Watch 250,000 Mexican Free-Tailed Bats Emerge From Beneath Texas' Waugh Drive Bridge With A Spirit Of The Bayou Boat Tour
By Katie Lawrence|Published August 05, 2021
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Everyone knows about the iconic Congress Avenue Bridge bats in Austin, but it’s a lesser-known fact that downtown Houston boasts a colony of similar size. Spirit of the Bayou, a pontoon tour boat that cruises the historic Buffalo Bayou, takes you up close and personal with the fascinating creatures as they emerge from underneath the Waugh Drive Bridge. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!
Houston's Buffalo Bayou Partnership has its very own pontoon tour boat known as "Spirit of the Bayou," and it offers several different excursions that take passengers on an enthralling journey through the heart of downtown.
The most basic tour is the 20-person private charter, which lasts 90 minutes and cruises past Allen’s Landing, Sesquicentennial Park and Sabine Promenade, and the historic McKee Street Bridge. This trip costs $500 flat, with historians available for an extra $175.
You can also take a History Tour from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on September 11, October 9, or November 6, 2021.
A local historian will discuss major events, people, and places that helped shape Houston into the incredible city it is today. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the cost is $40 per person.
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Another popular outing is the "Foodie Float," which offers small bites and beverages from local chefs and food purveyors with a side of breathtaking Buffalo Bayou scenery.
Perhaps the most underrated tour of all, however, is the Waugh Bat Colony Tour, which takes you up close and personal with the 250,000+ Mexican free-tailed bats that live underneath the Waugh Drive Bridge.
Departing 30 minutes before sunset, the tour affords passengers a front-row seat to the awe-inspiring spectacle created by the bats' nightly emergence.
The tour is 90 minutes long and costs $30 per person - please note that children under four are not permitted.
Tour dates are available all throughout August, and you can select one that works for you on the Buffalo Bayou website.
Spirit of the Bayou offers several other boat tours, including a twilight ride and seasonal cruises for holidays such as St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo.
Have you ever taken the Waugh Bat Colony Tour with Spirit of the Bayou? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments section below! Check out our previous article to learn more about the famous Congress Avenue bats.
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