one remained standing. Several houses in another section were still there. Pam Adams, homeowner of the "Last House Standing," stated that many of Gilchrist's homes were built before the latest building codes were enacted. John Lee, Galveston County's emergency management spokesperson, said that Gilchrist had been "wiped clean" by the hurricane. After Hurricane Ike the United States Postal Service temporarily relocated Gilchrist post office box services to Stowell, Texas. Regarding returning, John Lee said "It's a very sobering experience that some don't want to go through again. How many will be back? We don't know." By January 2009, of the communities in the Bolivar Peninsula, Gilchrist received the fewest returnees. By 2011 Galveston County bought out 434 houses in Gilchrist since the houses were too close to the shore, post-Ike. The land will have limited uses. As of 2014, homes and businesses have been rebuilt in the area, new residents are settling in, and visitors once again are able to travel through that section of Highway 87. The Rollover Pass bridge has two lanes open instead of the original three. But Texas Historical Marker Number 7166 has yet to be replaced at the Pass. Government and infrastructure The Gilchrist Volunteer Fire Department originally served Gilchrist prior to Hurricane Ike. After the Hurricane struck, the Gilchrist Volunteer Fire Department disbanded, and donated all their equipment to other departments many miles away. This upset many residents of the Gilchrist Community and others on the Bolivar Peninsula. Gilchrist is now served by members of the High Island Volunteer Fire Rescue Department The United States Postal Service once operated the Gilchrist Post Office, which opened on September 16, 1950. The building was destroyed by Hurricane Ike and the post office, in name, was officially discontinued on July 31, 2010. Education Gilchrist residents are zoned to schools in the High Island Independent School District. High Island ISD is assigned to Galveston College in Galveston. GCA (Gilchrist Community Association) The purpose of the GCA is to provide civic duties at Rollover Pass on the Bolivar Peninsula in the state of Texas and other civic and community projects to improve and enhance the quality of life for the residents and visitors of Bolivar Peninsula. The GCA is a 501(c)4 organization whose members are from all over the United States. Their common goal is to save their community from being destroyed by outside interests and keep Rollover Pass