At certain places on the Sabine River, I try to keep an eye out for evidence of the ferries that once allowed people (and wagons and livestock) to cross the river before bridges became an option.
If the water in the Sabine wasn’t so brown and murky, you could probably locate some of the old ferries decaying on the riverbed, where they sank after being abandoned in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I heard about them from my friend and collaborator Jacob Botter, whose ancestors operated a ferry at the end of what is now Waldons Ferry Road, a dirt trail in rural Harrison County. His great-great-great-great-grandpa (give or take a great or two) ran a rope from one side of the river to the other and used the rope to pull himself across whenever a paying customer wanted passage.
I’m not sure when that ferry ceased to exist, but Gaines Ferry, the last ferry on the Sabine River, operated until 1937. It transported travelers along the old Camino Real, where Texas Highway 21 meets Louisiana Highway 6. The ferry was replaced by a bridge, which was inundated by the creation of Toledo Bend Reservoir a little more than half a century ago.
I was reminded of the Sabine River ferries when my friend Sean Kimmons shared photos from his recent crossing of the Rio Grande. Sean and his parents loaded their car onto a ferry in Los Ebanos, Texas, and were pulled across the river by a team of men tugging a rope stretched from one bank to the other.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the Los Ebanos Ferry is the only remaining hand-pulled ferry on the Texas-Mexico border.
The Los Ebanos Ferry is a popular tourist attraction since it is the only remaining hand-pulled ferry on the U.S.-Mexico border. It can accommodate only three cars and 12 pedestrians at one time.
The crossing is also known locally as Los Ebanos-San Miguel Camargo, Ferry Gustavo Díaz Ordaz and Ferry Díaz Ordaz-Los Ebanos.
Although the crossing has been in operation since the 1950s, the current ferry has been operating since 1979. It was recognized with a state historical marker in 1975.
And here’s a photo of a Sabine River ferry taken in 1916.
Here’s a random video that shows how the Los Ebanos Ferry works.
22,156 responses to “Hand-pulled ferries across the Sabine and Rio Grande”
I have viewed that smart real estate agents just about everywhere are Advertising. They are seeing that it’s more than merely placing a sign post in the front area. It’s really regarding building relationships with these suppliers who at some point will become consumers. So, when you give your time and efforts to helping these suppliers go it alone : the “Law connected with Reciprocity” kicks in. Great blog post.
I love it when people come together and share thoughts. Great blog, keep it up!
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Well written!
I really like it when individuals get together and share views. Great site, continue the good work!
The next time I read a blog, Hopefully it does not disappoint me just as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read, however I genuinely thought you would have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something that you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I really hope to check out the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own, personal site now 😉
bookmarked!!, I like your web site!
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after looking at many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly happy I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!
I am in fact thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this impressive paragraph at
at this time.
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have you book-marked to look at new things you post…
I love reading a post that will make men and women think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment.
I’m excited to uncover this site. I wanted to thank you for your time for this fantastic read!! I definitely really liked every bit of it and I have you saved as a favorite to check out new things on your blog.
We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful information to paintings on. You have performed an impressive activity and our entire community shall be thankful to you.
Excellent weblog here! Additionally your website lots up fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your associate link in your host? I want my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
Thanks for discussing your ideas. I’d personally also like to express that video games have been ever before evolving. Better technology and innovative developments have assisted create practical and fun games. All these entertainment games were not really sensible when the actual concept was first being used. Just like other styles of electronics, video games also have had to grow as a result of many decades. This is testimony towards fast growth of video games.
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
I have learned newer and more effective things through your website. One other thing I’d really like to say is the fact that newer personal computer os’s have a tendency to allow additional memory to be utilized, but they additionally demand more memory simply to work. If a person’s computer can’t handle a lot more memory as well as newest software package requires that memory space increase, it might be the time to buy a new Computer. Thanks
Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!
you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a magnificent job on this topic!
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
I would also like to convey that most of those that find themselves without having health insurance are generally students, self-employed and those that are unemployed. More than half from the uninsured are really under the age of Thirty-five. They do not experience they are needing health insurance since they’re young and healthy. The income is often spent on housing, food, and entertainment. A lot of people that do represent the working class either full or in their free time are not provided insurance via their work so they get along without with the rising price of health insurance in america. Thanks for the concepts you reveal through your blog.
Spot on with this write-up, I really believe this web site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the info!
Excellent post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our website. Keep up the great writing.
Excellent post. I absolutely appreciate this site. Keep writing!
Hello there, There’s no doubt that your site could possibly be having browser compatibility problems. When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, fantastic website!
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It’s the little changes that produce the most significant changes. Many thanks for sharing!
Hello there, I think your web site could be having internet browser compatibility issues. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Other than that, wonderful website!
Excellent post. I certainly love this site. Stick with it!
Great information. Lucky me I ran across your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I have bookmarked it for later!
Very good blog post. I definitely appreciate this site. Stick with it!
Right here is the perfect website for everyone who wishes to find out about this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject which has been written about for years. Great stuff, just excellent.
bookmarked!!, I love your web site.
I used to be able to find good information from your blog articles.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
I was more than happy to find this great site. I want to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every part of it and i also have you bookmarked to see new information in your website.
Thanks for your posting. I also believe laptop computers have gotten more and more popular today, and now in many cases are the only sort of computer utilized in a household. It is because at the same time potentially they are becoming more and more inexpensive, their computing power is growing to the point where they can be as powerful as pc’s from just a few years back.
Admiring the dedication you put into your site and detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Thanks for the unique tips provided on this site. I have noticed that many insurers offer buyers generous discount rates if they elect to insure more and more cars together. A significant quantity of households possess several cars or trucks these days, particularly those with old teenage young children still residing at home, as well as savings with policies could soon begin. So it is a good idea to look for a good deal.
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Thanks!
I am extremely impressed with your writing talents as well as with the format to your blog. Is that this a paid subject matter or did you customize it your self? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it is uncommon to look a nice blog like this one these days..
Thanks, I have recently been hunting for information about this subject matter for ages and yours is the best I’ve located so far.
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.
Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all significant infos. I?d like to see more posts like this.
????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ?????.
???? ?????????????? ?? ???? ????? ? ???? ??? ???????? ???
???????. ?? ???? ??? ????? ????
? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ? ????? ????.
??????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ? ????? ?? ?????
????????. ????? ?? ????????? ?????? ????!
What?s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Good job.
Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange techniques with other folks, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
What?s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Good job.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?