Ciudad Mier

Ciudad Mier is a small border town on the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) in northern Tamaulipas. It has a lot of 18th and 19th century historic buildings and offers outstanding recreational opportunities with its location on the banks of Falcon Lake. It is designated as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

Understand
The town has an interesting and colorful history with some very old 16th century buildings and quite a few from the 18th and 19th centuries. The town's position with a crossing on the Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo, if you prefer) together with crossings on the Rio Juan and the Rio Aldama made it an early crossroads for commerce into the northern parts of the state of Coahuila-Tejas (until Texas seceded from Mexico in 1836). During the Texas Revolution, the town was the site of an important battle in which Texas rebels attacked the peaceful riverfront community. When the rebels were defeated and 176 of them captured, military commanders ordered 1/10th of the prisoners to be executed by firing squad for treason. A lottery was held in which prisoners chose a bean from a pot. Those who chose a black bean were executed, those who drew a pinto bean were pardoned fro their treasonous crimes. (The story is told in the town's Pinto Bean Museum.)

The town saw later military skirmishes during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and in the early 20th century during the Mexican Revolution.

In 1956, the town was a staging ground for Fidel Castro and his guerrilla army. Castro paid smugglers to buy weapons in the United States, and bring them across the border to Ciudad Mier. When Castro's "army" was ready, they and their weapons were transported to Veracruz where they boarded a yacht and sailed to Cuba to begin their revolution.

In the early 21st century, the town was slowly infiltrated by members of Los Zetas drug cartel. The Zetas declared all-out war against the Gulf Cartel in February 2010, when hundreds of armed narcos shot at each other, frequently hitting innocent townspeople. They burned buildings and cars, took over the police station, killed the entire town police force, and reigned terror down on anyone left who hadn't either fled across the river into Texas or fled to other towns in Mexico. Overnight, the town became a veritable [ https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/ghost-town/ Ghost Town]. The federal and state governments eventually regained control of the town, but at least 75% of the residents did not come back.

The town has a number of historic buildings and is very well preserved. It is a clean, pleasant town to visit, for those who dare.

By car
From Reynosa, drive west on federal highway MEX-2 for 112 kilometers. The drive will take about 90 minutes.

From McAllen, drive west on highway US 83 for about 50 kilometers. Cross the International Bridge at Rio Grande City. Drive west on federal highway MEX-2 for about 50 kilometers. The drive will take about 90 minutes.

You could also drive east from Nuevo Laredo on highway MEX-2 or from Laredo Texas on US 83, crossing the bridge at Falcon Lake.

Do
Two lakes on the Rio Grande provide recreational opportunities including:
 * Fish
 * Jet ski
 * Waterski
 * Sail





Festivals

 * Feria de Mier, March 6. Agricultural and ranching exposition.
 * Fiesta de San Juan Bautista, July 7. Parade, masses and a carnival.
 * La Purísima Concepción, 8 diciembre. Celebrates the town's patron saint.

Eat








Sleep
A greater selection of hotels is available in Reynosa, or across the river in McAllen, Texas

Camping
Campsites are available on the U.S. side of the river at Falcon State Park. The park is a few minutes from Ciudad Mier.

Stay safe
Ciudad Meir has been on the frontlines of the war against drugs for most of the 21st century. Many incidents of violence should worry prospective visitors to either side of the border. Police and military members have been killed for investigating crimes. The mayor was murdered by cartel members. A Texas couple, jet skiing on the lake were shot at by cartel members in speedboats, pretending to be Mexican police. In 2010, U.S. investigators uncovered a plot by the Zetas to blow up the Falcon Dam. Life in Ciudad Meir makes episodes of Breaking Bad look dull by comparison. Visitors are advised to visit the town only during daylight and to find hotel lodging in either Reynosa or in the McAllen Texas area.

Go next

 * Nuevo Laredo
 * Reynosa