Confusion erupted after a vendor email suggested Galveston beaches would be closed during Jeep Weekend. But county officials say the party is still on, and beaches will remain open with traffic control measures in place.
Galveston County officials have stated that Jeep Weekend, the annual off-roading beach party on the Bolivar Peninsula, has not been canceled, despite rumors that started with an email that got a lot of attention earlier this week.
Yesterday evening, a picture of an email from Michael J. Lentz, the county's Beach Sticker Supervisor, was shared on social media, causing widespread misunderstanding. Due to a "Temporary Beach Closure Notification," the message informed beach sellers that they would be unable to work from May 14 to 18. This led many people to believe that the county would close the beaches permanently.
The rumors on social media only added fuel to the fire. Some people linked the note to unrelated events, like the recent discovery of cocaine bricks on Jamaica Beach.
It was clear to Capt. Tommy Maffei of the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, though: "The beaches will be open for everyone," he told Chron. Some entry points may be closed to maintain traffic flow, but the event will still proceed as planned.
The original email from Lentz's office has since been withdrawn because it was not correctly checked or approved.
A statement from the sheriff's office said, "We want to reassure the public that the Sheriff's Office does not plan to close the beach for Jeep Weekend."
Jeep Weekend used to be a small off-road gathering, but now it draws tens of thousands of people who enjoy partying hard and getting into trouble. In 2024, the event led to almost 300 charges and one death. Officials say they are focused on ensuring this year's event is safe and accessible for everyone.
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