Big Bend, Castolon - 2/07/15

Continuing on the Ross Maxwell, our next stop was at Castolon Visitor Center.

Visitor Center displays.

A gift shop is located at the Visitor Center as well.

The U.S, Army established Camp Santa Helena here as a border outpost during the Mexican Revolution in 1916 to guard the area against attacks. By 1920 all of the troops were withdrawn. This building (now a store and visitor center) was the barracks.

The Cartledge family used the old military buildings as a trading post serving people from both sides of the border from 1919 to 1961. They also engaged in ranching and farming ventures. Beginning in the 1920s, Cartledge grew cotton on about 100 acres of flood plains and used steam and gasoline-powered, irrigation pumps to improve his harvest.

Between 1923 and 1942, Cartledge processed over 1 million pounds of cotton with his on-site cotton gin. During the 1940s, when cotton prices dropped significantly, he ceased production.

Ranch outbuildings.

Alvino Ranch House

At the adobe Magdalene House is a small museum with exhibits about Texas Rangers and the evolution of border patrol practices.

The beautiful view from Castolon.

Visit the Big Bend website for additional information about this area of the park.

Website:  www.nps.gov/bibe