I went to South Padre Island and found it's becoming the Hamptons of Texas. Here's what it's like to visit.

Lisa Marion SmithDec 15, 2021, 18:35 IST

The view from our balcony as dawn breaks over the Gulf of Mexico.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

In the past, South Padre Island, Texas was known for its raucous spring break parties.
When I visited in October, I was astonished by the new wealth on display.

I last went to South Padre Island (SPI) in Texas 11 years ago with my family. I was amazed at how much the small town has changed since then, and it reminded me of the Hamptons in Long Island.

The author and her mother with a sandcastle they built.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

I last went to South Padre Island (SPI) in Texas 11 years ago with my family. I was amazed at how much the small town has changed since then, and it reminded me of the Hamptons in Long Island.

Driving from Austin to SPI was reminiscent of taking the Long Island Expressway to the Hamptons from Manhattan on a Friday afternoon.

The Google Maps route from Austin to South Padre Island.Google Maps

Approaching SPI, we passed crop fields and large wind turbines. Well into the 1960s, much of the Hamptons was potato farms, and I wondered what this drive would look like in 20 years.

Wind turbines on farmland approaching South Padre Island.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Approaching SPI, we passed crop fields and large wind turbines. Well into the 1960s, much of the Hamptons was potato farms, and I wondered what this drive would look like in 20 years.

Our first glimpse of SPI was from the Queen Isabella Causeway.

High-rise buildings on SPI, as seen from the Queen Isabella Causeway.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Turning off the causeway we saw palm trees swaying in the breeze, welcoming us to SPI.

A sign marks the entrance to SPI, just off the causeway.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

SPI is likely best known as a spring break party destination for college students.

A sign at Clayton’s bar on SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Spring break culture is still alive, but from what I saw, the town has become more reflective of a broader range of tastes as money has arrived.

The Facebook page of the South Padre Island Polo Club.Facebook

The area as a whole also seemed more affluent than it did 11 years ago.

Homes on the Laguna Madre side of SPI feature private boat launches.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

The Laguna Madre side of the island is also home to many marinas.

Boats anchored in a marina on SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

On the Gulf of Mexico side of SPI, high-rise condos line the beach.

The view from the beach on the Gulf side of SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

The southern end of the Laguna Madre is home to Elon Musk's SpaceX in Boca Chica.

The SpaceX launchpad, as seen from a tour boat on the Laguna Madre.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

In fact, I also noticed a high number of Teslas on the island. There were 4 Tesla charging stations in a town with only 2.69 square miles of land.

A map of electric vehicle charging stations on SPI.Google Maps

Further proof of the wealth on SPI: a local restaurant offered 4 different vintages of Opus One on the wine list.

The Captain’s List of wines at the Sea Ranch on SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Real estate is also approaching Hamptons-level prices, including this penthouse for sale for $3 million.

The penthouse at Las Costas is for sale for $3 million.Furcron Realtors

Single-family homes are less common, but also pricey, like this one listed for $2.1 million.

This home for sale for $2.1 million has a secret room accessible by a slide.Remax

While not a multi-million dollar mansion or penthouse, I did rent a renovated beachfront condo in a high rise.

The balcony of our vacation rental facing the beach.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

The vibe was unabashedly beachy. But not cheap, in line with other South Padre Island accommodations.

We could see the Gulf of Mexico from the kitchen of our vacation rental.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Next, I set out to find what there was to do on SPI besides drive Teslas, own pricey real estate, and drink expensive wine.

Parasailing on the Laguna Madre on SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Similarly, fishing and charter tours were popular.

An Osprey Cruises Eco Tour guide holds a fish that was later released back into the ocean.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

Based on my conversations with locals, I believe that all the new wealth is a sign of more to come.

An afternoon at the beach on SPI.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

South Padre Island is now more than just a spring break destination.

The view from our balcony as dawn breaks over the Gulf of Mexico.Lisa Marion Smith/Insider

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I went to South Padre Island and found it's becoming the Hamptons of Texas. Here's what it's like to visit.

I last went to South Padre Island (SPI) in Texas 11 years ago with my family. I was amazed at how much the small town has changed since then, and it reminded me of the Hamptons in Long Island.

Driving from Austin to SPI was reminiscent of taking the Long Island Expressway to the Hamptons from Manhattan on a Friday afternoon.

Approaching SPI, we passed crop fields and large wind turbines. Well into the 1960s, much of the Hamptons was potato farms, and I wondered what this drive would look like in 20 years.

Our first glimpse of SPI was from the Queen Isabella Causeway.

Turning off the causeway we saw palm trees swaying in the breeze, welcoming us to SPI.

SPI is likely best known as a spring break party destination for college students.

Spring break culture is still alive, but from what I saw, the town has become more reflective of a broader range of tastes as money has arrived.

The area as a whole also seemed more affluent than it did 11 years ago.

The Laguna Madre side of the island is also home to many marinas.

On the Gulf of Mexico side of SPI, high-rise condos line the beach.

The southern end of the Laguna Madre is home to Elon Musk's SpaceX in Boca Chica.

In fact, I also noticed a high number of Teslas on the island. There were 4 Tesla charging stations in a town with only 2.69 square miles of land.

Further proof of the wealth on SPI: a local restaurant offered 4 different vintages of Opus One on the wine list.

Real estate is also approaching Hamptons-level prices, including this penthouse for sale for $3 million.

Single-family homes are less common, but also pricey, like this one listed for $2.1 million.

While not a multi-million dollar mansion or penthouse, I did rent a renovated beachfront condo in a high rise.

The vibe was unabashedly beachy. But not cheap, in line with other South Padre Island accommodations.

Next, I set out to find what there was to do on SPI besides drive Teslas, own pricey real estate, and drink expensive wine.

Similarly, fishing and charter tours were popular.

Based on my conversations with locals, I believe that all the new wealth is a sign of more to come.

South Padre Island is now more than just a spring break destination.