determined that one of the binders used in its creation was animal fat, meaning that these ancient peoples took food that was difficult to catch and hard to come by and instead of sustaining their physical being, used some of it to make an enduring medium to tell their stories. The rock art of the area has been studied for decades and although scholars are still not all agreed on the meaning of the art, Dr. Carolyn Boyd of The Shumla School in Comstock, a muralist-turnedarcheologist, has proffered some comprehensive, even radical, theories.

A group of visitors enters the Fate Bell Shelter in Seminole Canyon. The shelter is in a perfect location for human habitation in the area – facing the rising sun to warm the shelter and its occupants in the cool morning and shade them from its rays and brutal heat in the afternoons.

In studying the rock art of Seminole Canyon and the White Shaman Panel located in a rock shelter above the Pecos River, which is not far from Seminole, Boyd began to see patterns she recalled seeing among the fiber tapestries created by the Huichol, an isolated people who live in the hinterland mountains of north-central Mexico, Rosales said. He said Boyd took copies of drawings and photographs of the rock art from Val Verde County to the Huichol to see if they saw some of the same similarities she had. “So she visited some of the religious and the elders and showed them the drawings, and their eyes lit up because they recognized many of the same symbols . . . Now, she’s not saying that the Huichol are direct descendants of these people, but somewhere along the way, this symbolism made its way into the Huichol culture, and that’s interesting because we do know that the Huichol are the direct descendants of the Aztec and the Maya, and these drawings are older than both of those civilizations. So is it possible that the belief systems we know about from those cultures actually came from here before moving farther south?” Rosales said.

Boyd and her team have spent years working to record and preserve the rock art of the Lower Pecos Region, Rosales said, work that is ongoing and a race against time, because the art is deteriorating year by year. Rosales said that process has sped up since the creation of the Amistad Reservoir in the late 1960s. Rosales pointed out various individual features of the rock art, including a curlytailed panther. Lines of red spew from the panther’s mouth, but it is not known if the red lines indicate a flow of blood, telling the story of a successful hunt, or if they represent a stream of knowledge, a totem animal imparting arcane secrets to its chosen people. The tour next moved into the larger Fate Bell Shelter proper, which ancient peoples used as a living and working site. Rosales pointed out a large limestone block near the entrance of the shelter. After inviting everyone to touch the stone, Rosales said, “What you’ve felt with your own hands is literally thousands of years of human history. The staining you see on this rock, and you’ll see it on some of these other rocks and boulders, is from the oils from their hands, their bodies, oils from plants

and animals they may have been carving up. You’ll notice the cut marks on the rocks. Some are strike marks, meaning they were shallow and some are deep, meaning they were used over and over again.” He said archeologists are still unsure if the stone was a work bench, kitchen counter or altar. Rosales said the floor of the cave has given researchers evidence of the way ancient peoples lived in this area. The floor of the shelter, off-limits to the casual visitor, is covered by a dry, powdery dirt. Pits from past excavations are scattered throughout the floor, and plant fibers protrude from the dirt. Those plant fibers, Rosales said, were from sleeping mats woven from area plants. Researchers have also found woven sandals, clothing, baskets, bags and nets, as well as other artifacts like stone points and cutting tools. After talking about another panel, this one featuring a black-winged shamanic figure flanked by two red-robed assistants, Rosales gave those taking the tour time to gaze at the panels and look out onto the landscape before starting the walk back through the canyon and the steep climb out.

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After the tour, Rosales talked about his own connection to the canyon. “I grew up in Del Rio, so this was my backyard. I remember visiting this site for the very first time in my seventh grade history class. I never thought I would come back here, like every high schooler that leaves, you say you’ll never be back, that you’re going to go far away, and I did. I went as far west as California, and somehow I ended up back here. “I’ve been here at this park for 10 years now, and I’ve loved every moment of it. It’s very easy to tell a story when the material you’re working with is as interesting as it is. Rosales said he still often considers those long-ago residents of the canyon. “That’s what I try to do when I take people on this tour; I try to get them to envision what it would have been like,” he said. “It would have been a hard life, but a simple one, but they figured out ways, and you’ve got to appreciate that.” Tours of Fate Bell Shelter are offered twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. The cost to enter the park, which includes access to the museum, and to the park’s non-guided trails like the Windmill Nature Trail and other, longer hiking trails, is $5 for visitors over 12 years old. The Fate Bell tour is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages four and older. There is no fee for children under four. Rosales said he believes every Del Rioan should visit Seminole Canyon. “This is your backyard. Your children will be coming here, so you might as well come and visit yourself. We have a partnership with the National Park Service and the school district in Del Rio, where every fourth grader gets to come here, and what we’re finding is the kids go home and tell their parents and bring them here, so your kids are going to drag you here, so you might as well just plan on coming,” Rosales said. For more information about Seminole Canyon, visit the park’s web site at https://tpwd.texas.gov/stateparks/seminole-canyon •

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The Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center sits at the rim of the canyon above the Fate Bell Shelter.

A bipedal upright figure crowned with antlers has two other figures near him or her, each one holding one of the central figure’s wings or large cloak. This figure is part of a panel in the Fate Bell Shelter proper.

On the floor of Seminole Canyon approaching the Fate Bell Shelter, visitors walk up a slight slope past clumps of desert trees that have taken root in the canyon’s thin soil and which are watered by occasional rains.

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Last Look Hello readers!

We hope you enjoyed our “Rediscover Del Rio” issue. For this month’s theme, we combined ideas of local travel, staycation and rediscovering your hometown. I really pushed for this theme, and strictly for selfish reasons.

I’m a bit obsessed with John Romulus Brinkley and his previous home on Qualia Drive. I’ve always pondered how I could get inside the house without ending up on the crime page and then I remembered, “Oh yeah. I’m a journalist” and decided to write a story about it. The home’s interior is reminiscent of a longpassed era, finished with classic, timeless pieces so you don’t feel like you’re in a museum. As a big fan of small towns everywhere, I’ve been rooting for the Take 90 initiative since Mayte Casas from the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce first told me about the project. I really hope this initiative takes off in a big way. A huge thank you to Lee Hoy from the Langtry Visitors Center for grabbing that photo for the story. I also had the opportunity this month to check out a local lawyer’s rental home, which he lists on Air BnB for Del Rio’s overnight visitors. The amount of thought and construction that went into the house is quite impressive. Thanks again to Clay Cowan for letting me do the story. Lastly, I can’t emphasize enough how happy I am with how our fashion shoot turned out. Our models were pros in front of the camera and Taylor Goodwin from TAG Outdoors crushed it. I hope this edition inspires you to rediscover Del Rio. It’s easy to get sick of your hometown, no matter where you live, but this area truly offers an abundance of recreation. You just have to be willing to find it. Happy travels! Megan Tackett Creative Director 54

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-With a silent shutter, Taylor Goodwin secretly captures Ixel Frescas taking a moment to cha-cha. -If there’s a cat on location, Megan will photograph it. -Reyna Haynes takes direction from Creative Director Megan Tackett during the June fashion shoot -The Brinkley House cat rubs against Megan’s legs as she photographs the home.

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