South Padre Attractions

The resort town of South Padre Island, with its 34-mile long stretch of white sandy beach, is bordered to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and to the west by the Laguna Madre Bay. Thousands of visitors annually are drawn to South Padre for its water sports, including jet skiing, bay, surf, and deep-sea fishing, parasailing, sailing, dolphin cruise, and windsurfing. Other popular island activities include bicycling, tennis, shelling, and horseback riding on the beach. The location of the island also makes it one of the premiere spots in the state to observe wildlife in its natural state. It is one of the best spots in the United States to see all of the regularly occurring rails - South Padre has over 300 recorded species to date. The South Padre Island Visitors Center provides detailed information about the area. It is located a half-mile north of the causeway at 600 Padre Blvd, 956-761-6433, or 1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373).

Andy Bowie Park
Located on the northern end of South Padre Island, Andy Bowie Park provides beachfront picnic pavilions, concessions, children's playground, shower facilities, 18 full hook-up RV spaces, and a ranger station. Call 956-761-3704 for more information.

Confederate Air Force Rio Grande Wing
The Confederate Air force Rio Grande Wind has historic aircraft and aviation memorabilia on display. Located at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport at 955 Minnesota in Brownsville. Call 956-541-8585 for more information.

Dolphin and Nature Research Center
The Dolphin and Nature Research Center provides an educational, interactive look at dolphins and other sea creatures. Located at 105 W. Pompano. Call 956-761-7178 for more information.

Edwin K. Atwood Park
Located 1.5 miles north of Andy Bowie Park on Park Road 100, Edwin K. Atwood Park offers a beachfront picnic pavilion, a concession, and a beach access road which provides twenty miles of beach driving. Call 956-761-3704 for more information.

Gladys Porter Zoo
The Gladys Porter Zoo features streams, rocks and cave like structures provide natural enclosures for more than 1,400 animals at the 26-acre zoo. More than 350 species are represented, including nearly 50 endangered. Galapagos tortoises, spider monkeys and Cuban crocodiles inhabit Tropical America. Indo-Australia is home to orangutans, kangaroos, kookaburras and wallabies. The Asia environment features tigers, gibbons and dromedary camels. Popular residents of the Africa area include reticulated giraffes, zebras, lions, gorillas, chimpanzees and the rare Jentink's duiker antelope. The zoo also offers a herpetarium, a free-flight aviary, bear grottoes and an exhibit of California sea lions. The children's zoo lets youngsters interact with Nigerian Dwarf Goats, miniature mules and domestic chickens. Call 956-546-2177 for more information.
500 Ringgold St., Brownsville, TX 78520

Gravity Park
Gravity Park offers the world's tallest reverse bungee, Texas' tallest bungee jump, the world's smallest bungee jump, sky coaster, trampoline, climbing wall, a multi-level go-kart track, kiddie go-carts, and video arcade. Located at 106 W. Marlin Street. Call 956-761-8588 for more information.

Isla Blanca Park
Located on the southern most tip of the island, Isla Blanca Park features more than a mile of clean white beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The park includes picnic and playground areas, two beachfront pavilions, fishing jetty, and restaurants and full service marina with daily chargers. A special attraction in the park is the Cristos de los Pescadores, a memorial to fishermen who have lost their lives at sea. Call 956-761-2639 for more information.

Island Equestrian Center
The center offers guided horseback rides on the beach. Other activities are offered. Call 800-761-4677 for more information.
8805 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Reserve
With 45,000 acres Laguna Atascosa is the largest protected area of natural wildlife left in the lower Rio Grande Valley. The refuge also features two roads for touring by car or bike, and five hiking trails with an alligator pond. Designated sites within the refuge permit camping, fishing, boating, and hunting. Located just 14 miles northeast of San Benito. Call 956-748-3607 for more information.

Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Located adjacent to the South Padre Island Convention Centre, the Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a 1,500-foot boardwalk that extends across four acres of wetlands. Containing informative signs about dune systems and bird species that frequent the area, the nature trail provides visitors with the opportunity to observe many species of birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. The nature trail can be accessed through the circle driveway leading up to the Convention Centre. The South Padre Island Convention Centre is located at 7355 Padre Blvd. at the north end of town. Call 800-SO-PADRE for more information.

Los Ebanos
Los Ebanos is a unique private 82-acre bird and butterfly preserve. Visitors can stroll through the gardens, hike the nature trails, sit and enjoy the water birds on the lake, or just relax with a book in the pavilion. Located in San Benito at 27715 Hwy 100. Call 956-399-9097 for more information.

Matamoros, Mexico
Visitors can cross the border to nearby Matamoros, Mexico to bargain shop for silver, leather goods, and handicrafts at vibrant Mexican markets. The area also has traditional dining and historical museums. Located about 30 minutes from South Padre Island. Escorted tours are available.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site is the setting of the first battle in 1846 of the 2-year Mexican-American War. An orientation video and exhibits may be seen in the visitor center. A .5-mile trail leads to a sweeping view of the battlefield; interpretive signs describe the battle scene. Call 956-541-2785 for more information.
7200 Paredes Line Rd., Brownsville, TX 78520

Port Isabel Historical Museum
The Port Isabel Historical Museum is housed in the historic Champion Building, built in 1899 as a dry goods store and residence, and one of the oldest structures in Port Isabel. Today, the museum is a state-of-the-art facility that houses numerous hands on exhibits, audio presentations and videos that commemorate the colorful history of the Port Isabel area. The museum has two exhibit levels, a theater, gift shop and one of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from the U.S. Mexican War. On the south end of the building is the famous "fish mural" painted in 1906 by a local fisherman. Located at 317 E. Railroad in Port Isabel. Call 956-943-7602 for more information.

Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site
Built in 1853, the Port Isabel Lighthouse remained in use until 1905. Always a popular subject with photographers, the lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Laguna Madre Bay. Located off Texas 100 at 421 E. Queen Isabella Blvd. in Port Isabel. Call 956-943-2262 for more information.

Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark
This 15-acre water park features a Brazilian beach theme. A half-mile river system carries visitors to rides throughout the park, including uphill water coasters, a 245-foot tube chute, a wave lagoon and one of the world's largest body boarding rides. The five-story Sandcastle features water slides and computerized water features. A volleyball area also is in the park. Call 956-772-7873 for more information.
90 Park Rd. Hwy. 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597

Sea Turtle, Inc.
Sea Turtle is a living museum of the "Turtle Lady," Ila Loetscher, who dedicated her life to saving and rehabilitating sea turtles, especially the endangered Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. The scope of the non-profit STI has expanded to include all species of marine turtles. Educational shows are presented featuring endangered sea turtles. Located at 6617 Padre Blvd. Call 956-761-4511 for more information.

South Padre Island Convention Centre Sand Castle
The South Padre Island Convention Centre is the location for the largest year-round sand castle in Texas. Sons of the Beach Sand Castle Wizards, who compete worldwide in sand castle building contests, built the sand castle and restore it regularly. They use 45 tons of sand mixed with an estimated 50 pounds of clay and 200 gallons of water to build the 10 feet tall statue. The sand castle has become a year-round treat for Island guests. The South Padre Island Convention Centre is located at 7355 Padre Blvd.

Treasures of the Gulf Museum
The Treasures of the Gulf Museum tells the story of three ill-fated Spanish ships that wrecked off the northern end of South Padre Island in 1554. The exhibit incorporates murals, artifacts and hands-on activities to interpret this fascinating event that occurred only 30 miles north of Port Isabel. Actual artifacts from the shipwreck such as silver planchas, or disks, coins, and weapons are on display. Located at 317 E. Railroad. Call 956- 943-7602 for more information.

University of Texas - Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory
The Coastal Studies Laboratory studies and exhibits marine life such as crustaceans and marine vertebrates, and plant life. Several aquariums feature sea life that is indigenous to the area, as well as an extensive shell collection. Located in Isla Blanca Park. Call 956-761-2644 for more information.

Whaling Wall
The internationally recognized environmental artist, Wyland, picked South Padre Island to paint Whaling Wall #53, his only wall in Texas. The giant mural featuring a pod of Orcas (commonly know as Killer Whales), covers three walls of the Convention Centre. The life-size whales are illustrated in full color and are accompanied by other local sea life. Wyland is planning to paint 100 walls during his career to educate people on the importance of marine conservation. Located on the outside walls at the SPI Convention Centre.