Texas Porch

State Park

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Anchors Valley Birding

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission is the headquarters of the World Birding Center and draws visitors from around the world.

Cameron County The Great Outdoors

The park sits on the Rio Grande in Hidalgo County (just west of Cameron County) at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission, TX. It is easily reached from Brownsville or Harlingen. About 360 bird species have been recorded there, including subtropical species from Mexico such as the Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, and Altamira Oriole — birds seen nowhere else in the United States except the Rio Grande Valley.

Entry is $5 per adult per day; children 12 and under are free. The park has 7 miles of trail and park road you can explore on foot or by bike, plus a hawk observation tower, tram tours, primitive camping, and bike rentals. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (956) 584-9156 or visit tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/bentsen-rio-grande-valley for more.

Source to confirm: TPWD — Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

More Cameron County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax in Cameron County

The Cameron Appraisal District sets your home's value; the Cameron County Tax Office sends the bill and collects the money.

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Homestead Exemption

How to Apply for a Homestead Exemption in Cameron County

If you own and live in your home, you can apply for a homestead exemption that lowers your taxable value.

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Appraisal Protest

How to Protest Your Property Value in Cameron County

If you think your appraised value is too high, you can protest it — but you must act quickly after your notice arrives.

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Ag Valuation

Agricultural Land Gets a Lower Tax Value in Cameron County

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for, which usually means a much lower tax bill.

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