Galveston Beach State Park devastated by Hurricane Ike
Many of the park facilities were destroyed by the hurricane. Most of the information on this site no longer applies and many of the pictures or park facilties are what the park once was.
The Park is Reopening!
The north side of the park will be reopening on March 21. There will not be any overnight camping available. Areas of the park will be open during the weekends from March through November. The Nature Center, just to the north of the highway, will serve as the park's Welcome Center. The park will be open from sunrise to sunset and allow access to the bay. Fishing, crabbing and kayaking will be permitted. There is no fee for entry and you will be able to enter by taking the north entrance, off of FM 3005, to the nature center. The park will schedule weekend events throughout the season, offering beach and bay walks, birding walks, and more.
The damage to the park and the cost of cleanup put the state in a position of stating they had no idea when the park would reopen, if it would at all. The only reason it has been brought to a point where visitors can once again enjoy the park is because of the park's volunteer organization – The Friends of Galveston Island State Park. They helped coordinate collecting a massive amount of trash that was strewn all over the park. The many, many hours of volunteer labor and their insistence on working with the state to do what was needed to allow visitors back in the park is all because of this wonderful group of people. You can visit their website to find the schedule of events planned for the park. You can also donate to them to help them continue to do as much as possible to get the park in shape to accept and welcome visitors.
You can send donations (checks) to the Friends of Galveston Island State Park, P.O. Box 5428, Galveston, TX 77554.
Park Updates
Here is a You Tube video of the public beach area of the park. The video is a little long if you are not familiar with what this area looked like before the storm. You can watch the video and then gain some before and after perspective by looking at the pictures further down this page to see what the place once looked like.
Galveston Island State Park Today
Galveston Island State Park Before Ike
Here you can see the picnic area, the dune, and the beach. This was taken looking east from a location near the main building. The dune has been flattened and part of this beach is now gone.
A view looking toward the gulf. The parking lot of the public beach area was just behind where this picture taken. The shelters are now part of the current beach.
This is a view of the picnic area as it once looked. The main building is just behind where this picture was taken from. These structures are part of the current beach.
This is a shot looking west from the back edge of the old beach. The walkway you see in the distance led to the main park building. All of the old walkways that crossed the dunes are gone.
This is a shot of a walkway leading to one of the camping areas. This illustrates the height of the dune that was found at the back of the beach. The dune was flattened and is now part of the beach.
This is the park's main building. It is still standing but was largely torn apart in the storm.
Galveston Island State Park Today - The Camping Area
This is what the campground area used to look like.
This is another view of the old campground. The Gulf is off the right side, just beyond the shelters you see lining the back right edge of the photo.
This view of the campground is taken looking directly towards the Gulf. The reason you cannot see the water from here is that the dune between the beach and the campground was high enough to blcok the water from view.
This shows a view looking towards the gulf, main park building, and the eastern edge of one campground unit. It was taken from the road that paralleled the beach and led to the campgrounds.
You can find additional information about the storm and Galveston Island by clicking here. There is a good set of before and after photos of the Bolivar Peninsula here.
The information below is what was once useful for visitors to the park before the beach was ravaged and many of the park's buildings destroyed. The information below no longer valid.
Visiting Galveston Island State Park
Galveston Island State Park is a great place to enjoy the beach, the gulf, and the bay. Many people that visit the park come to spend time on the beach and to camp. While it is obvious to any visitor that the park's 2000 acres are bordered on the east and 
the west by more developed lands, fewer folks realize that the park is an oasis of undeveloped barrier island habitats. These natural areas are important for conservation and attract a wide variety of bird species, especially during the spring and fall bird migrations. Whether you come to the park to fish, swim, lie in the sun,
picnic, birdwatch, or camp you can unwind and enjoy the relaxing surroundings that are found along the Gulf and Galveston Bay shorelines of Galveston Island.
Entering Galveston Island State Park
The park entry station is staffed from 8 A.M until 10 P.M. The park office is located just beyond the entry booth and it closes at 5 P.M. There is a $5 per person entry fee, payable at the gatehouse, to get into the park. Children 12 and under get in for free.
Free wireless internet access is provided for free in many areas of the park
Galveston Island State Park
Activities/Recreation
Camping
There are over 100 campsites and 10 screened shelters for rent in Galveston Island State Park. Fees range from $20 - $35 per night plus a $3 per-person park entry fee (children 12 and under are free). To find out more, check out the camping page.
Swimming
The majority of visitors to the park come to enjoy the beach. Paying your entry fee provides you access to a nice gulf beach, picnic facilities, bathrooms, and showers. Like many of Galveston Island's beaches, the park can get busy during summer weekends and holidays so be prepared for a crowd if you visit during those times.
Picnicking
The park has an interesting design theme for its shade and picnic shelters (you can click on the picture for a larger view). Regardless of the funky design, it is nice to have access to some shade and picnic tables. Picnic tables are found between the beach and the parking lot and there are a few scattered along the bay side park road.
Fishing
You can fish from the beach or bay shore, surf fish in the Gulf, or wade into and fish from Galveston Bay. A fish cleaning station is available at the end of the bayside road (the branch that passes by the bayside camping area). You should be aware of and follow all pertinent Texas fishing regulations.
Kayaking
There is a kayak launch area on Galveston Bay. It is located off of the bay road before you reach the bayside camping area.
Hiking
A number of trails wind through the bayside salt marsh and prairie. These habitats dominate the parkland north of the highway.
Bird Watching
The park attracts many birds - and many birdwatchers. The birds visit in part because there is good, and now relatively rare, natural barrier island habitat. Birds also stop over during spring and fall migrations that lead them over the Gulf of Mexico.
This website is not affiliated with the State of Texas or Galveston Island State Park. If you have any questions about the park, you should contact park management.
Contact Information
Galveston Island State Park
14901 FM 3005
Galveston, TX 77554
(409)-737-1222
State of Texas park website
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