the number of winter texans in the rgv increased 10.4%*€¦ · the winter texan times is the...

NEWS FLASH! The number of Winter Texans in the RGV

INCREASED 10.4%* *As reported in the 2018 UTRGV Winter Texan Survey and Park Occupancy Study.

Advertising in the Winter Texan Times will help you reach many thousands of Winter Texans this fall andthroughout the season. Let us help you increase your profit.

DID YOUR BUSINESS GROW?

For Advertising Information Call: 956-580-7800

or email [email protected]

The Winter Texan Times is the Valley’s leading newspaper reaching the Winter Texan market. Pub-lished for over 33 years, the Winter Texan Times is a well-established niche publication that reaches approximately 50,000 Winter Texans during peak of season.

Our news articles, devoted entirely to the things that interest Winter Texans most, keeps them wait-ing with anticipation for each issue to arrive at their park or resort. Winter Texans often refer to the Winter Texan Times as their “Bible” because they use it religiously each day to keep up on what’s going on in the Winter Texan community throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

With Winter Texans spending an estimated $528 million each winter in the Valley, this is a huge market that has a powerful impact on local businesses. (Source: UTRGV Winter Texan Survey 2017-2018) This is definitely the market to focus on from October through March.

The Winter Texan Times is delivered free of charge Valleywide – from Mission to South Padre Island – to over 200 RV and mobile home parks and Winter Texan subdivisions, as well as Chamber of Commerce offices. Our newspaper carriers constantly report that they are flocked by Winter Texans as soon as the paper arrives. They want to see what’s new in the Winter Texan Times.

The RV park managers tell us they see their residents reading the Winter Texan Times, clipping ads and coupons. And our advertisers tell us that Winter Texans constantly walk into their business carrying a copy of the Winter Texan Times.

For advertising that really works, give us a call. The Winter Texan Times can definitely get your mes-sage out to this valuable market – and get real results.

Don’t waste another day, get started by calling us today. Or, email us at [email protected].

Kind regards,

1217 N. Conway • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898www.wintertexantimes.com email: [email protected]

Dan [email protected]

Carina [email protected]

Alma Linda ChavezAccount [email protected]

Pete LunaAccount [email protected]

1217 N. Conway • Mission, Texas 78572 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898www.wintertexantimes.com email: [email protected]

is delivered VALLEYWIDE!

Increase your Winter Texan business this season.Call Us! (956) 580-7800

With regular advertising in the Winter Texan Times your ad reaches the Winter Texan market Valleywide, from Mission to South Padre Island.Our circulation covers the Winter Texan market in the following areas:

• Mission• McAllen• Pharr• San Juan• Alamo

• Edinburg• Donna• Weslaco• Mercedes• La Feria

• Harlingen• San Benito• Los Fresnos• South Padre Island• Brownsville

We deliver to RV & Mobile Home Parks from Mission to South Padre Island.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

MissionMcAllen Edinburg

Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River

Your Advertising JustBecame More Powerful!

Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987

TIMESWinterTexan

1217 N. Conway • P.O. Box 399 • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 585-2304

The Newspaper Winter Texans Love to Read










Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan












Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan












Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan



WinterTexanTIMES

Vol. 33, No. 12 © 2020 www.wintertexantimes.com Wednesday, January 1, 2020Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987

INDEX“On the road with Jo” p 18

Parks Calendar p 9

Events Calendar p 20

Reunions p 23

WintertainersTM p 14

Taste of the Valley p 19

Business Guide p 26

Classifieds p 28

See THANKFUL pg. 22

Chamber hosts health fair

We thank you

Paradise Park ‘big advocates

for helping others’

See HELPING pg. 6

By Herb MoeringIn a first-time effort, Paradise Park

RV Resort residents built a small

mountain of food, school supplies, can-

dy and personal hygiene items, which

were placed on display in the club-

house during the regular Friday lunch

time social gathering on December 20.

Sharon Bargel, who came up with

the idea after watching something

similar on Facebook, said the donated

items are going to two ministries, Fish-

es and Loaves in Harlingen and Sow

the Word that operates primarily in

Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.

The Mission Chamber of Commerce

will host their 25th Annual Mission Com-

munity Health and Wellness Fair on Sat-

urday, January 4 from 7 to 11 a.m. The

event will be held at the Mission Event

Center at 200 N. Shary Rd. in Mission.

The event is free to the public and will

feature free blood tests for the first 500

people – Must have fasted for 12 hours

prior to test.There will also be free health screen-

ings, flu vaccines, complete blood count,

total cholesterol, comprehensive met-

abolic panel, pulmonary function test,

bone density test and much more.

The goal of the event is to provide the

free screenings, awareness, and educa-

tion for the community.

It seems as though 2019 has come to

a close way too fast. We are just about

halfway through our season and it has

been great getting to know you better. It

has been a pleasure working with you to

help serve you and get the news you want

to read.This holiday season I have seen parks

go out of their way to make sure oth-

ers have a nice holiday. It has been eye

opening in seeing how many of you are

so willing to give to the communities you

reside in while in the Valley.

Our feature this week is about the

good work that Paradise Park in Harlin-

gen did for two organizations – in a fair-

ly short time. Other parks mentioned in

this issue is Orange Grove, Alamo Rec,

and the FCRV WT Chapter. On the Road

with Jo even mentions a few parks like

Ron Hoover hosts Open

House Celebration

See CELEBRATION pg. 4

By Carina A. Brunson

Ron Hoover RV & Marine Center

will hold their 14th annual Open House

Thursday and Friday, January 9 and

10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

The annual open house has become a

popular event in the Rio Grande Val-

ley, drawing in thousands of people

each year. Last year the event was at-

tended by over 7,000 people – 10,000

free t-shirts were given away. Even

more are expected this year.

There will be several door prizes.

One main prize that will be given each

day is a winner’s choice of a golf cart,

(956) 580-7800 • www.wintertexantimes.com

Published October through MarchServing Winter Texans Valleywide for 33 Years

Distributed Free of Charge to Mobile Home and RV Parks Valleywidefrom Mission to Brownsville including:

• Mission • McAllen • Pharr • San Juan • Alamo • Edinburg • Donna • Weslaco• Mercedes • La Feria • Harlingen • San Benito • Los Fresnos • Port Isabel

• South Padre Island • Brownsville.Circulation at peak of season is over 25,000 copies.

Editorial Content• Exclusive news of interestto Winter Texans

• Parks Calendar...Listing a widevariety of Winter Texan activitiesincluding dances, bingos, jam sessions,pancake breakfasts and more!

• Entertainment News for Winter Texansincluding information on concerts, shows,plays and special events

• Coverage of special events of interest toWinter Texans, such as Borderfest, Charro Days, Winter Texan Fiesta,RGV Livestock Show, and much more!

• News about mobile home and RV park activities and events

The Best Winter Texan Newspaper In The Valley!

1217 N. Conway • Mission, Texas 78572 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898wintertexantimes.com • email:[email protected]

For More Information Call (956) 580-7800 or email [email protected]

2020-21 Publication SchedulePublication Date Ad Copy DeadlineOctober 21, 2020 ........................................October 14, 2020November 4, 2020 ......................................October 28, 2020November 18, 2020 ................................ November 11, 2020December 2, 2020 * ............................November 23, 2020 *December 9, 2020 .................................... December 2, 2020December 16, 2020 .................................. December 9, 2020December 23, 2020 ................................ December 16, 2020December 30, 2020 * ..........................December 21, 2020 *January 6, 2021 * ................................December 28, 2020*January 13, 2021 ..........................................January 6, 2021January 20, 2021 ........................................January 13, 2021January 27, 2021 ........................................January 20, 2021February 3, 2021 ........................................January 27, 2021February 10, 2021 ...................................... February 3, 2021February 17, 2021 .................................... February 10, 2021February 24, 2021 .................................... February 17, 2021March 3, 2021........................................... February 24, 2021March 10, 2021................................................March 3, 2021March 17, 2021..............................................March 10, 2021March 24, 2021..............................................March 17, 2021March 31, 2021..............................................March 24, 2021* Early Ad Deadline

Welcome Home Winter Texans! Edition October 21, 2020Thanksgiving Edition .........................November 18, 2020Winter Golf Edition.............................December 16, 2020Christmas Edition ..............................December 23, 2020Valentine’s Edition ............................... February 10, 2021Valley Star Awards Edition ................... February 24, 2021Take Home Edition .................................. March 17, 2021Spring Golf Edition................................... March 24, 2021Thank you Winter Texans! Edition ........... March 31, 2021

Winter Texan TimesAdvertising

Really Works!We have been marketing our mobile home and RV products to our Winter Texan friends for over 30 years. We first became aware of the Winter Texan Times at its first publication in 1987 and have used the Winter

Texan Times as our primary media in reaching Winter Texan clients. Simply put, we would not even think of going into the Winter Texan season without the Winter Texan Times. They get results!Jerry Lasaterof Clayton HomesDonna, Texas

“We depend on the Winter Texan Times to keep us informed of all the activities in the Rio Grande Valley. It is the best way to keep up with all the parks, festivals, etc. We really enjoy the pictures of events. Thanks for all you do!”

Tim and Sue ZichMission Bell/Tradewinds - Mission

“Thank you for all that you and the Winter Texan Times do for us, the entertainers in the valley-it’s because of you that we are successful!”Dave & DaphneNashville Entertainers

“Your paper is very informative! We enjoy the Wintertainers section and any golf news since we are golfers. We especially enjoyed this year’s Winter Texan Fiesta. This is our 18th year in the Valley and we keep coming back

because we feel so welcome due to the friendly people down here.”Leon WegnerGulfview Manor from Iowa

SPECIAL ISSUES

WinterTexanTIMES

Winter

Texan TIMES

Vol. 3

1, No.

1 © 20

17-20

18

www.wttr

gv.com

Thursd

ay, Octo

ber 19

, 201

7

Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Isla

nd Since 1987

See W

ELCOME BACK pg. 1

9

See BUTTERFLY

FESTIVAL pg. 1

6

See O

N THE RISE pg

. 18

See B

IRDIN

G FESTIVAL pg

. 17

Welcome

Back

Winter

Texans!

Welcome back,

Winter Texans

Welcome

back,

folks. It s

eems li

ke it’s

been forev

er sin

ce

you were here

with

us enjoying

the

great weat

her and

abundance of fun

activitie

s in

the

Rio Gran

de Valle

y.

While it’s

been a

busy summer,

we are a

lways eager f

or a

new Winter

Texan season to begin.

Welcome to

Texas! We’re

glad you’re

here! This p

ast week

end as I

was driving

back to the V

alley fro

m a Texas

Press

Associa

tion conference

for newspaper

publishers

it struck me:

Winter Texans

are sm

art! T

his thought ca

me as I

was

Butterfly watc

hing is a huge h

obby for

people around the w

orld.

Butterfly enthusias

ts fro

m 23 states

and four co

untries fl

ocked to last year

’s

Texas Butter

fly Festival a

t the N

ational

Butterfly Center

in Missi

on. This y

ear’s

event, the 2

2nd annual,

will be h

eld fro

m

Saturday,

Nov. 4 to Tuesd

ay, Nov. 7

.

The event is

a grea

t opportunity fo

r

long-time butter

fliers to mark

that ex-

tremely

rare sp

ecimen off t

heir check

list.

For the n

ew butter

flier, or th

ose maybe

looking to start, t

his is li

ke learn

ing a lan-

guage by im

mersion – you are

surro

und-

ed by butterflies

and will no doubt get a

great st

art to your ch

ecklist

.

Don Wilso

n remem

bers when he a

nd

his wife

Jeni w

ere making their

first stin

t

as park

managers a f

ew year

s ago at

Bent-

sen Palm

Village R

V Resort i

n Missi

on.

They oversaw

the park, which

has ap-

proximately 245 RV space

s.

“The park would be full and there

would be a waiti

ng list of as

many as 30

people wanting to

get in,” W

ilson sa

id.

“That’s a g

ood problem to have.”

The Wilso

ns, who m

oved to th

e Val-

ley fro

m Las Vegas,

then took a few

years

off to tra

vel in 2011 an

d came b

ack in

June 2015. T

hey noticed so

mething had

happened. A str

ange quiet,

compara

tive-

ly speak

ing, had engulfed

the resort.

The

park had few

er Winter

Texan visitors t

han

before.

“Don’t know what

happened during

that two- or three

-year perio

d,” Wilso

n

said. “People

were say

ing all sorts

of

things...people

just weren’t here

. But it

wasn’t j

ust here

, it was

all over.

Every-

thing was dormant. I ask

ed the owner

what he th

ought – we just d

idn’t know.”

Then things pick

ed up last se

ason Val-

leywide a

nd, according to park

managers

who were

recen

tly interv

iewed, th

ere is

even more

of an upswing th

is year

than

the Valle

y has seen

in a quite

some time.

Park managers

are cle

arly ex

cited.

“I think we a

re going to be a

bove the

market a

verage w

hen it comes t

o residen-

cy this y

ear,” s

aid Rocky Ram

irez, park

manager at

Alamo Palm

s Mobile Park

in Alamo. “I

think the incre

ase in part

is

due to keep

ing our product up to date

and

fresh. W

e’re alw

ays adding things an

d lis-

tening to

what our re

sidents e

njoy. The

market

has been

relatively

flat the past

two years an

d I think we’re

having a good

swing upwards to

the mark

et.”

Many resorts

and RV parks a

re say

-

ing the s

ame th

ing. Dora A

lvarado, o

ne

of three

park m

anagers fo

r Bit-O

-Heav-

en RV and M

obile Home P

ark sa

id that

there is

a definite

increase

in reserv

ations

already.

Wilson at

Bentsen Palm

Village s

aid

the park

is 100-perc

ent booked for Ja

nu-

ary an

d February while

also bein

g about

75 percent booked in Dece

mber. Last

year, he sa

id, the p

ark was b

ooked overall

When the Amazo

n Kingfisher bird was

spotted alo

ng Highway 107 in Cam

eron

County, it c

aused a

stir. T

hat “stir

” was

so big that Cam

eron County Sherif

f Ed-

die Lucio

had to send deputies

to oversee

traffic.The A

mazon Kingfisher i

s a rare

bird.

In the American Birding Asso

ciation

(ABA) lingo, it’

s a Code 5

. (See

the ABA

Code list o

n pg. 19.)

Ironica

lly the bird made it

s appear

ance

during the 20th anniversary

of the Rio

Grande V

alley Birding Festi

val. A Code 5

bird, according to the A

BA is consid

ered

a speci

es that h

as been

recorded five o

r

fewer

times

in the A

BA Checklist

Area,

or fewer

than three rec

ords in the past

30 years. A

ccording to Birds of North

America, “

the Amazo

n Kingfisher (Chlo-

roceryle a

mazona) i

s a res

ident breeding

kingfisher in the lo

wlands o

f the A

meri-

can tro

pics fro

m southern

Mexico

south

through Central Americ

a to northern

Ar-

gentina.”

RGV Winter T

exan visitors

on the ris

e

Local r

esorts

repor

t incre

ased r

eserva

tions a

gain t

his ye

ar

RGV Birding Festi

val

brings e

xcitement

Jim Brunson

Texas Butte

rfly

Festival ta

kes flight

Nov. 4-7 in

Miss

ion

Alamo Palm

s Mobile

Park Mana

ger Rocky

Ramirez

and r

esiden

t Ila Wisd

om, a Fort

Worth na

tive, st

and on h

er fro

nt porch

next t

o a bottle

tree. W

isdom is

planni

ng an

early r

eturnin

g Winter Te

xan get t

ogether

on Frida

y in he

r yard

at the

park. R

amirez

,

like m

any m

anagers

across

the Rio Gran

de Val

ley, is

expec

ting an

increa

se in r

es-

ervatio

ns for th

e 2017-18 se

ason.

The Lea

st Greb

e is one

of the s

pecies

that p

articip

ants in

this y

ear’s R

GV Bird-

ing Fe

stival

may exp

ect to

see.

Photo

taken

by Bill S

upulsk

i at E

stero Ll

ano

Grande.

WinterTexanTIMES

Vol. 31, No. 1 © 2017-2018

www.wttrgv.com

Thursday, October 19, 2017


See WELCOME BACK pg. 19

See BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL pg. 16

See ON THE RISE pg. 18

See BIRDING FESTIVAL pg. 17

WelcomeBack

WinterTexans!

Welcome back,

Winter Texans

Welcome back,

folks. It seems like it’s

been forever since

you were here with

us enjoying

the

great weather and

abundance of fun

activities in

the

Rio Grande Valley.

While it’s been a

busy summer, we are always eager for a

new Winter Texan season to begin.

Welcome to Texas! We’re glad you’re

here! This past weekend as I was driving

back to the Valley from a Texas Press

Association conference for newspaper

publishers it struck me: Winter Texans

are smart! This thought came as I was

Butterfly watching is a huge hobby for

people around the world.

Butterfly enthusiasts from 23 states

and four countries flocked to last year’s

Texas Butterfly Festival at the National

Butterfly Center in Mission. This year’s

event, the 22nd annual, will be held from

Saturday, Nov. 4 to Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The event is a great opportunity for

long-time butterfliers to mark that ex-

tremely rare specimen off their checklist.

For the new butterflier, or those maybe

looking to start, this is like learning a lan-

guage by immersion – you are surround-

ed by butterflies and will no doubt get a

great start to your checklist.

Don Wilson remembers when he and

his wife Jeni were making their first stint

as park managers a few years ago at Bent-

sen Palm Village RV Resort in Mission.

They oversaw the park, which has ap-

proximately 245 RV spaces.

“The park would be full and there

would be a waiting list of as many as 30

people wanting to get in,” Wilson said.

“That’s a good problem to have.”

The Wilsons, who moved to the Val-

ley from Las Vegas, then took a few years

off to travel in 2011 and came back in

June 2015. They noticed something had

happened. A strange quiet, comparative-

ly speaking, had engulfed the resort. The

park had fewer Winter Texan visitors than

before. “Don’t know what happened during

that two- or three-year period,” Wilson

said. “People were saying all sorts of

things...people just weren’t here. But it

wasn’t just here, it was all over. Every-

thing was dormant. I asked the owner

what he thought – we just didn’t know.”

Then things picked up last season Val-

leywide and, according to park managers

who were recently interviewed, there is

even more of an upswing this year than

the Valley has seen in a quite some time.

Park managers are clearly excited.

“I think we are going to be above the

market average when it comes to residen-

cy this year,” said Rocky Ramirez, park

manager at Alamo Palms Mobile Park

in Alamo. “I think the increase in part is

due to keeping our product up to date and

fresh. We’re always adding things and lis-

tening to what our residents enjoy. The

market has been relatively flat the past

two years and I think we’re having a good

swing upwards to the market.”

Many resorts and RV parks are say-

ing the same thing. Dora Alvarado, one

of three park managers for Bit-O-Heav-

en RV and Mobile Home Park said that

there is a definite increase in reservations

already. Wilson at Bentsen Palm Village said

the park is 100-percent booked for Janu-

ary and February while also being about

75 percent booked in December. Last

year, he said, the park was booked overall

When the Amazon Kingfisher bird was

spotted along Highway 107 in Cameron

County, it caused a stir. That “stir” was

so big that Cameron County Sheriff Ed-

die Lucio had to send deputies to oversee

traffic.The Amazon Kingfisher is a rare bird.

In the American Birding Association

(ABA) lingo, it’s a Code 5. (See the ABA

Code list on pg. 19.)

Ironically the bird made its appearance

during the 20th anniversary of the Rio

Grande Valley Birding Festival. A Code 5

bird, according to the ABA is considered

a species that has been recorded five or

fewer times in the ABA Checklist Area,

or fewer than three records in the past

30 years. According to Birds of North

America, “the Amazon Kingfisher (Chlo-

roceryle amazona) is a resident breeding

kingfisher in the lowlands of the Ameri-

can tropics from southern Mexico south

through Central America to northern Ar-

gentina.”

RGV Winter Texan visitors on the rise

Local resorts report increased reservations again this year

RGV Birding Festival

brings excitement

Jim Brunson

Texas Butterfly

Festival takes flight

Nov. 4-7 in Mission

Alamo Palms Mobile Park Manager Rocky Ramirez and resident Ila Wisdom, a Fort

Worth native, stand on her front porch next to a bottle tree. Wisdom is planning an

early returning Winter Texan get together on Friday in her yard at the park. Ramirez,

like many managers across the Rio Grande Valley, is expecting an increase in res-

ervations for the 2017-18 season.

The Least Grebe is one of the species

that participants in this year’s RGV Bird-

ing Festival may expect to see. Photo

taken by Bill Supulski at Estero Llano

Grande.

NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

on any device(in addition to our print edition)

Subscribe to our e-Edition at www.wttrgv.com

We’re also on Facebook and

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NOW AVAILABLEONLINE

on any device(in addition to our print edition)

the number of winter texans in the rgv increased 10.4%*€¦ · the winter texan times is the...

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