Set me straight about the name Bolivar/McFaddin Beach

[sunnyside]

I used to call the beach that was accessible from the High Island side, "Bolivar Beach."  I know most people call it McFaddin Beach or Bolivar/McFaddin Beach.  I'm thinking that one area of the beach is called McFaddin Beach and another area is called Bolivar Beach.  But, which is where?  Obviously, I need someone to educate me.  So, set me straight please..  (well not too straight please)

[Deleted]

My opinion would be that any part of the beach that is with in the Bolivar peninsula would be Bolivar beach. Anything else would be considered McFaddin. Additionally you could look at the boundaries of the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and call any part of the beach associated with that McFaddin Beach.

Maybe others could chime in with their opinions.

[oldmanzz]

Probably not accurate but I’ve always called beach west of High Island bolivar beach and east towards Sabine pass Mcfaddin beach.

[Michael R]

Bolivar Peninsula, as a physical land feature, seems to end at Gilchrist., with is west of High Island. The tip of Bolivar Peninsula used to be remote enough that it was a traditional topless beach for women, and discreetly nude for anyone cautious enough to be on the lookout for Galveston County LE. This lasted at least into the early Nineties, when I used to go there with a girlfriend, “R”who was an avid bird-watcher. (She remained clothed, in at least a string bikina, but was OK with me being nude.)

At least until the late Nineties, if one entered the beach at High Island, and drove east, discreet nude use would traditionally start about a mile or two, or farther if too many famikies were present. When one reached the Jefferson County line, serious nude use was common. I would often go there with a different girlfriend, “D,” who would strip to bottomless while still on I-10, and remove her top as soon as we got onto the beach. I would strip when we reached the traditional nude area. Much of this traditional nude area was along the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, which is an official place, marked on maps. When Highway 87 still existed, McFaddin was on the inland side of the Highway.

Beach erosion gradually destroyed the highway, and moved the surf line to within the boundary of the NWR. That is what gave the federal LE enforcement power along the beach. I cannot recall the timeline, because for so long, federal LE left nude folks alone. At least as late as 1997, one could go for a long stroll, on the beach, in the McFaddin area, totally nude.

There was a naturist/nudist activist, who maintained an organization, with “Bolivar Beach” in the name, but which was mostly about the traditional nude area, near and adjacent to McFaddin NWR. I think that his group may be who established “Bolivar Beach” to include the McFaddin area.

I have been going to the traditional nude use area, between High Island and Sabine Pass, since at least 1983, and perhaps as early as 1981. That was when I drove a red ‘69 VW Beetle. I doubt anyone on this board would remember me, from that far back. In the mid/late 90s, “D” was a blonde, 5’7” tall, with hip-length straight hair, and she stayed nude, all the time, at the beach, so some on this board might remember her. That was when I drove a white full-sized Blazer 4x4. I am 6” tall, and was skinny back then. I would tend to be bottomless, rather than totally nude, wearing a crop-top shirt and a hat, when I was with “D.” (I did plenty enough damage to my skin, in the sun, in the Eighties, so have tried to keep excess sun off of my shoulders and upper back, since then.)