Indianola was once a booming Gulf Coast port near Matagorda Bay, founded in the 1840s as a landing site for German immigrants. It became a military hub, welcomed U.S. Army camels, and served as Texas’ second-largest port. But in 1875, a hurricane nearly destroyed it. Locals rebuilt, only for another powerful storm and fire in 1886 to wipe it out completely. Today, Indianola is a quiet coastal spot with beach homes and a marina and worth the visit. A lone statue of explorer La Salle stands as a reminder of the town that once helped shape Texas history.