Kemah Vacations, Kemah Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Kemah Vacation Guide

The city was originally founded as Evergreen in 1898 along the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, when John Henry Kipp and James H. Bradford subdivided their lots to establish a township. The area was also called Shell Siding after the oyster shells lining the bay, in some places twenty to thirty feet deep. Indian burial grounds were later found in these shell reefs. Kipp petitioned for a post office, but was denied as there was already an Evergreen, Texas (now incorporated into Cleveland, Texas). Residents were polled and Kemah, the Karankawa word for "wind in face", "face wind", or "facing the wind", was chosen. Kemah was granted a post office in 1907. Kemah is now primarily a tourist and recreation destination, especially since the Kemah Boardwalk, owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc., was established in 2001.