I had the pleasure of visiting Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island recently, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience.
It was quite easy to get to from public access point 17 and it was located on the west end of the island in a quieter area than the seawall, which was nice.
The beach itself was perfect for families, with the calm water and soft sand making it ideal for swimming, beachcombing, and playing in the sand.
I was also lucky enough to find a nice variety of shells along the beach when the tide changed, which was a great bonus.
Furthermore, there was an RV park across the street from the beach that had walkable access to the ocean, which was really convenient.
All in all, my visit to Jamaica Beach was a truly delightful experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great beach to spend some quality time with their family.
History of Jamaica Beach
Jamaica Beach‘s history dates back before its development, when it was a burial ground of the Karankawa people.
In the 1950s, the Jamaica Corporation developed Jamaica Beach as a 2000-lot resort subdivision. R.E. “Bob” Smith purchased the land from the Moody family and sold it to the developers without asking for any down payments and guaranteeing a $250,000 bank loan.
Beachfront lots were sold for $3,500 apiece and the “second row” houses sold quickly.
On May 12, 1975, the city incorporated and by 1978, 141 residents were living in Jamaica Beach, increasing to 446 by 1988 and 624 by 1990.
Jamaica Beach has been affected by two major hurricanes – Hurricane Alicia in 1983 and Hurricane Ike in 2008.
On Saturday August 9, 2008, Jamaica Beach celebrated the 50th anniversary of its groundbreaking.
During the celebration, Welcome Wilson donated boxes of news articles, brochures, and promotional materials for the city hall museum and the five children of Welcome Wilson donated $10,000 to the new museum.
Jamaica Beach has a rich and varied history and continues to be a popular destination for beachgoers.
