If you’re looking for a break that includes sun, sand, water, warmth, and fun around every turn, you’ll want to make sure you consider the Texas Gulf Coast and Port A. It’s a fun, interesting place with plenty of history and little-known Port Aransas information and facts you’ll love to discover about your home away from home.
Unique
Many inhabited islands throughout the world often have a handful of villages along with a larger city. Port A and Mustang Island stand out from the crowd. Port A is the only developed city on the whole 18-mile-long barrier island. Port A is a small five-mile sliver of the whole.
The Name
Like many locales, Port A went through a few name changes before one stuck. The island itself was first called Wild Horse Island, then Mustang Island due to the wild “mestenos” horses brought to the island by the Spaniards in the 1800s. Ropesville was named for Elihu Harrison Ropes, who purchased Mustang Island and dredged a channel in the 1880s. By the 1890s, the town became known as Tarpon, due to the large numbers of fish being caught off the shores. By 1910, the town was known for a successful sea turtle export business, and residents began calling the area Port Aransas.
Buried Treasure
Port A was a location of pirates in the early 19th century, from about 1800 to the early 1820s. One famed pirate, Captain Jean Lafitte, and his buccaneers spent time in the area, with Port A being a favorite “haunt,” and he supposedly buried his treasure here. It’s said the treasure is marked by a Spanish silver dagger laid on its side with a silver spike driven through the hilt. Live like Captain Lafitte and his crew for a few hours and take the Red Dragon Pirate Cruise through the Lydia Ann Channel.
Port A Nicknames
Port Aransas is easily shortened to Port A. Its second nickname is the Fishing Capital of Texas. It offers deep sea fishing, bay fishing, and many other opportunities. It’s also a draw for competitive fishing, hosting several tournaments throughout the spring and summer.
Knowing More About Port A
You came to Port A to explore and experience all the excitement, fun, rest, and relaxation during a getaway with loved ones. After you learn more about the area, enjoy a stress-free, worry-free stay when you book a vacation rental with Sandcastle Condos. Book an efficiency unit all the way up to a four-bedroom unit for a larger group of trivia seekers. Enjoy access to private outdoor spaces like a balcony or patio. Make a meal in the fully equipped kitchen, then spread out in an open living area afterward.
Call us today to start planning a trivia-filled visit to Port A!
