Most visitors know Port Aransas as a beach town, but the island has gone by six names, endured at least two devastating hurricanes, and maintained a fishing tradition for more than a century before it became the vacation spot it is today. Here is the history of Port Aransas, Texas, worth knowing before your next trip.
A Town Historically Known by At Least Six Different Names
The island’s name changed as often as the people running it did.
- Sand Point: the earliest recorded name, marked on an 1833 map
- Aranzazu, later Aransas: the name given to the pass itself
- Wild Horse Island, later Mustang: named after wild horses brought by Spanish settlers in the 1800s
- Ropesville: adopted in 1888 when the town’s first post office opened, named after Elihu Harrison Ropes, who purchased the island for $25,000
- Tarpon: adopted in 1896 to highlight the island’s fishing reputation
- Port Aransas: settled around 1910, officially adopted in 1911
A Fishing Village Before It Was a Vacation Town
Long before rental homes and beach chairs, Port Aransas built its identity on tarpon fishing. Wealthy sportsmen traveled from across the country for a shot at the massive fish, and the island’s economy grew around guiding, boat building, and hosting them. That fishing reputation eventually drew in a notable guest: President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited in 1937 for a tarpon-fishing trip, an event still remembered on the island today.
Port Aransas hurricane history includes two turning points worth knowing:
- 1919: A storm virtually wiped out the town except for a handful of structures
- 2017: Hurricane Harvey caused significant damage before the community rebuilt
The Buildings That Remember
A handful of structures on the island have survived storms, fires, and a century of change, and each one still tells part of the story.
The Lighthouse
The Lydia Ann Lighthouse, officially the Aransas Pass Light Station, was built in 1857 and is the second-oldest lighthouse on the Texas coast. It sits on Harbor Island, not accessible by road, so seeing it requires a boat tour or a view from nearby Roberts Point Park. The lighthouse is privately owned today, and no public tours are currently available.
Chapel on the Dunes
Built by Aline Carter in the 1930s at one of the island’s highest points, this small white chapel is the oldest consecrated church on Mustang Island. Hand-painted murals cover the interior, and though it no longer holds regular services, it remains a popular spot for weddings and vow renewals, with tours arranged through the Port Aransas Museum on select Saturdays.
The Tarpon Inn
Built in 1886 from surplus lumber salvaged from Civil War barracks, this building originally housed workers constructing the jetty before becoming a hotel. It has survived a fire and multiple hurricanes over the decades, and its lobby still displays tarpon scales signed by anglers, including the one caught by FDR during his 1937 visit.
- Location: 200 E Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373
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A Craft Passed Down Through Generations
Boat building runs just as deep in the island’s history as fishing itself, and one shop has kept the tradition alive for over a century. Brothers Barney and Fred Farley established their boat works in 1914, launching their first tarpon fishing boat off the island’s shores the following year. Fred handled the woodworking while Barney guided fishing trips, and the business eventually expanded through Fred’s three sons to include speedboats and larger vessels. The shop still operates today as a working exhibit, where visitors can watch current boat builders continue the same craft.
- Location: 716 W Avenue C, Port Aransas, TX 78373
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For a deeper dive into all of this, visit the Port Aransas Museum, which houses more than 25,500 archived photos and documents that cover the island’s past, along with the original Fresnel lens once used at the Lydia Ann Lighthouse. Our own history guide rounds out the story with more detail on each of these landmarks.
Explore History with La Mirage as Your Home Base
Understanding the history of Port Aransas makes walking the island feel different, since every jetty, chapel, and boat shop carries a story. Our family-friendly rentals put you within easy reach of the Tarpon Inn, the Farley Boat Works, and the museum, so a history-focused day trip fits easily into your stay. Book your stay with La Mirage today and see the island’s past for yourself!
