 | About UsPort Arthur's Pleasure Island, an 18.5 mile long man-made body of land, extends from the mouth of the Neches River on the northwest to the Sabine Causeway on the southeast and is surrounded by Sabine Lake and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway.Pleasure Island is a place of beauty. Its hills, bluffs, and vistas of Sabine Lake are a delight and pleasure to those who visit. Pleasure Island is where the fun begins! ClimatePleasure Island's mild annual temperatures offer golfers, sailors, windsurfers, boaters, and anglers, a comfortable arena for enjoying their sports year-round. Winter temperatures average in the mid 60s, while summers are warm with monthly means in the low 80s. |
History
The U. S. Corps of Engineers created Pleasure Island from deposits dredged while constructing the Port Arthur Canal, completed in 1899, and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway, completed in 1908.
In 1913 a dance hall and roller coaster were constructed. In 1941 a private investor built the Pleasure Pier Ballroom, a midway, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and the largest roller coaster in the south. A fine 18-hole golf course was enjoyed for years. Pleasure Island was Port Arthur's playground for decades until the Pleasure Pier bridge, which opened in 1931 and was frequently hit by ships, was taken out of service in 1967, making it difficult to reach the island. Storms, fires, and erosion eventually destroyed all of the existing facilities.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge and the Sabine Causeway now connect Pleasure Island to Port Arthur and Louisiana. Residents and tourists alike are enjoying the development of Pleasure Island. It is the natural place to be for outdoor activity.Pleasure Island is surrounded by Sabine Lake on the east and the Sabine Neches Waterway (Intracoastal Canal) on the west and south. The marina area is only accessible from Sabine Lake. Consult current charts for details. Entrance to Sabine Lake from the north is via the Thousand Foot Cut off the Sabine Neches Waterway; entrance from the south is via the Louisiana Causeway Bridge (monitoring Channel 13 and open from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.).
