Andy
Bowie Park
Located on the northern end of South Padre Island, this
park provides beachfront picnic pavilions, concessions, children’s playground,
shower facilities, 18 full hook-up RV spaces, and a ranger station. Group rental
facilities are also available with prior arrangement for beach parties. 761-3704
Edwin K. Atwood Park
Located 1.5 miles
north of Andy Bowie Park on Park Road 100, this park offers a beachfront picnic
pavilion, a concession, and a beach access road, which provides twenty miles of
beach driving. 761-3704 Aquatic Sports
South
Padre Island is a dream come true for those that love to play in the water or
soar through the sky. There are several places on the Island to rent just about
anything you can think of that will let you propel through the water, swim with
the fish or soar with  the
birds. Jet skis, waverunners, kayaks, and banana boats, just to name a few, can
be rented for as little as one-half hour to whatever your heart desires. Kiteboarding
and windsurfing are also popular water sports on the Island, and the shallow waters
of the Laguna Madre and the brisk winds provide the perfect playground for these
activities. There is also a wide array of opportunities to tour the Island by
land and water. From amphibious vehicles to catamarans – we have it all. Pick
your favorite and make a day of it! Don’t forget to try your hand at parasailing
or ski diving. Our birds are friendly and enjoy the company. Swimming with the
fish on a half-day or full-day snorkeling trip is another experience that should
be had by all. South Padre Island is the perfect spot to try those water sports
you have only seen on television or read about in book. Remember all the times
you have said – I want to try that someday? Someday is here – experience South
Padre Island! Diving the Devils Elbow
South
Padre diving was born from that adventurous spirit which leads you from your office
door to those hot sandy beaches of the Mexican border. Share this excitement with
the other divers in the deep blue, unspoiled waters of the Texas Riviera, territory
of Spanish Galleons and the pirates of the Spanish Main. The Devils Elbow
is the curve or bight above and below Port Mansfield, Texas. Throughout the centuries,
ships of all types have wrecked and sunk along this South Texas coastline from
the Spanish Platora fleet to old gun runners and trawl boats. South Padre Island
offers a plethora of diving locations including the vertical reefs of the oil
platforms, the many wrecks that lay along the Devils Elbow and the delicate deep
water reefs. Texas Parks and Wildlife has been active for many years in
the artificial reef program that makes South Padre Island the premier dive destination
in the Gulf of Mexico. The Liberty Ship reef system is comprised of 3 Liberty
Ships with 13 oil platforms lying on the oceans floor. The area around the ships
serves as a habitat system for the swarming rainbow of colors produced by the
wildlife. The Texas Underwater Park, a short 7 miles from the jetties, holds a
Navy work barge, two oil platforms, and several trawl boats and of course now,
South Padre Island hosts the premier wreck extravaganza in the Southern United
States, The Texas Clipper. The offshore natural gas industry has provided
giant vertical reefs with their structures where whale sharks, manta rays, and
the giant game fish of the Gulf of Mexico roam like guards on sentry duty in and
around the rigs. Seven and one half fathom reef is a shallow reef system that
can be reached from South Padre Island as well as Catlin’s Place, a delicate deep
water reef system that rivals the reefs in Florida. When choosing your next dive
vacation, think South Padre Island, the complete destination resort. For more
information see go to: www.divesouthpadre.com
Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center
One of many big treats for the nature enthusiast is the dolphin. South Padre
Island has its very own families of Bottlenose dolphins that live in the rich
waters of the Laguna Madre bay and can be seen near shore playing and frolicking
in the waves. Our dolphins are wild and free and can be seen year round. The husband
wife team of George and Scarlet Colley has been studying, filming and documenting
the dolphin families for over 10 years and have named most of the dolphins. There
are special white dolphins like Natcho, Angel, Titan, BooBoo and many more. Some
are easily recognized by their unusual shaped dorsal fins like CanOpener, Cookie,
Twister and Sharkey. They live their entire lives here raising their babies and
feeding on the rich food sources the surrounding waters of the Island have to
offer.  The
Colley’s took their love of the Island and the dolphin one step further when they
opened the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center. The Center is a great
place for local students to take a field trip and for those schools unable to
do field trips or those too far from South Padre Island; the Colley’s take the
field trip experience to the school.
Make sure your next trip to South
Padre Island includes a trip to the research center. The Dorsal Fin Study is on
display at the center along with several videos, and photos of the dolphins and
the interesting things they do. The Dorsol Fin Study is a product of the Wild
Dolphin Study Group, which does daily filming and documenting of dolphin behavior
and fins. The dolphins being documented are wild dolphins that are never fed,
swam with or touched. If you want to get up close and personal with our
dolphins, there are many dolphin watch boats that tour our waters to see the dolphins
or you can join the study team for a private tour. Either way our dolphins will
thrill all who see them. Please remember it is against the law to swim with the
dolphins, feed or touch wild dolphins. For more information call 956-299-0629,
stop by 110-A N. Garcia, Port Isabel or check out their website at www.spinaturecenter.com
Fishing
Where can you go that you can
fish all day and have the restaurant of your choice cook your catch to your specifications?
Get ready to bend your pole along the surf, on the bay or on a deep sea fishing
trip in the Gulf. There are approximately 600 different species, but the most
commonly caught fish are the red or black drum, spotted sea trout and southern
flounder in the bay, and tarpon, red snapper, king mackerel, amberjack and pompano
in the gulf. Choose from over 60 different charter companies and personal guides
to take you on the fishing trip of your life. The State of Texas requires all
residents and non-residents to have a fishing license. There are some circumstances
in which a license might not be required, please check with your captain to determine
if you will need a license or go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us
for more information. For more information call (956) 761-4412.  Golf
South Padre Island Golf Club offers a 18-hole championship golf course and
is situated across the Laguna Madre Bay, a short 10 minute drive from South Padre
Island. This par-72 course is home of the Texas Senior Open and presents an absolutely
beautiful lateral view of the Island. Decidedly different with rolling green hills
and “wildlife corridors” of native brush, these grounds offer an oasis, a wildlife
refuge and golfer’s paradise all rolled into one. Golf packages are offered by
several of the Island’s top resort hotels and condominiums. For more information
call (956) 943-5678.
Isla Blanca Park
On
the southernmost tip of South Padre Island, this park is the crown jewel of the
Cameron County Park System. Over one mile of clean, white beach along the Gulf
of Mexico offers abundant beachfront recreational facilities. Enjoy our picnic
and playground areas, the south fishing jetty, restaurants, clubs, boat ramp,
University of Texas Pan American exhibits, and the Chapel By The Sea non-denominational
church. In close proximity to the park is a full-marina that offers daily fishing
charters, restaurants, dolphin watch trips, snorkeling, parasailing, boat sales
and repairs, boat fuel and storage and many other amenities. Schlitterbahn Beach
Waterpark is also next door to the park. With over 600 R.V. spaces, Isla Blanca
is not only one of the largest parks in Texas, but also the best. For more information
call (956) 761- 5494. Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Cutting through the tall marsh grass are two boardwalks made of recycled material.
Each boardwalk ends in a blind that allows people to become an unobtrusive observer
of a host of birds, fish, turtles, dragonflies, lizards,and an alligator or two.
Located just off to the side of the South Padre Island Convention Centre, the
trail starts at the Warbler Rest Area, a plot of ground seeded with flowers designed
to attract the winged creatures on a year-round basis. Located 4 miles north of
the Queen Isabella Causeway. For more information call 800-SOPADRE. Point
Isabel Lighthouse Complex
The Point Isabel Lighthouse Complex, located
at 421 Queen Isabella Blvd., is home to the newly renovated Point Isabel Lighthouse
and the Keeper’s Cottage. In 1852, Congress approved the construction of a beacon
in the Laguna Madre to support the growing ship industry of the South Texas Coast.
The Point Isabel Lighthouse was built to protect and guide ships through Brazos
Santiago and the barrier islands. During the Civil War, the light was closed and
the tower was used as a lookout for both the Confederate and Union armies. The
lighthouse was lit again after the war. In 1880, the lighthouse was renovated
to accommodate a new light system. The lighthouse was officially closed in 1905.
In 1952, the lighthouse was opened as a state park and is the only lighthouse
on the Texas coast to be opened to the public. A replica of the Keeper’s Cottage
houses the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, historic displays, and tourist information.
The Lighthouse Complex is open daily, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call (956) 943-2262.
Port Isabel Historical Museum
The Port
Isabel Historical Museum located at 317 E. Railroad, housed in the historic Champion
Building, built in 1899 as a dry goods store and residence, is one of the oldest
structures in Port Isabel. Today, the Museum is a state-ofthe- art facility that
houses numerous hands on exhibits, audio presentations and videos that commemorate
the colorful history of the Port Isabel area, the stage of some of the most important
chapters of Texas, Mexican and American History. The museum has two exhibit levels,
a theater, gift shop and one of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from
the U.S. Mexican War. On the south end of the building is the famous “fish mural”
painted in 1906 by a local fisherman. The Port Isabel Historical Museum is open
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call (956) 943- 7602 for more information
and current admission prices. Sea Turtle, Inc.
Turtles have feelings too. Did you know that picking a turtle up by its shell
without supporting the tummy is like being lifted by our finger, toe nails or
hair? Founded by Illa Loetscher, affectionately known as the “Turtle Lady”, this
enviro-friendly organization is dedicated to caring for and educating the public
about endangered sea turtles. Located at 6617 Padre Blvd. For more information
call (956) 761-1720 or go to www.seaturtleinc.com. Open Tuesday through Sunday,
10:00 am - 4:00 pm. If you see a sea turtle, call the TURTLE HOTLINE (956) 380-9677.
 South
Padre Island Visitors Center Sand Castle
The South Padre Island Visitors
Center is home to one of the largest year-round sand castles in the State of Texas.
Built and maintained by Sons of the Beach Sand Castle Wizards, world renowned
sand castle builders, the sand castle will change with the seasons. Formerly located
at the South Padre Island Convention Centre, the sand castle has long been a year-round
treat for Island guests. The South Padre Island Visitors Center is located at
600 Padre Blvd. Stop by and take those memorable photos with the sand castle.
The sand castle can be viewed and photographed 7 days week, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center A satellite of the World Birding
Center, which was estab- 31 lished in 1999 through Texas Parks and Wildlife and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is located
just south of the South Padre Island Convention Centre on the north end of the
Island.
The new facility, scheduled to open in the Spring of 2009, includes
a 10,000 square foot Visitor’s Center with exhibits that take visitors on an educational
voyage from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, through the dunes on our beautiful
beaches and into the Laguna Madre Bay. These exhibits will teach you that nature
includes our dunes, the seaweed, the plants on the dunes and much, much more.
The Visitor’s Center also features an auditorium, a gift shop, a public meeting
room, an observation tower and offices of the South Padre Island Economic Development
Corporation. The center will also feature 3,262 linear feet of boardwalks and
5 bird blinds that will run along the wetlands adjacent to the existing Laguna
Madre Nature Trail boardwalks located at the South Padre Island Convention Centre.
South Padre Island is a haven for birds and birders, as well as all nature
enthusiasts. The impressive diversity of birds during a migration “fall out” is
a spectacular viewing experience and the observation tower at the new Birding
Center will be a popular place during both the Spring and Fall phenomenon.  Birding
is the most dynamic growth sector within the outdoor recreation market and the
new South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center will provide both experienced
and novice birders an exceptional facility with stateof- the-art exhibits and
interpretive materials. The Center will provide scientific educational opportunities
to Valley schools, locals and visiting families, allowing them to learn about
our area. Mostly the SPI Birding and Nature Center hopes to teach everyone what
a healthy and thriving ecosystem is, how important it is to our existence, and
how to protect and preserve our nature. For more information about the Center
call 956- 761-4522 or the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce at 956-761-4412.
Funds raised by the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation
were used to develop this project. South Padre
Island Convention Centre
Built in 1992, this modern, airy, and colorful
building located four miles north of the Queen Isabella causeway was created to
host a wide variety of events. Primary facilities include 22,500 square feet of
column free exhibit space, 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms, a conference
theater for 300, and a gorgeous view of the Laguna Madre Bay. This is the site
of spectacular sunsets, a wide stretch of sand flats, (which allows vehicular
access to the bay) and miles of undeveloped coast. Visitors have access across
the nearby marsh grass by taking the Laguna Madre Nature Trail, a boardwalk system
that allows nature lovers to watch birds and to spot our resident alligator family.
(See NATURE TOURISM) The South Padre Island Convention
Centre is a top-rated venue to book a meeting, convention, concert or special
event. Call 800-OK-PADRE or email convmtgs@sopadre.com
The Texas Clipper – World Class Wreck Diving
The Texas Clipper lays 17 miles off of the coast of South Padre Island in
the blue waters of the Gulf Stream. From the very beginning she was destined to
become a Texas ship. She was first commissioned by the Navy as the Texas
Queens and served her country in Iwo Jima during WW II. After WW II, she was commissioned
as a luxury cruise liner that traded in the Mediterranean ports of call. From
1965 to 1996, she served as a training ship for sea cadets at Texas A&M Galveston.
In 1998, the reefing project began to bed the Texas Clipper as a world
class artificial reef near South Padre Island. Great care to the environment and
diver safety planning as been the priority of all agencies involved in creating
this world class dive destination. Late in 2007 The Texas Clipper was sunk
in 134 feet of water with her sun deck rising up to 50 feet from the surface making
her an ideal location for all levels of divers. The ship has water passages on
every deck in order for the divers to view the barnacles, corals, sponges, clams,
and gorgonians that will grow on her 170 thousand square feet of substrate. The
sea life from crabs to reef fish, whale sharks, and rays will benefit from her
bounty. Her decks will hold Warsaw grouper, snapper, cobia, rock hind, Spanish
hog fish, amberjack, African pompano, and king mackerel to name a few. Her
proud Texas maritime heritage will enhance her legacy as she attracts divers from
all over the world to the oceans floor off of South Padre Island. For more information
on diving The Texas Clipper go to www.divesouth
padre.com  Treasures
of the Gulf Museum
The Treasures of the Gulf Museum, located at 317
E. Railroad, was opened in 2000 and tells the story of the three ill-fated Spanish
ships that wrecked off the northern end of South Padre Island in 1554 near present
day Port Mansfield. The exhibit incorporates murals, artifacts and hands-on activities
to interpret this fascinating event that occurred only 30 miles north of Port
Isabel. Actual artifacts from the shipwreck such as silver planchas, or disks,
coins, and weapons are on display. The Children’s Discovery lab is popular with
the young and the young at heart. This hands-on exhibit teaches visitors about
marine Archeology. Hands-on displays allow visitors to try on period clothing
and map out a treasure site. The children’s section also has a smallscale ship
for kids to imagine themselves sailing waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The museum
also has a “ship” theater and a nautical-inspired gift shop. The Treasures of
the Gulf Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am. to 4:00 pm. Call (956)
943-7602 for more information and current admission prices.
The
University of Texas Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory
The Coastal
Studies Laboratory studies and exhibits marine life such as crustaceans and marine
vertebrates, and plant life. A satellite of the University of Texas Pan American,
the lab is open to the public Sunday through Friday, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The lab
is also open for group tours, by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 8:00
am to 1:30 pm. Located in Isla Blanca Park, near the north pavilion, there is
no charge to visit the lab, but there is a $4.00 per vehicle charge to enter the
park. For additional information or to schedule a tour call (956) 761- 2644, e-mail
coastal@panam.edu or check their website at http://www.panam.edu/dept/csl
Whaling Wall #53
Another stunningly beautiful
site to see at the Convention Centre is the famous “Whaling Wall #53” by acclaimed
environmental artist Wyland. Wyland wanted to show homage to whales and other
creatures of the sea by devoting his talent to painting 100 walls across the world.
His “Whaling Walls” serve as a perfect way to capture the grandeur of his subjects
since drawing giant whales on small canvases became extremely limiting. The walls
of the South Padre Island Convention Centre provided the 53rd life size canvas
for the Wyland project. Spanning 153 feet in length, covering 3 walls and 23 feet
in height, it took over 111 gallons of paint, 100 volunteers, and nearly four
days to complete. Over 2000 Valley school children plus hundreds of other spectators
were allowed to watch Wyland work throughout the week. The wall was at no cost
to the town and state. Wyland donated his time and artwork, while local residents,
private sponsors, and public organizations donated the paint, scaffolding, air
guns, and lighting. This community involvement paved the way for “Whaling Wall
#53” to be not only the first of its kind in Texas, but along the entire Gulf
Coast. With the approval of the artist, Whaling Wall #53 received a face
lift during the summer of 2007 by a local artist. To view this magnificent wall
24 hours a day stop by the SPI Convention Centre at 7355 Padre Blvd. |
