Big Bend Glamping Business Denounces Border Wall Plans

Owner of Far Flung Outdoor Center joins Texas lawmakers in opposing border wall construction in Big Bend region

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:22am

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A tranquil painting of a wooden canoe floating on the calm waters of the Rio Grande, with the surrounding landscape bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of the region's natural beauty and the potential threat posed by border wall construction.A serene scene on the Rio Grande River, where local businesses fear a border wall would disrupt the region's natural beauty and outdoor recreation economy.El Paso Today

Billy Bartko, the owner of the Far Flung Outdoor Center in Terlingua, Texas, traveled to Washington D.C. to speak out against plans to build a border wall in the Big Bend region. Bartko, a member of the No Big Bend Wall coalition, argued that a border wall would harm river-based tourism, reduce property values, destroy wildlife corridors, and damage archaeological sites along the Rio Grande. He called for full transparency, competitive bidding, and complete economic and environmental studies before any border wall construction proceeds.

Why it matters

The Big Bend region is known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, which drive the local tourism-based economy. Residents and business owners like Bartko fear that a border wall would devastate this way of life and irreparably damage the environment and cultural heritage of the area.

The details

Bartko, the former owner of The Summit at Big Bend glamping business, joined Texas lawmakers and members of the No Border Wall Coalition and Rio Grande International Study Center in speaking out against plans for border walls in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Laredo. Bartko argued that the Big Bend Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol has the fewest migrant encounters, making a border wall unnecessary. He also raised concerns about the increased risk of flooding from border wall construction, citing a study that found the proposed infrastructure could increase water flows, trap debris, and threaten riverside communities.

  • On Thursday, Bartko was in Washington, D.C. to speak out against the border wall plans.
  • Last month, the Rio Grande International Study Center published a report on the potential flooding risks of the proposed border wall and buoy system.

The players

Billy Bartko

The owner of the Far Flung Outdoor Center in Terlingua, Texas, and a former owner of The Summit at Big Bend glamping business. Bartko is a member of the No Big Bend Wall coalition, which is focused on stopping the proposed construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region.

No Big Bend Wall

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

Melissa Cigarroa

A Laredo City Councilwoman who spoke out against the border wall plans, citing concerns about the increased risk of flooding and the potential impact on riverside communities.

Mark Tompkins

A fluvial geomorphologist hired by the Rio Grande International Study Center to study the potential impacts of the proposed border wall and buoy system on the river basin.

Lloyd Doggett

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas who led the news conference in Washington, D.C. where Bartko and others spoke out against the border wall plans.

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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, Far Flung Outdoor Center

“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, Far Flung Outdoor Center

“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. Customs and Border Protection has acknowledged that a border wall is not necessary in certain parts of the Big Bend area and has scaled back plans for 30-foot steel bollards, but plans for 'smart walls' are still in place. Opponents of the border wall plans, including Bartko and the No Big Bend Wall coalition, are calling for the funding to be rescinded and for a complete halt to the project until proper environmental and economic studies can be conducted.

The takeaway

The fight over the proposed border wall in the Big Bend region highlights the tensions between the federal government's security priorities and the concerns of local residents and business owners who fear the wall will devastate the area's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and tourism-based economy. The debate underscores the need for greater transparency, community input, and comprehensive impact assessments before major infrastructure projects are undertaken in sensitive border regions.