This week my producer came up with the idea of providing some pictures of a few of the hotels in Port Aransas. One of the most famous is the Tarpon Inn. It was here that President Roosevelt stayed in 1937 and signed a Tarpon scale. Here is the sign in front of the hotel.
If you look closely (well you can’t see it) there is a replica of the Tarpons scale signed by FDR. Here is a closeup that will help.
The next sign is all kinds of fun. Each of the cottages is named in keeping with the horse theme.
Notice only good dogs are okay to stay. This next sign is for an aviation themed motel. The sign says it all.
The building is attractive as well.
I have always liked this sign. The cottages have fish names which make it tough to enter the wrong room. “Oh excuse me this is the Dorado room. I was looking for the Perch room.”
I particularly like the fact they have a jungle gym at this place. The next is also a themed resort. If you can’t dance, you can’t stay here. (Just kidding)
This next one is a big puzzle. Here is a look at the outside.
Here is what goes on inside.
Here is what it looks like in there. What you have is tents, community showers and roughing it. Sounds like fun. (for a day)
This last one is included not for its beauty but for the idea represented by the name. (This one is under construction.)
You have to admire the name The Place. (Makes one wonder about staying anywhere else.)Hope you liked the tour.
Fiction Favorites 
Another fun walk through local attractions… One of my cousins just posted photos on FB of her visit to Port Aransas. She is all smiles…
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Small world isn’t it? Thanks, Gwen.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
John W. Howell is not only looking back at the tragedy of the assassination of JFK in the Sunday Living History interview (plug) but he is also sharing images of the colourful and historical hotel landmarks in his neck of the woods.
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Thank you, Sally. Looks like I’ve moved into your blog :-D. I’ll keep my feet off the furniture. Is that coffee?
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Sounds like you live in a fun place, John. Not just The Place. I have to wonder about the aviation themed hotel. How do they portray the hot tub? Water landing in the Caribbean?
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Ha ha ha. I think that would be the way. Thanks, Dan
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Looks like 1950’s Florida – love it!!
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It so reminds me of that time and place. Thanks, GP.
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I did, John. You sure have some fun looking places to stay in your town. If I had to choose, then I’d go with The laughing Horse Lodge.
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The place has funky written all over it. The paint job alone is fun. One sign over an outdoor shower caught my eye “Pet bath. Not for humans.” Thanks, Hugh.
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I’m very pleased to hear they’re pet-friendly. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. 🐶
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Me either.
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This was so fun, John! I’m with you about the campground…one day is about all I could handle too with community showers. Happy Sunday!
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I know right? I guess they wanted the camp theme to be authentic. 🙂
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I’m really curious about what an Aviation-Themed room would be. Also, a place named after Amelia Earhart makes me think of a ghost story. People occasionally disappear.
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I’m not sure it is Earhart, but if it is you are right. I would like to stay in the B52 room. (Not sure they have one)
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Now I have the song ‘Love Shack’ stuck in my head. 🙂
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“Gotta car big as a whale…”
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Interesting that Amelia flew corsairs.
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A slight mistake on the part of the owner. I think they liked the wing shape.
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I do too, actually.
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🙂
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They look like good places. I don’t think I’d like to stay in a tent and shower with the community in that one place, though. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’m with you. When I was ten it was okay. Now? Not so much.:-)
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Good morning, John!
Now that’s another interesting “view of the neighbourhood”. We’ll have to check out the Tarpon Inn some time. So far, we’ve never really considered it. I don’t really know why. Lately, we’ve usually stayed at Tropic Island. But – years ago – we stayed at the Laughing Horse once. Not bad, but we like Tropic Island better.
Have a great Sunday,
Pit
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Thanks, Pit. I’ve never stayed at each so thanks for the info. 🙂
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You’re welcome. 🙂 We were really surprised, though, when we stayed at Tropic Island the last time [Aug. 15 – 19, you remember my post about that] that we seemed to be the only guests there. Maybe one other kitchenette had guests for a night or two, but that was all. We’d really like to know why, because it was not exactly at a bad time for guests.
Another place I liked very much when we were there two years ago is Cline’s Landing. Unfortunately though they don’t seem to rent apartments (for a short) term any more. The views from there were superb.
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Yes Cline’s is a great view. The only thing I can think on the august dates would relate to the kids being back in school for many school districts and those dates are right in the middle of the week.
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Well, in a way: yes. But we’ve never seen it THAT empty before.
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This is a great collection John – I thoroughly enjoyed the tour!
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Thank you, John. Good to have you along.
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Indeed, a colorful tour on a wonderful summer day. Great photos and fascinating places to stay. I’m sure all visitors are happy there. Thanks for the tour. 😀
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John, that was a ton of fun! Since I’m house hunting “somewhere out west” on a whim recently I looked around in Port Aransas Pass. I knew better than to kid myself that I’d be brave enough to live on an island. I did find one really cute place in my price range. LOL then I realized that even though it wasn’t an island, I’d still panic at the first sign of a storm! 😀 I’d better stick with the desert.
But that goes to show you what a great ambassador you are for your home. Mega hugs.
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Ooo. It would be too grand to have you on the Island. Aransas Pass is not on the island but close enough. Hugs
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It really was a cute house. But I can’t imagine that there are much in the way of jobs…
(I can’t even get partial retirement money for another five years…) LOL, maybe Johnny Depp will come along and want to make a movie of The Guitar Mancer. 😉 Hugs.
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I totally understand. It was fun to imagine. 🙂
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So retro looking! 🙂
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I know right? Like the 50’s. I think the whole town is in the 50’s actually.
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Love it! 🙂
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🙂
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Amelia’s Landing is a cool name, as is Camp Coyoacan. Tents might be fun. You never know…who doesn’t like a community shower. 😉
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Well under certain circumstances the show may be nice. Overall though meh. Thanks, Audrey.
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A lot of variety – think I’d pass on the community showers though.
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Yes me too.
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A fascinating post, John. The Inn’s give the impression of a very laidback community with notes of the past. As a child, when we vacationed, all of the places we stayed looked like these. It was back in the day before chain hotels and motels popped up everywhere.
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Thanks, Michelle. Yes we are a throwback.
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Nothing wrong with that.
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Nope.:-)
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