Tour and Lunch at Quinta Mazatlan

Foregoing a scheduled stop for antique shopping due to the fascinating and engaging tour at the Museum of South Texas History, ARLIS members headed for the Quinta Mazatlan for a tour and lunch. Quinta Mazatlan is one of the largest remaining adobe homes built in Texas. Construction began in 1935 by Jason Matthews and his wife Marcia who were publisher/editor of The ‘New’ American Mercury, a pro-American publication originally founded by H. L. Mencken. The first structures completed on the site were a cottage and a hooch which was Mr. Matthews’ hideaway accessible only by a rope ladder. A huge 12 foot deep adobe block swimming pool measuring 25 x 55 feet was then constructed but has since been filled in and converted to what could be called a wading pool.
The main house with more than 6700 square feet of living area was built next. This is where the family lived for thirty years. Interestingly, due to Mr. Matthews’ eccentricity or perhaps paranoia, the home was painted inside and out with aluminum sulfate paint to prevent radar waves from penetrating the building! A beautiful feature of the main house is the front doors. Peter Mansbendel, a famous Swiss wood carver (who created many carvings around Austin including the elaborate woodwork above the door on the fourth floor UT Wrenn Library) was commissioned to recreate the stately doors of the Spanish Governor’s Palace in San Antonio. The door includes two gargoyles and two cherubs in the likeness of the Matthews’ son and daughter.
The back area of the house is called “Cedar Hall”. The ceiling beams are made from Lebanese cedars that were purportedly a gift from the King of Lebanon to Mr. Matthews, who fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia in the War of Independence from the Turks.
After the Matthews’ deaths in 1963 and 1964, the grounds sat empty and in disrepair until Frank and Marilyn Shultz bought the property in 1968 and spent the next 30 years restoring Quinta Mazatlan to its original splendor. The city of McAllen subsequently purchased the historic grounds plus an adjoining eight acres in 1998 leading to the creation of the McAllen Wing of the World Birding Center/Nature Park, which offers nature trails for the viewing of over 100 species of birds nestled in over 100 tropical and native trees, flowers, and plants. Quinta Mazatlan is today devoted to environmental education and the principle of ecotourism.
After the tour, we gathered around the wading pool with its comforting water jets to enjoy a tasty box lunch before heading to Hidalgo in search of the “Killer Bee”!

Edward Lukasek