New facilities grace I.B. Magee Beach Park

N ot everything is new this season at I.B. Magee Beach Park, but returning

The $1.8 million multi-purpose office building at I.B. Magee Beach Park opened just last fall. visitors are sure to

be impressed with the new multi-purpose office building.

The park was named in memory of I.B. Magee Jr., a Port Aransas resident who was widely known for his community support.

The new building, built at a cost of $1.8 million, combines the offices that were in the former headquarters building and the showers in the old central building, scheduled for demolition. It also offers a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mexico, the pass between the north and south jetties and part of the city of Port Aransas from the thirdfloor observation deck.

Both the second-floor offices/showers and the observation deck are accessible by elevator.

Owned and operated by the Nueces County Parks Department, I.B. Magee Beach Park offers beachfront restrooms as well as camping spaces - both tent and trailer. Plans are in the works to expand the trailer spaces, including some with Internet access as well as the more common camping facilities.

"We're competing against upscale RV parks," County Parks Director Blake Pettis said of his ideas to add camping spaces with Internet access. "This is what campers want."

Pettis also wants to re-pave the streets in the park but that will wait until the construction is finished, or at least that part of the construction that requires electricity and plumbing.

"We don't want to lay new asphalt down just to have to tear it up to run electric or water lines underneath," Pettis said.

The park office is open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week; shower facilities are available to registered campers 24 hours a day. For more information, call the I.B. Magee Beach Park office at (361) 749-6117.

Families camp at I.B. Magee Beach Park in Port Aransas.