Balmorhea, TX

About Balmorhea

• • Singer-songwriter Tish Hinojosa, known for her bilingual folk music, was born in Balmorhea.
• • Balmorhea State Park, a 46-acre desert oasis, was conceived during the Great Depression.
• • Irrigation farming, enabled by artesian springs, initially established Balmorhea.
• • Giant garter snakes, a threatened species, inhabit Balmorhea's canals and wetlands.
• • The 1920s saw a cotton boom drastically change the local economy.
• • "Balmorhea" combines Balcom, Morrow, and Rhea, land developers; founded in 1906.
• • With about 430 residents, the population is smaller than many high school graduating classes.
• • At 3,219 feet, the elevation offers expansive views of the surrounding desert landscape.
• • Agriculture and tourism are crucial to the local economy today.
• • Balmorhea feels like stepping back in time, a tranquil escape from modern life.
• • The closest pro team, the El Paso Chihuahuas (baseball), won the Pacific Coast League in 2016.
• • Balmorhea High School's six-man football team has a history of state championships.
• • The area's bedrock is primarily limestone, formed during the Permian and Cretaceous periods.
• • Balmorhea State Park is near the Davis Mountains, a sky island ecosystem.
• • San Solomon Springs feeds the swimming pool at Balmorhea State Park.
• • The endangered Pecos gambusia, a small fish, inhabits the springs and waterways.
• • The area was inhabited by various Native American groups, including the Mescalero Apache.
• • Balmorhea State Park's swimming pool was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
• • U.S. Highway 290 passes through Balmorhea, connecting it to I-10.

Songs About Balmorhea