In the sun-drenched coastal region of South Texas, a 55-acre stretch of land serves as the final resting place for thousands of veterans who once served their country. The Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, nestled just outside Corpus Christi, stands as a solemn testament to sacrifice and service — a sacred ground where military honors continue long after uniforms have been hung up.
A Decade of Honoring Service
Opened on December 14, 2011, the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery represents Texas’ fourth state veterans cemetery, established under the Texas Veterans Land Board and operated by the Texas General Land Office. The cemetery was designed with a clear purpose: to serve approximately 50,000 veterans across a 15-county region stretching along the Texas coast.
Where exactly can families find this memorial ground? The cemetery sits at 9974 Interstate Highway 37 Access Road, just beyond the northwestern city limits of Corpus Christi, according to records from cemetery documentation services.
What makes this particular veterans cemetery significant is not just its location but its capacity and design. When fully developed over its projected 40-year buildout, the site will accommodate roughly 31,500 burials, according to planning documents. Currently, the cemetery holds 2,650 veteran graves while maintaining open burial space availability, as noted by Wreaths Across America, which coordinates annual memorial ceremonies at the site.
More Than Just A Cemetery
The Coastal Bend facility isn’t simply rows of headstones. Visitors to the grounds find thoughtfully designed spaces including an assembly area, committal shelter, and administration building — all created to honor veterans while providing families a tranquil environment for remembrance and reflection, cemetery profiles show.
But creating and maintaining such a sacred space comes with costs. Single burial plots range between $2,150 and $3,900, with additional expenses for opening and closing plots ($1,400-$1,800), outer burial containers ($1,450-$6,700), and grave markers ($1,600-$8,500). All told, families can expect costs starting around $8,550 and potentially climbing significantly higher depending on specific choices, according to cemetery information.
That said, the cemetery’s creation itself was made possible through federal assistance. The facility was eligible for funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs Cemetery Grants Program and was built to conform to VA standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction, developers confirmed.
A Growing Legacy
As the cemetery approaches its twelfth year of operation, its role in the community continues to evolve. The grounds serve not just as a burial site but as a place for community remembrance ceremonies, particularly during Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and during the holiday season when wreaths are placed on graves.
For families across the Coastal Bend region, from Corpus Christi to surrounding communities, the cemetery provides something invaluable — a dedicated space where military service is permanently honored, where the sacrifices of veterans are remembered not just in passing moments of national observance, but in perpetuity, etched in stone and maintained with dignity.
