Stilt Houses

Stilt Houses of Texas isn’t just a book — it’s a window into a subculture of living, working, and fishing that has shaped generations along the Texas Gulf Coast. If you grew up anywhere near the bays, you know these houses aren’t built for show. They’re built for living close to the water, catching what the tides give you, and sharing it with the people you love. 

I’ve got my own history with stilt houses. When I was a kid, my family had one tucked away in Mud Cut on the back side of Christmas Bay near San Luis Pass. We caught more fish than we knew what to do with, and we’d trade 12-packs of beer with bay shrimpers for an ice bag full of head-on shrimp — the kind that tastes like the Gulf itself. Those were days when time moved slow and the only schedule was dictated by tides, weather, and hunger. 

That’s why this book matters to me. My good friend Mike Medrano did an exceptional job capturing these structures — not as oddities, but as living, breathing pieces of Texas coastal culture. Weathered boards, leaning decks, the hum of generators, the reflection of sunset off the water… he preserved the soul of a lifestyle that’s equal parts grit, ingenuity, and romance. 

This book belongs with anyone who understands the pull of salt air and the magic of life lived just a few feet above the tide.