Bayside town with a boost from growing industry
Partially surrounded by Corpus Christi Bay, Ingleside residents have a waterfront lifestyle filled with frequent visits from docking boats. The area relies on the chemical industry, including an $80 million chemical plant that Chemours Company established in 2022. Aside from a boom of local jobs, residents also enjoy the top-rated school district, scenic nature preserves and a lower-than-average CAP Index Crime Score of 3, compared to the national average of 4. “Ingleside is defined by family, school, spirit and the coast,” says Krystal Reid, an Ingleside local and a real estate agent through Coldwell Banker. “People choose to live here for the school district and family. And growth and industry is happening, which brings jobs.”
Boating or fishing on the water of the Corpus Christi Bay
Locals who want to fish or take a boat out onto Ingleside Cove or Corpus Christi Bay can visit the public boat ramps at Cove Park or venture down to the ramps in the waterfront Ingleside on the Bay district. Back on land, Faith Park on Mustang Drive is a centering point for the community and is surrounded by Ingleside’s city hall, local library, and three public schools. Other popular parks are Ingleside Skate Park on Avenue J, a 15,000-square-foot concrete park, and Live Oak Park on Parkview Place, which comprises over a hundred acres of oak trees and is dotted with a disc golf course, a baseball field, and a duck pond.
Colorful waterfront houses in Ingleside on the Bay
Beach cottages, craftsmen constructions and bungalows are the most common styles in Ingleside. The most popular properties are in the Ingleside on the Bay area, and these homes are typically multi-story and painted in bright shades of blue and orange. Bayfront residences start around $300,000 and go up to $700,000. In-land homes have a lower price range of $200,000 to $500,000. Even houses far from the water have beach town features like wide front porches and shade from mature palm trees.
Award-winning seafood served at Blackbeard’s Too
For delicious, fresh seafood, Blackbeard’s Too is an Ingleside staple. The pirate-themed eatery on Main Street previously took home the top prize at the Texas State Aquarium Cookoff for its signature seared tuna. For a true waterfront dining experience, residents can head to Sunset Hideway to dine on a dock at the Bahia Marina. Locals will easily be able to pick up everyday necessities, as there is an H-E-B in Ingleside on Main Street and a Walmart on Wheeler Avenue in neighboring Aransas Pass. For larger shopping centers, Corpus Christi and Portland both offer some retail centers.
Ingleside Schools rank first in the county
The Ingleside Independent School District is the top school district in San Patricio County, according to Niche, and has an overall A-minus grade. Kindergarten through sixth grade is spread across three small schools -- Ingleside Primary School, Gilbert J. Mircovich Elementary School and Blaschke Sheldon Elementary School. Ingleside Primary has an A-minus score on Niche, while Gilbert J. Microvich and Blaschke Sheldon have a B-plus and B grade, respectively. Leon Taylor Junior High School has an A-minus grade from Niche, while Ingleside High School has a B-plus. Niche also gave these schools the titles of best public middle and high schools in San Patricio County. High school graduates who want to attend college close to home might be interested in Del Mar College Heritage Campus, 20 miles away in neighboring Corpus Christi.
Cross the bridge into Corpus Christi
Ingleside is 16 miles west of Corpus Christi, a distance covered by Routes 35, 181, and 361. Locals must cross the bridge into this larger city to enjoy the metro’s attractions, get to the Corpus Christi International Airport, receive medical care at Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional or Driscoll Children’s Hospital, or reach Interstate 37.
History of tropical storms and chemical spills
Like many waterfront Texas communities, Ingleside has been impacted by flooding, tropical storms, and hurricanes. The last major hurricane in the area was Hurricane Harvey, which destroyed many buildings in Ingleside. “Tropical storms are a normal thing here,” Reid says. “We prepare with picking up things around the house and boarding up windows if evacuating.”
The industrial sectors of Ingleside have caused some past environmental damage. The Oxychem Chemical Plant exploded in 2022, and Ingleside Flint Hills had a large leak in January 2024, releasing chlorine and other chemicals into the local environment.
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Photography Contributed By
Mauricio Atilano
