|
|
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
Nearby
Destinations
Corpus
Christi to the south, Rockport
to the north.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Corpus
Christi Hotels
Rockport
Hotels
Port
Aransas Hotels
More Hotels
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
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 Texas Forum
Subject:
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
|
|
|
