SAN ANTONIO – Fiesta is just around the corner, and that means thousands of people will be making their way downtown for parties and parades. It also means thousands of locals and visitors will be taking in the world-famous River Walk.
However, the River Walk wasn’t always world famous.
In 1963, then San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President David Straus wanted to improve on what Robert Hugman started in 1929.
Hugman's design had as much to do with flood control as access, and Straus wanted to make the river more accessible to residents and visitors and make it safe.
At the time, most of the buildings along with river were opened to the street level for access, but their basements were at river level and didn't really have river access and made a lot of the area unattractive.
"(It) sometimes created a lot of neglect in the area. They had a lot of trash," Ignacio Torres said.
There were also vagrants that kept people away.
Straus had a vision and decided to reach out to the American Institute of Architects to see if it could turn that vision into a reality.
"We lived here, so we knew what it was like and what should be done," Torres said.
They put together an eight-member staff with Torres as one of the architects. Cyrus Wagner led the group. They would have frequent meetings. Wagner would write ideas on a chalk board.
After several months, the group got invited to the Chamber of Commerce to present their plan.
"Our main purpose was to develop a master plan," Torres said.
That master plan has turned into what the River Walk is today.
Not only did Torres help come up with the plan, but he also came up with the name, “Paseo Del Rio.”
"I thought it would be a good one, and sure enough, it is good name for it," Torres said.
The organization that oversees the river is now also called Paseo del Rio.
Torres took advantage of the plan by opening up a restaurant after the World’s Fair in 1968. It was on Presa Street, and he named it Villa De Pancho, after Poncho Villa. It was a private club with a restaurant, bar and served French cuisine.
Torres hosted stars such as Desi Arnaz and Lee Majors. Today, the building is still there and is home to a candle shop.
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