Point Isabel Lighthouse

I have made to South Padre Island. It was a good 3 hour drive, from Corpus Christi. To travel to to the most southern point in Texas. I believe the drive to get from Houston would take you a good 5 1/2 hours to drive to here. That gives you a good idea, how big this American state is.

The drive from Corpus Christi takes you inland heading west for 1/2 an hours. Then you pick up Texas highway 77, and it takes you south. Until you pick up Texas road 100, east. That road will take you into the coastal town of Port Isabel. This small town of 4,865 people most treasured landmark is there historic Point Isabel Lighthouse.

From Port Isabel you cross over a 2.4 bridge. Which brings you to the Southern Jewel of the Texas Gulf Coast, "South Padre Island". It felt just great to be here. The only down side was the weather. It had turned very cold overnight. With very strong Arctic winds that had somehow found there way to invade this tropical Paradise.

I checked into my room at the Ramada. I am very happy with the room at this hostel. It may easily prove to be the best accommodation on this trip. For $46 Canadian a night. The room includes free continental breakfast, and free Internet in the rooms. Also in this room which is spacious and clean, are 2 queen size beds. Also full bathroom, microwave and a bar fridge are enjoyable amenities. Also there is a small laundromat, in the hotel. This is a very important advantage for a traveler, living on the road.

I am going to do a posting on food, after this one so hang in there.

Since the weather was so cold. I decided to take a drive to see Brownsville, Texas. Which is a 24 mile drive from South Padre Island. I didn't really get to see much of the city. I shopped a little bit. I also found the Brownsville Airport. Located there is a chapter of the "Confederate Air Force. This group is one of the biggest organizations located in th U.S.A. That are very active in restoring and flying classic military aircraft.

The museum located at the Confederate Air force was closed. However some of the members were there. They were friendly and allowed me have a look at there collection. There were no classic fighters in there collection of airplanes. So no good reason to return to see it.

Here is some of the history and important information on the Point Isabel Lighthouse.

The "beacon" of the southern Texas coast in more ways than one, the Point Isabel Lighthouse is located in the tiny coastal community of Port Isabel, just across the Laguna Madre Bay from South Padre Island. During its active period, the Lighthouse guided mariners across the waters of the Laguna Madre and nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Today, it guides thousands of tourists, interested in getting a glimpse of Texas maritime history, to Port Isabel.

Built on a grassy bluff overlooking the Laguna Madre in 1852, the Point Isabel Light was first lit in 1853. The lighthouse itself is 57 feet tall, but the 25-foot high bluff it sits on gives it a total height of over 80 feet.

The Point Isabel Lighthouse was activated, deactivated and reactivated several times during its service period, including multiple times during the Civil War as it switched hands between the Confederacy and the Union troops in South Texas. However, in 1905 it was deactivated for good, although the government maintained the property for some two decades longer. After being bought and sold numerous times, the Point Isabel Lighthouse finally became the smallest state park in Texas in 1952. The Keeper's Cottage and other small out buildings were rebuilt to their original specifications in the late 90s, finalizing the restoration of this historic lighthouse.