If lighthouses make you think of the East Coast, Texas is about to change that with some of the coolest and most unexpected ones.
Some are tall and towering, others look like tiny houses on stilts, and a few are so remote you’ll need a boat just to catch a glimpse.
Along the way, you’ll hear wild stories of hurricanes, and even a haunted lighthouse or two (because, of course, Texas would have a spooky one).
So grab some road trip snacks, charge your camera, and let’s hit the road—because these Texas lighthouses have some stories to tell!
1. Port Isabel Lighthouse
Port Isabel Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in Texas that’s open to the public, and you can climb all 75 winding steps to the top for killer views of the Laguna Madre Bay.
Built in 1852, this 72-foot brick tower guided ships near South Padre Island and served as a Civil War lookout for both Union and Confederate troops.
Today, it’s part of a state historic site with a cute little museum in the old Keeper’s Cottage, where you can check out artifacts and learn all about its past.
If you visit at sunset, the sky lights up in shades of orange and pink if you’re lucky, making it the perfect spot for a photo—just watch out for the strong breeze at the top!
Tip: The lighthouse is open as long as weather conditions allow, so be sure to check ahead for any closures.
2. Frazier Lighthouse
The Frazier Lighthouse in Corpus Christi is a modern landmark, standing 142 feet tall, making it the tallest lighthouse in Texas.
Completed in 2023, it was developed by local businessmen Lynn Frazier and Jeff Blackard as part of the Lighthouse Pointe apartment complex.
Unlike traditional lighthouses, this one doesn’t serve as a navigational aid; instead, its decorative light changes colors for holidays and special events.
While you can’t climb it, the lighthouse stands as a striking feature against the coastal skyline.
3. Lydia Ann Lighthouse
Lydia Ann Lighthouse is a total standout because it’s one of the few Texas lighthouses still rocking that timeless red brick design.
Built in 1857, this 68-foot-tall beauty sits on a tiny island near Port Aransas, and the only way to see it up close is by boat since it’s privately owned and off-limits to visitors.
That doesn’t stop it from being a must-see, though—hop on a dolphin cruise or a fishing charter to cruise right past it or catch it glowing beautifully at sunrise.
Fun fact: It went dark for approximately 37 years before being restored and relit in 1989.
4. Matagorda Island Lighthouse
Matagorda Island Lighthouse is the kind of lighthouse that looks like it belongs in an old pirate movie—tall, dark, and a little mysterious.
Originally built in 1852, and eventually rebuilt in 1873, this 91-foot cast-iron tower sits on a remote, uninhabited island, and getting there isn’t easy—you’ll need a boat and some serious adventure spirit.
Left unused for years, the lighthouse slowly rusted and crumbled until a big restoration effort brought it back to life.
If you spot it from the water, just imagine the lighthouse keepers who once lived out here, miles from civilization, with only the sound of waves and the flicker of the lantern to keep them company.
5. Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse
Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse isn’t your typical tall, towering beacon—it’s a rare, squat, wooden little lighthouse that looks more like a cozy coastal cottage on stilts.
Built in 1858, this hexagonal structure once stood in Matagorda Bay, warning sailors about the dangerous reef below, but today, it sits safely on dry land in Port Lavaca.
Unlike most lighthouses, it doesn’t have a spiraling staircase or a towering lantern room.
However, you can go inside and check out the living quarters where lighthouse keepers once braved hurricanes and wild coastal storms.
It’s one of the last remaining screw-pile lighthouses in the country, which basically means it was built to stand on metal legs in the water—kind of like a giant crab!
6. Point Bolivar Lighthouse
Point Bolivar Lighthouse looks like something straight out of a ghost story—with its towering black iron frame and weathered exterior, it’s got that perfect eerie vibe.
Built in 1872, this 117-foot-tall giant near Galveston has survived hurricanes and saltwater storms.
It even served as a shelter for over a hundred people during the deadly 1900 hurricane.
Though it’s privately owned and closed to the public, you can still see it standing tall along Highway 87, a hauntingly cool reminder of Texas’ maritime past.
Legend has it the lighthouse is haunted, and honestly, with its rusted shell and long history, it wouldn’t be surprising if a few ghosts were still hanging around.
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