Discover Hondo: Parks, Golf, and Local History

Hondo combines city parks and golf with recreational activities and local history. The following information offers specific points to consider when planning a stay in Hondo around these interests.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

The South Texas Regional Airport at Hondo is a useful landmark for getting there. It is accessible via U.S. 90 and FM 462. The terminal is open around the clock and has showers. The airport also has a pilot lounge, an escort vehicle, free Wi-Fi, and four active runways. You can use the two roads as reference points when planning your route; the best option depends on your starting point. Showers in the terminal and free Wi-Fi are also practical amenities while you’re at the airport.

Hondo’s city park system includes 107 acres of parkland across 14 city parks. All 14 have picnic tables, barbecue grills, and playground equipment.

Golf and Recreation

Hondo Golf Course is a family-oriented, nine-hole, par-36 course. It was established in July 1954 at Hondo Air Base. The layout is flat and links-style, with trees and 13 bunkers; there are no water hazards. As a sporting option, the course differs from the city parks, which offer picnic tables, barbecue grills, and playground equipment.

Nature Trail Park is located at the intersection of Castro and FM 462 in Hondo.

The Rick Taylor Recreation Center offers youth sports leagues, holiday and recreation camps, special 5K runs, and open gym times for basketball and volleyball. Its offerings range from organized activities to open gym sports. The availability of individual programs may change; if a particular activity is important for your travel dates, it’s best to check in advance.

Hondo’s Local History

The first permanent settlers arrived in the area around Hondo with Henri Castro in the 1840s. The original settlement from which Hondo developed was located along El Arroyo Hondo; the Spanish gave the waterway its name. In the early 20th century, Hondo developed into a trading center and cotton shipping point. Settlement in the area and the town’s origins are part of its early history; Hondo’s role in the cotton trade developed considerably later.

Mission Valley was an African American community that formed on the south bank of Hondo Creek after emancipation. The historical marker for Mission Valley stands in City Park North on FM 462. Before 1881, residents on both banks of Hondo Creek jointly established facilities with a church and school, within walking distance for both settlements.

Discover more destinations: Castroville.

Return to the county travel guide: Medina County.