The Paseo del Rio Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to promote, protect and preserve the San Antonio River Walk, the number one tourist attraction in Texas. The Association accomplishes this through the production of special events along the River Walk throughout the year and through the publication of Rio Magazine, a monthly visitor magazine. The Association serves as an advocate, facilitator, and moderator among the business, civic, and governmental communities on matters concerning the River Walk.
The San Antonio River Walk is a public park, open 365 days a year. It is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath approximately 5 miles of downtown San Antonio. Lined by bars, shops and restaurants, the River Walk is an important part of the city's urban fabric and a tourist attraction in its own right.
The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks, lined with restaurants, shops, hotels and more. It connects the major tourist draws from the Alamo to Rivercenter Mall, Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Pearl Brewery.
Over 20 events take place on the River Walk every year.
Rivercenter Mall is located on the River Walk. Rivercenter Mall houses many shops and restaurants. With a large list ranging from Macy's, Sun Glass Hut, Victoria Secrets, Bath and Body Works, Gap, Tony Romas, IMAX Theater, Rivercenter...
If the fact that Pearl is a former brewery isn't epic enough, its location on the banks of the San Antonio River is supreme. Anchoring the River Walk's new Museum Reach, Pearl's river frontage features a beautiful landscaped park which...
Cited by Esquire Magazine as one of the 50 best restaurants in the U.S. This Texas Bistro on the River Walk features unique dishes such as pecan-grilled lamb chops with herbs and peachy chutney; wild mushrooms with polenta and herb-smoked...
Marco Engineering Company of California, major designers of Disneyland, complete a report, funded by the City and the Chamber, on the commercial potential of the river. The plan suggests that all buildings which back up to the river be developed in an early Texas or Mexican colonial style, and that as many as possible be rehabilitated to provide basement space that would open at the River Walk level to accommodate retail and entertainment facilities. Criticism arises over the carnival-like aspects of the plan, but other elements, like forming a merchants' association and holding frequent festivals are used as a basis for further plan development.
1962
Straus, along with Harold Robbins and Jimmy Gause from the Chamber staff, visit Carmel, CA, and New Orleans' Vieux Carre Commission to look at their ordinances guiding development. Straus frames an ordinance based on these two documents which establishes a River Walk District and a seven member Riverwalk Advisory Commission. Council adopts the ordinance on March 28. The Department of Parks and Recreation completes a major landscape program along two miles of river walkway, including over 17,000 assorted tress, shrubs, vines and ground cover. El Tropicano, the first riverfront hotel, opens. La Sirena at 107 West Commerce opens with a patio at river level. The Three Wives Antique Shop, at a location now part of the Hilton Hotel opens in November.
1963
April 15. The San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects unveils a plan for the Paseo del Rio. The plan takes the form of drawings, text and a scale model. It includes a land use plan, the basis for a planning district recommendation, and a capital improvements program for public and private development. The Chamber of Commerce creates a staff position to assist the Tourist Attractions staff manager of the Paseo del Rio project. The Landing opens in the basement of the Nix Hospital in April.
1964
San Antonio voters approve $500, 000 bond issue for Paseo del Rio improvements. City Council adopts an ordinance regulating signage on river walk. March 17. The Paseo del Rio Association is formed; with a staff person funded by the Chamber of Commerce staff position and the money used to pay a PR person to write the weekly Rio Ramblings for the Express-News.
1966
La Paloma del Rio opens at 215 South Broadway (Losoya). The Billboard Theater opens at street level of 231 S. Broadway over Venice Restaurant which opened the year before. The first Conservation Society-sponsored Las Posadas is held on the streets of San Antonio using the Courthouse, the Navarro House and the Spanish Governor's Palace.
1968
March. Hilton Palacio Del Rio opens. Hotel La Posada opens in the old St. Mary's Law School on College St. April-October, HemisFair '68. Construction is completed on the river extension and the convention center complex. August 12. Kangaroo Court opens. The Little Rhein opens in a San Antonio Conservation property. December. First Fiesta de las Lumlnarlas held. The bypass channel is modified.
1969
The first Paseo del Rio Assn. Great Country River Festival. The Stockman Restaurant at 409 E. Commerce opened.
1970
Voters approve a bond issue for River Walk beautification and flood gate revamping. La Posada reopens as La Mansion del Rio. An addition to the hotel is completed in December 1979.
1971
The Corps of Engineers complete river improvements from Alamo to Johnson Street. The Fort Worth District and the San Antonio River Authority are given a Corps Award of Merit for general, landscape development design.. The Fiesta de las Luminarias and Las Posadas are combined for a River Walk presentation.
1973
The River Corridor Feasibility Study is completed, in a joint effort of six local government entities. The "River Corridor Plan' provides a long-term framework for development decisions along the river.
1974
Flood gate 5 is relocated further down the bypass channel and flood gate 4, constructed to allow for circular boat traffic on the river bend and bypass.
1975
The Southwest Craft Center opens on the site of the old Ursuline Convent in buildings that have been bought and restored by the Conservation Society.
1976
The San Antonio River Authority moves its offices to a new site on the river, opposite the Steves Homestead.
1978
November 11. Robert H. Hugman is honored at a ceremony inaugurating the Hugman bells at the Arneson River Theater.
1979
A new Marriott Hotel opens on the river extension, next to the Marina Garage. The Casino Building, the Riverside Hotel and the Losoya Building are refurbished as new rental apartments using special federal monies for rehabbing the second to top floors.
1981
The Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Paseo del Alamo are opened, linking the River Walk and Alamo Plaza. The first Holiday River-Parade is held.
1983
Club Giraud opens at the Southwest Craft Center. The Johnson Street pedestrian bridge is opened. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park established in February.
1984
River channel improvements are completed from Alamo to Arsenal Streets. 1985 Channel Improvements are begun from Arsenal to Durango.
1987
Holiday Inn River Walk is completed. The Nueva Street Dam, Bridge and Marina are completed. San Antonio tunnel project begun. Tunnel will carry storm waters from Josephine Street south of US 281, 150 ft. underground and return them to the river channel at Lone Star Blvd. Project to be completed in 1995
1988
Channel Improvements are completed from Commerce to Houston Street incorporating Hugman's details. The Hugman wall across from La Mansion and below the Aztec is completed. Rivercenter opens on an extension of the river extension. The Mall opens in February, Dillard's in May and Marriott Rivercenter in October. The Original Mexican Restaurant opens at 528 River Walk.
1995
Southbank project between Presa, Crockett, Navarro, and river opens. Newly constructed buildings designed to fit in with existing architecture of San Antonio. Tenants are Country Line, Fat Tuesday, Hard Rock Café, Paesanos, Starbuck's, and Howl at the Moon.
1996
Presidio Plaza between Crockett, Navarro, Commerce and river opens with Planet Hollywood, the Edge, The Presidio and Dos Chihuahuas.
1997
January - Homewood Suites opens in old San Antonio Drug Company building.
April - Havana River Walk Inn on Navarro opens.
August - Adams Mark opens in 1950's National Bank of Commerce Building on river.
December - San Antonio Tunnel project dedicated.
1998
September 10 - International Center opens, a conversation of old Main Library on S. St. Mary's.
October 16-17 - a 20'' rain flooded many areas in San Antonio, particularly on the Salado and Leon Creeks. The tunnel worked beautifully in saving downtown San Antonio.
November - Bexar County and the city of San Antonio formally inaugurate the San Antonio River Oversight Committee to oversee the further development of the river from US 218 to Mission Espada. The Hawthorne Suites open on N. St. Mary's.
1999
May - Drury Inn opens in old Petroleum Commerce building on N. St. Mary's; Mexican Manhattan on Soledad opens riverfront patio overlooking flood channel river walk. November- Westin Hotel opens on site, surrounded by S. St. Mary's St., Market St., Navarro St. and the River
2001
January- Construction begins on the central section of the SA River Improvements Project. September - Civic Center Plaza at the corner of Main Plaza and commerce dedicated.
November - Landry's opens in the location of Bayou's in the riverside building.
December - River Walk from Presidio Plaza to N. St. Mary's on Crockett Street side dedicated.
2002
River improvements take place from Convent to Lexington dedicated. July 4th- Major Flooding on West Side creeks and San Antonio River. October- River Improvements from Houston to Convent dedicated. Silver Ventures purchases Pearl Brewery site with the idea of creating a varied premier mixed use development.
2003
Hotel Valencia opens at Houston, St. Mary's & River in January. September- Kangaroo Court closes. Pat O'Brien's opens on Losoya. September- Watermark Hotel and Spa opens across from the La Mansion del Rio.
2004
January- Construction begins on the Mission link of the River Improvements Project. October- Five & Dime General Store opens in Kangaroo Court Building.
2005. November- Hotel Contessa opens on south bend of the Paseo del Rio at Navarro St.
2006
January- Rainforest Café opens in Chandler Building. March- Waxy O'Connor's opens in Peterson Building, next to Aztec River Theatre. Iron Cactus opens in the Aztec building. March- Culinary Institute of America opens at Pearl Brewery. May- Pearl Stable opens at Pearl Brewery. Newly renovated Aztec Theatre opens.
2007
February- Drury Plaza opens in old Alamo National Bank building, with a sidewalk in the bypass channel, connecting the northern and southern parts of the river bend. May- Construction begins on the Museum Reach (Lexington St. to Josephine St.) of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. October- Saltgrass Steakhouse opens in the Casino Building. November- Initial construction begins on the Mission Reach of San Antonio River Improvements Project.
2008
February- Grand Hyatt opens on Convention Center extension.
2009
May 30th- The Museum Reach from Lexington to Grayson, including the new lock and dam at Brooklyn, opens to great acclaim.
2010
December- Phase 1 of the Mission Reach project opens, providing 1 mile of bike and hike access.
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