1979 Map of Escondido Lake

About this map

Escondido Lake and the surrounding ranchlands of Kleberg County are defined by a network of ephemeral creeks and a reliance on subterranean water. In this late 1970s landscape, the infrastructure of the cattle industry is visible through numerous named water sources such as Santa Gertrudis Windmill, Monte Verde Windmill, and Pita Windmill. The terrain is crisscrossed by drainage patterns including Jaboncillos Creek, Escondido Creek, and Derramadero de Machos Creek, which feed into localized basins like Zaino Lake. This period also reflects the region's energy development, with scattered Oil Wells and specific sites like the Media Luna Well and Chappa Well punctuating the open range. Near the eastern edge, the Rest Haven Memorial Park (Cem) and a Radio Facility represent the modern expansion of human activity into this traditional ranching territory.