ROCKPORT, Texas \u2014 Winter Texans come from colder states to the Coastal Bend for the sunshine and a slower pace of life. From fishing and shopping to eating local, many seasonal visitors say Rockport feels like a home away from home\u2014and local businesses say their presence makes a real difference.<\/p>\n
Winter Texans bring economic boost to Rockport<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a shopping day in Rockport with Winter Texans Holly Robinson, Lynn Wheat, and Debbie Knippen as they browsed local shops. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh cuz we\u2019re northerners, we wear all those whenever, whenever when we\u2019re up there,\u201d Lynn Wheat said.<\/p>\n
Lynn is from Wisconsin, and Debbie Knippen is from Minnesota. They come to Texas during their winter with their husbands. Together, they\u2019ll call Rockport home until April.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of an artist town so when we came we loved it,\u201d Wheat recalls when she first heard about Rockport.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love to go birding, spend a lot of time in the water, kayaking,\u201d Knippen said.<\/p>\n
Supporting small businesses and local restaurants is a big part of their routine\u2014especially for Holly Robinson, who loved Rockport so much she decided to move here permanently last October.<\/p>\n
And they\u2019re not the only Winter Texans making their way into town. Businesses like Hideout 35 say Winter Texans aren\u2019t just bringing energy to the area\u2014they\u2019re helping keep doors open during the winter months.<\/p>\n
“You would see quite a significant decrease in business usually when school starts back up September, October.<\/p>\n
But our sales have actually increased this winter, so they’re really supporting us.” said General Manager of Hideout 35 Holly Standiford.<\/p>\n
Support she says she\u2019s grateful for.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are really, really valuable part of the community\u2026,\u201d Standiford added.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the reasons many Winter Texans keep coming back year after year\u2014a feeling Robinson said never gets old.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like Christmas, oh so and so is back and you know and everybody gets excited and it\u2019s real fun,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
For Winter Texans looking to connect with the community, a Winter Texan Appreciation Event will be held in Fulton on January 15th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fulton Convention Center, located at 402 N. Fulton Beach Road.<\/p>\n
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