Rocket Ranch — Hotel in Port Isabel

We just had an amazing adventure at the Rocket Ranch! For 3 weeks we camped right on the Rio Grande, overlooking Mexico. So serene and about as close as you can get to the SpaceX Starship launch complex in Boca Chica, Texas. From the ranch, turn right and just a few minutes of driving will get you up close and personal with rockets! This is the time to go, before they finish building the wall and the crowds result in more stringent security and less opportunity to see history in the making. The moon, mars, seem like a distant dream but come here and you will see how close we are to making it a reality. We were determined to watch Starship Serial Number 9 (SN9) launch...and our patience payed off! We opted to do the Rocket Ranch Launch Experience on the day of the launch and it was amazing!!!! But even without the launch, the beauty of these seemingly untouched beaches and far sweeping wildlife preserves teeming with birds and other cool creatures to observe is enough to make it worth the drive. This area is magnificent and I have fallen in love with Texas!

Rocket Ranch is really the key to this experience. The owner is welcoming and accommodating. His staff prepared family dinners available for purchase every evening. Surrounded by mesquite trees, these folks know how to BBQ! Brisket, ribs, enchiladas, tacos and scratch made tamales. Breakfast was included and alternated between coffee and baked goods (store bought) and tex-mex egg/bacon/sausage/potato etc scrambles served with warm corn tortillas. We met some great people, now our friends, and awesome...

Rocket Ranch sits right on the Rio Grande, where the fish jump, the river sparkles, and the great tailed grackle sings and, well... grackles. And right next door are spaceships that land themselves!

Simply speaking, this is the place where nature meets human innovation, where camping meets space travel, where earth’s beauty is showcased just miles from where spaceships are being developed to take humans to Mars, the next frontier.

The whole site is space themed. The clubhouse is decorated in a way that brings the old with the new, showcasing the development of space travel over time. It is an ode to human innovation and exploration, a haven for all lovers of rocket technology, SpaceX, and all that entails.

Don’t expect to be camping alone and secluded - this is more of a social experience, where the campfire is communal and people gather in the clubhouse to socialize and eat dinner together. This place attracts all sorts of interesting people, many coming to wait for the next SpaceX launch. They even have boat trips that take you down the Rio to an exclusive viewing spot of the launches, closer than you could get by land!

When they serve dinner, the food is homemade and fantastic! One time we had slow cooked brisket, and that was the bees knees.

I cant wait...

The absolute best spot if you plan on visiting Starbase! We made a last minute booking at 7pm. You can call for information but to book your stay you must do so online (if your call doesn’t go through the first time, just try again). It’s easy to get to the camp site but it’s a bumpy ride so take it slow and watch out for bunnies galore and other wildlife. To open the gate you will receive a padlock combination (this can be tricky to open in the dark). Remember that you are staying at a campsite so expect mud and critters such as mosquitos, spiders, and cockroaches. Although there was a caution sign for alligators and snakes, the bunnies and exotic birds felt safe enough to call the camp their home. A flashlight and bug spray for your stay is recommended. There were many pleasant surprises, big and small, especially for space enthusiasts, and a 240V 20A Tesla charger and a dockside view of Mexico! The Bathrooms/Showers were clean and well lit. Our host was absolutely delightful to socialize with, we got lots of valuable local information and recommendations. Overall, if you are an outdoor person you will absolutely love it. We would have enjoyed staying longer if not for our tight...