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Cameron County TX
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South Padre Island Hotels



SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

Cameron County, Texas Gulf Coast

26° 6' 43" N, 97° 10' 11" W 26.111944, -97.169722

US 77 South to Hwy 100
Hwy 100 East 26 miles to causeway
Access via free causeway
18 miles S of Harlingen
18 miles NE of Brownsville, the county seat
ZIP code 78597
Area code 956
Population: 2,778 Est. (2019)
2,816 (2010) 2,422 (2000)

Book Hotel Here › South Padre Island Hotels

Queen Isabella Causeway
Queen Isabella Causeway
Photo courtesy Reba Warbington 2001

South Padre Island is connected to Port Isabel by the two-mile-long Queen Isabella Causeway (Park Road 100)

Sand dunes in South Padre Island
An abandoned boat in the dunes by the Gulf
Photo courtesy Reba Warbington 2002

South Padre Island, Texas

"South Padre Island is a resort community on Park Road 100 at the southernmost tip of Padre Island in Cameron County. It is flanked on three sides by the Gulf of Mexico, Brazos Santiago Pass, and the Laguna Madre. Brownsville is eighteen miles southwest. The history of the southern part of Padre Island dates from Spanish exploration in the sixteenth century. From the late nineteenth century into the 1950s the only way to reach the area was by ferry. The island had become a resort during the mid-nineteenth century but was not developed until the 1950s after the completion of the Queen Isabella Causeway, now the Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier. A $2.2 million swing bridge connecting Port Isabel to South Padre Island was completed in February 1954. The small prosperity the area gained was partly stifled in 1967 by Hurricane Beulah, which destroyed much of Port Isabel, the gateway to the island, as well as the town of South Padre Island. In 1978 South Padre Island had a population estimated at 314. Ten years later it had an estimated 1,012 residents and 111 businesses. Its main industry is tourism; peak seasons are late winter, spring, and summer. The community, in which many of the businesses and private homes are owned by foreigners, caters to an international clientele and, during Spring Break, to college students from the entire United States. Most of the businesses are related to the tourist trade-hotels, restaurants, condominiums, and souvenir shops. In 1990 South Padre Island had a population of 1,677 and 109 businesses. The population was 2,422 with 243 businesses in 2000."

Alicia A. Garza, “South Padre Island, TX,”
Handbook of Texas Online, accessed April 01, 2023, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/south-padre-island-tx. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

South Padre Island, TX - Padre Island Casino
Padre Island Casino Hotel
Vintage photo courtesy Steve Cruse

South Padre Island Stories

The Lost Treasure of Padre Island
by Murray Montgomery

"Treasure hunting is one of those things which tends to stir the imagination of most folks – and the thought of looking for buried treasure has always fascinated me, as well. ... One of my favorites is the story about John Singer and his buried fortune on Padre Island. ... and today’s treasure hunters are still searching for his lost gold." more



South Padre Island Trips


TX -  Baby sea turtles at sea
Jase Graves photo, June 2017
Out of My Shell at South Padre by Jase Graves

  • Out of My Shell at South Padre by Jase Graves
    "[W]hen my family and I were on vacation at South Padre Island recently, I jumped at the chance to witness a release of newly hatched Kemp's ridley sea turtles by Sea Turtle, Inc., an organization devoted to the conservation of all marine turtle species-and to the sleep deprivation of turtle-crazed tourists...." more


  • Saddle Sore at South Padre by Jase Graves


  • Dolphins and Fireworks and Toto-Oh My! by Jase Graves



  • Queen Isabella Causeway
    Another view of the Queen Isabella Causeway
    Photo courtesy Terri Taylor, March 2005

    South Padre Island Tourists Information:
  • South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
    600 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX 78597
    956-761-4412
    http://www.spichamber.com/
  • The South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
    1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373)
    http://www.sopadre.com/

  • Storm & sunset in LagunaMadre
    Sunset and storm
    over Laguna Madre

    Photo courtesy
    Reba Warbington 2001

    South Padre Island Forum
  • Subject: Padre Island
    Our family lived in Weslaco, TX. in the late 40's. One of my fondest memories was our family arriving at Port Isabel with our beach umbrella, folding chairs, Coca Cola "ice chest" and a picnic lunch. We, along with others, waited at the dock for the converted Navy boat to take us to Padre Island, where we climbed into an Army half-track which drove down the beach delivering the eager beach lovers. As the truck drove down the beach, we would look for a place to spend the day. To get the truck to stop, you rapped on the top of its cab and the driver knew to stop so you could unload. The trucks went up and down the beach all day long delivering and picking up people. - Peter H. Hamel, Houston, TX, September 17, 2005

  • TX Cameron County 1920s Map
    Cameron County 1907 postal map showing Brownsville, Isabel, Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre
    From Texas state map #2090
    Courtesy Texas General Land Office

    Take a road trip

    Texas Gulf Coast

    South Padre Island, Texas Area Cities & Towns:
    Brownsville the county seat
    Port Isabel
    Harlingen
    See Cameron County | Texas Gulf Coast

    Book Hotel Here:
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    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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