Once heralded as the “Wall Street of the Southwest” due to its standing as the second-richest city in the U.S., Galveston, Texas, was also labeled the wildest town between New Orleans and San Francisco by those who should know.
Like those two anything-goes painted ladies, however, a natural disaster of epic proportions—for Galveston, a 1900 hurricane that remains unequaled in U.S. history—crashed the party and left a wake of destruction.
Like its rallying cry of the time, “Galveston was not born to die,” much of its original appeal survived—the island was raised 17 feet for protection against future storms—so planners who bring groups here will discover a wealth of historic properties and museums in which to hold events, not to mention private beaches that provide the perfect setting for a Gulf Coast-style shrimp boil.
“We were a primary immigration station into the U.S. in the 1800s, so our architecture is very unique, especially in our historic district, so all of the homes look different depending from what culture they originated—from limestone to Victorian to Greek Revival,” says Melody Smith, director of tourism for the Galveston Island CVB. “It’s the architecture, the history, and then you’re overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.”
Three historic mansions in particular stand out. Known as the “Broadway Beauties,” Bishop’s Palace, Ashton Villa and Moody Mansion are all available for group functions.
Other historic site options include the 1838 Greek Revival Menard House; the 1880 German-style Garten Verein, with a massive octagonal pavilion; and The Grand 1894 Opera House, which the Texas Legislature named “The Official Opera House of Texas,” and in which all 1,000 theater-goers are seated no more than 70 feet from the stage.
More recent additions include Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, which features an enclosed area that Smith says provides the only year-round venue of its kind, and The Lone Star Flight Museum and Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, an actual flying museum—all of the airplanes are resorted to flying condition—that can be used for a 1940s-style theme party complete with period entertainers.
Planners who want it all in one place—or in three pyramids on 242 acres of botanical gardens, in this case—should check out Moody Gardens (www.moodygardens.com).
“We offer state-of-the-art facilities, all under one roof, luxury rooms, 100,000 square feet of meeting space, ample parking, and then we have the attractions that are all at Moody Gardens as well,” says Jamie Weir, Moody’s director of sales and marketing.
Attractions, all of which can be rented for a flat fee of $3,500, depending on the number of attendees, include the Aquarium Pyramid, the third-largest aquarium in the U.S., according to Weir. Events held here have the option of hiring divers to be in the tank or a behind-the-scenes tour where attendees can pet penguins.
Other Moody Gardens highlights include the Rainforest Pyramid, the Discovery Pyramid, an Imax Theatre, Palm Beach, and the historic Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, which can be chartered for cocktail, dinner or casino parties on Offatts Bayou.
Five major cruise ships also call at Galveston, making for great pre- or post-meeting vacation options.
