Rebuilt Galveston Island State Park Braces for Busy Summer After Storm-Proof Overhaul

Galveston Island State Park, badly damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008, has been rebuilt with features designed to survive the next major storm, and park officials are preparing for a surge of visitors this summer.

The 2,000-acre park, which stretches across the island, fully reopened last June following a three-year, $24 million redevelopment of its beach side facing the Gulf of Mexico. Of that total, $10.6 million came from a restoration fund created after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Money from a sporting goods sales tax also went into the Galveston Island State Park Beach Redevelopment project.

According to assistant park superintendent Kyle O'Haver, Hurricane Ike left the park "completely devastated." The nature center and several other buildings flooded, and some campsites and beachfront areas were lost. A grand reopening celebration on Friday showed the public how much of the 48-year-old park has been restored.

Several of the new features are aimed at withstanding flooding and high winds. Campsites, the park headquarters building and some day-use areas now sit on elevated ground. O'Haver said many new structures are rated for higher wind speeds than before and are anchored more securely, while the electrical stations used by campers are better able to resist water and salt.

"When the inevitable large storm comes across, the buildings and the infrastructure should hold a lot better than it ever has in the history of this park," O'Haver said.

The project added 95 campsites on the beach side, 20 shade shelters, new boardwalks, restrooms and changing areas, and a seasonal equestrian area for day use. While the park was closed for construction, the Texas Department of Transportation rebuilt the main road that runs through it. Hiking and kayaking paddling trails, observation towers, and spots for fishing and wildlife viewing round out the park's offerings.

O'Haver said the park looks and feels new. "People have never seen this layout or design before," he said. "It feels like we opened a new park."

Justin Rhodes, deputy director of state parks for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, said Galveston's park ranked among the five busiest in Texas for visitors and revenue before Ike. The bay side reopened about six months after the storm, and other sections returned gradually over the years, often with temporary structures, O'Haver said.

The beach side was closed again for the redevelopment. Since reopening last summer, Rhodes said, it has already climbed into the state's top 20 parks for visitors and revenue. The park expects about 200,000 visitors during its first year back, and Rhodes said a major increase is anticipated this summer. "We expect to see a 65 percent increase in our current visitorship," he said. "It's making a roaring comeback."