GULF COAST REGION: KEMAH TEXAS

KEMAH TEXAS

Kemah is a town in Galveston County with a population of around 2,330 at last count. Kemah started life as a fishing village, later becoming a shipping center and a very popular tourist destination.

Kemah's proximity to Houston and its suburbs had made Kemah a close by getaway, attracted to Kemah's Entertainment district that includes many restaurants and attractions like the Kemah Boardwalk.

Kemah is the Karankawa Indian word for "wind in face." Originally Evergreen was the desired name, but as has happened with a lot of Texas first choice names, there was already an Evergreen, Texas. Before settling on Kemah some called the township Shell Siding, due to the huge piles of oyster shells piled on the bay's beach.

On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, hit Galveston County causing heavy damage to the area's houses and infrastructure and Kemah's attractions, like the Kemah Boardwalk, which was left in ruins, but has since recovered, for the most part.

It would seem that Kemah has the most hurricane appropriate name of all the Houston area towns.

Kemah has an annual Blessing of the Fleet Festival, dedicated to the safe return of the shrimp fleet. The festival takes place, usually in early May, on the Clear Creek Channel, along the Kemah Boardwalk. Colorfully decorated shrimp boats, and others, float past the Cadillac Mexican Restaurant where they get blessed by a priest and a minister.

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