Seguin is one of the oldest towns in Texas, founded in 1838, and it has something that is not known for being Texan - a tropical paradise island called Son’s Island. But Texas is used to having a perception different than what it actually is. “Some folks from other areas think we all grow up riding horses,” chuckles Patrick O’Toole, general manager for Best Texas Travel, “I never even been on a horse.” O’Toole is a native Texan who now lives in Austin and his company is responsible for the tropical paradise on Lake Placid. This island has cabanas for rent, along with kayaks, paddleboards, rope swings, grills, and everything else that one needs to have fun.
Seguin is in one of the hottest regions of the United States, in between Austin and San Antonio, about 20 miles east of San Marcos, Texas. Even though everywhere is growing in that area, Seguin still has a small-town atmosphere, having a traditional Main Street with smiles and hellos on every corner. Perhaps because it is a bit off the beaten path- that path being the painfully busy I-35 corridor. And as such, an island that is meant to melt worries and stress away.
The last worry one has before entering the island is the bridge. “You are driving through a neighborhood thinking ‘where is this place?’,” says O’Toole, “Then you come to a dead end, a crushed granite drive and the bridge.” The island has had a wooden bridge to it since before Best Texas Travel developed it and it is the same bridge, reinforced and strengthen, that people cross to get onto the island. “Once you cross the bridge, we check you in and then make sure you have everything you need and then you are in paradise,” says O’Toole, “We want to make a unique fun-filled environment for locals and tourists.” He says that they are not trying to compete with the tubing companies in San Marcos and New Braunfels, an extremely popular pastime in those towns, but “throw a curveball and provide a few different options.”
“Island lakeside cabana rental area for a peaceful day with picnic table, hammock, lounge chairs, BBQ pit, bar top, stools, running water, electricity & private dock.”
The island has been developed since 2015 and it grows every year. “We had basically a dry run in the first season because it wasn’t ready until August with 14 cabanas, the 2nd season we had 22 cabanas, and this season we have 40 cabanas plus an overnight camping option,” explains O’Toole. The lion’s share of their customers are day users - the cabanas can be rented from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday. They also have evening packages from 7:30-10:30 to “watch the sunset, cast a line, and swim.” This season they added the overnight tent camping.
Before it was developed, “locals saw it as just an overgrown island with a wood bridge and a pier,” says O’Toole. Lake Placid is a 200 acre lake famous for wakeboarding and fishing. Now that Son’s Island is there, O’Toole is hoping the unique spot will attract people from all over. “Our primary market is people from San Antonio,” he explains, “but we get people from all over.” San Antonio is a little more than 30 miles away. O’Toole said they are marketing to smaller towns in the area, too - like Lockhart and Bastrop - because they want everyone to come enjoy the island. They are also striving to reach “people vacationing in Texas so they can have a memorable experience,” says O’Toole.
So if one rents the cabana for the day, what is there to do? Perhaps that is the wrong question - what isn’t there to do? “You can swim, fish, kayak, paddleboard, grill, drink, rope swing, boating,” explains O’Toole. They also have showers, a snow cone stand, cantina, and a concert stage.
In reading reviews of Son’s Island, it becomes apparent that, beyond the exotic nature of the island, the staff makes the experience even more special. “Before guests arrive we make sure that everything is ready and perfect,” explains O’Toole, “We circle the island and ensure everyone has everything they need. However, once you are at your cabana we leave you alone unless you need help with something.”
Texas has been trying for a while to develop a tourism market. The slogan, “It’s like a Whole Other Country” is effective and seems to be working. It is number 4 on most visited states for vacation and it is one of the fastest growing states in the union. People moving there and visiting are changing the perception of Texas as a state full of cowboys, which it has, but also is a state that with cultural destinations, bountiful nature, and, because of places like Son’s Island, tropical paradises to forget the worries and cares of daily life.