Zapata is a Winter Texan haven and has all of the accommodations for snowbirds. The "Home of Falcon Lake," Zapata serves as your entry to this fabled reservoir for anglers and water sport enthusiasts. Zapata also has a variety of outdoor activities such as birding, golf and hunting. In winter Zapata attracts a lot of snowbirds, it is where the Sun spends the Winter.

This is one of those places where the status symbol is not the car or truck you drive, it is which bass boat you own. When it comes to bass fishing, this is about as far south-and as warm in winter-as you can get and still be in the Lower 48. The international boundary with Mexico passes through the middle of the lake.

Zapata County has some of the best wildlife resources in South Texas. The county has a plentiful supply of White-Tailed Deer, Blue and Bob White Quail, Morning Dove and White Wing Dove.

Zapata offers a goldmine for both the experienced and novice rock hound. Hundreds of acres along the Rio Grande River are waiting to be explored. Folks can find not only wonderful and varied rock specimens but also, petrified wood, fossils, arrowheads and Indian artifacts.

The location of Zapata County makes it one of the prime winter bird watching spots in the United States.Birders will be amazed by the variety of bird species found here. One of the rewards of living in Zapata is the Fall migration of the Hummingbird to South America. Other unusual species that can be viewed in the area are White Pelicans, Cormorants, White, Blue and Green Herons, White Faced Ibis and Ospreys. One of the prized birds on any birders list is the White-Collared Seedeater, which can be seen in Zapata.

Zapata is located at the intersection of State Highway 16 & U.S. Highway 83. The nearest Interstate Highway (IH-35) is located 50 miles North on U.S. 83, at the Southern Terminus of IH-35, in Laredo. Just across the Rio Grande is the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Positioned at the US - Mexican border, on the Rio Grande, Zapata is home to over 1,000 businesses, including global companies such as ConocoPhillips and Shell.

The town of Zapata, has the largest population in the county and is the county seat. The Spanish Mexican heritage of the region is quite apparent and very influential in every aspect of life, for it covers a period of over three hundred years of exploration and settlement. The people are justly proud of the rich historical and social heritage that is theirs.

Home of Falcon Lake, it is considered the second largest fresh water lake in Texas covering 87,300 acres along the Rio Grande River. Voted the number one bass fishing spot in Texas by the Bass Fishing Clubs. Year round fishing for Black Bass, White Bass, Stripers, Crappie, as well as monster-size Catfish.

A fishing paradise, especially for those seeking black bass, catfish, crappie and stripers. There is also a varied and interesting bird life consisting of common birds which range throughout American Southwest and many of the tropical species for which this is the northwestern most outpost. Also there are uncommon varieties such as the Green Kingfisher and the Varied Bunting.

Almost half (290) of the slightly over 600 species of birds recorded in Texas have been seen in Zapata County. Some of the specialties include White-Collared Seedeater, Red-Billed Pigeon, Audubon's Oriole, Cassin's Sparrow and Varied Bunting. These are in addition to the more "common" species such as Green Jay, Scaled Quail, Long-Billed Thrasher, Chihuahuan Raven, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. With our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, who knows what bird may show up!

Zapata maintains one of the best nine-hole golf courses in South Texas, Los Ebanos Golf Course. Golf carts and pull carts available and a Pro Shop. The course is open to the public seven days a week. A driving range and putting green offer experienced and the novice golfers a chance to practice for more serious play.