The park has rebounded sufficiently from the hammering received from Hurricane Katrina last summer to reopen most facilities to the public for the summer. Here’s the park’s status as of last week:
Mississippi District
All areas of the Mississippi District are open to the public except for the Davis Bayou Campground, which is being used as a FEMA camp. Until the William M Colmer Visitor Center is repaired, a temporary visitor contact station and office trailers will be used. Interpretive programs are given on the weekends and junior ranger programs are scheduled for the summer. Trails, picnic areas and boat launch are available to park visitors.
The concession-operated passenger ferry resumed operations in mid-April to West Ship Island, where historic Fort Massachusetts is located. Visitors can cross the repaired island boardwalk to Gulf beaches and visit the fort, but other facilities such as the snack bar and bath house are not rebuilt. Temporary facilities such as shade shelters and portable comfort stations will be utilized this summer.
Florida District
Progress continues in the Florida District and all areas are opened to the public, but access to the popular Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa Areas is now only by foot, boat, or bike. The park plans to rebuild the Fort Pickens Road and J. Earle Bowden Way (Route 399) beginning next fall. Facilities at Opal Beach have not been rebuilt, nor the side road leading to the development.
The Fort Pickens Campground is not open but visitors may try primitive camping at Perdido Key. The park interpretive staff is currently working with Harpers Ferry Center wayside and museum planners to design replacement interpretive media that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. For current information call 850-934-2600.
