Marfa, Texas: Border Patrol Blimp
A semi-stationary blimp, sent aloft while tethered to a circular track. The TARS (Tethered Aerostat Radar System) watches for border crosser activity.
- Address:
- US Hwy 90, Marfa, TX
- Directions:
- On the southwest side of US Hwy 90, either 15 miles east of Valentine or 20 miles west of Marfa. Visible from the highway, but signs warn to keep away!
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Visitor Tips and News About Border Patrol Blimp
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On this day, high winds prevented the blimp from being flown.
[Erma, 03/10/2020]
Just caught the blimp in action. It is called TARS and is used for aircraft surveillance by the border patrol. No more mystery
[Brad, 01/01/2019]
Traveling along Texas 90, between Marfa and Van Horn, is a Zeppelin-shaped white balloon attached to the ground. It wasn't until I passed it later in the day, looking in my rear view mirror, that I saw it aloft. The balloon is used to locate low-flying aircraft coming across the border, presumably with illegal drugs (Drug traffickers use slow, low-flying airplanes to avoid detection). The balloon is only aloft when weather permits.
Apparently, there are other such balloons in border areas and the southwest. There was a dramatic decrease in the amount of airborne drug traffic since the first Southwest border balloon went up above Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in 1987.
[Brian Berkun, 04/09/2015]Nearby Offbeat Places



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