On July 29th, 1933, East Harris County residents celebrated the opening of the Tabbs Bay Causeway and the Morgan's Point Ferry, with a two day barbecue. To travel from LaPorte to Baytown, drivers took the Morgan's Point Ferry across the Houston Ship Channel. The ferry, however, only connected to Hog Island. From the island, drivers crossed Tabbs Bay on a causeway that connected to Causeway Drive in Pelly, now part of Baytown. Hog Island, so named because the orginal owner, Ashbel Smith, ran hogs on it, was used as a steamboat landing on the Houston-Galveston route in the 1800's.
In 1937, the State of Texas Highway Department took over maintenance of the Ferry and the Causeway. In 1953, the Morgan's Point Ferry closed when the Baytown-La Porte tunnel opened.
With the closing of the ferry, Hog Island became a local swimming area and lover's lane. In 1961, Hurricane Carla destroyed the Tabbs Bay Causeway, eliminating the island's only link to the mainland.
Picture courtesy of OurBaytown.com
If you look towards the Fred Hartman bridge from the cache location, you can see the pilings that are the remnants of the Tabbs Bay Causeway extending across the tidal flats to Hog Island. Parking available on the side of the road. If it's rained recently, park across the street on the paved driveway. Watch for traffic and muggles and don't fall over the edge!
Congratulations to Muddy Buddies for being FTF!
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