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The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families!

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Welcome to the Birdhouse on the Rio!
Family room equipped with a large sectional, game table, bar and beautiful view!
Family room equipped with a large sectional, game table, bar and beautiful view!
Family room equipped with a large sectional, game table, bar and beautiful view!
Family room equipped with a large sectional, game table, bar and beautiful view!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Pharr, TX
  • Place, La Plaza Mall
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, 17th Street Entertainment District
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, McAllen Convention Center
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Airport, McAllen, TX (MFE-Miller Intl.)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1 - Bird Room

1 Single Bed and 1 King Bed

Bedroom 2 - River Room

1 King Bed, 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3 - Safari Room

2 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1 - Primary

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2 - River & Safari Room Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families!

Located in Pharr, TX, the Birdhouse on the Rio is a three-bedroom two-bathroom birding retreat that can sleep up to 12 guests. Situated in one of the most popular birding and butterfly watching hotspots in the world, the home is surrounded by over 200 acres of farmland, towering tree canopies, and a peaceful lake. Come stay and wake up to the songs of local birds, explore scenic trails along the property, and enjoy the serenity of the lush surroundings with friends and family.


Rooms & Beds:
Primary Bedroom aka Bird Room - Option for 3 twin beds OR 1 king and 1 twin
Guest Room #1 aka River Room - king bed, twin over double bed
Guest Room #2 aka Safari Room - two twin over twin bunk beds

Ideal for:
Birders
Groups
Families with Kids
Reunions
Dove Hunting

Location:
10 miles from McAllen International Airport
90 minutes from South Padre Island

Within close proximity to several other world birding sites such as Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley in Mission, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, Harlingen Arroyo Colorado, the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Resaca de la Palma in Brownsville, Roma Bluffs, and the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center

Birding:
Some of the birds you can expect to see at The Birdhouse include:
American Kestrel, Black Vulture, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crested Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush, Cliff Swallow, Common Ground Dove, Couch's Kingbird, Double-crested Cormorant, Eastern Pheobe, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Blue Night Heron, Great Kiskadee, Great-tailed Grackle, Green Jay, Grey Hawk, Hooded Oriole, Kentucky Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Painted Bunting, Purple Martin, Roseate Spoonbill, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Western Cattle Egret, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and the Yellow-throated Warbler

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House Rules

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Pharr

Located in Pharr, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Old Hidalgo Pumphouse and Smitty's Juke Box Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include World's Largest Killer Bee and Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Parish. Travelling with kids? Consider Reynosa Cultural Park and Xtreme Lazer Tag. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and hunting nearby.
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Map
Pharr, TX

What's nearby

  • La Plaza Mall - 13 min drive - 12.1 km
  • 17th Street Entertainment District - 16 min drive - 14.4 km
  • McAllen Performing Arts Center - 17 min drive - 16.6 km
  • McAllen Convention Center - 17 min drive - 17.0 km
  • McAllen Public Library - 23 min drive - 19.7 km

Getting around

  • Reynosa, Tamaulipas (REX-General Lucio Blanco Intl.) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Whataburger - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Crush - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Little Caesars Pizza - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families!?

As of 3 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families! on 24 May 2026 start from NZ$565, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

Where is The Birdhouse on the Rio - A South Texas Retreat for Nature Lovers & Families! located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of World's Largest Killer Bee, Mercado Zaragoza, and Plaza Miguel Hidalgo. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and Old Hidalgo Pumphouse are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 5 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

matt t.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very cool place. Perfect for groups of bird hunters.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Henry F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We expected a great birding setting, but were surprised at how much more the Birdhouse offers. The house itself is comfortable and spacious. Everything we needed was right at hand and easily found. The beds were comfy and the kitchen handy. Wonderful seating areas inside and outside for relaxing, dining, or birding.We added 7 new lifetime bird sightings at the Birdhouse and property alone. Every morning we could take coffee to any of the seating areas an just listen. Lauren and Lucas were very easy to work with and were responsive to any request. Great hosts. We certainly have the Birdhouse on our list for future trips to the Rio Grande Valley.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck in a tree
Roseate Spoonbill in the lake
Yellow-crowned Night Heron on the bridge to the private island
Stayed 16 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary Jane K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Birdhouse is an amazing property for anyone that loves nature. There are multiple outdoor spaces to relax and entertain both adjacent to the house and on the resaca. The wildlife and plants are abundant with great birding opportunities. The house is very well maintained and had all the amenities we needed. We especially liked having a casual den right off the master bedroom to relax in. The beds were comfortable and everything was super clean. We hope to stay again on our next trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley!
Stayed 15 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Fernando V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First off, the owners were so gracious to allow us to have our small wedding on their property. The beauty of all the nature really added to everything. The house was also the perfect place for our family to stay the days leading up to and after the event. It is very clean and well kept and of course the property itself is so beautiful. My family really enjoyed being in the space.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Clarissa H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic time at this hidden gem! Our family enjoyed this amazing property with spectacular views. Felt like we were far away from the rest of the world, but stores were just a few minutes away. The house is perfect for a family or group of friends. No detail was spared and everything we needed was available. The beds were comfortable and the amenities were just as listed. *Bonus : we stayed during December and there was a decorated Christmas tree and several Christmas touches throughout the house. Our family really enjoyed that! As for the outdoor space- amazing! Beautiful lush landscape. A true nature sanctuary. Many outdoor spaces to enjoy and just relax. There was also huge wide open spaces for the kids to run and play and take in all of nature. We spotted several of the birds in the guide during our visit. There’s no shortage of relaxation spots, large enough for everyone to come together or spread out and enjoy some quiet reflection time alone. The host left a welcome basket for us which was also a sweet touch and we appreciated! Overall, we would highly recommend this fantastic property!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

About the host

Hosted by Lauren Dyer

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