Texas Pokémon Fans Are Driving A Rare Card Boom

When I was in the fifth grade, the school banned Pokémon cards! It was at the height of the Pokémon craze and it was starting to become a distraction in the classroom. While I never really got into it, I could definitely see the appeal!

If you grew up in Texas with a binder full of Pokémon cards, it might be time to dust it off and check if you're sitting on a small fortune! Turns out, the Lone Star State is one of the most Pokémon-obsessed places in the country right now, and with some rare cards fetching up to $2,000, your childhood deck could be worth way more than the $5 allowance you traded it for at recess.

Texas And the Pokémon Craze

Thanks to a new study by Pinnacle, we now know that Texas ranks second in the U.S. for Pokémon card search interest. And with the 2025 Pokémon World Championship just around the corner, Poké-fever is hitting harder than a level 100 Charizard with a grudge.

So what’s behind this Pokémon-powered Texas takeover? According to data from Pinnacle, Google searches for “super rare Pokémon cards” exploded by a ridiculous 5,000% in the past month! People aren’t just curious, they’re on a full-blown digital treasure hunt!

Pinnacle dug into resale prices from TCG Player and found that some of the cards Texans might’ve forgotten in a shoebox under the bed are now worth big bucks. And when we say big, we mean up to two grand big. That’s right, if you happen to have a Gyarados Star card, you could be holding onto a $1,999 prize. Not bad for something you once got in a pack next to a stale stick of gum.

Texas came in second place nationwide for states most obsessed with tracking down these valuable cards- so if it feels like everyone around you suddenly cares a little too much about holographics again, you’re not imagining it.

Here’s the quick rundown of the cards making collectors (and their wallets) sweat:

Turns out, holding onto your childhood was the ultimate investment strategy- way better than those Beanie Babies!

So whether your old Pokémon binder is collecting dust in a closet, an attic, or your parents' garage, now might be the time to crack it open. With Texas ranking as one of the most Poké-obsessed states in the country, you’re definitely not alone in the hunt- and who knows? That card you nearly traded for a fruit roll-up back in 4th grade could be your ticket to a mini payday.

Time to catch 'em all… and maybe cash 'em in!