Kingsville Texas

Home of the King Ranch

The names of Kingsville and King Ranch are thought of synonymously and with good reason. Kingsville is located on part of a Mexican land grant purchased by Captain Richard King in 1853. It was the beginning of a dream to tame the Wild Horse Desert. His widow, Henrietta, continued that pursuit for 40 years following his death. Among her many achievements was the founding of Kingsville in 1904, a raw town site in the middle of the prairie, situated along the St. Louis, Brownsville andMexico Railway route.

Birthplace of the American Ranching Industry
Today, King Ranch is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is historically recognized as the birthplace of the American ranching industry. The four south Texas divisions sprawl across almost a million acres of Gulf of Mexico coastal plains. Santa Gertrudis and King Ranch Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, quarter horses, majestic Texas Longhorn cattle, and a rich diversity of native wildlife welcome visitors during one of the variety of tours offered to the public. Tours originate from the Visitors Center on the Santa Gertrudis Division, just minutes from downtown Kingsville. These tours are available daily (except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Special interest tours that include wildlife, birding and agriculture are available by reservation.

Each November the Ranch opens to the public with a Ranch Hand Breakfast. Entertainment and a cow camp breakfast draw visitors who are eager for an authentic view of a ranch steeped in 150 years of history.

You can also relive the days of a by-gone era by visiting the 1904 Train Depot in historic downtown  Kingsville. Enjoy browsing through railroad exhibits and learn how rail changed the history of South Texas ranching.

 

Ranching Memorabilia

After touring King Ranch, plan to visit the King Ranch Museum located in the Henrietta Memorial Center. The museum offers unique insights into the everyday lives of the people who made ranching in America what it is today.

On the Texas A&M University, Kingsville (TAMUK) campus, discover the natural history of south Texas in wildlife exhibits, pictorials, and audio tours at the John E. Conner Museum. Both museums and the King Ranch Visitor Center have a gift shop with books and gift items unique to the state and South Texas. The Texas A&M University Kingsville campus also offers the Art Gallery, the Little Theater and Recital Hall, and the Edward Newton Jones Auditorium, all presenting year around musical and drama productions.

Nature Tours

With a million acres of habitat, it is no wonder that a variety of bird and wildlife species flourish. Sign up for
one of the many nature tours conducted by King Ranch or visit birding hotspots around town that are marked on The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Sightings include many tropical residents and migratory species. More than 75 various sanctuaries are located throughout Kingsville and the county. Check out the Kleberg County Park or come by the Kingsville Visitor Center and pick up a guide to those “little known places to bird”.

 

Shopping lures many visitors because historic downtown offers hand-crafted products, jewelry, and a variety of giftware, hobby items, clothing and leather goods, as well as antiques. The cornerstone of the historic district is the King Ranch Saddle Shop, located in the restored 1904 J.B. Ragland Mercantile Co. building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out more gift shops and boutiques nearby, if you’ve a hankering for that great western outfit, Brighton accessories, or that special gift to take home. Pick up a Shopping Guide at the Kingsville Visitor’s Center.

 

Tex-Mex to BBQ

Restaurants to suit everyone’s taste are found throughout the city. From Texas Bar-B-Que,to authentic “Tex-Mex”, spicy Mexican foods, down home cookin’, freshly caught seafood, steaks, and everybody’s
favorites: pizza and fried chicken, you’re sure to leave satisfied. Known as the “birthplace of the Texicali” sandwich, Young’s Pizza is an eclectic blend of Kingsville history and campus memorabilia. While there, don’t
miss partaking in the best baked potato this side of the Nueces River!

Fishing on Baffin Bay almost guarantees the serious angler a day to remember. State records are made, set and broken in what is commonly known as “the back door to the Bay”. Hook up with a professional fishing guide service like Horizon Outfitters or others that know where the big ones are and get ready to reel in dinner. Guide lists are available in the Kingsville Visitors Center.

 

 

Events
Annual events, such as La Posada de Kingsville, South Texas Ranching Heritage Festival, Kleberg County Livestock Show, International Young Performers Music Competition, and the South Texas Birding & Wildlife Festival both entertain and educate visitors to Kingsville. Other events include TAMUK’s Jazz Festival, the
Brush Country Art roundup, the Annual NCAA Division II All-Star Game (Cactus Bowl), year ‘round golf tournaments, a fun-filled Old-Fashioned 4th of July Picnic, the Annual Wild Game Dinner and auction
extravaganza, rodeos, and collegiate sporting events.

Call the Kingsville Visitor’s Center at 800.333.5032 or visit www.kingsvilletexas.com.