Port Lavaca lies along the beautiful Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and is perhaps best known for it's outstanding fishing spots. The region offers some 33 hot fishing spots, over five fishing piers or jetty's, 18 boat ramps and 17 Kayak launching spots. If like being on the water or in the water and like to fish or kayak this is the community for you! Birding by natural association is also outstanding here.
This small and charming community was given birth in the year 1840 though not named Port Lavaca at this time. It's history is full of action packed adventure stories from Comanche Indian raids, to Civil war battles and massive hurricanes. But through all adversity the city grew and became a port contributing much to not only the history of the state of Texas but to our nation.
One of it's many historical accomplishments involved the seafood industry. The export of shrimp became a major industry during the 1920s and in 1928 contributed to Port Lavaca's leading the nation in the amount of seafood shipped. A municipally owned quick-freezing plant opened during the Great Depression. Originally intended for vegetables, it proved ideal for freezing seafood and further enhanced that feature of the town's economy. Natural gas was discovered near Port Lavaca in 1934 and oil in 1935. In the latter year an ample supply of artesian water was also made available.
This area has suffered more than one major hurricane, but has always bounced back. One of it's more serious hurricanes occurred In 1961 Hurricane Carla. Much of the state of Texas was affected by this hurricane but Port Lavaca used the seriously damaged original causeway, which had to be abandoned and then converted into a 3,200-foot-long fishing pier (the Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier). At the foot of the pier is Lighthouse Park, which includes a manmade sand beach and a nature walk designed to give access to wetlands. Also in the park is Half Moon Reef Lighthouse, originally built on Matagorda Island in 1858. Resembling lighthouses on Chesapeake Bay more than those on the Texas coast, this was one of three remaining lighthouses in Texas in 1991. Another park is Main Street Park, located within the shells of two historic buildings. Other points of interest in the area include a small cemetery, adjacent to the city harbor, which contains the grave of a settler killed in the Linnville raid (Comanche Raids); the site of Indianola (Massive Hurricane that wiped out the entire community of Indianola); and a statue of René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, at Old Indianola, commemorating the first effort to establish a European colony in the region.
Celebrations in Port Lavaca include the Fishing Festival over the Labor Day weekend, the Taste of Heritage festival in the summer, the county fair in October, and the Festival of Lights in December. In 1985 a celebration marked the 300th anniversary of La Salle's landing, and in 1990 Port Lavaca observed its sesquicentennial.
Medical Guide
Port Lavaca lies along the beautiful Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and is perhaps best known for it's outstanding fishing spots. The region offers some 33 hot fishing spots, over five fishing piers or jetty's, 18 boat ramps and 17 Kayak launching spots. If like being on the water or in the water and like to fish or kayak this is the community for you! Birding by natural association is also outstanding here.
This area has suffered more than one major hurricane, but has always bounced back. One of it's more serious hurricanes occurred In 1961 Hurricane Carla. Much of the state of Texas was affected by this hurricane but Port Lavaca used the seriously damaged original causeway, which had to be abandoned and then converted into a 3,200-foot-long fishing pier (the Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier). At the foot of the pier is Lighthouse Park, which includes a manmade sand beach and a nature walk designed to give access to wetlands. Also in the park is Half Moon Reef Lighthouse, originally built on Matagorda Island in 1858. Resembling lighthouses on Chesapeake Bay more than those on the Texas coast, this was one of three remaining lighthouses in Texas in 1991. Another park is Main Street Park, located within the shells of two historic buildings. Other points of interest in the area include a small cemetery, adjacent to the city harbor, which contains the grave of a settler killed in the Linnville raid (Comanche Raids); the site of Indianola (Massive Hurricane that wiped out the entire community of Indianola); and a statue of René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, at Old Indianola, commemorating the first effort to establish a European colony in the region.