Boca Chica Beach name change unites elected officials, environmentalists, and Starbase

A proposal to rename Boca Chica Beach as “Cyber Beach” has united an unlikely coalition ahead of a federal committee meeting Thursday, with environmental advocates, elected officials and even the City of Starbase all urging that the historic name remain unchanged.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal during a virtual meeting beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday.

According to documents submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the proposal was filed in November 2024 by Josh Hazel of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Hazel wrote that the name “Cyber Beach” would recognize the area as the birthplace of interplanetary travel and serve as a tribute to the Tesla Cybertruck.

While debates over SpaceX’s presence in Boca Chica have often divided the region, the proposed name change has done the opposite, prompting opposition from groups that frequently disagree on issues involving the beach and surrounding area.

Among the most vocal opponents is state Rep. Erin Gamez, D-Brownsville, who asked the committee to reject the proposal or, at a minimum, postpone any decision until Cameron County residents have an opportunity to weigh in.

In a letter submitted Wednesday, Gamez said Boca Chica Beach has been known by that name “since at least 1936,” and that many residents were unaware the proposal had even been submitted.

“Boca Chica Beach is part of the cultural and historical identity of our community, and that identity deserves to be preserved,” Gamez wrote.

She also argued the proposed name change would create unnecessary costs by requiring updates to maps, road signs, official documents, and publications that reference Boca Chica Beach.

Brownsville Mayor John Cowen also publicly opposed the proposal, saying he “strongly opposes” changing the beach’s name.

“If you have an opinion on the proposed name change, I encourage you to share your comments by emailing BGNEXEC@usgs.gov,” Cowen wrote on social media. “Your voice matters.”

Perhaps the most unexpected opposition came from the City of Starbase itself.

“The City of Starbase does not support the name change from ‘Boca Chica Beach.’ We think that the current beach name is appropriate,” city officials posted Wednesday on social media.

Environmental advocates have also urged the committee to reject the proposal.

The South Texas Environmental Justice Network called on residents to contact the Board on Geographic Names before Thursday’s meeting, describing Boca Chica Beach as an important part of the region’s identity and opposing what it characterized as an effort to rebrand the public beach.

The Domestic Names Committee is expected to consider the proposal during its Thursday meeting, though it is unclear whether the committee will take final action that day.

Regardless of the outcome, the proposal has already produced one rare result: agreement among environmental groups, local elected officials and the City of Starbase on preserving the Boca Chica Beach name.