Nearby Attractions

Aransas Wildlife Refuge

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to protect the vanishing wildlife of coastal Texas. It is an ever-changing land and is still being shaped by the waters and storms of the Gulf of Mexico.

This 70,504-acre refuge is made up of the Blackjack Peninsula, named for its scattered blackjack oaks, and three satellite units. Grasslands, live oaks, and redbay thickets cover deep, sandy soils. Ringed by tidal marshes and broken by long, narrow ponds, Aransas is home for cranes, alligators, deer, and many other species of wildlife.

Aransas Wildlife Refuge is 3 miles south of Hopper's Landing.

Goose Island State Park

Goose Island State Park, 321.4 acres, surrounded by the St. Charles and Aransas Bays, is located north of Rockport in Aransas County. The park was acquired in 1931-1935 by deeds from private owners and Legislative Act setting aside the state-owned Goose Island as a state park. The earliest park facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the early 1930s.

History: The "Big Tree," named State Champion Coastal Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in 1969, is thought to be one of the largest in the nation. Estimated to be over 1000 years old, the "Big Tree" has a circumference of 35 feet, is 44 feet in height and has a crown spread of 90 feet.

Goose Island is an easy 30 mile drive from Hopper's Landing. Ask Nada for directions.