Havre Lafitte

Havre Lafitte is a neighborhood of some 230 single-family residences surrounding the 48-acre Lake Madeline on Galveston’s west side. The area was developed in the early 1960s, though about half the houses were built after 1975. The Home Owners Association, founded in 1964, is among the oldest in the city. Styles range from one-floor ranch designs typical of American suburbs to striking one-of-a-kind contemporary dwellings. Sizes range from under 1,400 to over 4,400 square feet (the average size is 2,550 square feet), mostly built on quarter-acre lots. A good location gives Havre Lafitte several advantages over other real estate in Galveston: It is near highly regarded schools and nestled between the Galveston Seawall, the airport, Moody Gardens and convenient to shopping on 61st Street. A large city park complex is immediately to the west.

The subdivision’s name, which translates to “Lafitte’s Haven,” pays homage to French pirate and privateer Jean Lafitte, who plied the waters around Galveston in the early 1800s. Lake Madeline, named for Lafitte’s supposed sweetheart, empties into Offatts Bayou giving small motorboats access to Galveston Bay. It was dredged to its current size in the 1960s, with dredge material used to raise the level of the surrounding lots.

Vacation rentals are not permitted in Havre Lafitte.

As is the case with much Galveston real estate, home prices in Havre Lafitte vary broadly, from the $200,000s to $1 million.