Los Ebanos Ferry

26°14′22.0″N 98°33′54.5″W / 26.239444°N 98.565139°W / 26.239444; -98.565139

The hand-operated ferry at Los Ebanos, Texas.

The Los Ebanos Ferry or El Chalán, formally known as the Los Ebanos-Diaz Ordaz Ferry, is a hand-operated cable ferry that travels across the Rio Grande between Los Ebanos, Texas, and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas. It is the last of its kind along the entire stretch of the Rio Grande.[1][2] The city of Los Ebanos was named after the Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis ebano) that anchors the ferry.[3]

The ferry was first opened in 1950. It is the only remaining international ferry operation on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The crossing is occasionally closed when river levels are high, such as in 2015.[4]

Border crossing

Los Ebanos Texas Port of Entry
Hand-Pulled International Ferry at Los Ebanos, Texas
Location
CountryUnited States
Location200 Flores St, Los Ebanos, Texas 78565
(Los Ebanos Ferry)
Coordinates26°14′23″N 98°33′49″W / 26.23972°N 98.563693°W / 26.23972; -98.563693
Details
Opened1950
Phone(956) 485-1084
Hours8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Exit PortGustavo Dias Ordaz, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Statistics
2005 Cars32,935
2005 Trucks0
Pedestrians38,759
Website
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/tx/2307.xml

The Los Ebanos Port of Entry is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that is used to inspect passengers and vehicles entering the US from Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas via the Los Ebanos Ferry. A new border station was built in 2011.[5]

The port of entry has been the site of occasional seizures of marijuana found hidden in vehicle tires.[6]

  • Outbound inspection facility at Los Ebanos in 2009
    Outbound inspection facility at Los Ebanos in 2009
  • Los Ebanos Ferry as seen from Mexico in 1999. The US Border Inspection Station is on the opposite shore
    Los Ebanos Ferry as seen from Mexico in 1999. The US Border Inspection Station is on the opposite shore

References

  1. ^ "Texas Escapes: Los Ebanos Ferry".
  2. ^ "Los Ebanos Ferry". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 2015-05-06.
  3. ^ "Texas ebony Ebenopsis ebano". Trees of Texas. Texas Forest Service. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  4. ^ "Customs and Border Protection Announces the reopening of the Los Ebanos Ferry crossing | U.S. Customs and Border Protection". www.cbp.gov. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2012-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "CBP Officers at Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing Seize Marijuana Found Hidden In Car Tires | U.S. Customs and Border Protection". www.cbp.gov. Retrieved 4 July 2024.