A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOUTH PADRE ISLAND HOLIDAY SANDCASTLE VILLAGE
Update 4/28/24 Come by and see our Bulgarian sculptors - Paul and Remy Hoggard - cover the Village couches with bunches of doggies - and a few kitties as well. Carve your furry friend's name on our Graffiti Wall, or commission us to do it for a small donation - all proceeds go to local animal rescue organizations.
South Padre Island's newest attraction- a sand sculpture gallery comprised of 10 massive sand sculptures and several smaller ones, created by some of the most talented sand sculptors from around the world. Located in the center of the town's entertainment district and free to view (donations are welcomed), the sculptures are preserved, maintained and updated on a rotating basis, so that with every return the visitor will see something new -- and possibly get to observe a skilled sand sculptor at work.
In its current location - on west Ling St. right under the Ferris Wheel - the sculpture garden was originally created within a 60' x 30' tent in October of 2019 by an international crew of sculptors in town for the 32nd Annual SPI Sandcastle Days Competition. The first round of sculptures loosely held to a Christmas/New Years theme. The display - along with a musical light show - was opened to the public from late Nov. through early Jan., and over 35,000 documented visitors took a stroll through it during that time period. The project was conceived and proposed by the island's own master sand sculptor, Lucinda "sandy feet" Wierenga, and funded by the town of South Padre Island and a handful of local business partners.
After the holidays, while the town was contemplating removing the sculptures from the vacant lot, Lucinda asked that she be allowed to continue to maintain and update the gallery under the auspices of her 501(c)3 nonprofit - Sandcastle Island, Inc. (SII). Raising funds locally from private and business sponsors, she was able to assemble a small local (SPI and Texas) team to update the most "Christmassy" sculptures into new sculptures with more of a Valentines theme.
The local crew was in the process of updating the gallery to a spring break theme, when the pandemic hit and Shelter in Place rules brought work to a halt.
