Sweeping bayside views in a lively coastal community
The sound of gulls, the smell of cooking barbecue and the sight of jewel-colored beach houses – this is daily life on Bolivar Peninsula’s Crystal Beach. While Galveston has become one of Texas’s favorite tourist attractions, the neighboring Bolivar Peninsula remains true to its rural roots. Large portions of the peninsula are occupied by ranch land and bird sanctuaries. “We have 27 miles of paradise,” says Holly Cravy, a Crystal Beach resident and Realtor with Vive Realty. “People love the freedom to be, to enjoy the beach without a lot of commotion. It’s a come-as-you-are kind of place.” The peninsula was severely damaged during Hurricane Ike in 2008 but has since rebuilt and become attractive for its beautiful scenery and growing real estate options. Crystal Beach is one of Bolivar’s most popular neighborhoods for its 4-mile-long beach and view of the Gulf of Mexico. The neighborhood hosts signature annual events, from community cook-offs to sailboat races.
Residents can enjoy Bolivar Beach, located on the southern end of Crystal Beach.
A row of beach homes sit along the sand dunes in Crystal Beach, Texas.
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Crystal Beach covers four miles along the Gulf
The area’s namesake beach provides a sweeping view of the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the most beloved beaches in the area. Crystal Beach runs about 4 miles across the peninsula shoreline and can be accessed from multiple points. Hundreds of college students come to the beach every year during spring break season, which lasts for most of March. Gregory Park on Highway 87 is the perfect place for a game of basketball or a bike ride and often hosts summer concerts and yearly festivals. For residents who want to take their boats out on the bay, the area around Crystal Beach has multiple marinas and boat launches, including Bolivar Yacht Basin on Boyt Road and Bolivar Marina on Stingaree Drive.
Kayaking is a popular pastime in the Crystal Beach area.
A child throws a net in the surf for shrimp and baitfish in Crystal Beach.
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Elevated bungalows along the shores of Crystal Beach
While there are about 1,000 permanent residents on the peninsula, most of Crystal Beach’s homes are second residences or vacation properties. Because the area can be vulnerable to flooding during storm season, bungalow-style beach homes are typically elevated. These bungalows come in every color, from lime green and flamingo pink to aqua blue and amethyst purple. Properties may have extra features like big porches, hot tubs and private boat docks. A beach home 1,500 square feet or under ranges from $150,000 to $400,000, while a 1,500 to 2,000 square feet home can be $450,000 to $850,000. Luxury beach homes with lots of custom features can reach between $850,000 to $2 million. Defined yards and sidewalks are rare in Crystal Beach, and nearly everyone is a short walk or golf cart ride to the water. “Most homes are within 1,000 feet from the beach,” says Beth Boles-Terminella, Realtor for One10 Realty. The CAP Index Crime Score in Crystal Beach is a desirable 1 out of 10, well below the national average score of 4.
A large three story beach home, located on an ample sized lot in Crystal Beach, Texas.
A row of beach homes sit along a quiet road in Crystal Beach, Texas.
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Gregory Park hosts crab cookoffs and sailboat racing
Crystal Beach is Bolivar Peninsula’s event destination. Gregory Park bursts with purple, green and gold for Mardi Gras and is filled with the buttery smell of cooking shellfish during the annual Texas Crab Festival in May. Multiple fishing tournaments and barbecue cook-offs are held throughout the year, including the Ladies Casting for Conservation Fishing Tournament in July and the Port Bolivar BBQ Cook-Off in October. At the end of summer, the water of Crystal Beach fills with dozens of colorful boat sails for the Bolivar Rig Run Sailboat Race.
Gregory Park is a neighborhood staple for the Crystal Beach community.
Fisherman cast a line at one of the many bank fishing spots in Crystal Beach.
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Fresh seafood and sunset-soaked views at Stingaree Restaurant
Close to Stingaree Cove, there is no shortage of fresh seafood. At Stingaree Restaurant and Marina on Stingaree Drive, locals can dock their boats, pull up a chair for live music and watch the sunset over the bay, all while enjoying a plate of crab or calamari. Monster Shrimp Road on Canal West serves fresh catches from an unassuming beach house. At JB’s Seafood farther up the road, locals can buy fresh fish and shrimp to take home and cook themselves.
One of the largest cornerstone stores in Bolivar is The Big Store on Highway 87. The store proudly proclaims that shoppers can find anything they need under one roof. It has a supermarket, hardware store, deli, bank and gift shop all in one place. Our Lady by the Sea Catholic Church is located directly across from The Big Store and is one of six churches in Galveston’s Holy Family Parish.
Stingaree Restaurant is open daily and serves fresh Gulf shrimp in Crystal Beach.
Residents of Crystal Beach can stop by The Big Store for everyday necessities.
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The beach is the classroom at Crenshaw School
Crystal Beach families are zoned to Galveston Schools. Crenshaw School of Environmental Studies is on the Bolivar Peninsula and covers kindergarten through eighth grade. Crenshaw earns a B-minus score on Niche and focuses on a nature-first curriculum. Students go to the beach to collect shells, work in a community garden and have class at the school’s outdoor classroom and boardwalk. The district’s main high school, Ball High School, earns a B on Niche. To reach Ball, students can take the bus, which travels on the ferry to Galveston Island. When Crystal Beach residents get off the ferry to Galveston, they are about a mile from the University of Texas Medical Branch, an acclaimed medical school.
Ball High School is a 5A class school serving grades 9-12 in the greater Galveston area.
The Crenshaw School serves grades K-8.
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Take the ferry to Galveston or Interstate 10 to Houston
Texas State Highway 87 is the only major highway on the peninsula, covering the entire length of Bolivar. Bolivar Side Ferry Terminal is at the end of Highway 87 on the far west end of the peninsula. At least one ferry always runs between this terminal and the Galveston Ferry Terminal. The ferry service is free to ride, available 365 days a year, and several boats are typically in operation during weekends or peak summer hours. In total, the drive to the terminal and the ferry ride to Galveston covers 17 miles, and a one-way ferry ride lasts less than 20 minutes. To reach Houston, about 97 miles away, Bolivar residents usually drive into Chambers County and then connect to I-10.
A man takes in the sights on the ferry from Galveston to Crystal Beach.
Most homes in Crystal Beach have ample sized lots.
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On average, homes in Crystal Beach, Galveston sell after 120 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Crystal Beach, Galveston over the last 12 months is $440,000, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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