The food truck craze has hit Corpus Christi, including at the Downtown Farmers Market. Now Padre Island National Seashore wants in on the action. Vendors interested in setting up at the national park have until April 30 to apply for this summer. Courtesy Photo
Food vendors interested in providing mobile food services at Padre Island National Seashore have until April 30 to turn in applications. The park hopes to provide up to two vendors at a time at two locations for leases up to two years. Once selected, vendors can start cooking in May. Locations are at the Malaquite Visitor Center parking lot and on the beach.
The parking lot location will require the vendor to stay in one place, but vendors for the beach location can be either stationary or drive along a five-mile stretch. Vendors will be required to operate a minimum of three days per week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) but have the option to operate daily if desired. Operations will be during the daytime only, unless specifically coordinated with the park for special evening events.
Two vendors may operate at either location, and vendors can trade days with each other once selected.
More than 584,000 people visited the park in 2015, most of those between May and September. With most visitors spending a minimum of five hours per day at the park, demand for food should provide a good customer base, according to the park. Visitation peaked in July with 100,483 visitors last year.
Public releases of hatchling sea turtles usually draw crowds of hundreds at sunrise to see the endangered creatures released into the surf. The park hopes to have at least one vendor who would sell breakfast items during the releases.
For applications and more information, visit nps.gov/pais or call Tom Volk at (361) 949-8173 ext. 333 or Superintendent Mark Spier at (361) 949-8173 ext. 222.
Submit proposals to:
Tom Volk, Ranger Activities Assistant
Padre Island National Seashore
P.O. Box 181300
Corpus Christi, TX 78480
