honeask

Yippee! I read somewhere that Galveston Island State Park is opening back up on March 21 and will be manned by volunteers. I am very excited to see that Texas decided this is a worthwhile park and is doing things to keep it. I have been past it many times since Ike rearranged things down there and a sad sight it was. We are day visitors to that park and it really saddened me to see the damage. Even if you are not a beach person, give it a try. I have found many treasures down on the West Beach. I am volunteering at the Houston Rodeo right now but guess who will be at Galveston Island State Park on March 21, even if I have to trade working shifts with someone. Pardon me, I'm just excited to see an old friend again.

Sandy

baytownbert

Well, that's very good news. It's hard to imagine the time it takes to recover from a devastating storm. My neighborhood still shows signs of it.

I'm going to have to take a trip down to Galveston Island after it opens and take some photos.

oldude51

Sandy....thanks for the info....that is good news indeed....please you and anyone else who might be beach people keep us posted as to the conditions of our beaches.....

i also see your a frio river lover......been doing that as well the last several years........we have a group that goes every year and we stay at yeargins river bend......my two daughters are in college and they still look forward to it.....love the frio even if its a trickel....

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oldude

honeask

Oldude51,
I will keep the landlubbers updated on the status of the beach. The bayside of the state park is going to open up but it will be quite some time before the beach side is useable. There are many beach access areas to get to the water other than the seawall and that is where most of the critters are. Lots of birds to see and of course the sea shells just waiting. My oldest grandchildren are lining up for their one-on-one visit to the beach with me. We always find stuff to take home to their moms and dads.

Also, June seems like such a long time away to get to the Frio but it has to be, good news is, it will be there when I am able to get there.

Sandy

baytownbert

March 21st. I'm going to mark my calendar also!

baytownbert

Galveston State Park - Seaside only is open today. I saw it on the news.s

kmerian

Does anyone have any idea when the gulf side of the park is going to reopen?

honeask

I had read an article in The Islander, a great publication given away free in the Galveston area, and I thought it said something about opening up this summer. I must say that is a very ambitious goal right now. I was in the area all weekend and things are partially cleaned up but many buildings are gone and I don't believe there are any working restrooms. They may bring in Porta-cans but it does not appear to have happened yet. There are beach access entrances on both sides of the Galveston Island State Park (gulf side), but there are no amenities so go prepared. When I drive by there it reminds me of the old Mervyn's comercials....."OPEN, OPEN, OPEN." Not yet though.

QuestionMark

I saw that they've opened up camping on bay AND beach side. As well as day use areas on the beach. Though they don't have permanent bathrooms open, just portalets.

Has anyone been there lately? Can anyone give us an update? I'm thinking about maybe taking a drive down there this weekend.

honeask

I posted the following on July 7.

Re: Galveston Island State Park Reopens Beach Camping July 2 permalink

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Well, we made our trip to GISP last Tuesday. You enter at the original entrance and go to a small temporary building to register. The lady that I dealt with really seemed happy to be there. The day visitors are directed to a parking lot down the way from the temporary building. There is clean porta pottys at the edge of the parking lot for visitors. You will cross a loose (hot) sand patch to get to the beach. There are a few picnic tables but no real covering for them at this time. I didn't take the camera as I knew we would be beachcombing and I didn't want to carry it and didn't really want to leave it in a hot vehicle. Not much to see right now. My grandson was set to find shark teeth but not this trip. When we left, there are two outdoor showers to rinse off but with the sand and wet feet you will end up with sand boots by the time you get to your vehicle. I brought some gallon jugs of water from home to rinse off feet. The park has a long way to go to get back to a good state park but with some funding, I think it can happen. I will return in a week or so with another grandson so maybe I will see improvements with each visit....maybe.

Sandy