Pirate's Landing Restaurant
Pirate’s Landing Restaurant is the anchor of our complex offering a fantastic menu of affordable fresh seafood, salads and much more to satisfy your appetite. For years we have been the favorite dining location of local residents and visitors to Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
We specialize in local “Wild Caught” seafood cooked to perfection. Fishermen find our “We Cook Your Catch” to be especially appealing. Kids love our pirate hats, mugs, coloring pages and pirate ship theme.
Dine on the water with a great view of the Laguna Madre, Black Dragon Pirate Ship and the Queen Isabella Causeway. Pirate's Landing is a great place to spend an entire day with the family because on the many sights and activities one can do within a very short walking distance.
Located in historic Port Isabel, TX at Lighthouse Square one can take in three fantastic museums, shop the numerous stores, ride the trolly, cruise the bay, fish, visit the lighthouse, a marine life center, and dine at either of our two locations.
We have plenty of free parking. Our entire facility is pirate themed with boardwalks, outdoor patios, tables, refreshments, and numerous amusements for the kids.
More Information 956-943-3663 Come to South Padre Island
Area History
Pirate's Landing is located at the original "Point" of the Laguna Madre with a 30-foot bluff where the Point Isabel Lighthouse now stands. The point's strategic location was instrumental to the settlement of Point Isabel and early maritime industry.
The Coahilitecan Indians originally inhabited this land. During the 1500s, Spain sent explorers to the area, but the land remained inhospitable to European settlements until the mid-1700s when Spain awarded land grants to new colonists. Doña Rosa Maria Hinojosa inherited several land grants including the Santa Isabella Land Grant on the Texas coast. Her son, Padre Nicholas Balli, later obtained the grant to what is now Padre Island.
The Texas coast gained importance to Mexico, the U.S., and smugglers from both countries during the 1800s. Legend has it that pirate Jean Lafitte took refuge in this area and dug a well in Laguna Vista. Local ranchers formed business alliances with pirates who sailed their contraband between the Rio Grande and Corpus Christi. During the 1830s, Don Rafael Garcia established El Fronton de Santa Isabel (Point Isabel) to become the base for the growing Port of Matarnoros and the privateer fleet.
In 1846, Fort Polk, named in honor of President Polk, was established on this site as a supply unit for the U.S./Mexican War. Many notable men, including Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee, were stationed at this fort. In 1852, the Point Isabel Lighthouse was built to serve the maritime industry. It survived the Civil War and numerous hurricanes, finally becoming Texas ' smallest state park in 1952.
In the early 1900s, Point Isabel became a recreational spot and at one time had the largest shrimping fleet in the nation. Wanting to attract more visitors, the newly renamed Port Isabel decided to develop a beach by removing the bluff. The hill on which the lighthouse stands is the original elevation of the area. The removed soil was used to fill in a salt flat where the Port Isabel Yacht Club is now located. Several businesses and a hotel replaced the historic homes that once surrounded the Lighthouse Square.
Pirate Ship Cruise
The Black Dragon is a modern day replica of an 17th Century Galleon. Below the water line, she is a modern sea worthy vessel with the latest marine technology, but above the water, she is a trip back into time, to a place where the likes of Jean Lafitte sailed the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre making port right here in Port Isabel. Legend has it that Lafitte took refuge in this area and dug a well in Laguna Vista. Local ranchers formed business alliances with pirates who sailed their contraband between the Rio Grande and Corpus Christi. Now you can sail the same waters with Black Dragon Cruises.
All cruises include a crew of professional Pirates entertaining with Pirate stories, face painting, treasure hunt, water pistol battle, sword fighting, booty, music and loads of family fun for ALL ages!
Available for purchase on the ship: sodas, snacks, beer, wine, and our own special Black Dragon Grog. The covered onshore outdoor Black Jack's Galley is available for all special events. Capacity approx. 200. Catered meals to fit your budget available upon request. Also enjoy our Pirate games: Pirate Ship Dart Throw, Cannon Ball Toss and Jacob's Ladder located between Black Dragon store and Pirate's Landing restaurant under the World's Largest Fly Fishing Rod.
Pirates Pier
Pirate’s Pier is the longest pier in Texas. We take pride in keeping our grounds and facilities in immaculate condition. We have everything you need for a great fishing experience. You will find a complete tackle and bait shop, snack bar, clean restrooms, plenty of secure paved parking and a first class restaurant all in one place!
Here on vacation and didn’t bring any fishing equipment? We have rental poles, tackle and all types on baits including mullet, live and frozen shrimp, shiners, Ribbon Fish, squid and more. Our snack bar has ice, cold drinks, beer, wine, sandwiches, in addition to our full service restaurant.
Pirate’s Pier has other attractions too! We are home to great fishing, Blackjack's Galley and Black Dragon Cruises and located next to the historic lighthouse. There are 3 great museums within walking distance, a sea life center and shopping. We have one great location… come enjoy it!
Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier in Port Isabel, TX is located perfectly at the entrance to the Queen Isabella Causeway that leads to South Padre Island. You can’t miss us… just go to the Lighthouse in Port Isabel.
Famous For The Fun...Known For The Food
Kids! Color These Pages!
Pirate's Landing is a destination for the entire family. The kids can enjoy games such as Cannon Ball Toss, Jacobs Ladder, Pirate Dart Throw or our Water Battle Boats while Mom and dad visit the museums, shop, stroll our boardwalk, dine or relax with a cocktail at our Black Jacks Galley.
There is a Sea Life Center, Blue Bell Ice Cream store, gift shop and a tackle shop right on our premises.
It is only 20 paces to the historic Lighthouse Square where one can spend hours going back in time at the exhibits in the museums.
Our restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with the most complete menu in the South Padre Island and Port Isabel area.
Don't miss our "Kids Coloring Pages!"
Come Spend The Day!
