Guerrero Viejo

Guerrero Viejo, Mexico exposed during 1994 Drought

This is Nuestra Senora del Refugio in Guerrero Viejo. This area had been under water for more than 50 years after the Falcon Dam was built upstream of the Roma, Texas border with Mexico. These pictures show the remaining structures that have endured hundreds of years and half a century under water. These buildings were made with limestone blocks cut from a nearby quarry.

The rubble shown around the Church is what's left of a stacked limestone fence that used to surround the Church. Normally, only the tip of the top arch was visible above the water line. The Church courtyard opened up to the town's central plaza. The concrete benches and central bandstand are still in place.

This closeup shows the raw limestone with the white stucco mostly stripped from the stones. Even after so many years underwater, the basic structure remains sound. Noteworthy is the arch work and the stacked column stones.

The only way to this site is to use the old Guerrero Viejo road from the Mexican side of the border. The "road" is extremely rough and unpaved, use a vehicle suited for off-road travel. After getting off the main paved road north of Guerrero Nuevo, the city is some thirty miles distant but it took us a couple of hours to cover those rough miles. Take whatever you need. There is nothing, I mean nothing there. (No water, gas, stores, electricity) Some of the former citizens have moved back into the buildings that are still standing. Also, be aware that there is no civil authority.

For more information, history, and pictorial collection, please check out J J Gallegos Guerrero Viejo Page. It's an excellent source for more details.