If you’ve been reading my column here on CrystalBeach.com for a while, you’ve probably seen me write about reverse mortgages before. And if you’re still a skeptic, I get it. The reputation of this product has been dragged through the mud for years, and most of what people think they know about it just isn’t…

Move over, Augusta National. Step aside, Pebble Beach. The most exclusive, high-stakes, and wildly entertaining golf tournament of the summer didn’t take place on manicured country club greens this past Saturday. Instead, it unfolded across two overgrown, borrowed vacant lots in Crystal Beach, Texas. Welcome to the annual BYC Invitational Golf Tournament, an event where wiffle…

The smoke has cleared, the trophies have been handed out, and the numbers are in. This past Saturday, the Bolivar Peninsula community came together in a show of support for the 26th Annual Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department (PBVFD) BBQ Cookoff. For over two and a half decades, this annual tradition has stood as a…

Get ready to kick back and enjoy a perfect coastal evening on Friday at Jerry Diaz’s 15th Annual Full Moon Party, 6-10 pm at the washout! This free community event invites you to bring your lawn chairs, a cooler packed with your favorite beverages, and your best “beach” attitude. Jerry Diaz’s signature “Texas Trop Rock” serves…

During disasters, emergency services such as ambulances and hospitals may be unavailable … while the odds of an injury or sickness are greater. Every home should have basic medications. There should also be a first aid kit in every home and your car. Additional items can be added to your first aid kit based on…

J. Lee AustinThis is the third installment in our series endeavoring to help folks with the success of their vacation by discussing some of the potential risks at the beach, with strategies for prevention and treatment if needed. Previous articles covered such lovely hazards as acute sunburn and eye injuries from blowing sand, as well…

Let’s be entirely honest with ourselves—buying a gift for Father’s Day is an absolute logistical nightmare. Mother’s Day is elegantly straightforward. You buy a beautiful bouquet of seasonal flowers, secure a reservation at a sunlit brunch spot that serves bottomless mimosas, and write a card that makes her cry happy tears. Job well done. Dad,…

Every year around late June, the universe hands us a cosmic golden ticket. It’s not a national holiday, and nobody gets the day off work, but it is scientifically the most glorious day on the calendar. We are talking, of course, about the Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year. Astronomically speaking, the solstice occurs when…

The Station Galveston Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary operates out of the USCG Station Galveston base on Galveston Island. They aid the Coast Guard by providing maritime observation patrols in Galveston Bay; by providing recreational boating vessel safety checks; and by working alongside Coast Guard members in maritime accident investigation, small boat training,…

Surface water temperature 81 degrees in East Galveston Bay. We have once again been catching good numbers of fish over the past week, making memories with some great vacationing families. If you see nervous bait flipping on the surface the fish are close by, if not, move on to another spot, after making a few…

You walk out of the convenience store holding two 20-pound bags of premium ice like a strongman competitor. You load them into your high-end, heavy-duty cooler, proud of yourself for prepping the drinks for the beach day. You drive ten minutes to your spot on the sand. By the time you open the cooler lid…

Nothing like inviting myself to tag along … Our Grandson, Pierce, was to play in yet another golf tournament, I think the third for the week. He’s on a winning streak, he’s HOT!! The tournament was to be played on a course in Beaumont, Getting there required waking up a bit earlier than usual, but…

Check out the upcoming events on Bolivar Peninsula—there’s always something going on! From community gatherings and outdoor adventures, the calendar is packed with fun for everyone. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, don’t miss out.       Event Be sure to stay connected with us through our events calendar and local news updates,…

The third week of June serves as a microcosm of the nation’s political, military, and cultural evolution. This specific seven-day window marks major historical bookends: the birth of the Continental Army and the hard-fought foundational battles of the Revolutionary War, the formal ratification of the United States Constitution, and the fundamental expansions of civil liberties…

There is a new addition to the Bolivar Peninsula culinary scene, and it is officially open for business! On Friday, dozens of local residents and visitors gathered together to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the brand-new seafood market at Stingaree. Conveniently located right next to the bait camp, this new market is a seafood…

The skies over the Bolivar Peninsula may have been overcast on Saturday morning, but the excitement was high for the 5th Annual Dabney Harrison Memorial Golf Tournament. Hosted by Seaside Lumber, this year’s event brought out eleven 4-golfer teams to The Ranch in Crystal Beach for a day of high-stakes competition, good food, and unforgettable drama on the course.…

By JOEL KIRKPATRICK News Staff WriterGalveston Daily News, April 11, 1987CRYSTAL BEACH — Citizens here are learning what happens when a town is killed. The streetlights were turned off in Crystal Beach and darkness came to that resort town, sprawled along a 7-mile stretch of Highway 87. Citizens in this beach resort community on Bolivar…

This weekend…the 26th Annual Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department BBQ Cook-Off and Auction! Bringing pitmasters together to compete for cash prizes and trophies. Attendees can sit down to a delicious BBQ meal for a donation, participate in a raffle, and make bids in a fantastic live auction featuring unique handcrafted items, equipment, and gifts. It…

FEMA and other federal and state agencies play an important role in major disaster recovery, but who has boots on the ground first? It’s the community and the local non-profits who know the area and have a vested interest in its survival and recovery. Crystal Beach churches and their congregations have been quick to respond…

You are meticulous. You use the outdoor shower at the cabin. You rinse your feet with the designated water bucket before stepping onto the deck. You use the special foot rug, shake out your towel, and wipe down your legs until they are perfectly smooth. You climb into bed, pull up the sheets, and settle…