The former TxDOT ferry Janey Briscoe is Port Aransas’ newest floating pub. After a second career as a charter fishing boat, the ferry was retired to the municipal harbor not far from the ferry landing where she began her run of more than 50 years. Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

The Boat Bar recycles a former TxDOT ferry as a waterborne tavern in Port Aransas’ municipal harbor. 

The open-air nautical saloon attracts a mixture of locals and visitors. With a wide spectrum of beers and wine – sorry, no cocktails – it’s a pleasant place to watch pleasure and fishing watercraft come and go. The 64-by-33-foot former ferryboat is solidly anchored to land so that you can’t feel the small waves in the harbor. 

Originally the bar was the Janey Briscoe, a nine-car ferryboat operating between Port A and Harbor Island connecting to Aransas Pass. The boat was named for the wife of Gov. Dolph Briscoe, a departure at the time from naming ferryboats for former heads of the state transportation department. 

The 64-foot-long deck is a pleasant place to enjoy an adult beverage and watch the boats come and go in the harbor. The open-air tavern serves beer and wine with plans to add food in the future. Well-behaved children and dogs are welcome. Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

Replaced by 20-car ferries, the Janey Briscoe was retired around 1999 after nearly 30 years of service. In 2000, the Gaskins family of Port Aransas acquired the ferry at auction. They had previously purchased the Jack Kultgen ferry in the 1980s and christened her the Island Queen. Billy Gaskins and his father, the late Bill Gaskins, turned the vessels into charter fishing and sightseeing boats. The Janey Briscoe became the Island Queen II.

After nearly 25 years of plying the coastal waters as a charter boat, Billy decided to permanently moor the old ferryboat. The wheelhouse still towers over the waters, but an upper deck doubles as a roof and special event space. Dolphins don’t race the Janey Briscoe across the channel anymore, but she still welcomes visitors to Port A.

The Boat Bar is at 154 W. Cotter Ave. in Port Aransas, not far from the ferry landing. The floating pub opens daily from noon to 10pm. Plans are to add a light food menu in the future. TxDOT operates 5-to-10-minute free ferry rides to and from the island all day, year-round.

For nearly 30 years the 9-car ferry the Janey Briscoe (on the right in 1997) carried visitors across the ship channel to and from Port Aransas. She was replaced by 20-car ferries like the R.E. Stotzer, Jr. on the left. The Stotzer was eventually replaced by a 28-car ferry. Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

1,803rd in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere. Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/day-trips.

This article appears in April 24 • 2026.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.