Glamping Business Owner Denounces Border Wall Plans for Big Bend

Billy Bartko traveled to Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to listen to local voices and protect the pristine landscape of the Big Bend region.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A cinematic painting of a lone, weathered wooden bridge over a winding river, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the tranquil beauty and fragility of the Big Bend region.A serene bridge over the Rio Grande symbolizes the delicate balance between development and preservation in the Big Bend region.El Paso Today

Billy Bartko, the owner of a glamping business in Terlingua, Texas, traveled to Washington, D.C. to join Texas lawmakers and members of local coalitions in speaking out against plans to construct a border wall in the Big Bend region. Bartko argued that the proposed wall would harm river-based tourism, reduce property values, destroy wildlife corridors, and damage archaeological sites along the Rio Grande corridor.

Why it matters

The Big Bend region is known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, which are the foundation of the local economy. Residents and business owners like Bartko are concerned that the construction of a border wall would irreparably damage this fragile ecosystem and threaten their livelihoods.

The details

Bartko, who owns The Summit outdoor business, is a member of the No Big Bend Wall coalition. He joined lawmakers and representatives from the Laredo-based No Border Wall Coalition and the Rio Grande International Study Center to speak out against plans for border walls in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Laredo. Bartko argued that the U.S. Border Patrol's Big Bend Sector has the fewest migrant encounters, making the need for a costly and destructive border wall unnecessary. He demanded that funding for the entire border wall project be rescinded until there is full transparency, competitive bidding, and complete economic and environmental studies.

  • On Thursday, Bartko was in Washington, D.C. to speak out against the border wall plans.
  • The news conference took place outside the U.S. Capitol building.

The players

Billy Bartko

The owner of The Summit, an outdoor business in Terlingua, Texas that offers glamping domes, casitas, and cave hotel rooms with views of the Big Bend region. He is a member of the No Big Bend Wall coalition.

No Big Bend Wall

A community coalition focused on stopping the proposed construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region, arguing that it would harm river-based tourism, reduce property values, destroy wildlife corridors, and damage archaeological sites.

No Border Wall Coalition

A Laredo, Texas-based coalition that joined the opposition to border wall plans in the Big Bend and Laredo areas.

Rio Grande International Study Center

An organization that has raised concerns about the increased risk of flooding resulting from border wall construction and published a report on the potential impacts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The federal agency that has acknowledged that a border wall is not necessary in certain parts of the Big Bend area but still plans to construct a 'smart wall' with technology, roads, and other infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“We do not need a wall, and we do not need any border barriers inside the Rio Grande River. Our Big Bend sector represents 517 miles of some of the most pristine, untouched landscape in America.”

— Billy Bartko, Owner, The Summit

“Billions of dollars are being pushed into this project that does not match the reality of what is on the ground. Contracts have already been awarded without competition. Work has already been done without environmental studies or local government approval. DHS is proceeding without any accountability or oversight. What we are seeing right now is not responsible governance. It is reckless. It is rushed. And it is putting lives, property, and irreplaceable landscapes in danger.”

— Billy Bartko, Owner, The Summit

“This river is an urban river with 20-plus riverside neighborhoods dating back to the 1800s in Laredo that house tens of thousands of residents that I represent, and there are tens of thousands of people in our sister city in Nuevo Laredo in Mexico who live along this river, too. It is our duty as city leaders to oppose the wall until the proper studies are conducted and this plan is changed to prove that people in my community will not die.”

— Melissa Cigarroa, Laredo City Councilwoman

What’s next

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, who organized the news conference, said he would like to see more Republican members of Congress join Democrats in opposing the border wall plans for the Big Bend region.

The takeaway

The proposed border wall in the Big Bend region has united a diverse coalition of local residents, business owners, and elected officials who are concerned about the devastating impacts it would have on the area's natural beauty, wildlife, and local economy. Their message to lawmakers is clear: listen to the voices of those who know this land best and protect it from unnecessary and destructive development.