Quinta Mazatlan

Quinta Mazatlan is the McAllen Wing of the World Birding Center under the stewardship of the City of McAllen Parks & Recreation Department. Its mission is to preserve the 1930s adobe estate and the native plants and animals of the Rio Grande Valley, by providing a sanctuary for environmental education, eco-tourism and inspiration to people of all ages.

The legend of Quinta Mazatlan begins with an understanding of the name. The word "Quinta" in Spanish translates to a country house, villa or estate. When the owners began building the home in the 1930s, the area was surrounded by grapefruit orchards. The word "Mazatlan" has an ancient Indian translation in Mexico meaning "Land of the Deer". The owners, Jason & Marcia Matthews, frequented the city of Mazatlan in Mexico and were clearly inspired by the Spanish architecture of the area.

"Tamaulipan Thornforest" is the plant community that once covered the Rio Grande Valley with a mix of cactus, mesquite, thorny underbrush and river-bound wetlands. By 1900, the landscape began to change as the wild Thornforest was cleared and burned to accommodate the growing number of settlers and industry. Many of the native plants were replaced by railroads, irrigation canals, cattle ranches and citrus groves.

The urban sanctuary works to enrich people's lives by sharing knowledge about birds, plants, and environmental stewardship in South Texas.

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