Blue Bunting Lodge UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Projected opening fall/winter 2026
Showcasing the best of the
Lower Rio Grande Valley
Running bird species total: 231
Running butterfly species total: 127
About Us
Your hosts
Accommodations
Flora & fauna
Blue Bunting Lodge embodies the natural progression of two lives: one with years of hospitality industry experience and a lifelong passion for birds and all things natural, the other a career project manager and native son of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Your hosts envision an eco-friendly retreat for birders, butterflyers and other nature-lovers, where you can be immersed in the unique ecosystems of the valley without leaving your front porch. The dream became real with groundbreaking on the main house in March, 2023. After MUCH red tape with the county, we've self-annexed to Roe's hometown of Mercedes, and gotten the green light for construction. So far, as of mid-February 2026, the water lines are in, and the foundation work has begun on the casitas. Stay tuned!
Flora & fauna
Accommodations
Flora & fauna
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is a Mecca for birders and butterflyers, and for good reason. More than half the bird species ever found in the continental US have been recorded here! Where else can you hear the cacophonous chorus of Plain Chachalacas at dawn, witness the feathered rainbow of Green Jays, Altamira Orioles and Great Kiskadees squabbling over a bird feeder all day, then spot a Common Pauraque bobbing up from the roadside to snatch moths from midair at dusk? Without a passport, nowhere! Similarly, more than half the 300+ butterfly species found here, like the stunning Mexican Silverspot pictured above, cross the border only here in south Texas. While we will offer our guests tours of the best local wildlife-viewing spots, we have designed our grounds to bring the birds and butterflies you're here to see right to your doorstep. Diverse habitat, bird feeders, butterfly gardens and bait logs, and strategically-placed water sources will maximize your chances of spotting that Clay-colored Thrush or Band-celled Sister before you finish your morning coffee.
Accommodations
Accommodations
Accommodations
We have acquired a ten-acre tract of farmland in the heart of the valley, which is being returned to its natural state. When finished, the property will be covered in Tamaulipan thorn forest, mesquite grassland, native butterfly gardens and a pond. Guests will have their own private Mexican-style casita, with one bedroom (plus pullout couch for guests,) full kitchen, bath and laundry facilities, and private outdoor space. Guests have their own four walls, their nearest neighbor about 100 feet away! We'll have bird-feeding stations, butterfly gardens, trails and a pavilion in the center for socializing. At the Blue Bunting Lodge, we are committed to not only attracting, but protecting the local flora and fauna. To that end, we plan to be solar-powered, offer an electric car-charging station to guests, and use electric vehicles for housekeeping and all birding tours. We'll be composting our organic household waste, using only biodegradable cleaning products, and avoiding all chemical herbicides, pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. Casitas will be equipped with bird-friendly coffee and recycling bins. To minimize water usage, our ten acres will be planted almost entirely with natives, well-suited for the long dry season.
Contact Us
info@bluebuntinglodge.com
Blue Bunting Lodge
2415 Mile 6 North Road, Mercedes, Texas 78570, United States
