When we arrived in Gulf Shores on Thursday April 1^st, we didn’t know what to expect.  We knew they had a really bad hurricane season last year.    The Gulf Coast was especially hard-hit, with nine landfalls in 2020.   The two biggest hits Alabama took this season were from Sally and Zeta.  Hurricane Sally, took aim at Alabama and made landfall on Gulf Shores as a strengthening Category 2 storm. Another storm, Hurricane Zeta, made landfall in hard-hit Louisiana but raced inland and caused hurricane damage across parts of Alabama.

We asked a Ranger at Gulf Shores and he said they had lots of damage at the park and in town. Tons of debris to get rid of and lots to repair. The park and all the businesses did a great job as you can hardly see any damage at all.

The Pier now

Gulf State Park Pier reopens to the public this morning, Jan. 30, 2021. Hurricane Sally hit Gulf Shores Sept. 16 and caused widespread destruction, including damage to the pier. Since the storm, contractors and staff members have worked to reopen the pier. About 725 feet of the pier has been repaired and will be accessible for anglers on both sides beginning at 6 a.m. today, according to a statement from Gulf State Park. The remaining southern portion of the structure, which sustained significantly greater damage, will remain closed.

The pier, before the damage was, 2,448 long which is close to half a mile. It is one of the longest piers in the Gulf of Mexico and it is twenty feet wide. Everyone wants the pier to be finished soon.

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One of our first hikes in the park is Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

Al’s Parkour Challenge is on the trail, not your regular playground

We Facetimed with family, talk with friends and had a great Easter dinner outisde!