Ship's Wheel/Home Page/Crystal Beach, TX

The center of action any night of the week here at the beach. Open EVERYDAY!!! Even Holidays!!
From karaoke, dancing, billards, to partying with the DJ or your favorite bands.
The Best Parties on the Peninsula with Big Screen TV available for this and all your other special programs.
Be sure to check the calendar for updated events.
If excitement at the beach is what you're looking for, this is the perfect place to be!

History of the Ship's Wheel

Ship's Wheel Continues to ROCK ON for ages….
The Ship's Wheel here on Highway 87 at Crystal Beach, TX has been called many things during the past years.

Before 1450
At first, helmsmen used a simple steering oar located on the right side of the boat. By the way, the terms "starboard" for right and "port" for the left evolved in the 1540's from the 'port' side of the boat which became the 'docking' side since the oar was on the left.

From 1450 to 1700
The deck of the boat had become so high above the rudder the helmsmen couldn't see where the ship was heading. To solve this problem, the ship builder's attached a stout piece of timber (called a whipstaff) to the tiller.

From 1700 on
The helmsmen used a steering wheel from 1703 until today. The Wheel is still a huge part of our area. We not only use them for steering our boats, but "The Wheel", as it is sometimes referred to, is also being used as one of this area's finest beer joint on the peninsula. Has been from day one and that's just how it will continue. Here is a bit of OUR Crystal Beach, Texas "WHEEL HISTORY".

From 1970-1971
This establishment was referred to as the "Turtle A Go-Go". Then made it as "Bill's Café" for awhile. The "Holiday Club" made its debut about the later part of the 70's. But it's been "Ship's Wheel" from the 80's until today.

So when you are passing along Highway 87 in Crystal Beach, Texas you are either going toward the Ferry or the Pass. Stop in at the HALF WAY point, "Ship's Wheel", OPEN EVERYDAY!!!