By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the PRESS
On May 28, 2025, residents, visitors, and RV campers gathered at the Cameron County Amphitheater to hear about upcoming changes at Isla Blanca Park. The beach—voted Texas’ best by USA Today readers in 2024 and nominated again for 2025—continues to draw visitors from across the country, and county officials are working to ensure it stays that way.
They announced a major overhaul of the park’s aging electrical, water, and wastewater systems, with construction scheduled to begin on October 1, 2025. The project is expected to take approximately 12 months, weather permitting.
Parks Director Joe E. Vega addressed attendees with reassurances that the park itself would remain open and only the interior campground would be affected by the much-needed upgrades. “Isla Blanca Park will remain open and fully operational, with the exception of the RV sites under renovation,” he said. “All other areas, including the mile-long beach, beachfront pavilions, concessions, boardwalks, jetties, fishing spots, walking trails, boat ramp, amphitheater, and event center, will remain accessible to the public.”
Vega explained the purpose behind the work. “These improvements are being made so that everyone can continue to enjoy and stay at our beautiful Isla Blanca Park for generations to come,” he said.
As part of the project, the park’s interior RV campground will close temporarily for safety and to accelerate construction. To accommodate displaced campers, 43 existing RV sites in the exterior campground located south of Dirty Al’s Restaurant and outside the toll gates will remain open.
To further increase capacity, the county will introduce approximately 26 new dry camping sites beginning the week after Memorial Day 2025. These designated sites will include access to an on-site sewer dump station and will be available throughout the 2025–2026 winter and 2026 summer seasons. Reservations may be made in person or by phone at the park’s registration office, with online booking expected to become available soon.
Winter reservations for these sites, from October 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, open online at 8 p.m. on June 15, 2025. Phone and in-person bookings will begin the following morning.
“We truly appreciate our guests and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” Vega said. “We will do everything possible to complete these much-needed upgrades in a timely manner and bring the interior campground back to full operation as soon as possible.”
The county is taking a single-phase approach to construction to save costs and limit disruption. “The single-phase approach expedites construction,” said Anthony Garza of GDJ Engineering, the firm designing the upgrades. “It eliminates the need for a traffic control plan, improves public safety, and shortens the overall timeline.” Bids will be solicited in June, with contracts expected to be awarded in August.
Joshua Schalk, Assistant Parks Director, talked of how the services will benefit campers when the park reopens, pointing out a key detail regarding electrical service upgrades. “Within the electrical improvements, AEP will maintain the high-voltage equipment, ensuring a faster turnaround than if we handled it ourselves,” he said
The public meeting highlighted transparency and collaboration with a deep commitment to the patrons of Isla Blanca. Vega was joined by County Administrator Pete Sepulveda Jr., Assistant County Administrator Anthony Lopez, Deputy Parks Director Jaime Lopez, and Assistant Parks Director Joshua Schalk. Officials remained after the presentation and Q&A, taking time to answer questions and listen to community feedback.
Attendees acknowledged and praised ongoing improvements at the park, such as new restroom air conditioning units and the anticipated addition of Wi-Fi. The newly added pickleball court also received praise as a welcome enhancement.
While construction proceeds, the beach and all other amenities will remain open, preserving the park experience for residents and visitors alike. Cameron County officials thank the public for their patience as they work to strengthen Isla Blanca Park for the future.
For more information, visit www.cameroncountyparks.com or call Isla Blanca Park at (956) 761-5494. Plans and additional project details are available for public viewing on the Cameron County Parks Department’s website.
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