Roma, a town of 11,500 people on the western edge of the Rio Grande Valley, has a story to tell. It’s a tale of two towns, best experienced while perched atop the World Birding Center’s Roma Bluffs. From there you can see Roma’s sister city, Ciudad Miguel Alemán, just across the border in Mexico. The cities are split on the boundary of the Rio Grande. Originally founded in 1765 by Spanish explorers, Roma served as a port for steamers and flatboats transporting goods up and down the river. Travelers may recognize the historical structures as the setting of the 1952 film Viva Zapata! featuring Marlon Brando. The town’s brick-paved plaza features architectural marvels, a one-of-a-kind agave distillery, and a world-famous birding site. Roma is a must-stop destination for history buffs in search of South Texas’ distinctive charms.
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1 ⁄ LAS CASITAS AT RANCHO LOMITAS
This private ranch offers native plant education and birdwatching. Located in nearby Rio Grande City, the casitas offer a place to rest among South Texas’ flora and fauna. Rooms start at $75/night.
2 ⁄ FALCON STATE PARK
This 572-acre park sits at the southern end of the Falcon International Reservoir. The 84,000-surface-acre lake is one of the best freshwater fishing spots in South Texas.
3 ⁄ ROMA BLUFFS WORLD BIRDING CENTER
This 3-acre nature preserve overlooking the Rio Grande is home to species like the red-billed pigeon and white-collared seedeater. Enter the visitors center to view a small collection of Roma artifacts.
4 ⁄ ANCESTRAL CRAFT SPIRITS
Opened in 2021 by Roma natives Leonardo Sanchez and Eduardo Ocampo, this distillery offers its own line of agave-based spirits inside a century-old building.
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5 ⁄ RIO BREWING COMPANY
Oscar Gonzalez moved his beer operation into one of Roma’s historic plaza buildings in fall 2023. The Roma-made offerings include Coyota Hefeweizen, Gladiator Golden Ale, and Javelina Hard Seltzer.
6 ⁄ PETRIFIED WOOD COLLECTION
Volcanic ash rained down over what is now Starr County 27 million years ago, burying the landscape. The event resulted in an abundance of petrified wood. The largest collection of fossilized tree specimens can be seen at the Peña house on US 83 in Roma.
