Matagorda Island Lighthouse
Port O'Connor, Texas
Updated in April 2012
Name: Matagorda Island Lighthouse
Nearest City: Port O'Connor, Texas
Location: On Matagorda Island, six miles offshore from Port O'Connor
Body of water: Matagorda Bay & Gulf of Mexico
Style of lighthouse: Conical
Lens & Location: 250 mm solar powered optic in the lantern room
Other Lens: 3rd Order Fresnel Lens is in the Calhoun County Historical Museum in Port Lavaca, Texas.
Lighthouse Website: Matagorda Island Lighthouse Restoration Project
Owned by: Texas Parks and Wildlife
Managed by: Texas Parks and Wildlife
National Register of Historic Places: Since September 18, 1984
Do the grounds have lodging: No
Web Cams: No
On a license plate: No
On a USPS Stamp: Yes, in 2009 on a .44¢
Haunted: No
Photographed it: March 17, 2005
Purchase lighthouse prints from this page
Latitude: 28.3379 Longitude: -96.42406
For directions click Google Maps
Nearest City: Port O'Connor, Texas
Location: On Matagorda Island, six miles offshore from Port O'Connor
Body of water: Matagorda Bay & Gulf of Mexico
Style of lighthouse: Conical
Lens & Location: 250 mm solar powered optic in the lantern room
Other Lens: 3rd Order Fresnel Lens is in the Calhoun County Historical Museum in Port Lavaca, Texas.
Lighthouse Website: Matagorda Island Lighthouse Restoration Project
Owned by: Texas Parks and Wildlife
Managed by: Texas Parks and Wildlife
National Register of Historic Places: Since September 18, 1984
Do the grounds have lodging: No
Web Cams: No
On a license plate: No
On a USPS Stamp: Yes, in 2009 on a .44¢
Haunted: No
Other Lighthouse Information:
The lighthouse is located in Matagorda Island State Park. When the ferry runs it would take ¾ hour each way. A year-long, $1.23 million renovation project was completed in the spring of 2004. The funding came from a federal grant secured through the Texas Department of Transportation and private donations raised by the Matagorda Island Foundation. Future plans include the reconstruction of the keeper's house to serve as a visitor information center. The small cemetery near the light is for the keepers and their families.The Lighthouse Hunters Experience:
On a beautiful chilly morning in March 2005 we met Patrick "Pickles" Ragusin at the Poco Loco Lodge in Port O'Connor, TX and followed him to the marina. We motored 11 miles one way in ½ hour to Matagorda Island. After the boat ride we climbed into the back of a truck and were driven for 15 minutes to the lighthouse. The ferry people on the island were contacted in advance so they could drive us the 3 ½ miles each way and save us the hike. We enjoyed walking around the Matagorda Island lighthouse for a half hour taking pictures and video. During our boat and truck rides we saw dolphins, pelicans, wild turkeys, and roseate spoonbills (look similiar to pink flamingos).Photographed it: March 17, 2005
Purchase lighthouse prints from this page
Latitude: 28.3379 Longitude: -96.42406
For directions click Google Maps
Photo taken on March 17, 2005
Photo taken on March 17, 2005
Photo taken on March 17, 2005
Photo taken on March 17, 2005
Photo taken on March 17, 2005
All photos contained in this site, © Copyright 1997-
by The Lighthouse Hunters - Christine & Tom Cardaci.
Images and text may not be used from this website without written permission. Contact Us for more information.
Images and text may not be used from this website without written permission. Contact Us for more information.
