Castolon Ranger Station -- Castolon Visitor Center, Big Bend NP TX
N 29° 08.014 W 103° 30.851
13R E 644541 N 3223697
The Castolon Ranger station at the Castolon Visitor Center
Waymark Code: WMTZCN
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/27/2017
Views: 0
The Castolon Ranger Station operates out of a historic former outbuilding for Camp Santa Helena Cavalry Post that operated here from 1916-1921. The Castolon Visitor Center is located in the historic Cavalry Barracks, and the Ranger lives in the old Officer's Quarters.
An interpretive sign nearby at the visitor center reads as follows:
"CASTOLON
The U.S. Army built many of the structures in 1919 in 1920 for use as a border outpost during the Mexican Revolution. This outpost, Camp Santa Elena, was never fully occupied; in 1920 the Army was withdrawn as political stability returned to Mexico.
From 1919 to 1961 the Cartledge family use the old Army buildings as a store and trading post, and farmed and ranched here along the Rio Grande. The structures and grounds look much as they did during the last years of the Cartledge period.
As you drive from here to Santa Elena Canyon, you will encounter other examples of early 1900s border architecture: adobe walls, cane and viga ceilings, and stone fireplaces. The adobes are now empty, but the Castellon area has changed little since the frontier days of Indians, outlaws, and pioneer farmers."
Off Road Directions:
The Ranger Station is at the Castolon Visitor Center, at the junction of Park roads 5 and 9
Permits: yes
Maps: yes
Public Restrooms: yes
Trail Conditions: yes
Website if it is available: [Web Link]
Hours of Operation: Seaonally November through April 10:00am-4:00pm. Closed for lunch
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Visit Instructions:
Logs should be accompanied by at least 1 image taken by you at the facility or if you do not have a camera a good description of the Waymark you are visiting.
This will give us proof you were actually there.