The Queen Isabel is a calm haven of white brick amid the seaside bustle. The lobby, which is stocked with fishing memorabilia, games, and books, faces the bay, affording superb views of South Padre Island. The Queen’s once-tiny rooms are now large suites (some have two stories with balconies), and each has a full kitchen.

Outside, the 1950s-era Esther Williams pool attracts laughing gulls that swoop down for a sip of fresh water, ignoring the inflatable snake bought to scare them off. From the poolside cabana, you can see the recently restored, 1853 Port Isabel Lighthouse just a few blocks away.

The patio’s barbecue grills are well used in winter, says John, who spends many evenings outside, talking to guests. “Some people stay for six months, fishing every day and grilling their catch every evening.” Just as in the old days, anglers here practice their craft year round, casting lines from the inn’s boat ramp or wading out into the bay from the adjacent seawall. And when dawn comes up like a fireball across the bay, anglers heading offshore pass in review, followed throughout the day by dolphin-watching cruises, sunset excursions, and the ever-present gymnastics of resident seagulls, pelicans, herons, and osprey. Most guests at the Queen echo the sentiments of fisherman Roger Carl, an annual guest from Michigan, who observed, “It’s very peaceful here, away from the island.”

My Trips

Enter your email to bookmark Texas Highways stories and plan future travel.

Welcome back! Would you like to bookmark this story?

The email address is not signed up. Would you like to subscribe to our emails?

By clicking 'Sign Up,' you agree to receive email communications from Texas Highways. You can opt-out at any time by clicking 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of any message. Read more about the types of emails we send on the Newsletter page.

Thanks for signing up. Click the 'Save Story' button below to bookmark this story.

You have no bookmarks currently saved. Save a story to come back to it anytime.

Get more Texas in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletters and never miss a moment of what’s happening around the state.