Definition
The Los Ebanos Ferry is a hand‑operated cable ferry that transports vehicles and pedestrians across the Rio Grande between Los Ebanos, Texas, United States, and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Overview
Located on the lower Rio Grande, the ferry connects Farm to Market Road 255 (FM 255) in Cameron County, Texas, with a rural road on the Mexican side. It is the only manually powered (hand‑cranked) ferry still in operation in the United States. The service is free of charge and operates on a seasonal schedule, typically from early morning until late afternoon, with closures during high water, extreme weather, or maintenance periods. The ferry is managed under the Texas Department of Transportation’s Rio Grande Border Crossing Program and works in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for immigration and customs inspections.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Los Ebanos” derives from the Spanish word ebano, meaning “ebony,” referring historically to the presence of ebony‑like hardwood trees in the area. The term “ferry” follows the standard English usage for a vessel that carries passengers and vehicles across a body of water.
Characteristics
- Design – The vessel is a flat‑decked barge equipped with a steel cable stretched across the river and anchored on both banks. Operators pull the ferry along the cable using a hand‑crank mechanism; no engine power is employed.
- Capacity – The ferry can accommodate up to two automobiles (or equivalent weight) and several passengers per crossing.
- Dimensions – The deck measures approximately 30 feet (9 m) in length and 12 feet (3.7 m) in width; the exact specifications may vary with maintenance updates.
- Operation – A single crew member steers and powers the ferry by turning the hand crank. Crossings typically take 5–7 minutes, depending on river flow and load.
- History – The ferry service began in the early 20th century to serve local agricultural communities. A cable‑guided system was installed in the 1920s, replacing earlier raft‑type crossings. The hand‑operated method has been retained for historical and practical reasons, making the ferry a tourist attraction as well as a transportation link.
- Regulation – Vehicles crossing the ferry are subject to U.S. and Mexican border inspection procedures. The ferry itself is exempt from tolls, but users must comply with customs documentation requirements.
Related Topics
- Rio Grande Border Crossings
- Cable ferries (hand‑operated and motorized)
- Texas Department of Transportation – Border Crossing Program
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Transportation infrastructure in Cameron County, Texas
- International river navigation agreements between the United States and Mexico