Tarpon Inn, building in Port Aransas, Nueces County, Texas
The Tarpon Inn is a small hotel on the coast of Port Aransas, Texas, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1886 originally as worker housing, it was later converted into a hotel for travelers and fishermen.
Built in 1886 from leftover Civil War barracks materials, it originally housed workers building the Mansfield Jetty. After a devastating 1919 hurricane, the structure was rebuilt with reinforced foundations and deep-set pilings to withstand future storms.
The name comes from the tarpon fish that drew anglers to the coast and shaped local life. The lobby walls display over 7,000 autographed fish scales from successful fishermen, showing how deeply fishing traditions are woven into the place.
Located on East Cotter Avenue in Port Aransas, the hotel sits in a walkable area with quiet streets nearby. The lobby with its display of fish scales can be viewed by visitors even if you choose not to stay overnight.
The front side of the hotel features special ceramic tiles from 1986 created for its 100th anniversary, where visitors, staff, and residents left their handprints, notes, and mementos. These personal impressions connect generations of people who have visited and valued this place.
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