Levi Goode: How ya doing? You got more time for me?

Mike Medrano: Oh yeah. I’ve always got time for you, Levi.

LG: I have my own favorites from the book, but I want to hear about some of your favorite images and the stories behind them.

MM: There are definitely stories. I describe the cabin program as a labyrinth or a speakeasy. Who the hell do you call to even begin figuring out where to go or who to talk to? There is no how-to guide, and the whole experience was so surreal, frankly. My favorite part is that there’s a story behind every cabin. How in the heck did they land that thing? Are they the original squatters? There’s a lot of mystery and romance tied up with these cabins and the Texas coast, and my favorite photos in the book remind me of that.

Kevin Giles and Daisy

MM: This is Kevin Giles and his dog, Daisy. This was his residence—not a weekend cabin. And I’m not kidding you, Levi, his cabin felt like an antique store. Unfortunately, Kevin has passed away since we took this photo. I believe his grandfather built the house. He lived there his entire life and truly embodied the idea of living off the land.

LG: Did he have a job?

MM: His job was living in that cabin full-time.

LG: That’s pretty unique. I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that he wasn’t used to seeing people.

MM: Shit no. When I walked up to see him and he came out with that dog, it was just snarling and growling. I thought, “We might be in trouble here.” But Kevin couldn’t have been a sweeter guy, and he loved showing us his cabin and way of life. Once Daisy saw that we didn’t mean any harm, she came around too.

Marquee Cabins

MM: Throughout the process, we had a few “marquee cabins” in the upper, middle, and lower coast—cabins that nearly everyone familiar with those areas would recognize.

For example, the Dunkin House in the Lower Laguna Madre. It’s no longer owned by Dial Dunkin, but it’s still referred to as the Dunkin House. It sits catty-corner to the Cullen Ranch and is a large, two-story beach house literally surrounded by water. Everyone knows it. Cabins like this are scattered along the coastline.

Another example is Hasselmann’s Bay Club on page 92. To me, this is one of the most iconic cabins. I don’t know the full origin story, but it’s essentially a compound. It’s incredible—one of the coolest places you’ll see.

Barbara and Earl Manning

MM: This cabin is owned by Barbara and Earl Manning. Earl is a retired firefighter. He and his wife live in the area and use the cabin as a weekend getaway. When we visited, their grandchildren were there as well—they appear on pages 80–81—and those two kids were fishing nonstop when we arrived. They were eager to show off their netting skills, and it was genuinely special to witness. Moments like that capture what these cabins are really about—family and shared experiences.

Ken Williams and Andy Knapp

MM: The first people we encountered on our journey were Ken Williams and Andy Knapp. It was around 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning. They had already been fishing and had come back to rest. We ended up having beers with them at nine in the morning [laughs].

When we walked up to their cabin, they looked at us like we were crazy. After introducing ourselves, we asked them to sign model release forms—part of our standard process before taking photos. They laughed but agreed.

We sat, had beers, and talked about what cabin life meant to them. They’ve been partners in that cabin for years. That’s how they described it. They’ve been friends forever, and there’s nothing like being partners in a cabin and fishing together.

The Clancy's

MM: Page 170 features a family photo of the Clancys. It’s special because it was completely organic. Nothing staged. Tim and his wife, Leslie, own New Water Boatworks, one of the finest boat manufacturers in Texas. Tim’s favorite place to fish is around his cabin, and that’s exactly what he was doing that day with his wife and two children. He could fish anywhere, but there’s nowhere he’d rather be than at his cabin. That authenticity made the moment meaningful.

Tom Horbey

MM: The last photo I’ll point out doesn’t even feature a cabin. This is Tom Horbey fishing in Port O’Connor, down the channel toward the Gulf. If you look closely, there’s a dolphin jumping behind him as he sits by the center console.

LG: I wouldn’t have noticed that if you hadn’t pointed it out.

MM: That’s exactly right. To me, that’s the beauty of being outdoors—those “holy” moments when you’re present and paying attention. It also describes the Texas coast as a whole, including the cabins. Far too many people drive down our coastline and never actually see it. But, if you look closely, there is so much life and beauty everywhere. I think that’s what happens at these cabins. They create space for moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. To me, that’s what makes them so fascinating.

A huge thanks to my pal Mike Medrano for sharing his time and brain with me for a while. We’ve only scratched the surface of what you’ll find in his book, Stilt Houses of Texas. To pick up your own copy, head to my shop.