Rockport was a good location where I realized I could easily spend more than one week kayaking and fishing in the area. The Passport America campground "Ancient Oaks" gave us a good price for a decent campground. From here we trekked north and south from Fulton to Mustang State Park. The Spanish carefully explored and charted the area in 1519; French colonization attempts beginning in 1719 met with fierce resistance from the Indians. The Fort of Aranzazu was built in 1746 at Live Oak Point by the Spanish and many Spanish ranchers existed in this section as early as 1766. Live Oak Point is now in Fulton, north of Rockport.
The town was founded by cattlemen J.M. and T.H. Mathis in 1867 Henry Mathis and his cousin built the first wharf and docking facilities which would accommodate large ships. Shipping and fishing provided the primary economic base of the town in the early years. The Mathis home is undergoing a little painting touchup and is located on Church Street. During the period from 1867 to 1875 Rockport was the capitol of the hide, tallow, packing and cannery industry. Today cattle ranches, seafood packeries and ship building and repair yards share prominence with the development of the oil and gas industry in the area.
Aransas Woods is one of many areas in Rockport created for the protection of the birds that migrate through the area.
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a short distance north of Rockport and is noted for the whooping cranes that winter there.
This was the beginning of the birding along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Signs along the trail denote the birding sites.
An ibis works along the shore on Water Street, a good spot to watch birds while walking or bike riding.
Kent Ullberg's Rites of Spring at Rockport Center for the Arts sculpture garden.
Along the waterfront
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