Gulf Islands National Seashore celebrates 50th anniversary
It is the Gulf Islands National Seashores 50th anniversary. It was officially signed into law in 1971 and it is the largest national seashore, stretching from Mississippi to Florida.
Like many other national parks this summer, they’ve seen a dramatic increase in visits. For example, in the Mississippi portion, during the month of June, they’ve seen a 200 percent increase. Meanwhile, the park as a whole is up 80 percent in visits.
The park offers multiple amenities for guests to enjoy varying from picnicking, camping, hiking, and kayaking. Lead Park Ranger John Bernstiel said, “I’m a huge kayaker. I love being out on the water. We’re surrounded by water here, surrounded by the bayous, paddle out a little bit and you’re surrounded by the bay. If you’re really ambitious paddle out even more and you’ll be in the Gulf of Mexico.”
On Friday, the William M. Colmer Visitor Center reopens after being closed for over a year in March 2020 when the pandemic first started. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at reduced capacity, following CDC recommendations.
The center has plenty of educational activities for the family and even a junior ranger program available for the kids. Bernstiel said, “To help celebrate our 50th anniversary, we have a brand-new handout which is a gator magnet. It is a handout we’re giving to the public to welcome them back to the visitor’s center. It has a special message on it telling the public not to feed the wildlife especially the American gator. That can be very dangerous.”
National Seashore provides plenty of economic benefit to nearby communities. According to data from recent years in the Mississippi areas of the National Seashores, visitors spent $37 million, creating an economic benefit of $47 million.
There is no entrance fee in the Davis Bayou area for visitors.
