A family-owned golf cart rental business in the beach community of Cinnamon Shores, Port Aransas, is reeling from vandalism that left 177 of its carts inoperable. The destruction, estimated to cost over a million dollars, has shaken the small business just weeks before the busy Spring Break season.
Discovering the Devastation
Don Johnson, who oversees Sage Beach Carts, arrived at work last week and faced a heartbreaking scene. Someone had slashed tires, ripped apart seats, and severed wiring harnesses—destroying nearly half of the company’s fleet overnight.
“I built these, maintained them, and finally got a good crew,” Johnson shared. “Now they have to start over with this. It was a shock to come in and see all of it.”
Port Aransas Police are actively investigating the incident, which caused an estimated $1 million in damages.
Family Business Built from the Ground Up
Co-owner Brittany Wagner expressed her devastation over the attack on their growing business. Sage Beach Carts started with just 20 golf carts, but through years of hard work, they expanded their fleet to nearly 400. Each cart is uniquely customized and valued at over $25,000.
“It’s disheartening. It takes a piece out of you, and you feel a little violated as well,” Wagner said.
She described the extent of the damage, noting that vandals had slashed tires, cut wiring, and destroyed many essential components like custom seating, making repairs even more challenging.
An Uncertain Future Ahead of Spring Break
With the high-demand Spring Break season quickly approaching, the vandalism’s timing could not have been worse. Johnson admitted that there was no feasible way to repair all the damaged carts in time.
“We just won’t have time. The parts we need take months to be made and delivered,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Wagner and Johnson remain committed to serving their customers.
Wagner assured us, “We’ll do whatever we can to ensure that the carts we have ready will be ready for Spring Break. ”
Community Support and Investigation Underway
Cinnamon Shore President Keith Minick addressed the incident, offering support and confidence in law enforcement’s ability to resolve the case.
“The reported damage to our previous golf cart provider deeply saddens us. We trust in our great men and women in law enforcement and their insurance company to thoroughly investigate and bring the person(s) who committed this act to justice,” Minick stated.
He also emphasized that authorities have reported no similar acts of vandalism on Cinnamon Shore property, suggesting this may be an isolated event.
Hope for Justice and Recovery
As Sage Beach Carts faces the daunting task of rebuilding, they are hopeful that investigators will uncover who was responsible for this act of destruction. The company remains resilient and determined to continue serving visitors to Port Aransas.
In the meantime, the owners are looking for ways to keep their business running with the operational carts they have left. The community is rallying behind them, offering support as they navigate this challenging time.