The development of Rockport has just been ridiculous. Property values have gone through the roof. That's some exposed coastline, no seawall, no nothing other than the barrier island.
My theory is the barrier islands on the US gulf coast are the effect over time of hurricanes tearing at the mainland. The bays are flooded land that never dried out. Over geological time. A good hint that NO and S Fla might be prone to hurricanes are what I will call a couple of hurricane lakes, Okechobee and Ponchatrain. brackish water is the result of periodic infusions of salt water overland.
When you go to Grand Cayman you will see these "stagnant" ponds in the middle of the island. They will have in them giant 7 foot Tarpon. After last summer and Ivan I understand how the tarpon get there. Ivan put Cayman entirely under water for a short period of time. that's how the tarpon get in the landlocked lakes.
When I was a kid we used to go to Rockport for vacation. I had the best time there. I would love to go back and see it.
I haven't been there in 20 years.