If you’re looking for an educational experience that is surrounded by nature, then check out the Sabal Palm Sanctuary and the Historic 1892 Rabb Plantation House in Brownsville, TX. This Sanctuary gives you a window on a rare delta ecosystem and it’s also rich with historic legacy.
Sabal History
The Sabal Palm Forest created a “tropical” ecosystem on the delta. The jaguar was the apex predator in this ecosystem, and now its home to critically endangered plants and animals because more that 95 percent of their nature habitats have been cleared for development and agriculture. The farming that took place on the delta in the 1880s resulted in shift form palm forest to one of the most intensely agricultural areas of the world.
Rabb Plantation
The Sabal Palm Sanctuary is the home to a large Victorian mansion, Rabb Plantation, formerly known as the Rancho Santo Tomas. Built in the 1892 by Frank Rabb at a total cost of $15,000, it is now a registered Texas Landmark. Once known as one of the grandest homes in that region, now the plantation is a shelter to one of the last remaining small groves of native Sabal Palms.
Walking Trails
The trails have a daily admission fee for adults and children and they also offer annual memberships. The Sanctuary features over three miles of nature trails with six viewing areas. You can also take a short walk to an observation deck that overlooks the Rio Grande. You should be on the lookout for any announcements of wildlife presentations, workshops, and special events.
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Visit Sabal Palm Sanctuary Today
Check out the various walking trails at Sabal Palm Sanctuary and get a glimpse of the river that was once known as the second Mississippi. Sabal Palm Forest was once 60,000 acres of palm forestry that lined the Rio Grande, and now it’s less than 30 acres.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.