Vintage photographs from Port Aransas portray early life of a budding Texas vacation spot

The archived photographs of Port Aranasas in the gallery date as far back as 1923. less Long before Port Aransas played host to thousands of annual spring breakers, it was a fisherman's playground and a family vacation spot where only the boats were fast. The archived photographs of Port Aranasas ... more Long before Port Aransas played host to thousands of annual spring breakers, it was a fisherman's playground and a family vacation spot where only the boats were fast. Photo: San Antonio Express-News Photo: San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 62 Caption Close Vintage photographs from Port Aransas portray early life of a budding Texas vacation spot 1 / 62 Back to Gallery

Long before Port Aransas played host to thousands of annual spring breakers, it was a fisherman's playground and a family vacation spot where only the boats were fast.

RELATED: Spring break in South Texas, back in the day

A 1930s feature in the newspaper is an early document of how Port Aransas was beginning to attract many summer visitors from San Antonio. Model T-like cars lined the entrance to the ferry, where now it's a heavy chain of Ford F-150s and SUVs.

The archived photographs of Port Aranasas in the gallery above date as far back as 1923.

They feature a nearly unblemished coastline just as it was beginning to develop with telephone and power lines, oil rigs and water towers. Sailboats raced across the bay with the earliest models of speed boats. Men and women fished off jetties, piers and tarpon boats pulling out scores of fish the same size as them.

"They bite every day" was the coastal town's slogan, and it billed itself as the ideal vacation spot for fish and play, with its own local lore of pirates and buried treasure.

A look through these vintage pictures is a nostalgic look at how Port Aransas first became one of Texas' favorite beaches.

jmscott@mysa.com