- Baytown Local News Events
- Posts
- NASA Hilton to Get Margaritaville Makeover🏨
NASA Hilton to Get Margaritaville Makeover🏨
Bargain Hunters, Start Your Bids — La Porte’s Auction Has It All🔨
Hi Neighbors! Today’s a great day to send a quick thank-you—to a teacher, a coach, a clerk, a coworker—anyone who makes our days run smoother. A little kindness goes a long way (and costs nothing) 🌟
—The Newsletter Team

For a better reading experience, read the newsletter online.
Many email providers cut a large portion of the newsletter articles off. That means you might miss out on important news items, and more.
In This Baytown Local Spotlight Issue:
☀ Baytown, Tx. Weather
📆 Greater Baytown Area Events
🔨 Bargain Hunters, Start Your Bids — La Porte’s Auction Has It All
🏨 Big Changes Coming: NASA Hilton to Get Margaritaville Makeover
🏭 ExxonMobil Announces Major Reconfiguration Project at Baytown Complex
📆 3 Day Holiday Weekend Ahead- Here’s an adventure that’s fun, free, and right in your own backyard- Read:
🗺 BaytownBert and the Adventure That’s Hiding All Around Us
🎈 Kidventures - Fun Finds for Kids & Families
🏷️ Garage, Yard, or Estate Sales -
📰 Job Listings -
❓ Trivia is back ‘Old School’


Today’s Record High: 107 in 2023 - Record Low: 63 in 1970

Note: Events with + in front indicates newly added event!
While we strive to ensure that all of our events are current and accurate, please always check to ensure that the event is still scheduled and that the information below is correct.
Something Old Something New Vendor Market Aug. 30th 10 AM-2 PM 2122 N. Alexander Drive, Baytown
First Fridays at Five Points- A Taste of Main Street Fri., Sept. 5th,
6 PM-9 PM - Five Points Plaza, 100 S Broadway, Main Street La Porte+POOCH-A-PALOOZA! Sat., Sept. 6th - 9am-12pm @ Jenkins Park
Anything But A Boat Race Sat. Sept. 6 @10am Mont Belvieu City Park, 10900 Eagle Dr. Click for details
Deaf Social Where Bakery - Sept.. 6th - 11 am @
Heart & Whisk Bakery 4618 N. Main St., BaytownWest Chambers Deaf Social – Sept. 13th @ 11 am. @ The Toasted Yolk in Mt. Belvieu 13001 I-10 East
+Fall Harvest Festival Sept. 14th -10am-4pm @ Crosby American Legion
+Kids Fall Fair Sept. 14th - 10am-4pm @ Crosby American Legion


Image Courtesy City of La Porte
Bargain Hunters, Start Your Bids —
La Porte’s Auction Has It All
The City of La Porte is hosting an online auction with lots of items up for grabs — some pretty unusual! Bidding is now open and will close on Sept. 10th, starting at 2 PM.
Items range from concrete culverts and generators to computers, exercise equipment, fire hoses, tools, and even trash cans.

ExxonMobil Announces
Major Reconfiguration Project
at Baytown Complex
ExxonMobil has approved a major reconfiguration project at its Baytown complex that will reshape production capabilities and position the site for long-term growth in a changing energy market. The project is expected to begin construction soon, with startup targeted for 2028.
The investment will allow the Baytown facility to increase production of higher-demand products, including diesel and high-quality base stocks — key components used in premium lubricants. Once complete, Baytown will be the only facility offering the full range of Group I through Group V base stocks, giving ExxonMobil a unique position to meet growing demand for premium lubricants.
The company says the investment reflects its strategy to align operations with market demand as gasoline use gradually declines, while demand for diesel and advanced lubricants remains strong. Baytown’s integrated operations — combining refining, chemicals, and lubricants — enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and support greater flexibility to adapt to future needs.
In addition to strengthening the company’s market position, the project will create local construction jobs, support economic growth in the Baytown area, and build on the site’s long-term value.
Information provided by ExxonMobil’s official news release.

Think you’ve seen all of Baytown? Think again. This 3-Day holiday weekend, there’s a whole new way to explore the city — and it won’t cost you a dime.
BaytownBert and the Adventure
That’s Hiding All Around Us
Imagine a game where you get to explore new places, solve clues, and discover hidden treasures—all while spending time outdoors with family and friends. That’s geocaching, and it’s not just a hobby—it’s a worldwide adventure you can enjoy right here in Baytown.
What Is Geocaching?
Geocaching is like a modern-day treasure hunt using GPS technology. Players use a smartphone or GPS device to follow coordinates to a hidden container—called a “geocache”—which might be as small as a film canister or as big as a lunchbox. Inside, you’ll find a logbook to sign and sometimes small trinkets to trade.
The fun is in the journey—exploring new parks, neighborhoods, trails, and hidden corners of your community. It’s a hobby for everyone—kids love the thrill of the hunt, teens enjoy the challenge and puzzle-solving, and adults appreciate the chance to get outside, discover new places, and make memories. It’s low-cost, family-friendly, and can be done almost anywhere in the world—whether you’re on vacation or right in your own neighborhood.
Baytown’s Local Legend: BaytownBert
Here in Baytown, one name stands out in the geocaching community: BaytownBert. A dedicated player since 2003, Bert has spent more than two decades exploring, hiding, and promoting geocaches. He’s a past board member of the Texas Geocaching Association, a 2018 TXGA Hall of Fame inductee, and has written primers on the game featured in First To Find magazine.
Bert has hidden and maintains many geocaches in the Baytown area, including the 31 hides that make up the city’s official GeoTour. For him, geocaching isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way to combine exploration, history, and travel while encouraging others to get out and experience the world around them.
Bringing Geocaching to the Heart of Baytown
Recognizing both Bert’s passion and geocaching’s potential to attract visitors, the City of Baytown Tourism Office teamed up with him to create the Baytown GeoTour—a specially designed trail of caches that highlight the best of Baytown’s parks, historical landmarks, public art, and natural beauty.
While geocaching is popular worldwide (some enthusiasts even travel internationally just to complete certain caches), the Baytown GeoTour offers something for everyone—visitors and locals alike. For tourists, it’s a unique way to explore our city while checking off caches on a global map. For locals, it’s a chance to turn weekends into mini-adventures, create a standing family tradition, or simply enjoy a day outdoors discovering places you might have never noticed before.
Fun, Adventure, and Rewards
The Baytown GeoTour features 31 geocaches—28 regular caches and 3 bonus ones—spread across different themes: Family, History, and Nature Together. Collectively, these caches have earned an impressive 728 favorite points from geocachers around the world—a strong testament to the creativity, quality, and consistent care that Bert puts into maintaining each one.
Completing the GeoTour not only gives you the satisfaction of the hunt, but also the chance to earn special prizes, including the coveted trackable GeoCoin.
All you need is the Baytown GeoTour Passport (available online), a GPS-enabled device or the free Geocaching app, and a sense of adventure. Along the way, you can collect points not just from finding caches, but also by dining in Baytown restaurants, shopping at local retailers, and staying overnight in town.
An Adventure Waiting for You
Whether you’re a seasoned geocacher or just curious about trying something new, the Baytown GeoTour is a chance to see your city—or visit ours—in a whole new way. It’s active, social, and perfect for all ages. And who knows? You might just get hooked, like BaytownBert, and find yourself chasing caches wherever life takes you.
To learn more and download your passport, visit VisitBaytown.com/geocaching. Your next adventure could be hiding right around the corner.

Photo Courtesy Baytown Tourism Department


Image Courtesy of Hilton
Big Changes Coming:
NASA Hilton to Get
Margaritaville Makeover
Big changes are on the horizon for one of Clear Lake’s most recognizable landmarks. Houston-based Ayrshire Corp. has purchased the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake hotel for $27 million and plans a sweeping renovation to transform the property into a Compass Hotel by Margaritaville.
We know that many of us have attended events at the NASA Hilton over the years — or have at least driven by it countless times — so we thought this news might be of special interest.
The 14-story hotel, located at 3000 E. NASA Parkway across from the Johnson Space Center, has been a Clear Lake fixture since 1982. Under the renovation plans, the top three floors will be converted into luxury condominiums, reducing the number of hotel rooms from 242 to 170 while introducing upscale residential options overlooking Clear Lake.
The overhaul will also:
Double the size of the hotel’s current 5,000-square-foot ballroom into a full convention center, boosting Nassau Bay’s ability to host conferences, trade shows, and large events.
Replace the existing pool with an “adult waterpark” featuring a lazy river and swim-up bar, adding a fun, resort-style atmosphere.
Renovate the lobby and guest amenities to create a more welcoming, laid-back coastal vibe that fits the Margaritaville brand.
Local leaders believe the transformation will help Nassau Bay attract more visitors, strengthen the area’s hospitality market, and create new jobs. With the Johnson Space Center drawing steady crowds year-round, the updated hotel is expected to become a go-to spot for both business and leisure travelers.
Construction timelines and the official debut date for the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville have not yet been announced.
Information for this article was compiled from official announcements, local business reports, and industry publications.

🛍Local Garage, Yard & Estate Sales!🏷
Please help us spread the word: share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors, and anyone who loves a good deal. Encourage them to subscribe so they never miss a sale. And if you're planning a sale of your own, be sure to submit your info by Tuesday at 5 PM to be included in this week’s issue!
📌Looks like the long weekend has everyone in relaxation mode 😎 — no local garage or estate sales this time.
If you spot one 🛒, let us know 📩, and we’ll share it with the community 📰!

Job Listings Now on a Separate Page! 🎉
To make scrolling easier for everyone, we’ve moved job listings to a separate page! If you're job hunting, check it out—if not, enjoy a quicker read! 😊👀

Which is the only mammal capable of sustained flight? |

Wednesday’s Quiz: How long does it take light from the Sun to reach Earth?
Answer: B) 8 minutes
Light travels at about 186,000 miles per second. It takes roughly 8 minutes and 20 seconds for sunlight to journey the 93 million miles to Earth.
How Was This Issue? |