Question: What abandoned Texas coastal town has a single beach house that can only be accessed by vehicle during low tide?
Answer: Virginia Point. Located on the west bank of Galveston Bay, it was originally part of Stephen F. Austin’s Coastal Colony. It was fortified by Confederate troops during the Civil War, and it was a recreational area for soldiers stationed at nearby Camp Wallace during World War II. Bridges to Galveston Island were repeatedly wiped out by hurricanes until the completion of a concrete railroad causeway in 1912.
Storms discouraged development of Virginia Point, and Texas City annexed most of the unincorporated area in 1952. The city denied permits to rebuild the 25 or so homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008. However, one beach house right next to the causeway is not subject to its jurisdiction, and the owners rebuilt it as a weekend getaway. The road to the house can only be accessed during low tide.
