Val Verde County CourthouseCounty Seat: Del RioCounty Population (45,903)

The Val Verde County Courthouse, the county’s one and only temple of justice, is an 1887 design by Larmour & Watson. The existing metal roof with central dome is a 1915 alteration to the original Second Empire style. The limestone masonry building has many classical details including triangular pediments and dentils. Restoration completed several years ago included the cleaning and patching of the exterior masonry, as well as the inclusion of replicated hardware and the rebuilding of the 1915 exterior masonry porches at all four entries. An audio-visual system was installed in the courtroom, which was returned to its 1915 configuration by moving the jury box to the opposite side of the judge’s bench. The courthouse was rededicated July 23, 2004.
Val Verde is the only Texas county named for a Civil War battle. The county seat of Del Rio was established in 1885. The first commissioners rented a store building for $20 per month, until the present courthouse was erected.
Known as a gateway to Mexico, Val Verde County is home to Lake Amistad, offering 67,000 acres of water along 540 miles of U.S. shoreline and touted as one of the largest, clearest lakes in the Lone Star State. The lake is fed by the Pecos, Rio Grande and Devil’s rivers, with limestone deposits and solid earth providing a sterling, deep turquoise quality. The Amistad Recreation Area offers boating, nature hikes, fishing, camping and waterskiing.
Birdwatchers flock to the area and are treated to more than 320 species including migratory tropical species. The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife, maintains a checklist of the birds in the vicinity. Laguna de Plata, a 70-acre plot of grassland and marsh, is a favorite spot for waterfowl and wintering birds and is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Tourists frequent the Val Verde County seat of Del Rio, home of the Whitehead Memorial Museum. Attractions include a replica of Judge Roy Bean’s Jersey Lilly Saloon and an authentic frontier log cabin. Downtown Del Rio also features the Val Verde County Library, Paul Poag Theater, The Laughlin Heritage Museum, George Paul Museum, San Felipe Creek, and several local art galleries.
In 2003, the Val Verde Winery marked its 120th year of continuous winemaking. The Val Verde Winery is the oldest bonded winery in the state of Texas and the only winery operating in Texas from the late 1950s to the 1970s. The Winery received the Land Heritage Award from the Department of Agriculture for single-family ownership of the vineyards for more than 110 years.
(Texas Almanac 2006-2007)