Winter Texans bring an economic boost to Rockport, transforming the offseason into a vibrant period with increased tourism, benefiting local businesses.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Winter Texans bring in economy boost for Coastal Bend cities, especially Rockport.

Sun, palm trees, good company. Lisa Devries and Margie Hurley said they’re enjoying their time in Rockport after nearly escaping a snowstorm in Michigan. 

“So we came yesterday and um it was amazing to go from freezing cold sweatshirt, winter coat, hats, gloves, and then by the time we got to like Arkansas we could stay in our sweatshirts and we’re each, each leg of the way, so by the time we got down here we’re like shorts sun,” Hurley said.

This is Hurley’s 12th year but DeVries’s first trip but says it won’t be the last. 

“I feel healthy in this weather. The sunshine feels wonderful,” Dev

According to Rockport’s Chamber of Commerce, the city sees more than a thousand winter texans yearly. 

Nannette Eiland is the convention and visitor bureau tourism manager for the city of Rockport. She said winter texans give the city an economic boost–especially during the slower season. 

“They boost our local economy so much in these offseason months, you know, their average stay is usually about three months,” Eiland said. “So we see a huge uptake in our restaurants, you know, our local retail, any of our RV parks and our stays, we love to have them here, so they help us tremendously.”

For seven years, Holly Robinson was a winter texan herself before deciding to make Rockport home. Now, she works at Copano Bay RV Resort, helping other winter texans make the most of their stay.

“We start getting people in October, November we see a big surge. December even more. January and February are our biggest months. We have a lot of people coming from, I think the furthest away is Maine. We have them coming from South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana—all over the place,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the city sees a lot of familiar faces that return year after year. 

“The winter Texans, like I said, it just becomes a family, you know, it’s like we’re having a huge family reunion every winter, and you just look forward to seeing each other and just having a good time together,” Robinson said.

For Hurley and Devries, they’re already planning their next trip back. 

“The cute little shops, the fresh air, the sea, like sunshine, the sunshine, uh, the funny people, the attractions, it’s a place to come to,” Devries said.Â