The shores at Isla Blanca Park are required to be where many space aficionados and islanders go to watch a test dispatch over the water at SpaceX’s Starship office in Boca Chica, Texas.
With the Starship SN8 launch teasingly inevitable, South Padre Island has discovered significantly more travelers strolling the roads. The perspective on the SpaceX launch facility only a couple miles over the water.
“Everybody wants to see it happening,” said James Baxter, a Houston native and South Padre Island transplant.
Sightseers like Eric and Tammy Patton went from Maryland and have remained for quite a long time in wants to get the SN8 model fly.
“When we heard about SpaceX and that awesome dude, Elon Musk, we absolutely loved it! He’s like, ‘I’m getting a rocket off in three years’ It took 1 year!” Eric Patton said.
“We were in California when [SpaceX] did the last one,” Tammy Patton said. “We were watching, and I was crying. I was so excited!”
They don’t figure they will leave South Padre Island.
“We have a place now for 30 days, and we’re looking for an apartment,” Eric Patton said.
Nearby shops and organizations miles away are encountering an expansion in business from SpaceX getting comfortable town.
“Even in Brownsville, surrounding areas … the hotels … a lot of them are occupied by employees of SpaceX,” Baxter said.
Baxter is a Space City local currently fabricating a day to day existence almost a growing spaceport.
“I grew up in Houston,” Baxter said. “We get to hear and feel the rumble every time the engine fires!”
Anna Lyson works at a nearby shop on Padre Boulevard called Calypso.
“People were saying that this is just for retired folks,” Lyson said. “I don’t think that’s the case anymore. There’s a lot of young generation making roots down here to be a part of this.”
She is remarkably affected by SpaceX.
“I’m very proud to say that my husband works for SpaceX, that my husband is working for SpaceX, and we actually moved down from the Pennsylvania area to SPI to kind be a part of this awesome history in the making,” Lyson said.
She said she considers this to be something beneficial for organizations and network building, however she stated, not every person is ready.
“There are some people who weren’t too happy with SpaceX coming in here, But at the same time there is just as many people very excited,” Lyson said.
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