Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

Photos courtesy of Kingsville Visitors Center
Located between the shimmering Texas Gulf Coast and the untamed beauty of South Texas’ rugged brushland, the city of Kingsville has managed to retain its unique historical legacy while solidifying its place as a center of growth and industry.

Founded in 1904, Kingsville’s development as a thriving community was thanks in large part to massive efforts made by Robert J. Kleberg and Henrietta King of the world famous King Ranch. Seeking to foster community and economic development in the untamed “Wild Horse Desert”, Mrs. King donated acres of land which became the site of a railroad hub and later, the site of present-day Kingsville. The ranch’s support and influence has left an indelible mark on the city’s growth and culture that continues to this day.

As a centennial city, the secret to Kingsville’s longevity lays in the resilience of its people and the array of local attractions that draw a wide variety of guests who are seeking to immerse themselves in a bit of southern charm and a slower pace of life.  Today, Kingsville has become a multicultural city that offers something for everyone including several historical sites, acres of prime land ripe for hunting and fishing, one of the largest working ranches in the world, a growing music and theatre scene, a renowned public research university and some of the most delicious cuisine in the Lone Star state.

King Ranch continues to foster a culture of uncompromising quality, stewardship and authenticity—a true testament to Captain King’s integrity and commitment to the land.

King Ranch Museum

Note: The following photographs are the sole and exclusive property of King Ranch, Inc. King Ranch, Inc. retains all rights and title including without limitation any rights under United States or foreign copyrights and trademark laws. Any use of such photographs without the express written consent and permission of King Ranch is expressly prohibited.

The museum is the definitive repository of ranch lore and the items on display clearly evoke the bygone days on Captain King’s legendary spread.

The King Ranch Museum’s permanent collections include: Toni Frissell’s award-winning photographic essay of life on King Ranch in the early 1940’s; saddles from around the world; guns, and rifles including a King Ranch commemorative Colt Python .357 magnum revolver (serial number KR1); a limited edition series of full-scale replicas of historic Republic of Texas flags; and antique carriages and vintage cars, including El Kineño, a custom designed Buick Eight hunting car built for Congressman R. M. Kleberg, Sr., in 1949 by General Motors.

Upon arriving at the King Ranch Museum, you are welcomed with a bronze sculpture of Mrs. Henrietta King and her son-in-law Robert J. Kleberg, Sr., as well as a sculpture of the  first artesian well that was drilled on King Ranch in the summer of 1899.

Visitors can also view videos about the history of King Ranch and its main residence.

Los Kineños Trail

In the early days of the King Ranch, there was a terrible drought in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Captain King traveled to the little hamlet of Cruillas in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

The townspeople were in such dire straits that they sold all of their cattle to him in an attempt to survive the drought. A short distance out of town, slowly driving the cattle north toward Texas, Captain King realized that, in solving an immediate problem for the people of Cruillas, he had simultaneously removed their long-term means of livelihood. He turned his horse back toward the town and made its people a proposition. He would provide them with food, shelter, and income if they would move and come to work on his ranch. The townspeople conferred and many of them agreed to move north with Captain King.

Already expert stockmen and horsemen, these resilient denizens of the rugged Mexican range became known as Los Kineños – King’s people. They and many generations of their heirs would go on to weave a large portion of the historical tapestry of King Ranch. The expert Kineño cowboys now occupy a justifiably legendary place in the annals of the taming of the vast American West. The mystique of the Kineños is alive and well, and descendants of the original Cruillas residents still live and work on the ranch today – providing a vital link with the past and giving the ranch a key aspect of its unique atmosphere.

1904 Train Depot Museum

Visitors will discover artifacts dating back from the City’s founding in the early 1900’s through the 1960’s. The Depot was closed at a time when rail travel no longer held the sparkle and excitement it had enjoyed for so many years, and goods and people were now moved by trucks and automobiles. To celebrate Kingsville’s 100th Birthday, the structure was restored and the museum opened its doors on July 4th, 2004 – 100 years to the date that the city was chartered.

Today, photographs are exhibited in chronological order so visitors can enjoy viewing the history of Kingsville and the importance of the train coming through the community, as well as artifact that give insights into life on the rail. The museum’s personality changes daily with the personality of the Volunteer for the day. Manned by caring volunteers of Kingsville, each person brings the variety of exhibits to life through the love and excitement they feel for the museum.

One of the most popular exhibits, though small, is an operational telegraph. This in itself is special, but if you are fortunate enough to visit on the day that the station’s volunteer telegraph operator is on duty, she will show and teach you how messages were sent in Morse Code. On another day, you might hear stories about how a volunteer’s father or a grandfather worked on and rode the rails. On another day, you could hear the story of families that rode to Kingsville looking for a new start on life and ranched and farmed land that is still in the same family today. Come see why we love the Depot and learn about the history of our community.

Conner Museum

Located at 905 W Santa Gertrudis Avenue on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville, the John E. Conner Museum has a history as old as the university itself.

Original History professor John Edwin Conner (1883-1989) began his collection in 1925 when the university was founded; the John E. Conner Museum was organized four years later. Since 1976, the Museum has been located in Loftin Hall, the original student dining hall.

Constructed in the Mission Revival style, Loftin Hall provides a beautiful setting for the museum’s diverse collections.

Historic Downtown

Photos courtesy of the Kingsville Visitors Center

Texas Tropical Trail

South Texas evokes images of sun-drenched beaches, swaying palms, and colorful citrus trees. But there is more to this region than just the beach. The Texas Tropical Trail Region offers travelers natural, cultural, and historical treasures—all with a distinct Hispanic flavor.

This is the balmy, vibrant southern tip of Texas, a triangle of coastal plains roughly bounded by the Rio Grande and San Antonio River and the Gulf of Mexico. Situated between the mountain plateaus and the Gulf, blessed with a subtropical climate, the region hosts plants and animals found nowhere else in the United States.

The region is made up of four distinct byways. The region’s Border Byway skirts the nation of Mexico, and the Gulf Coast Byway runs along the Texas Gulf Coast. The rich landscapes in between are called the Brush Country Byway and the Wild Horse Desert Byway.

L.E. Ramey Golf Course

Located at 2522 E Escondido Road in Kingsville, Texas, the L.E. Ramey Golf Course is a family friendly 18-hole golf course with driving range

NAS Kingsville

Photo courtesy of Kingsville Visitors Center

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In the fall of 1941, a group of Kingsville civic leaders decided that the city's desirable climate and scarcely populated area would be very suitable for a military airfield, much like the one in Corpus Christi. The city leaders wasted little time in making their belief known to the Department of Defense.

The Kingsville group picked out several good sites for airfields and presented them to Navy leaders at NAS Corpus Christi. Among the most impressed of the Navy staff was CAPT Alva Bernhard, who at the time was NAS Corpus Christi’s Commanding Officer.

While the Navy made no immediate promises to the Kingsville group, that all changed on the morning of 07 Dec. 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. CAPT Bernhard, foreseeing an immense training buildup that would overtake NAS Corpus Christi’s capacity, immediately selected a site in Kingsville and put his plans into high gear for procurement and construction. The farmland site of 3,000 acres was soon purchased from the B.O. Sims family.

The Navy planned on building a combination of two fields with barracks and other Station activities in a central location, thus saving on construction time. Quarters “Q” on the airfield (now Qtrs. A) was the only existing building on the land to escape demolition when the Navy took control of the land. The house formerly belonged to the Sims family and the Navy decided to keep the house intact for use as a residence for airfield commanders.

The base opened July 4, 1942. With the attack on Pearl Harbor still fresh on their minds, a large crowd of Kingsville citizens came to witness the commissioning ceremony that day. The field was dedicated to the pilots who would train and play an important role in winning the war. CDR D.S. McMahon assumed command of the airfield.

Over the next three years, Kingsville Field played a vital role in training Navy and Marine Corps aviators for the fleet. In addition to jet fighter training, pilots received training in carrier dive bombing tactics, anti-submarine warfare, and cockpit gunnery and artillery at both North and South Fields.
 

Dining

From mouth-watering barbecue and Southern classics to some of the most authentic Mexican food north of the Rio Grande, dining Kingsville is always a one-of-a-kind experience. Around these parts, mealtime is about more than just eating. It’s about sharing good food with great company in some of the most popular hangouts in town.

In Kingsville, you can whet your appetite on a variety of fare that includes everything from soul food to classic all-American dishes to even sampling the exotic flavors of authentic Asian and Middle Eastern food. From South Texas vittles to ethnic cuisine and fun food to fine dining, no matter where you eat, we promise you one thing – you’ll never leave hungry.

Restaurants within the cities of Kingsville and Bishop include:

Blue Ribbon Deli & Coffee Bar
361-516-0208
1036 S 14th St

CB's Bar-B-Que
361-516-1688
728 N. 14th Street

Domino's Pizza
361-595-5591
609 E. King Ave

El Corral Restaurant
361-592-7622 and 361-592-1574
14151 N 14th St

Fatman's Catering & Processing
361-459-4142
217 E. Main
Bishop, TX

Pizza Parlor
361-592-8842
816 W King Ave

Young's Pizza, Inc.
361-592-9179
625 W Santa Gertrudis Blvd

Whataburger Restaurants
Location 1:
361-592-4356
510 S 14th St

Location 2:
361-221-9559
2701 US Hwy 77 South

See the full brochure here.
 

Lodging

Finding a place to stay in Kingsville has never been easier thanks to the number of hotels, motels and RV communities that are located across the city. One of the benefits of Kingsville’s relatively small size is that no matter where you stay, you will still be just minutes from every local attraction. In addition, Kingsville’s close proximity to Corpus Christi and the Texas Gulf coast make its location a cost effective option for visitors who wish to stretch their dollar a little further.

Lodging accommodations include:

Americas Best Value Inn Kingsville
361-595-5656
2204 E King Ave

Quality Inn - Kingsville
361-516-1120
502 U.S. Hwy 77

Emerald Beach Hotel
361-883-5731
1102 S. Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Super 8 Kingsville
361-592-6471
105 S. Highway 77

La Quita Inn & Suites Kingsville
361-592-3000
2151 S. Highway 77

See the full brochure here.

Make your reservation today at NCAA.com/Travel