In Aransas Pass, palm trees and coastal brush sway from breezes that drift along Redfish Bay. Named after the fish that swims through its waters, the bay is also home to black drum, flounder and speckled trout. "This town is a hotbed for fishing because it's right on the water," says Real Estate Agent William Maxwell, who works for Luce Properties and lives in nearby Rockport. Realtor Kathy Tullis, who works with Realty Executives and has called Aransas Pass home since 1993, adds that the water becomes extra blue the farther south anyone drives along the coast. Mustang Island State Park is in that direction, and locals can get there by ferry. A quaint fishing town in every respect, a casual day in the life here might look like waking up in a stilt home before steering a boat to a restaurant to dock and dine on a fresh catch. People are drawn here for this laid-back, unhurried lifestyle. And being just 20 miles from Corpus Christi, the bigger city isn't too far.
Locals reel in the day's catch at Conn Brown Harbor
Thousands of hummingbirds migrate through Texas each year on their way to Mexico. Newbury Park, local to Aransas Pass, is small but known for its hummingbird garden where these flittering birds pass through and hop flower to flower. Community Park, also central on Oak Park Drive, has an aquatic center where kids slide down oversized waterslides and jump off the diving boards while tots splash in the shallow areas under mushroom fountains. Conn Brown Harbor is a popular spot for catching sunsets and launching boats into the water to fish. Nearby beaches, including Port Aransas Beach 9 miles south, are always an option for leisurely days on sun-soaked sand.
Visitors of all ages can explore around the sprawling trees at Newbury Park in Aransas Pass.
Locals get fresh air at Newbury Park in Downtown Aransas Pass, Texas.
Furry friends enjoy the Community Park Dog Park on the bayside of Aransas Pass.
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Buying a home in Aransas Pass
Home prices in Aransas Pass typically fall into the $200,000 to $300,000 range. "On the water, it would be easy to see a home over $1 million and then fairly close to downtown, a solid two-bedroom house would be around $300,000," Maxwell says. Custom-built ranch-style properties, bayfront mansions and stilt homes are common in Aransas Pass. Most houses settle into a grid-style street layout, though some are on wide-open roads. Spanish Revival-style homes, patches of desert cacti, horses grazing in fields and windswept oaks all come together to complete the setting. Some residences have canals in their backyards with personal docks. Though the last major flood to hit Aransas Pass was Hurricane Harvey in 2017, flooding is always a risk, so homes close to the water are generally on stilts: "Everybody wants to be up on higher ground because flood insurance is high, but also to take advantage of the views," Tullis says. "If you're on the far end of the bay, you can see all the barges, boats and jet skis go by."
Spacious, coastal two-story homes fill on the Aransas Pass.
Boats return to Aransas Pass from the Gulf of Mexico.
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From open mics to bird-watching events
The three-day Shrimparee festival, now in is 76th year, takes place every June. Locals gather to listen to live music as they grab beers and food from concession stands. There are carnival rides for the kids, and even a a glowing Ferris wheel that can be seen for miles. The downtown area hosts weekly and seasonal events, from the illuminated Christmas parade to open mic nights and indoor markets at the Rialto Theater. Coastal Bend Kayak leads kayak tours that cross through the marsh and by the Aransas Pass Light Station, a historic landmark. Locals can also head to Rockport for "Birding with Bob," where a retired park ranger guides bird-watching tour through Goose Island State Park.
Small-town shopping along Commercial Street
Downtown Aransas Pass, along Commercial Street, offers a mix of local shops, eateries, and chains. There’s also an H-E-B around the corner for grocery runs. "We're getting a Target. A lot of people are excited about that," Tullis says. "We have some little boutique stores, but for a mall, we normally go shopping in Corpus Christi, which is 30 to 40 minutes from Aransas Pass," Corpus Christi's La Palmera mall has over a million square feet devoted to retail chains like Forever 21, Macy's and Ulta. At Mickey's Bar & Grille, residents can dock their boats and the restaurant staff there will grill up their fresh catches. Mickey’s and Coasters are the two local eateries that provide this service.
Residents grab coffe at the Historical Bakery Cafe in Downtown Aransas Pass.
Dinner is served at Mickey's Bar & Grill at the Aransas Pass Yacht Club.
Locals might grab groceries at the Walmart in Aransas Pass, Texas.
H-E-B offers a wide range of groceries in Aransas Pass, Texas.
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Families get together for story time at A.C. Blunt Middle School
Aransas Pass is served by the Aransas Pass Independent School District. Local kids may go to Charlie Marshall Elementary School for kindergarten through second grade, H.T. Faulk Early Childhood School for third to fifth grades, A.C. Blunt Middle School to eighth grade and Aransas Pass High School. The elementary and high school both earn B-minus grades from Niche, H.T. Faulk scores a B and A.C. Blunt gets a C-plus. The middle school hosts book fairs, family reading nights and themed dress days to inspire holiday spirit.
Young scholars start out at H.T. Faulk Elementary School in Aransas Pass, Texas.
Kids often attend A.C. Blunt Middle School in Aransas Pass, Texas.
Aransas Pass High School is home of the Jaguars.
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Taking the bus or hopping on the ferry
Getting around Aransas Pass requires a car, but there's a Greyhound bus station in this area for longer trips. The Texas Department of Transportation also operates ferries within the region that link residents to Corpus Christi and Mustang Island. Aransas County Rural Public Transportation offers curb-to-curb bus services for locals, too. Interstate 35 passes through the area and feeds into Route 181. Corpus Christi International Airport is 30 miles away. It's over 30 miles from home to Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area on South Padre Island Drive. Christian churches dot the area for those who worship on Sundays.
Goals for more tourism
Since the town's inception in the early 18th century, industry has been seafood related. Today, there are employment opportunities in tourism and the oil and gas industries, too. Some of the downtown commercial properties in the are vacant, but the town plans to invest in the area in hopes it will inspire more tourism. "Some activity is happening now. Little boutiques and restaurants are popping up here and there," Maxwell says. "It’s almost like a secret,” Tullis adds. “Not a whole lot of people know about Aransas Pass. When they do find out about it, they don't want to leave."
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Photography Contributed By
Austin Rowdy Winters
Video By
Maurice McNeil
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Ronald Henry,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Aransas Pass, TX sell after 101 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Aransas Pass, TX over the last 12 months is $275,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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