Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Surprisingly exotic. While it is just a palm sanctuary on the boarder, the sense of adventure when you actually cross a boarder fence finding yourself on the Mexican side of the boarder wall is wild. The palms twist and turn all around you, feeling primeval. What could be around each corner? If it were just the palm Forrest and the location along the southern boarder it would be worth the visit. However the abundance of bird from Northern Mexico make It stand out from any other place in the area. Go, plan on a hike, bring water, extra water, it’s always hot. But worth the visit

Sabal palm sanctuary is pretty good, but that’s about it. The plantation was super well kept, it was lovely being able to see all the antiques. There was a cute little gift shop with some shirts and earrings, no paper maps but there was a map to take a picture of! The butterfly garden was nice. The lawn was mowed, and there was plenty of birds chirping around. I enjoyed my walk and I was able to see a variety when I was out there: cardinals, kiskadees, flycatchers, etc. The only thing that wasn’t the greatest was how overgrown some areas of the trails were, and the deck/bird blind definitely had a little wasp problem. Theres a lot of creepy crawlies, so just dress appropriately and be cautious. Overall, a good place to visit at least once!

The first floor of the plantation house is open for self-guided tours and is very nice. The upper floors are closed to the public. The garden area and the grounds are great. We hiked most of the 3 miles of trails. They are reasonably well marked and are easy to hike in dry weather. Most of the trails are dirt. There are several good bird blinds and a deck overlooking the Rio Grande River. Birding is good here.

This is the only place I’ve visited in the US that I’ve experienced a jungle hike. It’s technically a subtropical area, but when you’re there it feels like you’re deep in a tropical jungle within a few minutes down the trail, especially on the Forest Trail that goes through the heart of the Sabal Palm grove. The biodiversity is amazing and if you are into birding or wildlife photography definitely bring a camera, and prepare accordingly.

You are required to pay an entrance fee of $6 per person even IF you only want to walk on the trails. This isn’t posted anywhere, so the park has decided to hire a creepy guy to stalk you with binoculars (not joking) and inform you of the requirements to go inside the house and pay a “donation fee”. Sorry, but this results in a lot of one-time visitors. Wouldn’t it be better to encourage repeat visitors? It’s simply not worth $12 for my wife and I to walk these trails. Is it an interesting place ? Yes. The palms are really cool and I enjoyed the nature part of the experience but the staff and policy are just too weird for us. No thanks.

Absolutely beautiful Plantation House on gorgeous property. Lots of trails for easy walking. It's March and the Temp was 77* and it was pretty warm and humid. Butterfly garden, lake viewing deck and viewing deck overlooking the (Lilly pad overgrown section of the) Rio Grand River. Benches all around to redt and observe. Plenty of parking. You can view the 1st floor of the home as well. Nice piece of preserved history!

They close exactly at 5 pm, we were advised if we were still in the park we would be considered as trespassing. So go early, it's a 3 mile walking trail. We didn't get to go in trails,because of time. Also when you get there you need to go and sign in, there is a fee of $6 for adult and $3 children, no pets, no bicycle on trail.

The guy who collected the entrance fee was on the cell phone, talking to a "friend" the whole time. He didn't greet us, didn't look at us, didn't talk to us. Just collected the money. Please hire someone who wants to work there and is helpful with directions. This is embarrassing. Piece of advice - do not come here when it is 100 degrees outside. We liked the place, especially "forest trail", but because of the heat, we couldn't walk around much. Overlook on the Rio Grande River is very peaceful. When we went the other way, the trail called "Wetland Bridge" didn't have any body of water. I am not sure if the water used to be there, because you can see it on the map. But we didn't find any water.

We spent a week in south Padre We soon Got bored I found this place by accident. It was the BEST part of our vacation BEAUTIFUL and wild We set and looked at Mexico under a covered overlook that was So remote we were the only guests at that spot for a long time The Desk clerk Pablo Was Great in every way GO THERE!! you'll be amazed

THICK WITH THE REGIONS FLORA AND FAUNA! This place is simply jaw-dropping beautiful! I took the family out to this phenomenal place for a day hike and we discovered a lot more than we thought we would! We were received right away by the all too friendly staff and volunteers at the Beautiful Historic Rabb Plantation House. It's such a marvel of how well this 1892 Plantation Home has been restored and preserved. Walking through those doors you truly step back into time. The location: right on the most Southern Point in all the country. Sabal Palm Sanctuary literally lies against the southernmost point of the US-Mexico Border, along the Rio Grande. It was established to preserve one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. In this endeavor, over the years, it now showcases what the land of this sub-tropical area would look like as if untouched by the hands of man and left to mother natures own devices. The result is ASTOUNDING!!! This Sub-Tropical Forest now attracts... hundreds of bird species which makes this a not-to-be-missed destination. Sabal Palms Sanctuary is by far one of the country's premiere birding hot-spot with hundreds of species that migrate through this region every year. "The Sanctuary sits on a 527-acre tract of land on the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas and is one of the most uniquely biodiverse habitats in the country, containing one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. The Sanctuary provides breeding habitat for many endangered or high-priority birds and is a critical source of shelter and food for migrating and wintering species." --SabalPalmSanctuary.org

It was an overcast windy day at the beach so I decided to find something else to do. I ran across this place by chance. I am in no way an avid bird watcher, but I do enjoy nature and a good walk. Sabal is right on the border. In fact, some of the trails run next to the Rio Grande. Make sure you don't pick up any hitchhikers or you could be in a heap load of trouble. It costs $5 for access to the trails. The office offers insect repellent and use of binoculars. You should wear comfortable shoes, and bring something to drink. The trails itself led into brushland and palms. We saw hummingbirds and a few different birds that looked very exotic. If you're in the area, and have a love for all things nature, take time to check this place out.

Very interesting location. Did not come across any snakes so I was happy. Walking the trails invigorating.

Great place. The mansion is beautifully restored and they have a really nice garden surrounding the place. It was a VERY hot day when i visited, so i did not get to see a lot of birds, but the walk was still fantastic. It is a nice balance between very wild and garden-like. The Plam Forest part feels almost prehistoric in places. It is a ways from anything else, but worth the trip. Loved it. Recomend it.