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San Juan, Texas is a popular senior vacation and retirement community in the Rio Grande Valley.

San Juan TX History

San Juan is located on land that was part of two Spanish land grants made in 1767 to Narciso Cabazos and José María Ballí. The men and their heirs occupied the land well into the 1850’s. In 1909, John Closner organized the town, giving it his name. The town incorporated in 1917 and in 1918 a school building was built.

In 1945, San Juan had the largest plant in the South for the manufacture of concrete pipe used for irrigation drainage. It also had citrus fruit and vegetable packing houses, a shippers' equipment manufacturing plant, and an iron foundry. The community was also known as the home of the Bougainvillea Trail of Texas.

The Virgin de San Juan del Valle Shrine was constructed in 1954 and immediately attracted many pilgrims and tourists. On October 23, 1970, Francis B. Alexander smashed a rented single-engine plane into the Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine. He had reportedly radioed a warning that all Methodist and Catholic churches in the lower Rio Grande Valley should be evacuated, then twenty minutes later struck the Shrine, which at the time was occupied by more than 130 people. Two priests were able to save the statue of the Virgin, but damages to the Shrine were estimated at $1.5 million. In 1980, the new Shrine was dedicated and the televised ceremonies were shown nationally.

San Juan Texas – Thriving Retirement Area

Today, San Juan Texas is a thriving area for senior tourists and retirees.