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A
mosquito hawk at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine,
2006 |
Port
Aransas Attractions include Birding
Center: Ross Avenue and Cut-off Road
University
of Texas Marine Science Institute: Displays of Gulf Coast flora and fauna.
Open weekdays only 8 to 12 and 1 to 5. 361-749-6729
Mustang
Island State Park
3500 acres of park with five miles of beach frontage.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/mustang/mustang.htm
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Port
Aransas Hotels |
| The
Aransas Ferry
(post-marked 1965) |
History
in a Seashell
Port Aransas, formerly known as Ropesville and as Tarpon,
is a resort and fishing community on Mustang Island. The settlement began as a
sheep and cattle grazing station.
The town began in 1850 by Englishman
Robert A. Mercer when he settled on St. Joseph Island. Five years later he moved
to Mustang Island and built a cabin.
The first post office was established
in 1888 and called Ropesville in honor of Elihu H. Ropes. In 1890 Ropes attempted
to build a thirty-foot channel across the island. Six years later the town name
was changed to Tarpon to advertise the fishing opportunities.
The name
Port Aransas was officially adopted in 1911.
Port Aransas had a population
of only fifty in 1925 which grew to 300 in six years.
The population
can swell during tourist season and traffic rivals that of larger Gulf
Coast cities.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Port
Aransas Hotels |
| | Barney's
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/
~txgenweb// postcards/Index.html |
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Tarpon
Inn in the 1920s
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/
~txgenweb// postcards/Index.html
|
| | Tarpon
Inn in the 1940s
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/
~txgenweb// postcards/Index.html
|
Port Aransas Tourist Information Port
Aransas Chamber of Commerce /Tourist & Convention Bureau
Contact the
tourist bureau for their complete brochure.
421 W. Cotter Port Aransas, Texas
78373
(361) 749-5919 1-800-45-COAST
Website : www.portaransas.org
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Corpus
Christi Hotels
Rockport
Hotels
Port
Aransas Hotels
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Hotels |
Port
Aransas Texas ForumSubject:
Port Aransas
Dear
TE, In looking at your great site, I came across the [page] on Port Aransas, Texas.
Since
I was a small child my parents made it a point for to take us to Port Aransas
for two weeks during our yearly summer vacation. I am now 73 years old and up
until about 5 or 6 years ago I had made it a point to enjoy a few days at Port
Aransas nearly every year.
As a child the feeling of joy and elation never
failed to come over me at the first sight of the rolling waves at the beach. That
feeling has stayed with me all these years. My dad was an avid fisherman and we
lived on a dry land farm near Ballinger,
Texas. He and my mother had five kids of their own and raised two other's
who had lost their parents. However, by the time that I came along the only other
child left at home was my brother who was just older than me. We enjoyed the fishing
and romping on the beach and in those rolling waves.
On one occasion,
my oldest sister joined us on our trip. She was about 25 and was very confident
of her svelte figure. She came out with a chartreuse green strapless bathing suit
and joined me in the surf for fun. The waves were strong that day and we were
playing in the roughest of them. An unusually big wave came over us and when my
sister came out of it she was topless. I can still recall the look of pure horror
on her face and since the wave was gone-by, there was no water to plunge herself
into until the next wave came along. Needless to add, I laughed until I hurt.
Over
the years this treasured vacation spot has changed so much. I recall back in the
early 1940's that the motels where we stayed were very plain with only the necessities
provided. Later we stayed at the Gulf Shores Motel, Seagull Motel and Lone Palm,
as well as others. Now there are luxery motels in great numbers all over the island.
There were lots of people who vacationed there during the early years but now
it is swamped with vacationers.
When I was about 10 years old (about 1944)
I went to the movies on some evenings. The movie house was a tile brick building
with no roof. Amazed me! Then when I was nine years old we went on a deep sea
fishing trip. When we started fishing the captain of the boat strapped me and
that huge rod and reel into my seat. " Hey", I thought -" I'm nine years old and
have been fishing since I was five! I know how to fish with a rod and reel!!"
I want to tell you that when that first King fish took the bait, I was delighted
to be strapped in the chair and more than happy to have the fishing reel tied
down as well. I caught 5 Kingfish that were so long their tails hung over the
side of the barrel that they were dropped into, head first. My dad only caught
four of these giant fish and I never let him forget that "I out-fished him." I
was so attached to Port Aransas that just seeing those little signs along the
roadway, across the state, "Port Aransas - Where they bite everyday!" would cause
me to long to go back there.
The fish seem to have abandoned the Gulf around
Port Aransas. The last few times that we have gone there and fished our luck has
been pretty bad. We caught fish alright, but not those really good eating fish.
Others may like the shark, red tuna, Yellow Jack and such but I had rather not
eat those fish. I have been shocked that even the "Hard Head's" (rough catfish)
are now a protected species because their numbers are so few.
I do hope
to make it to Port Aransas one more time, before I join my parents and siblings
on that big fishing trip in the sky. - Rosemary Bradley Davis, San Angelo,
Texas, July 14, 2007
Subject:
Port Aransas
Dear TE, This may not be important but it left quite an impression
on me. I visited Port Aransas years ago and drove onto the ferry that takes your
car across the channel. There were dolphins jumping on both sides of the front
of the ferry and it made a stunning view. It would make a great photo. I tell
this to all my friends and apologize that I have no photos to share. I just couldn't
help but remember that when I came across your information on Port Aransas. Anyway,
just a little side note. By the way, just by luck I came across your magazine.
My jaw dropped when I found it and can't believe the fantastic information. Good
job!!! - Beverly Santos, June 07, 2007
Anyone
wishing to share travel, history or photos of Port Aransas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser |
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