The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department no longer has any ferry
service to the island.
"Built in 1852, the Matagorda Island Lighthouse is located on
the northern end of Matagorda Island, marking the entrance to
Matagorda Bay via Pass Cavallo. The lighthouse rises 92 feet from
the ground and has a basal diameter of 16 feet. It is the sole
surviving lighthouse on the Texas coast to be erected entirely in
cast iron." From the brochure handed out by Texas Parks &
Wildlife about the lighthouse.
This is one tough cookie! The Confedrate Army even tried to blow
it up to prevent it's use to the Federal Navy that was trying to
stop Confederate blockade runners, but all they succeeded in doing
was breaking a couple of the cast iron plates!
The kids and I had been trying to get out to see this lighthouse
for quite a while. This is NOT your normal Sunday morning trip to
the beach!!! You will have to work for this one and plan on
committing at least an entire day to hitting this virtual cache. We
stayed in Port O'Connor last night, Saturday, August 24th, and got
up on Sunday, August 25th at 0530 to hit the ferry at 0730. It did
cost $10.00 per adult, and $5.00 per child to ride the ferry to
Matagorda Island State Park. The ferry has not been replaced since
the original one caught fire and burned. Information about the park
and what it takes to get there can be obtained at 361-982-2215, and
take my advice, take a drive one day to Port O'Connor just to get
your bearings and chat with one of the rangers at the headquarters
before you try to just make the trip, you'll be glad you did. Also
go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/matagisl/matagisl.htm.
Matagorda Island State park is what you would call, er, rustic?
Primitive? Something like that. In other words, what you will need
for the day, you take it on your back. That includes, food, water,
everything! It is worth the trip but you must go prepared. The
lighthouse was the point of our trip, but we also spent about three
hours down at the beach and it was nearly deserted. You are afoot
but the rangers run you around with a couple of trucks they
operate. If you are looking for something truly different to do
with the kids or significant other, believe me, this is a memorable
experience. We will go back many times.
To log this find, please take a picture of yourself, with your
GPS, in front of the door into the lighthouse. It is a ship's hatch
and I am posting a picture of the "hatch". Post the picture with
your log entry. Please tell about your experience along with your
pic.