Hand-pulled ferries across the Sabine and Rio Grande

Los Ebanos Ferry

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.

11045840_10152737844064639_8285343147670787036_n
Photo by Sean Kimmons
988896_10152737843829639_2848637590997078739_n
Photo by Sean Kimmons
1505130_10152737843979639_4919310892235105657_n
Photo by Sean Kimmons

 

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.

sabtnferry

 

Here’s a random video that shows how the Los Ebanos Ferry works.


22,086 responses to “Hand-pulled ferries across the Sabine and Rio Grande”

  1. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.|

  2. whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your posts. Stay up the good work! You recognize, many people are hunting round for this information, you could aid them greatly. |

  3. Over time, I’ve checked out lots of iGaming sites recently, and it’s kind of crazy how often players deposit money without checking proper reviews first. In case you want a detailed look of promos, withdrawals, and available games, this guide was really helpful: [url=https://telegra.ph/Beyond-the-Spin-Elevate-Your-Play-at-Bizzo-Casino-with-6000-in-Welcome-Bonuses–Expert-Australian-11-18″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s very clear and shows what matters most before funding your account. I recommend giving it a look if you prefer to play safely.

  4. Amazing blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any tips? Bless you!|

  5. Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Many thanks!|

  6. I have tried a bunch of gambling platforms over the years, and it’s kind of crazy how often users jump in without reading any reviews. If you need a helpful review of promos, withdrawals, and available games, this review was really helpful: [url=https://telegra.ph/Verken-die-warmste-kans-om-jou-fortuin-te-verander-met-hot-hot-fruit-en-ontsluit-n-w%C3%AAreld-van-aanly-11-19″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s pretty straightforward and highlights key risks before funding your account. Definitely worth a read if you want to make better choices.

  7. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?|

  8. I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re amazing! Thanks!|

  9. I’ve used many virtual casinos for a long time, and it’s interesting how often users jump in without reading any reviews. For anyone searching for a detailed look of what a casino offers, this write-up helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Jackpots-knacken–Gewinne-sichern-Dein-umfassender-Guide-f%C3%BCr-sicheres-Spielen-mit-spin-mama–lukra-11-22″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s simple to read and explains what to watch out for before depositing. You should check it out if you prefer to play safely.

  10. I’m more than happy to discover this page. I need to to thank you for ones time for this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every little bit of it and i also have you book marked to look at new things on your website.|

  11. Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!|

  12. I’ve played on lots of iGaming sites for a long time, and it still surprises me how many players join a site without checking proper reviews first. If anyone’s looking for a detailed look of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this guide cleared things up for me: [url=https://telegra.ph/Soaring-to-Success-Strategies-for-Winning-with-pinup-aviator–Enjoying-Casino-Rewards-11-18″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s nicely written and explains what to watch out for before you start playing. It’s worth your time if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  13. Personally, I’ve played on lots of online casinos in the past years, and I’m always shocked how many beginners deposit money without reading any reviews. If you need a helpful review of key platform details, this guide helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Destapa-el-Secreto-del-%C3%89xito-con-pin-up-Tu-Gu%C3%ADa-Definitiva-para-Casinos-Online-Bonificaciones-Exclu-11-23″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s very clear and explains what to watch out for before you put in money. I recommend giving it a look if you prefer to play safely.

  14. I have tested lots of iGaming sites over the years, and I’m always shocked how often users deposit money without verifying anything. If you’re interested in a detailed look of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this guide helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Plinko-casino-9-van-de-10-spelers-winnen-met-deze-slimme-strategie%C3%ABn-veiligheidstips–eerlijke-rev-11-22″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s simple to read and explains what to watch out for before making a deposit. Definitely worth a read if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  15. I have checked out many online casinos in the past years, and it’s kind of crazy how many players start playing without reading any reviews. If anyone’s looking for a clear overview of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this overview made things easier: [url=https://telegra.ph/Speel-slim-de-kansen-bij-Plinko-en-hoe-je-veilig-wint-11-22″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s pretty straightforward and explains what to watch out for before depositing. Definitely worth a read if you want to stay on the safe side.

  16. Personally, I’ve checked out various virtual casinos lately, and it still surprises me how often players start playing without doing research. If anyone’s looking for a detailed look of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this review made things easier: [url=https://telegra.ph/Jackpots-knacken-mit-Vinci-Spin–So-optimieren-Sie-Ihre-Gewinnchancen-im-Online-Casino-11-23″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s nicely written and shows what matters most before you put in money. Totally worth checking out if you prefer to play safely.

  17. I have checked out a bunch of iGaming sites for a long time, and it’s always surprising how many people join a site without reading any reviews. If anyone’s looking for a clear overview of important casino features, this overview was really helpful: [url=https://telegra.ph/Fortunas-Giratorias-Billionaire-Spin-y-el-Secreto-del-%C3%89xito-en-los-Casinos-Exclusivos-11-17″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s nicely written and shows what matters most before funding your account. Definitely worth a read if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  18. I have tried various casino sites in the past years, and it’s kind of crazy how often users jump in without verifying anything. In case you want a clear overview of promos, withdrawals, and available games, this overview cleared things up for me: [url=https://telegra.ph/Plinko-recensioni-negative-rischi-truffe-e-app-da-evitare-per-unesperienza-di-gioco-sicura-11-22″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s nicely written and shows what matters most before you put in money. Definitely worth a read if you want to stay on the safe side.

  19. Honestly, I’ve played on a bunch of casino sites recently, and I’m always shocked how many players jump in without reading any reviews. For anyone searching for a clear overview of important casino features, this guide worked well for me: [url=https://telegra.ph/Zaj%C3%ADm%C3%A1-v%C3%A1s-jak-z-Vincispinu-vyt%C4%9B%C5%BEit-maximum-a-vyhr%C3%A1t-na-modern%C3%ADch-automatech-11-24″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s simple to read and points out what you should notice before making a deposit. Definitely worth a read if you want to stay on the safe side.

  20. Over time, I’ve used many iGaming sites in the past years, and it’s always surprising how many beginners deposit money without verifying anything. For anyone searching for a simple explanation of important casino features, this article helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/%CE%91%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%AC%CE%BB%CF%85%CF%88%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CF%81%CF%85%CF%86%CF%8C-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-online-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%AC%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%82-%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%B8%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%8C%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%82-%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF-Roll-Dora-11-23″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s easy to understand and highlights key risks before funding your account. It’s worth your time if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  21. Over time, I’ve tested various online casinos in the past years, and I’m always shocked how many beginners deposit money without reading any reviews. For anyone searching for a detailed look of important casino features, this guide was really helpful: [url=https://telegra.ph/Speel-met-extra-voordeel-jouw-complete-gids-voor-Spin-Mama-Casino-registratie-bonussen-en-veilig-s-11-25″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s nicely written and shows what matters most before you start playing. I recommend giving it a look if you want to make better choices.

  22. Honestly, I’ve used a bunch of casino sites in the past years, and I’m always shocked how often users start playing without verifying anything. For anyone searching for a helpful review of what a casino offers, this article helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Amplify-Your-Winnings-Master-the-plinko-game-with-Free-Play–Expert-Casino-Choices-11-22″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s pretty straightforward and highlights key risks before you put in money. Totally worth checking out if you prefer to play safely.

  23. My programmer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on various websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any help would be really appreciated!

  24. Personally, I’ve checked out a bunch of iGaming sites over the years, and it’s kind of crazy how often players jump in before looking at reviews. For anyone searching for a simple explanation of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this write-up helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Dominar-el-cielo-con-1win-aviator-Gu%C3%ADa-completa-para-maximizar-tus-ganancias-y-estrategias-ganadoras-11-17″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s pretty straightforward and explains what to watch out for before you start playing. You should check it out if you want to stay on the safe side.

  25. I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  26. Honestly, I’ve played on lots of iGaming sites for a long time, and it’s interesting how often players start playing without doing research. If you need a helpful review of bonuses, payout speed, and game selection, this overview cleared things up for me: [url=https://telegra.ph/Beyond-the-Pins-Mastering-the-Art-of-Plinko-and-Boosting-Your-Winning-Potential-11-20″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s simple to read and highlights key risks before making a deposit. Totally worth checking out if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  27. I have tried many online casinos for a long time, and I’m always shocked how often players start playing without checking proper reviews first. If you need a simple explanation of key platform details, this overview helped me a lot: [url=https://telegra.ph/Speel-Slim-De-Complete-Gids-voor-plinko-Inclusief-Reviews-Apps–Veilige-Speelmogelijkheden-11-25″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s easy to understand and breaks down the important points before you put in money. It’s worth your time if you don’t want to fall for typical traps.

  28. I’ve used various gambling platforms for a long time, and I’m always shocked how often users jump in without doing research. In case you want a simple explanation of what a casino offers, this guide worked well for me: [url=https://telegra.ph/Elevate-Your-Play-Expert-Guides-to-Winning-Strategies-with-SpinMama-for-Canadian-Players–Globally-11-25″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s easy to understand and explains what to watch out for before you put in money. It’s worth your time if you want to avoid common mistakes.

  29. Howdy, I do believe your site could possibly be having browser compatibility issues. Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart from that, excellent website.

  30. I’ve played on various online casinos lately, and it’s always surprising how often players deposit money without checking proper reviews first. If you’re interested in a clear overview of what a casino offers, this review made things easier: [url=https://telegra.ph/Seamless-Access–Big-Wins-Your-Complete-Guide-to-Playing-at-Casino-Mate-Online-11-18″]Telegraph-URL[/url] . Visit our links.

    It’s easy to understand and shows what matters most before funding your account. Totally worth checking out if you don’t want to fall for typical traps.

Leave a Reply to Coloring Pages Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *