We’re still here, stated Amanda Reynolds, even though Hurricane Ike literally destroyed all of our homes and washed away our possessions, “WE” as a community are still here in heart and are still working to keep Rollover Pass open and free to the public.”
Amanda Reynolds, media rep for the GCA (Gilchrist Community Assn ;), along with other GCA members, were spending their 4th of July at Rollover putting on a fishing tournament and BBQ fundraiser for the public. Their goal was to raise funds for the continuous upkeep and operations of Rollover Pass, which amounts to around $1100 dollars a month and contrary to popular belief, no help in funding is received from the county, state or federal level.
Rollover Pass, a 200 yard long by 75 yard wide waterway that connects the Gulf of Mexico with East Galveston Bay, has long been a major Texas tourist attraction for anglers, water sports enthusiasts, sightseer’s and bird watchers alike, with an estimated one million visitors per year.
During the legendary speckled trout, redfish, golden croaker, and flounder fishing runs that occur in the Spring, Summer, and Fall; the Pass is crowded with anglers who arrive “not only” from the depths and widths of Texas, but from all across the United States as well. During winter the Pass is temporary home to nomadic groups of touring RVs, campers, and motor-homes as the “snow-bird”traffic arrives here from as far away as Minnesota, New York, and Canada.
On September of 2008, the upper Texas Gulf coast was trashed by hurricane Ike, a class 2 storm with a class 4 storm surges. The quiet little fishing village of Gilchrist all but disappeared from the Bolivar Peninsula and Rollover Pass suffered major devastation to its bridge and bank areas.
Since then this popular summer and winter vacation area slowly began to rise from the ashes of Ike to rebuild itself. Home and business owners are settling their insurance claims and starting to rebuild. Trades are beginning to rebuild as well, with one small, but very enterprising bait camp now open for business. RV Parks are shaking off the splinters of Ike and re-opening for tourist’s reservations. The shock of what had occurred at Gilchrist last September is slowly wearing off with the heartbeat of its residents beginning to stir.
One heartbeat in particular, the Gilchrist Community Association, formed years ago to infuse community pride, togetherness, and economic development within its community, began to lead the way by forming work groups for improving the area with ongoing projects to enhance the way of life for its residence. Slowly, but surely these projects are helping to breath life back into a community that was almost totally flushed back into the sea by Hurricane Ike.
This writer/angler spent a day with these hard working residents while they endeavored to provide their “Rocking on Rollover”fishing tournament and fundraiser on July 4th. I saw the smiles and tears in their weathered faces and heard the pulse and heartbeats of their experiences. I came away from that day with full knowledge that the “Gateway to Rollover Pass”was in good hands. If there ever was a Phoenix that rose above the tragic ashes of despair, it IS the GCA and its members.
“What the GCA is doing now is to save the Pass from being closed by the state, Amanda Reynolds alerted, and keeping it open and free to the public. But we need help with this. The reason behind the state wanting to close the pass is due to their belief that the pass is causing accelerated erosion problems. If the state believes the solution is closing the pass, much larger problems will need to be dealt with. If you close the pass, large areas of East Galveston Bay will become stagnant and void marine life and with it the economy of the Bolivar Peninsula will forever be damaged, Amanda pointed out, further stressing that the cash flow from the lost sales tax alone will have a negative impact on Galveston Islands economy as well as the nearby beach communities on Bolivar Peninsula and High Island.
My overlook on this situation is that if the state succeeds in closing the pass WITHOUT looking at other options it would be an absolute disaster for Bolivar Peninsula and the state of Texas. Presently, there are an estimated six million tourists who visit Texas tourist attractions each year. Rollover represents 1/6 of those visitations. The way I see it, especially given the economy of today, is that WE don’t need to be destroying popular tourism attractions, but building on their appeal to the visiting public. There are states all around us who would gladly open their doors to those traveling tourists who would be looking for other options if Rollover Pass is closed.
One of the most idiotic statements that an elected official could say about this situation is “Close the Pass and let them go elsewhere!!” ……….enough said.
Winners of the 2nd Annual “Rocking on Rollover”fishing tournament
| Adult Div: | Dwight Harris | 23 & 1/2 inch Speckled Trout- |
| Children’s Div: | Jerisan Weaver | 19&1/2 inch Speckled Trout- |
| Flounder: | Helen Bush Weaver | 17& 1/2 inch Flounder- |
For more information on the Gilchrist Community Assn; contact GCA media rep; Amanda Reynolds at (979)-574-0289 -or- GCA secretary Connie Tomerlin (210) 414-3783.By: Ed Snyder / Ed Snyder Outdoors
