MARCH 16, 2022 www.wintertexantimes.com 8 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Gene Watson Concert With $10 Admission Thursday, March 17 Sponsored by: FREE RIO GRANDE VALLEY LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO MARCH 10-20 IT’S time! RODEO $5Admission Senior Citizen Discount Day Wednesday, March 16 Sponsored by: You’ll receive a warm welcome in Texas Time and again,Winter Texans listfriendlinessasbigareasontolive here.Notonlydoesthatincludetheir neighborsintheparkorotherparks, but also the people in the communitywho arehappy tohaveWinter Texans because they appreciate the econ o m i c and other benefits they bring to the Valley. A l a n J o h n - ston remembers coming to the Rio Grande Valley fromMinnesotaover30yearsago. One of the first things Johnston saw were signs that said, “Welcome Back Winter Texans.” After the couple’s unimpressive experiences in Arizona and Florida the previous two seasons, the warm welcome in South Texas was just what they needed. The friendly people here made them feel right at home. “We went to Florida first and the people on the East Coast, they were too much, and the ones on the West Coast said, ‘When are you going to go back to Minnesota.’” Johnston said while the couple enjoyed a local event last year. “Then the next year, we went to Phoenix, and we couldn’t get a place to park our motorhome unless we were going to stay for a month. That snobbishness didn’t appeal to us.” As new Winter Texans get situated in their park, they are already making new friends. Those open arms and friendly, caring faces are a big reason that Winter Texans stay, and share word of how much they enjoy their new – or returning – winter home. LarryBoggs,aWinterTexanwho hailsfromBranson,MOsaid,“They welcomeyouwithopenarms from the momentyou get here. We have made so m a n y f r i end s h e r e . We have m o r e f r i end s h e r e than we do back home.” “We’ve been to Florida,” said DarleneNeel,ofTinleyPark,IL,as sheandherhusbandspentawinter atChimneyParkinMission.When they were looking for a place to move,theycheckedoutbothFloridaandArizona–andthedecision to come to South Texas was an easyone.“It’snotanywherenearas friendly [as Texas].” Johnston said the friendliness isn’t limited to the folks in the parks, but it is just a part of the local culture in the community as well. He said it feels very much like that Midwestern hospitality that he’s used to. “We love it because it’s not a (typical) tourist area; it’s a place that we feel very comfortable, and people have the Midwest values. God bless the Valley! We just love it here!” There are “Welcome Home” fiestas as winter guests begin to arrive in the Fall. Most RGV communities host “Winter Texan Appreciation” events at the end of the winter season as well. Business owners and government officials will talk about relationships that were built, commonly calling the winter Progreso Winter Tourist Appreciation Day, 2018. Photo by Herb Moering See WELCOME pg. 28
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