First Baptist Church of Crystal Beach
Bill Navarre, Pastor
1260 Highway 87, Crystal Beach
409-684-4413
Sunday School 9:00 AM Sunday Morning 10:15AM  
Sundays, 4pm – Youth Activities/Bible Study ·  5pm, Preteen (5-6)Bible Study
Tuesdays – KFC - 3:30 to 5:30 Wednesdays - 6pm-Supper  ·  7pm Prayer Meeting
Thursdays – Guitar lessons  Fridays – 6:30 Choir practice

First Baptist Church of Port Bolivar
Rev Michael Taylor, Pastor
521 Nelson Street, Port Bolivar
409-684-8976
Sunday School 10 – AM, Sunday Worship - 11 AM, Sunday Eve Worship - 7 PM
Wed Eve Worship - 6 PM

First Baptist Church of Gilchrist
L. C. Roots, Pastor
1952 Highway 87, Gilchrist
409-286-5457
Sunday School - 10 AM, Sunday Worship - 11 AM, Sunday Eve. Worship - 7 PM
Wed Worship - 7 PM

First Baptist Church of High Island
1368 Weeks Ave, High Island
Office 409-286-5383
Sunday School - 9:30 AM, Sunday Worship 10:30 AM, Sunday Eve Worship - 6 PM
Wed Bible Study 7 PM

Saint Therese of Lisieux Mission (Catholic)
Reverend Joseph Nguyen, Pastor
87 & Driftwood Drive,
Crystal Beach
409-684-8962
Mass Schedule:  Saturday - 4 PM, Sunday - 10 AM, Tuesday - 8 AM, Thursday - 8 AM
Email: ommch8620@aol.com

Our Mother of Mercy (Catholic)
Reverend Joseph Nguyen, Pastor
1313 18th Street
PO Box 900, Port Bolivar
409-684-8962
Mass Schedule: Saturday - 6 PM, Sunday - 8 AM, Wednesday - 8 AM, Friday - 8 AM
Email: ommch8620@aol.com

The Catholic St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston on Church Street has begun a night Mass at 9 p.m. The Mass is intended as a service for workers, students, Galveston residents who come home late after a weekend away, or visitors who play all day at the beach.

Bay Vue Methodist Church
Mark M Pederson, Pastor
Web: www.bayvueumc.com Click
1441 Highway 87, Crystal Beach
409-684-6678
Sunday Worship 9 – AM, Sunday School - 10 AM, Sunday Youth Fellowship - 5:00 PM
Alcoholics Anonymous - Mon-Wed-Sat - 8 PM
Al-Anon - Wed - 8 PM, Sat - 10 AM

Port Bolivar United Methodist Church
Mark M Pederson, Pastor
12th & Madison, Port Bolivar
409-684-7510
Sunday School - 10 AM, Sunday Worship - 11 AM
"Nothing Better To Do domino Club" Friday - - 7 PM

St. Matthew's United Methodist Church
1308 Weeks Ave.,
High Island
409-286-5164
Sunday School - 9 AM, Sunday Worship - 10 AM, Wed Study and Pray - 6:30 PM

Bolivar Peninsula Church of Christ
Jerry Valentine, Minister
2800 Hwy 87 @ Tidelands Dr.
Crystal Beach, Texas
409/684-3340 or 409/684-0089
Wednesday - Bible Class 7:00 PM, Sunday - Bible Class at 9:30 AM,
Sunday - Worship at 10:30 a.m.

Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witnesses
5827 Avenue T
Galveston Texas 77551
409-744-3877
Sunday 9:30am-English - Sunday 1:00pm-Spanish - Worship at 10:00 a.m.

The Big Store Gift Shop
Clothing, beach items, gifts, hats, candles, souvenirs, decorative accessories. Located on Hwy 87 across from Driftwood Addition.
409/684-2400

The Ilander Swim Shop.
Roxy, Rusty, Quicksilver, Flojos, Tianello, Caribbean Soul, Go Barefoot and much more. Located at 1400 Hwy 87 at Sand Dollar Road.
409/684-0594

Sun-N-Fun
Clothing, swim wear for the entire family, swim suit cover ups, beach shoes and sandals, fine jewelry, gifts, boogie boards, accessories and beach supplies. Quality Brands such as Gurkees, Reef, Panama Jack, Bare Assets, Blue Water and Paradise Found. Located at 1985 Hwy 87 across from new Post Office.
409/684-3856

Latitudes 29.2 Beach Outfitters
Clothing, swim wear, beach supplies, gifts, souvenirs, kites, windsocks, gifts, surfboards, body boards, boogie boards, skim boards, beach chairs and umbrella rentals, kayak boat rentals. Hurley, Lost Reef, Caribbean Soul and more. Located at 990 Hwy 87 at Alma.
409/684-0518

Hannah Bay’s
Quality Men & Women’s clothing,
2560 Highway 87.
409/684-3250

Bayvue Grocery. Convenience Store. Open daily
409/684-6220

Corner Mart. Convenience Store. Open 24/7.
409/684-3706

Fisherman's Cove Motel and Store. Convenience Store. Open daily.
409/684-8567

The Big Store. Grocery Store. Open daily.
409/684-2400

Royal Swede's Grocery. Convenience Store. Open daily.
409/684-6441

T.J.’s Grocery. Convenience Store.  Open daily.
409/684-4161

Milt’s Seafood
409/684-8581

Steve’s Landing
409/684-1440

Veronica’s-The Shrimp Lady. U-Ring, We-Bring. 20 years in Bolivar Peninsula
409/750-6760

American Grill, Mama Teresa’s
409.684.3281
Chillin’ and Grillin’, Tuesday through Sunday 11 am – 10 pm Burgers, Fries, Po-Boys, Sandwiches, Pizza, Salads, Prepared to Order. Located at North Crystal Beach Rd. 1801 Hwy 87

Beach Rock Café
409.684.3000
Great food, hand-made pizza, sandwiches, weekend delivery, Open daily.
Live entertainment.  Great Atmosphere.

Bob’s Sports Bar and Famous Grill
409.384.4929
Fine food, BBQ, seafood, burgers and take-out.  Beer, wine and mixed drinks. 
Karaoke every Friday and Saturday night.

Coba’s on the Coast
409.684.2308
Family dining, steaks, seafood, daily specials.   Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Beer, wine and mixed drinks.

Dannay’s Donuts
409.684.1778
Donuts, breakfast sandwiches, lunch.  Open 7 days.  Breakfast, lunch and take-out.

DeCoux’s Restaurant and Pub
409.684.0177
Family dining, steaks, fresh seafood, burgers, Po-Boys, daily specials.  Dine-in or take-out.  Lunch on weekends and dinner daily.  Beer, wine and mixed drinks.  Located at 3140 Hwy. 87

Firehouse Restaurant and Bar
409.286.5449
Fine food, family dining.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Full bar.

The Food Shop – Subway
409.684.3247
Broasted chicken, hot side dishes, hand-made pizza, hand-dipped ice cream,
Subway, convenience mart, lottery agent, beer, wine, ice, grocery items, snacks, beach supplies, fishing supplies.

Deli (The Big Store)
409.684.2400
Daily lunch specials.  Fried chicken, egg rolls, boudain balls.

The Island Grill
409.684.0684
Seafood, steak, po-boys, burgers.  Take-out available.  Beer.

LaPlayita Mexican Restaurant
409.684.1383
Authentic Mexican dining, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Beer and wine.

Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza and Italian Restaurant
409.684.3507
Italian dining.  Pizza, pasta, seafood.  Lunch on weekends and dinner.  Beer and wine.

The Outrigger Grill
409.684.6212
Family dining – NEVER LEAVE HUNGRY. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Steaks, seafood, sandwiches, po-boys, deserts.

Sharky’s Beach Club
409.684.5505
Dinner Club night, live entertainment.  Steak or chicken dinner on Wednesday nights.

Steve’s Landing & Restaurant
409.684.1999
Family dining on the Bay.  Fine Cajun-style seafood, steaks.  Open Wednesday through Sunday.  Lunch on Saturday and Sunday.  Full Bar.  Great Views.

Stingaree Restaurant
409.684.2731
BBQ Crabs, Soft Shell Crabs, Snapper, Steaks.  Lunch and dinner.  Dine over the water.  Family Atmosphere.  Great Views.

Tiki Beach Bar and Grill
409.684.9594
Pizza, Boudain, Crab Balls, Fried Shrimp, Tiki Shrimp, Sweet Potato Fries, Chicken Strips, Nachos, Chicken Wings, Egg Rolls, Stuffed Jalapenos, Corn Dogs, Fantastic atmosphere and great fun.

DVD Rentals
Video Rentals
VCR Rentals,
Video Games Rentals,
and Game System Rentals.

409-684-5014

Located off Hwy 87,
Across from the water slide!

Latitude 29.2
Kayak Rentals ! ! !
409-684-0518
Call and ask for details!
Located on Hwy. 87
(also a gift shop)

Bolivar Lighthouse
[Excerpt from "Bolivar!" by A Pat Daniels]
The Lighthouse was built in 1872 and towers 117 ft. above sea level. It guided mariners for 61 years and was retired in 1933 when it was replaced by the South Jetty light. It is now privately owned and not open to visitors. A lighthouse, which may have been erected by the Republic of Texas, was dismantled during the Civil War and plans for the present Bolivar light made after that time.
The Bolivar lighthouse is of brick sheathed in cast iron plates riveted together. It once glistened with a white-and-black banded exterior, but now is covered with rust and is almost a uniform black.
The 52,000 candle-power beacon guided ships through the channel, which in earlier years was undredged, safely from the Gulf of Mexico into the Port of Galveston.
The picture on the right is Bolivar Lighthouse in 2001 - Jack Owen Photo

The burner of the lamp was fed by kerosene, contained in storage tanks on the lower level, and the kerosene was forced through nozzles into a mantle where it became gas, burning with great intensity. Eight rays of light were produced every 15 seconds as the lamp slowly revolved throughout the night. Inside the lighthouse the brass finishing’s always were kept brilliantly polished, and it was considered one of the most attractive and efficient lighthouses on the Texas Gulf Coast.
From Mrs. H. C. Claiborne, wife of the first lighthouse keeper: "Life at the lighthouse is very lonely and friendless. There is very little visiting because travel is non-existent from the point to Galveston. We pass most of our time by reading books."
The lighthouse withstood the onslaught of two of the worst storms recorded on the Texas Gulf Coast, the 1900 and the 1915 hurricanes.
An inspector's report said after the 1900 storm - which claimed an estimated 6000 lives on Galveston Island - that, "through the keeper's efforts, the lives of 125 people were saved, and to my personal knowledge, he harbored and fed a large number of them for a considerable period".
At one point during the storm, according to the story of one historian, the hurricane winds caused the tower to sway so badly that the machinery for the light failed to work, and that night Claiborne rotated the machinery by hand to keep the beacon bright.
Winds of 126 miles per hour were recorded in the 1915 hurricane, and still the lighthouse withstood the pounding of wind and wave.
The light in the tower burned every night during the years of it's service except two nights of that storm, Aug 17 and 18, when the supply of oil used to light the lamps floated away after the surging waters of an 11-foot tide burst open the door at the base of the tower.
Sixty-one people took refuge in the lighthouse during that storm, huddling on the iron steps during the night as winds rocked the tower, and peering out the windows during the daylight to see their homes and crops being destroyed.
Two houses, on stilts for protection from rising tides, were built near the lighthouse for the lighthouse keeper and his two assistants. H C Claiborne retired and was replaced by Capt J B Brooks in 1918.
The government sold the lighthouse as surplus property in 1947.The E W Boyt interests entered a private bid of $5,500, which was $500 higher, that the only other bid.

On May 29,1933, after 61 years of service, the Bolivar lighthouse was officially retired. The inner mechanisms have been removed. The lamps and reflector lenses have been reassembled in the Galveston County Museum. In 1952, the land and buildings were sold to Pat E. Boyt. in 1968, the movie "My Sweet Charlie". starring Patty Duke and Al Freeman, Jr., was filmed at the lighthouse. No longer painted and maintained, the lighthouse has rusted to a uniform shade of black. It stands, near Highway 87, a visual delight and a symbol of the romance and adventure of long-ago times at sea.

Go Fishing and Crabbing at the North Jetty

The North Jetty is about 1-1/2 miles east of the Ferry Landing. This granite rock jetty extends several miles into the Gulf of Mexico the first 200 yards is a paved walkway. To get beyond that point, you must climb over the granite rocks. There is a small boat cut about one mile from shore. You can usually catch a good mess of crabs and most of the year the fishing is good. Bait and refreshments are available. Lots of FUN!! Children can play on the nearby beaches.
                                   
Crabbing on Crystal Beach and Bolivar

The 27-mile long Bolivar Peninsula is world famous for the many species of birds that can be seen here. As of January 1, 1997, the Houston Audubon Society members have recorded 344 species of birds on the peninsula.

The peninsula’s shape, diversity of habitats and strategic position along the Gulf Coast combine to make the peninsula attractive to a large and diverse number of bird species.

The 27 miles of the Bolivar Peninsula’s Highway 87, with it’s short side roads to the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston Bay and the Intracoastal Canal, provide access to Gulf and Bay beaches, mud flats, sand bars, fresh water marshes and ponds, salt marshes, coastal prairies, meadows, fields and woodlots.

Remember: Birds may be found anywhere there is good habitat. Please do not trespass on private property.

For more bird watching information contact:
Houston Audubon Society
440 Wilchester
Houston, Texas 77079
Tel: 713-932-1639

Website: http://www.houstonaudubon.org/

For more information about the Bolivar Peninsula contact:
Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1170
Crystal Beach, Texas 77650
Tel: 409-684-5940 or 1-800-386-7863

Website: http://www.crystalbeach.com/chamber.htm