Cancel

Open app

Search

Port Isabel Lighthouse

3.5 (17 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Port Isabel Lighthouse Landmarks & Historical Buildings Photos

More like Port Isabel Lighthouse

Recommended Reviews - Port Isabel Lighthouse

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Flora B.

A breathtaking experience and view at 72-ft. The lighthouse was built in 1852 at the request of sea captains that needed assistance navigating the waters of the low-lying Texas coast. Admission is $5 adult / $3 child. Warning: Climbing down the narrow stairwell is a bit more intense.

The view looking east from the top of the lighthouse.
Quincy V.

A neat little lighthouse, keyword "little." Having grown up in New England, I'll be honest, this lighthouse was a bit underwhelming. The walk is brief, but the stairway to the top is narrow. There is a nice view from the top, overlooking the causeway and SPI to the east, but being only 4-5 stories high, don't expect to be blown away. It's a fun place to stop for the history and to say you visited. Kids will have fun, just make sure they are careful on the stairs. At $4 as of 2020, it's certainly not the most expensive thing you'll spend 10 minutes on in the SPI/Port Isabel area.

Antonia M.

One of the best parts of my trip to Port Isabel was enjoying this bit of history and getting to walk up to the top of the little lighthouse. It was very hot - but worth the sweat and scenery. If you are a first responder bring an ID or badge for free entry. It's worth paying the five dollars for, you can get some amazing shots inside and outside of the lighthouse too. Highly reccomend a visit here!

!!!!!DO NOT RECOMMEND !!!!! The lady who worked august 9 at 5 pm was a bitch. Made my nephew cry ,like ball his eyes out because he wasn't 4 yet, and I get that but he turns 4 in a week she could give less of a fuck. Would not advise anyone to spend your money just to walk up stairs. We had more run running down the hill then we would have had up those stairs.

Great view from the top
Laurie P.

It was fine. The smallest of the 20 or so lighthouses I've climbed, but just sort of there. No interaction from staff where you buy the ticket or from the person who takes your ticket made it meh. Smile, say hello, tell us a little about the history. Make us fall in love with lighthouses so when we make the skinny hot climb we appreciate all that the keepers did who lived there. The lighthouse is fine. The people associated with making it worthwhile simply phoned it in. Shame.

Tomomi S.

It is hard to miss this pretty light house if you are near Port Isabel. It was built in 1850th but nicely preserved and making a cute land mark of Port Isabel. Plenty of parking around this little park and it is easy to stop by and take pictures of the light house, look around the nearby local shops. In a beautiful day, you can look over the city of Port Isabel and look over to the South Padre Island. The admission fee is $3 for adult.

See all

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jeff M.
144
43
155

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lili K.
310
2571
301

14 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ernst F.
24
91
198

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tim S.
45
77
86

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Port Isabel Lighthouse

Review Highlights - Port Isabel Lighthouse

The lighthouse is right before you cross over the bridge to get to South Padre Island.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Sabal Palm Sanctuary

4.6(5 reviews)
20.0 mi

We spent a week in south Padre We soon Got bored I found this place by accident. It was the BEST…read morepart of our vacation BEAUTIFUL and wild We set and looked at Mexico under a covered overlook that was So remote we were the only guests at that spot for a long time The Desk clerk Pablo Was Great in every way GO THERE!! you'll be amazed

THICK WITH THE REGIONS FLORA AND FAUNA! This place is simply jaw-dropping beautiful! I took the…read morefamily out to this phenomenal place for a day hike and we discovered a lot more than we thought we would! We were received right away by the all too friendly staff and volunteers at the Beautiful Historic Rabb Plantation House. It's such a marvel of how well this 1892 Plantation Home has been restored and preserved. Walking through those doors you truly step back into time. The location: right on the most Southern Point in all the country. Sabal Palm Sanctuary literally lies against the southernmost point of the US-Mexico Border, along the Rio Grande. It was established to preserve one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. In this endeavor, over the years, it now showcases what the land of this sub-tropical area would look like as if untouched by the hands of man and left to mother natures own devices. The result is ASTOUNDING!!! This Sub-Tropical Forest now attracts... hundreds of bird species which makes this a not-to-be-missed destination. Sabal Palms Sanctuary is by far one of the country's premiere birding hot-spot with hundreds of species that migrate through this region every year. "The Sanctuary sits on a 527-acre tract of land on the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas and is one of the most uniquely biodiverse habitats in the country, containing one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. The Sanctuary provides breeding habitat for many endangered or high-priority birds and is a critical source of shelter and food for migrating and wintering species." --SabalPalmSanctuary.org

Photos
Sabal Palm Sanctuary - Feeding station

Feeding station

Sabal Palm Sanctuary - Spanish moss

Spanish moss

Sabal Palm Sanctuary - Hiking galore

See all

Hiking galore

Hidalgo Pump House

Hidalgo Pump House

5.0(3 reviews)
65.5 mi

Beautiful location for photo shoots with a lot of great backgrounds people who work there are very…read morenice and helpful

The Hidalgo Pump House Heritage and Discovery Center is a great addition to this small town. This…read morelocation is being changed, remodeled, and repurposed to become more of a tourist attraction, but being kept with antique architecture that gives it a quaint but welcoming look. The pump house itself has a private parking lot and you can park for free. It's also free to walk around the outside of the pump house which provide many picture opportunities. However, if you are seeking this place out for event pictures (like a wedding photoshoot) then you do need to go to the front desk and ask for permission. I don't know, but I would imagine there might be some sort of fee involved. Though not quite a botanical garden, there are plenty of flora to look at, take pictures of, and enjoy. I have seen some pedal boats and kayaks in the river, but I have yet to see the business actually running, but I usually go after closing hours when walking as part of my exercise route. There is a small gazeebo that ends up at the river and other interesting paths to follow. A juxtaposition can be found once you bump into an actual fence that divides the US side of the river to Mexico's side of the river. This is a great place to propose to someone. They have an outdoor auditorium in which they will show free movies for children. Since you can access this location after hours, proposing to someone here makes it a beautiful reminder for your partner. Once you are done enjoying the sights, walking outside the pump house now offers the opportunity to frequent some of the local businesses that are growing around the area. There is a place really close by called Tikis which sells Mexican snacks, a tea house that has some sandwhiches and other meals, and a block further down is a crêperie called Creparis. Most of these businesses, though, close by 9:00 PM so plan ahead if you want to visit those locations. Also, since they are local emerging businesses and not chain restaurants, some don't offer the choice of paying with a credit card. I suggest you take at least 20 dollars cash with you. Over all, your night will be memorable and more so if you come during the Christmas time where they decorate entire blocks leading to this location. Enjoy.

Photos
Hidalgo Pump House
Hidalgo Pump House
Hidalgo Pump House - The water tower.

See all

The water tower.

Port Isabel Lighthouse - landmarks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...