Why is northbeach so underdeveloped? (San Antonio, Corpus Christi: amusement park, condo, hotel) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Austin97 · 12-16-2009, 11:29 AM

I really like the area, but im wondering why it is so underdeveloped

no cigar · 12-17-2009, 08:24 AM

Yeah I've wondered the same thing too for many years. I guess I could see that area more like a South Beach Miami, but given that progress like that would mean CC would have to step up to the plate and leave it's simpleton ways in the 1970s and evolve, I doubt it will happen. That part of town is nothing more than a tourist trap/mariner drinking ground with the same attractions that were there when I was in 5th grade and visited CC for the first time, again in Sr. year of high school, and again when I moved for college... AND again when I moved away in Oct. 2009.... It hasn't changed a single bit except for gotten even more trashy and lame.

Rottnboys · 12-17-2009, 09:12 AM

I've always thought the biggest reason that NB isn't more desirable for development, is that the area is QUICK to go completely underwater in the event of a storm surge - which in active years, could happen multiple times in just ONE season......that rising water makes NB completely unaccessible for days.....then the resulting clean-up could take weeks......many grand ideas have been proposed for that area - to include a salt-water water park....but nothing seems to gather any steam to get going. There were several 'game' type businesses under the bridge many years ago - but they just couldn't survive.....very tourist 'season' area as well - summer is good - winter - not so much

SOM · 12-17-2009, 12:38 PM

I guess you youngsters don't remember when North Beach was *really* shady! Back before the Lexington and the Aquarium.

And back before *that* it really was nice....my family would vacation from San Antonio (before I was born) and stay at a hotel called The Breakers, and that say that North Beach was very pleasant back then. I believe there was an amusement park as well. It all got destroyed in a hurricane, and it has been a *long* road back. Rottnboys, I think you're right, it's just too risky of an area to develop. And the histroy bears that out.

Or, you can just sneer arrogantly at the simpleton peasants who are too stooopid to make a go of it. It always come down to sweeping generalizations and insults for some people.

Kibby · 12-17-2009, 03:02 PM

North Beach has been "developed" several times.

In the early 1900's it was "THE" place to live. The first Golf course in CC was on N. Beach, as was the beginnings of the Corpus Christi Country Club. The wealthy families were building fine homes on N. Beach and moving from the bluff, which was becoming more commercial.

Then the storm of 1919 hit Corpus. This is what North Beach looked like after the storm.

They tried again .... slowly, North Beach was rebuilt but it was all washed away with the big storms. I remember the Lahala House Restaurant on North Beach back in the 50's-60's. This was maybe the top place to eat in the area. It was washed away in 1967 with Hurricane Beulah. That was the last time (to my knowledge) that independent business tried to build out there. The Sandy Shores hotel and a couple of condo units were built in the 60's - all surviving but under different names now. It just has not proven to be a very viable building site.

Several structures are built to survive the storms like the Texas Aquarium, but it is expensive to do it. It would take a LOT of money to build on an area that is known to have little to no protection. Quite a gamble at this point. I would love to see the amusement park that is often talked about in Corpus on N. Beach but I don't think it can be built to withstand the storms.

1751texan · 12-17-2009, 04:45 PM

North Beach is comming back slowly, I remember cement slabs back in the 70's.

Marlow · 12-18-2009, 07:43 AM

My parents (born in 1923 and 1925) used to love to describe North Beach when they were growing up. It had an amusement park and a salt water swimming pool. Not sure if a hurricane took those out, or if interest just shifted to the other side of the ship channel.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the movie Raggedy Man with Sissy Spacek was set in Gregory, Texas during WWII and has a scene that was supposed to have taken place on a boardwalk on North Beach. It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I think that's right.

txsizzler · 12-18-2009, 06:43 PM

Not exactly North Beach, but a water park may be in the works around the Harbor Bridge area. Could this be the beginning of something.... ??

Ian

SOM · 12-18-2009, 08:46 PM

More like the continuation of something.....Whataburger Field, Museums, Harbor Playhouse, American Bank Center, Ortiz Center.....

jbtx · 12-19-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

And back before *that* it really was nice....my family would vacation from San Antonio (before I was born) and stay at a hotel called The Breakers, and that say that North Beach was very pleasant back then. I believe there was an amusement park as well. It all got destroyed in a hurricane, and it has been a *long* road back. Rottnboys, I think you're right, it's just too risky of an area to develop. And the histroy bears that out.

I remember "The Breakers" hotel on North Beach. We stayed there once when my family vacationed in CC back in the late 40's or early 50's. I remember it as a pretty nice place,,, too bad it got destroyed by a 'cane.