At nearly 90 years old, the Yacht Club Hotel in Port Isabel has seen better days. But thanks to efforts by the city of Port Isabel and the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation, the historic hotel will be restored and renovated as the city’s first culinary arts institute. PortIsabelCity Manager Edward Meza said the city has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development...
“Ground Control – Boca Chica … we are a go for lift off.” It won’t likely be Gov. Rick Perry uttering that message, but Perry did, today, announce the State will offer $2.3 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) to land SpaceX’s commercial launch facility around Boca Chica Beach. Perry explained that approval is contingent upon the agreement of all involved agencies and proper processing of required permits....
Officials with the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA) hosted a public hearing Tuesday evening at the South Padre Island Convention Center, and explained how area agencies are collaborating to develop a second causeway. Access to South Padre Island is currently provided by a single entry point – the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway. According to the Authority records, “Due to the high number of Island visitors, the (causeway) experiences...
The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Constellation is headed for Brownsville in the morning where it will be scrapped for its metal. The 62,000-ton carrier will be towed from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington and travel more than 16,000 miles around South America before arriving at the Port of Brownsville sometime in December. Foss Maritime says its tugboat Corbin Foss will tow the ship. The Kitsap Sun...
The 75th Texas International Fishing Tournament has come to an end as anglers and their families gathered for the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 3, at the South Padre Island Convention Center. With a total registration of 1245 anglers and 421 boats, the 75th saw an increase over last year’s registration numbers. Highlights included the 685# Blue Marlin broughThe 75th Texas International Fishing Tournament has come to an end...
Free fall shows return for second year to SPI Weekend evenings this fall on the Laguna Madre waterfront will once again be filled with the sounds of music. Twenty three bands spread out over 12 shows will make up this year’s South Padre Island Concerts on the Bay Series. “We have booked everything, openers and headliners, and we have some exciting people this year,” said Stormy Wall, one of the...
Ladies Kingfish Tournament expects 300 anglers This one is all about the women. The last of three big fishing tournament weekends, anglers will take to the water for the 33rd Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament on Saturday. But unlike the Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament and the Texas International Fishing Tournament that precede LKT, the only anglers allowed to compete are women. Sponsored by the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce,...
Port Isabel has a new Event and Cultural Center that officials hope will provide local businesses with opportunities and encourage Port Isabel and South Padre Island to continue to work together. The ECC recently opened near the PortIsabelHistoricalMuseum in the ChampionBuilding. ECC director Mari Galvan said the center will provide local businesses with many opportunities. It has an 8,000-square-foot ballroom named the Queen Isabella, which can be divided into...
Still aglow from news about SpaceX, Brownsville City Commissioners were still looking skyward Tuesday night as they discussed the city’s pursuit of funds to build a new terminal at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. Aviation Director Larry Brown said the initial phase of the project, which includes an environmental assessment and 20 percent of the design work, will be funded largely by the Federal Aviation Administration,...
A 685-pound blue marlin took top honors in the Offshore Division at the 75th Texas International Fishing Tournament that ended Sunday, Aug. 3 with the awards ceremony at the South Padre Island Convention Centre. With a total registration of 1,245 anglers and 421 boats, the 75th saw an increase over last year’s registration numbers. Highlights included the 685-pound blue marlin brought to the weigh-in dock on Friday by the...
