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Imagine a beautiful tropical Island with miles and miles of unspoiled beaches. It lies in the sun beside the sparkling Gulf of Mexico. It is a place where sparkling beaches, warm water, friendly hospitality and relaxing activities come together. It's not your imagination, it's the ideal vacation paradise, it's South Padre Island.



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 Port Isabel Texas Lighthouse Cam

This cam is located at
Designer Consigner
407 East Maxan Street, Port Isabel, TX (956) 943-5095‎
 


 




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The Museums of Port Isabel is a complex consisting of three diverse facilities, the Port Isabel Historic Museum, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, and the Point Isabel Lighthouse. All three are within walking distance of each other and are open year around to the public.

 Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site

History: Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site consists of .9 acre in Port Isabel, Cameron County. The park was acquired by purchase from private owners, Lon C. Hill and the Port Isabel Realty Company, in 1950 and was opened to the public in 1952. In September 1996, a $320,000 Visitors Center was completed and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department turned over the daily operation of Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Park to the City of Port Isabel, according to a 1993 agreement. While the operation and daily maintenance of the lighthouse and Visitors Center transfers to the city, Texas Parks and Wildlife retains ownership of the state park and will be responsible for any major repairs.

In the 1800s, the low-lying Texas coast made charting a seagoing course extremely difficult, and a number of captains requested that something be done. The Port Isabel Lighthouse was constructed in 1852, near sites of Civil War Battle of Palmito Ranch (1865) and Mexican War Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.

The old Texas lighthouses declined in importance over the years. Newer towers with more powerful fixtures were built at the turn of the century, and the Depression years meant that less money was available for keeping the lighthouses lit. The emergence of railroads provided a direct link between Corpus Christi and the interior of Mexico, and this meant less commercial shipping. As a result, the Port Isabel light was extinguished in 1905. The lighthouse fell into neglect until the Texas State Parks Board provided funds for restoration in 1947. Dedicated as a state park in 1952, the historic landmark has become a popular tourist attraction.

The restoration of the 72 foot lighthouse was completed in 2000. The lighthouse was returned to the appearance it had following its last major operational renovation in 1880. The restoration project involved extensive metal casting and fabrication, masonry and structural repairs, new coatings and site development.

 

The Center: The center is a replica of the original lighthouse keeper's cottage and surrounding decorative fence. It is staffed by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, whose offices are located here. The building also includes restrooms and maintenance facilities and houses an interpretive exhibit highlighting the history of the lighthouse and the old Fort Polk site it occupies.

Activities: Of the 16 lighthouses originally constructed along the Texas coast, Port Isabel is the only one open to the public. With a perch 50 feet above the ground, it is always popular with photographers and other visitors, because they can enjoy great views of South Padre Island and the beaches. In fact, a number of couples have climbed the 75 winding stairs, including 3 short ladders, to exchange wedding vows on top of the tower.

Facilities: The grassy knoll where the lighthouse sits is ideal for strolling and relaxing, and the facilities are for historical study and scenic viewing. Picnic tables are also available.

Directions: The park is located on the Lower Laguna Madre in the City of Port Isabel, approximately 26 miles east of US Highway 77/83 on State Highway 100. The Lighthouse is 72 feet high, so you can't miss it.

Elevation, Weather, and Schedule Information: Elevation: 15. Weather: Average annual rainfall 25.4; average January minimum 51; average July maximum 93. Open: Summer hours are 10am to 6pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday. Winter Hours are 9am-5pm 7-days a week. ( last tour tickets sold 1 hour prior to closing. )

Admission: Tours are given 7-days a week. Single Ticket: Adults $3, Seniors (55 and over) $2, Students $1 (5 years old to college) Combination Ticket: Admission to the Lighthouse, the Port Isabel Historical Museum, and the Treasures of the Gulf. Adults $7, Seniors (55 and over) $5, Students $2 (5 years old to college)

Area Attractions: For information on the Port Isabel Historical Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum go to www.portisabelmuseums.com. Resort facilities are available across the Queen Isabella Causeway at South Padre Island. The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and the Cities of Brownsville, and Matamoros, Mexico, are some other nearby attractions.

For more information about the park operation, contact the park. For information on other state parks, call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112.

     

    

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suites, 200 infinity pool, full concierge services, vacation ownership and fractional interests available, full service restaurant on-site, beach front, breathtaking ocean views, in-house financing available, full service spa, south padre island lodging and rentals, attractions offers go-carts and four-wheeler rentals, christ of the fishermen located at wells point in isla blanca county park on south padre island, dolphin and nature research center providing an interactive look at sea creatures in order to teach people about dolphins in the wild and other sea animals this center offers a hands on experience as well as teach about conservation, fishbones fishing pier, gladys porter zoo a 31 acre preserve with more than 1, 800 mammals, birds, and reptiles, located at ringgold and sixth streets in brownsville, gravity park world s tallest reverse bungee, skycoaster, tx tallest bungee jump, trampoline, climbing wall, roller coaster go carts, arcade, and kiddie go-carts and trampoline, island equestrian center with horseback riding on the beach north of city limits, laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge a 45, 000 acre federal preserve for wildlife and bird watching on the mainland, laguna madre nature trail next to the convention centre and whaling wall no 53, the laguna madre nature trail is a 1, 500 foot boardwalk that extends across four acres of wetlands containing informative signs about dune systems and bird species that frequent the area, the nature trail provides visitors with the opportunity to observe many species of birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat the idea of the laguna madre nature trail was conceived by naturalist ed hawkins it is dedicated to his memory, los ebanos the valley's new unique 82 acre bird and butterfly preserve stroll thru the gardens, hike the nature trails, sit and enjoy the water birds on the lake, or just relax with a book in the pavillion, matamoros, mexico bargain shopping for silver, leather goods, and handicrafts at vibrant mexican markets traditional dining and historical museums thirty minutes from the island, port isabel lighthouse an 1853 era lighthouse with panoramic views of the laguna madre bay, rio grande valley bird butterfly paradise located 2 miles west of los fresnos if you love nature, birds, and tropical gardens, you will love walking through this paradise, schlitterbahn beach water park texas newest waterpark on the beautiful beaches of south padre island splash into more than a dozen family water attractions, including the world's largest surfing ride and 5 story sand castle, sea rocket spi experience an adrenaline ride through the laguna madre or gulf of mexico in our uscg approved 14 passenger power boat, sea turtle established by ila loetscher the turtle lady, who dedicated her life to saving and rehabilitating sea turtles, including the endangered kemps ridley, the port isabel historical museums exhibits include the history of the laguna madre area, treasures of the gulf exhibit, exhibit of spanish fleet of 1554 as well as mexican war exhibit, three flags over padre offers go-carts, miniature golf, spaceball, a ferris wheel, and a video arcade, university of texas-pan american coastal studies laboratory several aquariums containing sealife indigenous to the area, as well as an extensive shell collection located in isla blanca park, whaling wall internationally-known environment artist, wyland, picked the south padre island convention centre as his canvas for whaling wall no 53 the giant mural featuring a pod of orcas commonly know as killer whales, covers three walls of the convention centre the life-size whales are illustrated in full color and are accompanied by other local sea life wyland's purpose for painting giant murals of marine mammals is to raise awareness of the dangers facing these wonderful creatures in addition to h

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