Dozens of boats raft off from the docks behind Kenny Armstrong’s home in Dickinson, Texas—the first and only stop of Friday’s leg of the Texas Outlaw Challenge.

Three words: Only in Texas. I don’t think I need, or have, many more words to describe the first—also known as the “premier” for good reason—card stop of the Texas Outlaw Challenge on Friday. Why? Because where else in the country does a poker runner open his home to all 150-plus boats signed up for the event, and be able to accommodate all of them?

I’m talking about Kenny Armstrong’s property in Dickinson, Texas. Armstrong, who owns the 48-foot Phantom catamaran from Marine Technology Inc., said he loves hosting the poker run fleet and wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s a hospitable Texan at heart, that’s for sure.

He admits there is a ton of work involved, especially when he has to stock the pool bar, cater for hundreds of people and bring in a crane to launch his and his friends’ boats, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone having a better time at the party than Armstrong.

Obviously the hospitality is off the charts, the music is great and the Texas-sized spread is one I’ll never forget, but the most impressive aspect of the party is that everyone seemed to have a good time with zero drama. The only way I can describe it is like a Vegas pool party with your closest friends. I’ll stop now and let you check out some of my pictures.

Click photos to enlarge and for captions