A River Does Not Run Through it
San Antonio drains famed River Walk for 4-day public works project
For the next few days, the River Walk should just be referred to as "The Walk." Beginning Monday, January 6, through Thursday, January 9, the main channel of the famed attraction is being drained for the first time since 2016.
According to a joint notice from the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority, the river will be drained beginning at Josephine Street to South Alamo Street. The public works project kicked off at midnight on January 6 and should be complete at midnight on January 9.
The downtown "horseshoe," Convention Center Lagoon, and Shops at Rivercenter Lagoon will not be affected and will continue to have water. Popular areas such as the Pearl, Hotel Havana, Tobin Center, and H-E-B headquarters, however, will be drained.
It's important to note that all businesses will remain open as usual during the big drain.
The city also notes that the Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises, the barge-like boats that are a fixture downtown, will have a modified route during the project. The Go Rio shuttle that serves the Museum Reach portion of the River Walk will not be available from January 6-9.
"Regular maintenance to the San Antonio River Walk is vital to keeping the river area a clean, beautiful attraction for visitors and local residents," notes a release. As noted, the River Walk has not been drained in more than three years.
Draining the River Walk gives authorities the opportunity to clean up debris from the bottom and get rid of invasive species. In a slideshow of items found during past drains, San Antonio Express-News photographers captured, among other things, a giant Nokia cellphone, folding chairs, Fiesta beads, and a large fan.
