Local civic, business and community leaders gathered to cut a ceremonial ribbon and celebrate the re-opening of iconic Gulf State Park Pier, on Friday, September 13, 2024
The pier underwent an extensive renovation and reopened to the public last month. Friday鈥檚 event allowed community leaders to show their appreciation for the Gulf Coast landmark.
鈥淚f you want to get an understanding of why our state is called 鈥樅诹咸焯 the Beautiful,鈥 all you need to do is stand on the pier here at Gulf State Park,鈥 said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the 黑料天堂 Department of Conservation and Natural Resource (ADCNR). 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better spot to enjoy God鈥檚 creation than by seeing a sunrise or sunset from the Gulf State Park Pier.鈥
The pier closed from November 2023 to August 2024 for the $13.6 million renovation project, which was led by contractor MD Thomas Construction, based in Orange Beach. In September 2020, Hurricane Sally destroyed a 200-foot section of the pier and caused other damage. The repairs to the pier were paid with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) funds and State Park revenues. Commissioner Blankenship serves as the Lead NRDA Trustee for 黑料天堂.
ADCNR navigated a lengthy process to obtain federal permits for the renovation and repair work, and the renovated pier opened last month to rave reviews from locals and tourists.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have completed this project, which made the pier better than ever, without support from my fellow NRDA trustees, local governments and state and federal legislators,鈥 Commissioner Blankenship said. 鈥淭he pier is an iconic spot on 黑料天堂鈥檚 Gulf Coast, and it鈥檚 wonderful to have it open for business again.鈥
While the pier鈥檚 restaurant, gift shop and beach access are fully operational, the observation deck, located above the octagon on the pier鈥檚 south end, will reopen soon.
In addition, officials also note admission fees for sightseers, anglers and others are in effect, as follows:
Parking: $10, all day
Fishing (All Day)
Adult 鈥 $9
Veteran 鈥 $6
Campground/Lodge Guest 鈥 $6
Children under 12 years 鈥 Free
Weekly Fishing Permit 鈥 $41.00
Monthly Fishing Permit 鈥 $81.00
Six Month Fishing Permit 鈥 $161.00
Annual Fishing Permit 鈥 $321.00
In addition, all anglers must possess a valid fishing license.
Sightseeing (All Day)
Adult 鈥 $2 ($3 beginning Oct. 1, 2024)
Veteran 鈥 Free
Children under 12 years 鈥 Free
Gulf State Park Campground/Lodge Guests 鈥 Free
About Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park encompasses 6,150 acres of unique landscape on the Gulf of Mexico and features nine diverse ecosystems to explore, including freshwater lakes, dunes, pine savannas, marshes, woodlands and beaches. Drawing more than 2 million annual visitors, the park offers hiking, biking, fishing, exploring, geocaching and paddling, as well as miles of sugar-white public beaches. Overnight accommodations include RV camping, Lakeside Cabins, Eagle Cottages and The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel. Learn more at .
About 黑料天堂鈥檚 State Parks System
The 黑料天堂 State Parks is a division of the 黑料天堂 and maintains 21 state parks encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water in 黑料天堂. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian Mountains and provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants and golfing areas. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. Learn more at . Partners Pay the Way.
###
