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A LITTLE HISTORY AND SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS Click Here for Old Photographs of Port Aransas.
Ferry Boat Landing
Located on Mustang Island, Port Aransas is the hottest spot for spectacular fishing on the Texas gulf coast and also claims the title: "The Fishing Capital of Texas! Whether you are a deep sea angler or a bay fishing enthusiast, from large party boats to smaller charter boats, Port Aransas can show you the time of your life! The jetties, Horace Caldwell Pier, and 18 miles of beach surf will certainly fulfill your yearning for the best saltwater fishing action in Texas! Fishing isn't the only excitement you'll find in Port Aransas! There's swimming, boating, yachting & cruises, sailing & parasailing, surfing, jet-skiing, dolphin watching, horseback & bicycle riding, migratory birding, beachcombing & sand castle building, kite flying, inspirational sunsets, the Texas Treasure Casino, visit the historic Harbor Island Lighthouse, tennis & golf, community theater productions & and splendid art galleries, unique shopping experiences, fine & casual dining, elegant resorts and cozy cottages with fantastic views, city/county/state parks and recreational programs, and the list goes on and on..... Location Port Aransas is located at the northern most tip of Mustang Island, one of several barrier islands along the Texas coastline and into Mexico. It is a 30 minute drive from Corpus Christi, three hours from San Antonio or the Rio Grande Valley area, 4 hours from Houston, and 7 hours from the Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolis.
A Brief History Imagine an island settled by tribal, cannibalistic Indians - the Kawakawa; these were the first settlers of the "island." Mustang Island derived its name from the wild horses that roamed there. During the critical years of the Texas Revolution and the Civil War (mid-1800's), the island was used as a base for pirate raids and military expeditions. Visited by such notables as General Zachary Taylor who sailed through the pass with an armada of ships and soldiers and the famous pirate Jean Lafitte who supposedly buried his treasures on St. Joe Island (a nearby barrier island to the north of Mustang Island). Click Here for Old Photographs of Port Aransas.
The Lydia Ann Lighthouse was built in 1853. In 1853 the old Aransas Pass Lighthouse, now called the Lydia Ann Lighthouse, was the first permanent structure built in the area. It was built to provide guidance for ships through the treacherous "natural pass" between St. Joe and Mustang Islands to Corpus Christi Bay. After lying in darkness for 35 years, the lighthouse was re-commissioned on July 4, 1988 as an operating lighthouse again. The first settlers of Port Aransas were immigrants from England who built the first house on the island in 1855. Within 10 years there were about fifty residents and they used the land for raising cattle. Cattle-breeding was the catalyst for the meat packing industry movement to the island. Large ships began running "the pass" and producing a profitable area for Port Aransas' first community. In 1888 the "jetties" were built from huge granite blocks transported from a quarry near Marble Falls, Texas. CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PHOTO GALLERY OF PORT ARANSAS IN THE EARLY DAYS. The infamous Tarpon Inn, built in 1886, was the primary hotel on the island. Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed at the Tarpon on his deep-sea fishing trips in the 1930's. Just prior to that, in the mid-1920's, the word about the island's fishing had already spread quickly and soon visitors were asking for automobile access. The "Mitzi" was the first ferry in operation; today, the island operates five, 20-car ferry boats (24/7).
Ferry boats run 24/7 and hold 20 cars each. Please be advised that TXDOT is enforcing the 8' 6 '' width limit for all vehicles crossing on the ferry.
An alternate route is available through Corpus Christi (Hwy 358), if your
vehicle or trailer is too wide. By 1940, the population of Port Aransas was about 500 and during World War II, the population doubled with the influx of military personnel. German U-boats had been spotted off the Texas gulf coast and a gunnery bunker was built and embedded at the top of the tallest sand dune. In the 1940's the island boasted it's booze, women, and gambling, but things were about to change! With the onset of new transportation engineering, a direct road was built connecting Mustang Island with Padre Island and allowed for direct vehicular access to the islands. The Padre Island Causeway is located to the south of Corpus Christi. In 1961, Hurricane Carla took its toll on the island and almost everything was destroyed. Residents had to work very hard to rebuild their homes and business and it took many years to restore the island to its natural beauty. Condominium development began around 1965 and the tourist business hit an all-time peak in the 1970's - early 80's. Students from all over Texas make their annual spring trip to Port Aransas for the sun, surf, sand, and relaxation. Around this same time, the migration of Winter Texans was growing rapidly which gave rise to a new tourist industry for the area - bird watching! By the end of the 80's, the oil bust halted the economic growth to some degree, however as the 1990's grew near, a slow recovery was made. Today, Port A. is a popular hub for people of all ages and boasts a population of 2233 (1990 Census). There is scarcely a person in Texas that hasn't been here, or at least heard of it! As we settle in for the new millennium, bustling business development continues and residents and business owners alike try to balance a healthy economy with a healthy environment. Climate Annual Average Temperature: 71.5° Annual Average Rainfall: 31.92 inches Prevailing Wind: Southeasterly Average Elevation: 5-6 feet above sea level Average Monthly Temperatures:
January:
56.2°
May:
77.6°
September:
81.8°
Click Here for Old Photographs of Port Aransas.
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