Son’s Island – A Day In Texas Island Paradise

if only the water was a turquoise blue and the sand was a pure white you’d think you were on a Caribbean island when you visit Son’s Island in Seguin! But you’re on an island in Texas on Lake Placid which is crowded with palm trees and hammocks swaying in the breeze, thatched tiki type cabanas just a few feet from the water, lush vegetation and colorful flowers, water toys, a large sand volleyball court and more. Lake Placid is 5 mile stretch of the Guadalupe River that was dammed to create Lake Placid – it’s 248 acres with a storage capacity of 2,624 acre-feet and most of the lake is shallow with a maximum depth of 30 to 35 feet and the lake is perfect for fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, or wave-runners.

We (my daughter and her three grandkids plus our Dallas daughter’s two kids and my wife and I) stayed a couple nights on Son’s Island in Seguin on our way to Port Aransas for a Thanksgiving vacation and all 8 of us had a blast! We sensed that we were in for a good time as we drove across the 100 foot long wooden bridge and saw the lush island with lots of tall cypress and pecan trees that outlined the perimeter of a this three and a half acre island paradise surrounded with over 4,000 feet of lakefront land on Lake Placid. Son’s Island is just minutes from downtown Sequin which has several fun things to see and do and about 15 minutes from New Braunfels.

In addition to all the waterfront on Lake Placid, tall trees, and lush tropical landscaping, part of what makes Son’s Island unique are the 26 open air cabanas. The cabanas are steps away for the water and each thatched roof (actual palm leaves) cabana has:

It just doesn’t get much better than a dip in the lake, a round of games, a nap in the hammock, and some good BBQ cooked on the grill as the sun sets over the lake. Take a look at this Son’s Island Map to pick a cabana that meets your needs.

• Cabanas 1 to 4 are located on the back side of Son’s Island which is the same side as the the rope swing, water trampoline, lily pad, and frog slide and they face some deep water which is great for swimming or fishing. Three of what are called the Key Cabanas are in this same area and they have a floating 16′ by 6′ dock with a thatch covered cabana, a couple rope swing chairs, and several bar stool chairs along the rail.
• Cabanas 6 to 17 face the lake and the water is shallower at 3 to 5 feet which makes it great for swimming, fishing and relaxing
• Cabanas 18 to 22 face some deep water on a narrow inlet across from the mainland and they are perfect if you bring your boat or wave runner – they are close to the wave-runner parking dock. One of the Key Floating Cabanas is also on this side.
• There are 8 mini cabanas (which will turn into full sized cabanas in 2017) with a tent type shelter, umbrella, grill, chairs, and a picnic table – two of of the 8 are on a large dock on the main part of the lake and are perfect if you’re bringing a boat or jet ski because you can pull it right up to the dock

See this map of Son’s Island to learn more.

In addition to fishing and boating and enjoying the waterfront cabanas you can play horseshoes, try your hand at washers, or start a competitive round of sand volleyball. Our grandkids loved playing in the sand volleyball court, paddling around the island, and going for some big fish.

They also had a blast on the rope swing, frog water slide, water trampoline, and riding their bikes around the Island. Son’s Island rents kayaks and a paddle-board.

In the center of the island is a large grassy area that’s perfect for some football, frisbee, or bocce ball. There is a music stage in this area and during the summer there are frequent music concerts and other events like outdoor movies, yoga, and personal development retreats. The Cantina is open for special events and it feels like a thatched hut bar with bar seating around the perimeter. There are a couple of changing rooms and a port-a-potty. If you bring your boat or jet ski there is a boat ramp a half mile down the road and a jet ski dock on the island.

When we visited in late 2016, we stayed in the two vintage trailers. A 1950’s Spartan “Canned Ham” RV trailer and a 1950’s Spartan Mansion RV trailer both of which sleep up to 4 in a queen sized bed in master bedroom and full sized futon in living room. They are fully stocked and each one has a restroom and shower, two TVs, kitchen, refrigerator, and more. Outside the trailers is a picnic table, fire pit and outdoor chairs, and a comfy hammock. Spending the night on the island was great as we had the island all to ourselves and we had both trailers. About 10 miles away you’ll find a sister property, Geronimo Creek Retreat, which has some cool tipis, a three bedroom house, and tree houses for rent. Son’s Island is normally open Memorial day to Labor day for the summer season and most weekends in the spring and fall. They close during December, January and February.

Why not make it a weekend getaway – round up some friends and family and rent the whole island for a day, then mosey down the road and stay at Geronimo Creek Retreat, and the next day enjoy some of the local attractions like a golf course, an amusement park, a winery, a day park loaded with facilities, a brewery, and more.

Seguin is home to several hotels and some good restaurants — one of our favorites is the The Pump House, which overlooks the Guadalupe River and a really cool waterfall. It has a full bar, great views of the river, some good food, a cool setting, and they rent tubes with a shuttle during the summer.

Renting the entire island is also perfect for a small wedding, company picnic, large family reunion, office party or corporate event.