From the lack of long ferry lines to the relatively few people on the beach, it looks as though the big summer rush is over on the island. However, as soon as the Labor Day weekend is over, we will begin to see the RV’s roll in and the influx of Winter Texans. These friendly folks generally stay for long periods of time, some for up to six or seven months.
The Texas Treasure Gambling Ship will not be returning to the Port Aransas area. It was a popular attraction for several years, offering a change-of-pace activity for both local residents and tourists. There are reports that the ship is being taken to Japan and all items left behind will be auctioned off.
When the fish are all caught (or got away), everyone has had enough sun, or if it should be rainy or chilly, there are other things to do in Port A. The Art Center for the Islands has a large display of visual arts presented by local artists as well as talent from all parts of the coastal bend. There are also classes and workshops held throughout the year.
The 12th annual Hope Devlin Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, August 9th. There are three age groups - 0-5 years, 6-10 years and 11-16 years. It is a very popular fishing event, and the first place prize in each age category is a new bicycle. After a morning of fishing, the kids are treated to a hot dog lunch. It’s hard to tell who has more fun - the kids and their morning of fishing or the rest of the family who all get together to make it a special day.
Port Aransas came out just fine when Dolly came to visit. We got much needed rain, and the winds were pretty strong for a day or two, but, thankfully, we received no damage. The tide always gets very high when any storm enters the gulf, but, after things calm down, there are usually lots of new shell treasures to be found. We wish our friends at South Padre good luck in their clean-up efforts.
Most people come to Port A for the fishing, the beach or birding. However, when we occasionally have a rainy or chilly day, our tourists might like to take advantage of the fine indoor activities available to them. The library has thousands of books, magazines and movies available for rent. The Civic Center has displays of Port Aransas history and ecology and the Lynn Gavit Marsh Bird Exhinit.
Also, the UT Marine Science Center has displays and movies covering many varieties of marine life.
For 73 years, the Deep Sea Roundup has been held here in Port A. This year it was held July 3 - 6, and even with rain dampening things part of the time, the crowds that attended and the fun had by all was bigger than ever. The participants in the Piggy Perch contest for ages 0 - 12 broke all records. The Roundup is an event that is great fun for those who enter and just as much fun for the many people who gathered at the weigh-ins and attended the fish fry on Sunday.
When you are not on the beach, fishing, or dining in one of the many excellent restaurants on the island, you and your family may want to visit the Marine Science Institute. Admission is free, and there are tanks desplaying seahorses, eels, oysters and many, many varietes of marine life. Free movies are also available covering numerous topics relating to sealife.
Many people do not know that Port Aransas has a large, fun-filled community pool. There is a new tube-style slide on the pools deep end, a climbing wall that tilts over the water (for those who lose their grip and fall), and at the shallow end, there is a board containing holes through which children can throw small footballs. The pool is open every day except Monday, and there is a small fee.
The Texas Treasure gambling ship has been taken away from its port in Port Aransas, and the possibility of it returning is not good at this time. There is a legal battle going on between the ship’s owners and operators, and there is little optimism that the ship will be returned. However, since our island has 15 miles of gorgeous beaches, all the fishing available a person could ask for, and many wonderful restaurants, tourists have plenty to do with family fun galore.