Discover Reeves County: Rodeo History and a Spring-Fed Landscape

Rodeo history and a water landscape shaped by springs give Reeves County its distinctive character. In Pecos, local history recalls a rodeo held on July 4, 1883. At Balmorhea Lake and Balmorhea State Park, water, landscape, and historic structures take center stage. If you’re planning a trip with a hotel stay, first consider which of these highlights you’d like to shape your visit.

Balmorhea Lake and the Spring-Fed Landscape

Balmorhea Lake is located two miles southeast of Balmorhea in Reeves County. Water flows from the spring area through canals and a restored wetland into the lake. The water supply is therefore part of the landscape, along with the lake itself: the lake, canals, and wetland are connected by a specific hydrological system.

The lake offers access to the shore and ample facilities for launching boats. Water levels can affect access, so if you’re planning a day of boating, keep this in mind as you prepare.

Balmorhea State Park is near Toyahvale in southeastern Reeves County, on State Highway 17. A notable feature of the park is the swimming pool, built around San Solomon Springs by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and enclosed by rock walls. The springs themselves are also ecologically significant: they provide habitat for the endangered Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia.

Pecos and Rodeo History

A historic milestone in Pecos came on July 4, 1883, when the town hosted the world’s first rodeo. The West of the Pecos Rodeo is another touchstone of local rodeo history. Held annually, it is one of the PRCA’s 40 highest-paying rodeos. In 2008, it was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

The Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame focuses on people who competed at the West of the Pecos Rodeo in Pecos. Its permanent home is in the Old T&P Depot at the corner of Dot Stafford Street and Oak Street. Pecos thus celebrates both the history of rodeo and the people who competed in this event.

Pecos also has a distinctive local food connection: the city is widely known for its sweet cantaloupes.

Historic Buildings and Places

The West of the Pecos Museum consists of a saloon built in 1896 and a hotel added in 1904. These two building phases give the museum a distinctive historic character: the saloon dates to the late 19th century, and the hotel was added several years later.

Another landmark in Pecos is the historic Reeves County marker, dating from 1936. It stands in the museum courtyard at the intersection of Cedar Street and First Street.

Mission Mary, also called Calera Chapel, was an early church in Reeves County and served primarily the Mexican American residents of Calera. It was renovated in 2003 and dedicated as an interdenominational chapel in May of that year. Mission Mary is two miles west of Balmorhea State Park on FM 3018.

Places to Help Plan Your Trip

The roads serving each location can help you find your way around the area: Interstate 20 (IH-20) and U.S. Highway 285 intersect in Pecos; Balmorhea State Park is near Toyahvale on State Highway 17; and Mission Mary is two miles west of the park on FM 3018. If you’re looking for a hotel, it may help to decide on your priorities first: rodeo history points to Pecos, while the lake and spring-fed landscape draw visitors to Balmorhea Lake and the state park. Then compare the hotel locations you’re considering with the places you plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Pecos, Starr, Zapata County, Fisher County, Victoria, Nueces, Van Zandt, Ellis

For the broader travel overview: Texas.