Phoenix - Near Jamaica Beach, TX
Posted by: 
jhuoni
N 29° 09.405 W 095° 00.959
15R E 303918 N 3227033
Created after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 as a symbol of Hope and Recovery, this phoenix now guards the gate to the artists brothers ranch. The cows enjoy the shade he creates.
Waymark Code: WM12YA7
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 08/05/2020
Views: 3
From Kathleen Maca - Tales Of Texas
Posted on May 7, 2020 by admin
Birdwatcher Alert:
A Phoenix on Galveston
What’s 15 feet tall with a 35-foot wingspan and gleams in the sunlight? A metal statue of a Phoenix created by Houston based artist Bob Bacon that now guards the gate of his brother’s Galveston ranch.
Bacon’s creation first appeared in the 2017 Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade, after he created it as a post Hurricane Harvey symbol of hope and recovery.
Since it’s big debut, the statue has been nesting in a warehouse, waiting for its next chance to take flight.
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic inspired the family to install the phoenix on Galveston Island to once again provide a symbol of hope. The Bacon Ranch is an appropriate home for this particular piece of artwork, since most of the land on the ranch has been set aside as grounds for the migrating birds that pass over Galveston Island each year.
The family welcomes visitors to pull along the side of the road to get a close look and photos, but asks that no one trespass beyond the fence.
To visit, travel west from Galveston on FM 3005 past Jamaica Beach, and look on the north side of the road
No binoculars required!
From The Daily News
By John Wayne Ferguson - Apr 29, 2020
Strong Winds in
Galveston County
Topple Poles and Big Bird Statue
A spring storm brought with it powerful winds to Galveston County on Wednesday morning and left some damage in its path.
The storm reached Galveston County about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. It produced wind gusts as strong as 58 mph in Texas City and 54 mph on Galveston Island, according to the National Weather Service in League City.
The storm knocked down power poles on the West End of Galveston and also toppled a 15-foot tall statue of a phoenix that recently had been installed near FM 3005.
Trees and power lines also were reported down in Friendswood and in other parts of the county.
Most power was restored on the island and in the county by Wednesday evening.
No injuries were reported.
— John Wayne Ferguson