There is a place where the highway ends and before the Gulf Coast waves, and there the dunes rise soft and white, and there the sun burns crimson bright.
Fans of Shel Silverstein will understand the fascination with State Park Road 100, South Padre Island’s main artery. Travel up the highway to the far northern side of SPI, and high-rise condos and packed bars fade into sand dunes and open skies. About 12 miles in, you’ll come up on an unusual sight: The highway simply stops. Marked by red-and-white-striped roadblocks and a sign that reads “Road Closed,” the gravel vanishes into the sand.
Though the road disappears, visitors can still explore the stretch of sand by foot or four-wheel drive; comb the beach for seashells; and spot gulls, turtles, crabs, and other wildlife.
