Boca Chica Beach
| Boca Chica State Park | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Cameron County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Brownsville |
| Coordinates | 25°59′49″N 97°9′6″W / 25.99694°N 97.15167°W |
| Area | 1,054.92 acres (427 ha) |
| Established | 1994 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Boca Chica State Park was a Texas state park located in the Boca Chica Subdelta of the Rio Grande near Brownsville in southeastern Cameron County, Texas. The park was acquired and opened in May 1994. In July 2007 Texas Parks & Wildlife transferred the land to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service under a 50-year lease agreement. Boca Chica is now part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, as is Brazos (Santiago) Island.
History
The area was granted by the State of Tamaulipas to Ygnacio Trevino on January 24, 1829, as part of the Potrero de San Martin Grant (Brazos Island was granted separately and earlier by the King of Spain). A road was built down Brazos Island, across Boca Chica Bay to the Rio Grande in 1846. To cross Boca Chica Bay, General Zachary Taylor built a floating bridge[when?] to transport military supplies. Some of the cypress pilings still stand north of a monument.[citation needed]
In July 2007, Texas Parks & Wildlife entered into a 50-year lease agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and is now part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.[citation needed]
Activities
Activities permitted on the adjacent Del Mar and Boca Chica Beach include picnicking, wading, swimming, birding, natural history observation, camping, fishing (with a license), and surfing. All are subject to disruption by offshore storms at any season and from June through November by tropical storms and hurricanes.
On August 4, 2014, SpaceX announced plans to build a private spaceport adjacent to the park.[1] Construction began in September 2014.[2]
Gallery
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Boca Chica State Park beach -
Waves at Boca Chica beach -
Entrance to Boca Chica State Park -
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Dunes at Boca Chica State Park
References
- ^ Martinez, Laura. "SpaceX will build launch pad near Boca Chica Beach". The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ Foust, Jeff. "SpaceX Breaks Ground on Texas Spaceport". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 February 2017.