1997 was a iconic year
Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind” ranked #1 on the Billboard charts following the untimely death of Princess Diana. *Titanic* was a box-office bestseller. Tiger Woods won the Masters at just 21 years old, making him the youngest player in golf history to earn the prestigious green jacket, and Steve Jobs returned to Apple to save the company from near bankruptcy. Technology as we know it was just beginning to cut its teeth with the emergence of the World Wide Web. [Cue the sounds of dial-up internet followed by “You’ve Got Mail!”] But that same year, in the sleepy resort community of Crystal Beach, Texas, a tech-savvy realtor seized the opportunity to launch her first website and introduce her little slice of paradise to the rest of the world.
Lenore Osten—those who knew her best called her “Mike”—was an internet pioneer of her time. In 1997, while semi-retired from the local real estate scene, Mike founded CrystalBeach.com, the first website ever developed for the popular vacation destination.
“She spent countless hours situated in front of her computer,” says son Tom Osten, who now maintains the website some twenty five years later. “Mom was dedicated to creating entertaining content, helpful information, and would answer every single email inquiry that came across her screen.”
In the early 2000s, as CrystalBeach.com gained traction with an estimated 600,000 visitors to the site within its first five years, local businesses began to support Mike’s new endeavor through paid advertising. At times, she hinted to her children that they might eventually take over and carry on what she had started. But when Mike unexpectedly passed away in 2007, it was oldest son Tom who jumped in feet first to preserve his parents’ growing business. “I essentially had to teach myself HTML overnight,” he tells me.
“The original CrystalBeach.com was rudimentary, including one large map built by Mike’s husband Earl and several point-and-click hyperlink listings for local businesses, things to do, and area attractions. Over time, the website transformed into an ever-changing billboard of sorts, boasting banner ads and content which is updated daily, like The Daily Picture initiated by Earl.
“That’s a funny story,” Tom explains. “Mom had invested in a webcam shortly after launching the website and hoisted it on the deck of their beachfront home.” The camera streamed successfully on CrystalBeach.com for a few years, but after Mike’s passing, no one in the family could get it operational again.
Not to be defeated, Earl “Bop,” who was well into his 80s, would wheel himself onto the porch every morning and snap a picture of the beach. He would then return to his computer, post the photo online, and add a simple caption, such as “Today, sunny and 75°.” People began to follow The Daily Picture religiously, and just like that, Earl created an audience of devoted visitors for CrystalBeach.com through his seemingly viral content.
The Daily Picture is a tradition that Tom continues still. Most mornings, you can find Tom and his golden retriever, Maezy, out capturing the many sights of Crystal Beach. Be it a breathtaking sunrise, local wildlife, or just some casual beach-goers, Tom’s photos vividly depict the lifestyle and beauty of our beloved peninsula.
What began for Mike as a labor of love is now a well-respected business for Tom and his wife, Georgia. The couple’s ties to Bolivar Peninsula trace back to 1974 when Tom’s mom and dad bought Bay Vue Grocery. “That’s where Georgia and I first met,” he says with a smile.
The couple married in 1976 and moved to the Houston area to raise their family but spent every summer at Crystal Beach with their children. Now forty-plus years later, Tom and Georgia find themselves embedded in the community, telling its story on their sister website, CrystalBeachLocalNews.com, which they purchased in 2011.
Tom and Georgia are dedicated beyond reproach. It’s rare that you won’t find them both at any local event, snapping photos, taking notes, and engaging the crowd. “They are a fixture in our community, and we are blessed to have them,” says Gerry Lang, who served on the Texas Crab Festival Charities board with Tom.
When asked about the future of his homegrown website, Tom seems undaunted at the idea of signing off just yet. “We have plans to continue improving upon what Mom started all those years ago without changing the heart of her original concept,” he says. “People like the familiar, and it has worked well for us.” He lovingly adds, “Hopefully one day, we will turn this business over to our kids.”
As CrystalBeach.com approaches its next chapter, a major redesign is underway to modernize the platform while staying true to its roots. Tom and Georgia’s dedication to sharing the beauty and vibrancy of the Bolivar Peninsula has inspired an evolution of the website’s core competencies: offering comprehensive area information, maintaining a dynamic business directory, and delivering engaging local news. These pillars, which have long defined CrystalBeach.com, will be the foundation of the redesigned site.
Scheduled to relaunch on January 1, 2025, the new CrystalBeach.com will also provide enhanced opportunities for local businesses to connect with residents and visitors alike. “We want to provide a platform where businesses can thrive while ensuring our visitors have access to the best the peninsula has to offer,” Tom explains.
In addition to these updates, the team behind CrystalBeach.com is growing. New members are joining the fold, bringing fresh perspectives and specialized skills to ensure the website continues to meet the needs of its community. Whether through storytelling, photography, or technical expertise, each new addition contributes to the site’s mission of celebrating the Bolivar Peninsula.
As the countdown to the relaunch begins, Tom and Georgia remain committed to preserving the heart of what CrystalBeach.com has always represented. “We’ve worked hard to honor Mom’s vision while adapting to the times,” says Tom. With this redesign, CrystalBeach.com is poised to remain a beloved resource for generations to come.
