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Updated: Jan 4, 2023

Located directly behind the Aransas County Airport, Howard Murph Memorial Park is a gorgeous waterfront park with breathtaking views of Copano Bay. Visitors can launch their kayaks from the shoreline or enjoy picnics and birdwatching in one of many shaded areas scattered around this natural oasis.

Howard Murph Memorial Park

Sign at the park

History

Originally known as Airport Park it was later renamed after Howard Murph a long-time local resident of Aransas County. It’s a great place for birdwatchers to catch a glimpse of some of Aransas Counties’ bird species. Here you will encounter Greater Roadrunner, American Oystercatcher, Spotted Sandpipers, Caspian, Royal, and Forster’s Terns, assorted Sparrows in winter, Osprey, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Reddish Egret

Howard Murph Memorial Park

Howard Murph Memorial Park

About the Park

Left in its natural state the shoreline of the park is covered with oyster shell fragments and the shallow water has sandy and seagrass beds great for fishing and wading into the shallow water. The spot also makes for a great kayak launch site. The Park also has BBQ pits and covered seating for you to enjoy.

Howard Murph Memorial Park

Aransas Pathways

The park is also part of Aransas Pathways and is one of its many great stops along its path. Here is a link to Aransas Pathways you can download a complete map of all its stops and learn more about the great places to see along the way.

Alligator Warning

We will warn you though that there have been spotting of coastal alligators in the area. Please keep an eye out if you decide to walk out.

Getting to the park is really easy we have provided some directions below.


Howard Murph Memorial Park, Loop 1781, Rockport, TX 78382 Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Directions to the Park

The Aransas County Navigation District has been operating and maintaining the park. Here is a link to their website if you would like to contact them or inquire more about the park.


Aransas County Navigation District Welcome to the Aransas County Navigation District. We exist to conserve and develop natural resources, including the navigation of its inland and coastal waterways, the surface and submerged land deeded to it by letters of patent and acts of the Texas Legislature and all other land and water resources acquired for the benefit of the citizens of Aransas County.

We hope you visit the park and are enjoying the sites and places around Rockport Fulton. Please go to our home page often Rockport Fulton.com to see the latest happenings and learn about all the great things to see and do in the area.


Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

Thank you for visiting our page:

Updated: Jan 4, 2023

Meet a group of sailors who are committed to building community and supporting each other as they sail the seas. The Rockport Yacht Club is an organization with members that help plan events for club gatherings or participate in local races like “Clubhouse Races” or offshore regattas such as Port Mansfield Regatta. As one learns about this dynamic yacht club, it’s exciting to imagine what adventures await when you become part of its diverse membership!

Rockport Yacht Club

Rockport Yacht Club Rockport Texas

Who they are

The Rockport Yacht Club is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to realizing the social and nautical potential of its members.

Vision

is to have the Rockport Yacht Club recognized

as a socially- and nautically connected, valued community member.

Mission

shall be to serve the interests of its members by:

  1. Promoting water activities for both youth and adults.

  2. Providing a suitable facility whereby members are able to gather in a social atmosphere.

  3. Cultivating excellent community relations

  4. Honoring the historic legacy of our club.

Purpose

is to foster positive behaviors while networking within the nautical community.


In a bold move, the Rockport Sailing Club decided in 1993 to change its name to Rockport Yacht Club. They felt this was an opportunity for them not only to welcome those who enjoy boating and water sports but also sailboats themselves. The club is now for people who sail, powerboat or do not boat. This organization is both a Texas chartered non-profit corporation and serves the sailing needs of the Texas Gulf Coast. These include Rockport and Coastal Bend. The club has bylaws that define its purpose and structure.


Welcome to www.rockportyachtclub.org Harbor 20″ Launch and Christening June-13-2019 Harbor 20′ Launch & Christening Contact: Bill Coxwell 361-463-1193 Harbor 20′ work day June-3-2019 Harbor 20′ work day The boat is at Hooking Bull Boat Yard in Cove Harbor. We will be able to lift the boat and complete sanding of the bottom.

The Club is a group of people who help in the community and take care of themselves. They have many races: Club Races, Lighthouse Races, and Port Mansfield Regatta. The Club also does social events. They also organize several social events weekly throughout the year. The club participates in Oysterfest, 4th of July, and Christmas celebrations with floats and lighted boat parades.

Rockport Texas Boat Parade

Rockport Texas Boat Parade headed by Rockport Yacht Club

The current Clubhouse was purchased in 1984 and has gone through numerous changes. Expansion and remodeling were completed in mid-2003 and provided us with the wonderful facility we have today. The damage resulting from Hurricane Harvey has been repaired. Our clubhouse can be rented for business or social events: use the “Clubhouse” tab to fill out a request for a reservation.



Here are the directions to the Rockport Yacht Club located near the Rockport Harbor in Rockport Texas Aransas County.


Google review of Rockport Yacht Club Inc by Scott Baker ★★★★★ “Rockport just put on another 5-star youth regatta. Great volunteers, hospitality, and superb sailing. Thank you RYC!”

Here is a great event coming up!



Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

Thank you for visiting our page:


St. Charles Bay is an inlet of Aransas Bay in Aransas County, Texas. It is flanked by the Lamar peninsula on the west and the Blackjack peninsula on the east. The bay hosts a valued ecosystem for the endangered whooping crane and is a prime location for birding and fishing. Goose Island State Park and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are located along the bay’s shores, attracting nature enthusiasts year-round.

St Charles Bay Arial photo

St Charles Bay Arial photo

The nomadic Karankawa Indians used the bay for hunting before the arrival of Europeans, but no major human settlements were ever established. The unincorporated community of Lamar on Live Oak Peninsula is the only substantial community that borders the bay. The cities of Rockport and Fulton on the main Aransas Bay are located only a few miles away, and the bay is usually considered a part of the collective Rockport-Fulton area. The bay is roughly 150 miles (240 km) southeast of San Antonio and about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Corpus Christi.

Karankawa Indians of Aransas County

Karankawa Indians of Aransas County

History:

St. Charles Bay was the domain of the Karankawa Indians before the arrival of European settlers. The Spanish referred to the bay as Laguna del Bergantine, which translated to the Lagoon of the Brigantine. The name is the likely source of Burgantine Lake, found at the bay’s head. The name derived from a Spanish vessel that was being used to transfer money to Texas to bribe Mexican soldiers at Goliad and San Antonio in 1818. It was caught in an Aransas Bay storm that swept the ship into the waters of St. Charles Bay, landing in a creek at its base. Supposedly, the ship was abandoned in the surrounding prairie (Fagan ranch near Tivoli, Texas and its parts used by area settlers (later determined to be the Fagan family to build homes.


No Title No Description

The first major settlement on St. Charles Bay was Lamar, founded in 1839 by James W. Byrne. The town was named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, who was elected as President of Texas the previous year. The settlers aimed to compete with Aransas City on the adjacent Live Oak Peninsula. After a customhouse was moved from Aransas City, at the behest of President Lamar, Aransas City declined and Lamar grew into a prosperous port and salt producer. It was bombarded and destroyed by the Union during the American Civil War, leaving only the ruins of a Catholic chapel and a few homes. Shortly thereafter, the town was rebuilt. By 1915, a post office, school, hotel, ranches, and twenty-five homes had been constructed at the site. By 1970, 150 people lived in the town and by 2000, it had 1,600 residents. It remains an unincorporated community of Aransas County.

Features:

St. Charles Bay

St. Charles Bay

St. Charles Bay is shaped laterally from south to north and is located on the Texas Coastal Plain between the Lamar and Blackjack peninsulas. Its mouth opens into Aransas Bay between Goose Island and Blackjack Point but is nearly cut off by islands and reefs that stretch across it. North of Blackjack Point to Bird Point is an extension called the East Pocket, which forms an indention at the tip of the Blackjack Peninsula. Beyond the East, Pocket is mudflats that are included in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. North of Birds Point, the shore continues northward, passing the La Punta Windmill. Further north, past a large tidal swamp, Egg Point juts into the bay, above which an inlet forms the Bill Mott Bayou. Past several more swamps, Little Devil Bayou and Big Devil Bayou are formed, separated by Indian Head Point. Past the Mille Dietrich Point, the McHubb Windmill and Bayou are found, as the bay narrows in width. The northernmost point is located slightly to the east and meets at the mouth of the small Twin Creek. A narrow strip of marshland and a dam separates St. Charles Bay from the similarly shaped Burgentine Lake, which continues to the northeast, and is fed by Burgentine Creek. Past Twin Creek, the shore curves to the southwest to a small opening, that forms the mouth of Salt Creek. Further south, the shore is largely marsh, until reaching the rather large mouth of Cavasso Creek. From there, the shore forms a straight line southeast to the Big Sharp Point, from which a gas well can be seen in the bay. South of Big Sharp Point is Little Sharp Point, which forms on the edge of a swamp. From this point, the shore curves back to the southwest to a swamp, where a lagoon is located further inland. South of this, is the large oak tree known as the “Big Tree”, in Goose Island State Park. Further south is several piers which jut into the bay, below which Halls Point is formed. Directly south of Halls Point is Goose Island, back at to the confluence with Aransas Bay

The Big Tree of Rockport

The Big Tree of Aransas County

St Charles Bay

St Charles Bay

Ecosystem:

Saint Charles Bay serves as a habitat for approximately 300 species of birds. Birders venture to the site between November and March when the creatures winter near the bay. The endangered whooping crane, the largest bird in North America, is the most highly prized sight as only a few hundred remains, including three families on St. Charles Bay. The bird was near extinction in the early 20th century, as only two flocks between Canada and Texas remained. The population increased following the organization of the Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in 1937, after the Federal government purchased the land of the St. Charles ranch from San Antonio oilman Leroy G. Denman, using funds from commemorative stamps. The Refuge later became known as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Whooping cranes are also protected by Goose Island State Park, which was established by the State of Texas in 1931. Other birds that migrate to the bay include the sandhill crane, American white pelican, brown pelican, roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, and Canada goose. The blue crab and other shellfish, help sustain the bird population. Thirty-seven species of mammals are found on the Blackjack Peninsula, including white-tailed deer, nine-banded armadillos, and collared peccaries. The spotted seatrout and redfish are the common finfish that reside in the bay. While trout are generally found in the bay’s deeper waters, redfish live in shallow waters; their tail fins can be spotted above the surface during the peak summer and fall months. The bay also supports a healthy population of American alligators, which reside in shallow waters. Signs alert visitors to be careful.

Whooping Cranes

Whooping Cranes

Industry:

During the 19th-century salt evaporation ponds were dug in tidal marshes around the bay, producing salt for condiments and to be used as a preservative for meats. Today, due to the bay’s location, east of Goose Island State Park and west of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, very little industry can be found. No industrial plants are located on the bay’s shore, but a few gas and oil wells are present. The Continental Oil Company is allowed to obtain oil and gas from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as part of the purchase of St. Charles Ranch. Goose Island offers a few piers and campgrounds facing the bay, which encourage tourism. The privately-owned St. Charles Bay Hunting Club is also found in this area and allows hunting, boating and fishing on the bay while striving to protect the ecosystem. The lack of coastal winds also attracts tourists interested in kayaking and wade fishing, however, boating is hindered by the general shallowness of the bay and the abundance of oyster reefs. Shellfish production is approved throughout the bay, but shrimping is prohibited due to the classification of St. Charles Bay as a nursery bay.

St Charles Bay Aransas County Texas

St Charles Bay Aransas County Texas Birds


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