From the Hidalgo Pumphouse we stopped at Quinta Mazatlan which is one of the largest remaining adobe homes built in Texas. Very lovely, tile, wood, ironwork, beautiful gardens, and of course - a birding center open to the public. The home was built by Jason Matthews and his wife 
Marcia and raised a son and daughter here during the 1930s and 1940s. By the late 1950's McAllen built the international airport right near the home. Weird piece of info about the home - Matthews painted Aluminum sulfate paint on the inside and outside to prevent radar waves from penetrating the building. After the Matthews passed on the building went empty and with a hurricane in 1967 - pretty much in major disrepair. A church took over the buildings and eventually another family bought the home and then in 1991 McAllen purchased the eight acres and over 10,000 square feet of buildings and restored back to it's original beauty. We walked the paths, saw some pretty neat birds - of course the Chachalacas (love that word - we renamed Chip - Chipalaca) Great Kiskadees, woodpeckers, and numerous birds that I need to help Dave identify once he edits the photos. The wind was pretty high so many of the birds were in hiding. We will definitely go back to this and sit and watch the birds another day.
Marcia and raised a son and daughter here during the 1930s and 1940s. By the late 1950's McAllen built the international airport right near the home. Weird piece of info about the home - Matthews painted Aluminum sulfate paint on the inside and outside to prevent radar waves from penetrating the building. After the Matthews passed on the building went empty and with a hurricane in 1967 - pretty much in major disrepair. A church took over the buildings and eventually another family bought the home and then in 1991 McAllen purchased the eight acres and over 10,000 square feet of buildings and restored back to it's original beauty. We walked the paths, saw some pretty neat birds - of course the Chachalacas (love that word - we renamed Chip - Chipalaca) Great Kiskadees, woodpeckers, and numerous birds that I need to help Dave identify once he edits the photos. The wind was pretty high so many of the birds were in hiding. We will definitely go back to this and sit and watch the birds another day. 
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