Since Hurricane Harvey struck in August, Port Aransas has reopened 2,000 vacation homes, hotels and restaurants and continues to implement major upgrades to its beach towns.
The 18 mile seaside community of Port Aransas on Mustang Island is welcoming back throngs of tourists for what’s expected to be a busy summer season. The island’s beaches are in great shape, while its hotels, restaurants and vacation communities continue to reopen with major upgrades, expansions and improvements since Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas island in August 2017. Known as Texas’s fishing capital, Port Aransas is welcoming anglers back to its channels, back bays and public piers starting this summer to catch their favorite species. While fishing tournaments take place throughout the season, the two biggest include the 25th Annual Fishing Break Tournament from June 22 to 23, and the 83rd Deep Sea Roundup, claimed to be the oldest of its kind on the Gulf Coast, from July 12 to 15. The destination’s Hampton Inn is expected to reopen by August 2018 with the Holiday Inn opening this fall.
Upcoming developments from Cinnamon Shore, Palmilla Beach, Sunflower Beach and other tourism partners call to double the number of accommodations to 8,000 and reach 10 million visitors in the next five years.
Cinnamon Shore, an upscale master-planned beachfront, family- and pedestrian-friendly community, features 200 single family beach homes and 85 Town Center residences with poolside restaurants and retail space opening this summer. 2,100-2,400 square feet penthouses are priced from $790,000 and come with private elevators. Town Center retail spaces feature a market, bottle shop, coal-fire pizza restaurant with outdoor seating and a candy and ice cream store. Cinnamon Shore homes range from $500,000 up to $4 million. Lots are priced from $150,000 to $1.4 million. Cinnamon Shore’s owner, Sea Oats Group, is also investing $1.3 billion in new vacation homes on a 300-acre expansion.
Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Club incorporates the relaxed personality of a beach town with the beauty and elegance of a luxury resort. This Mark Schnell-designed, master planned community is reminiscent of Florida’s highly acclaimed Rosemary Beach – where meticulously planned streetscapes epitomize walkable urbanism, invite connectivity and friendly interaction. New luxury two-bedroom seaside condos opened over Memorial Day weekend starting in the $500,000 price range and featuring open living areas, covered garages and large covered balconies. One-bedroom condos can range from $395,000. Palmilla Beach homesites start in the $200,000’s and go up to $1.4 million. Single-family homes can range from 1,800 square feet to 6,000 square feet and range in price from the $700,000’s to up to $4 million for the larger-sized home option, GlobeSt.com learns. Palmilla Beach plans to open a mixed-use development that could include a fitness facility, gelataria and a coffee shop.
Sunflower Beach Resort & Residences, nestled among 50 acres of protected dune preserves, features 21 single level poolside condos and is developing 25 new ultra-luxury one- and two-bedroom beach cabins priced from $382,000 to $499,000 in a new community called The Camp. The planned mix of custom-built homes, luxury beach cabins and modern condos are complemented by a central beach club, direct beach access and a short walk to downtown Port Aransas.In other developments, a major 2,000-person conference center is being planned, as well as a large sports complex and amphitheater. Port Aransas will also be the site of this year’s Texas qualifying events for the 2018 World Food Championships, from October 3 to 6.
Photos courtesy of Port Aransas/Mustang Island Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
