The Gulf State Park Tradition...

[Flametamr]

Michael I don't see my name listed on the first post. Site 80 May 31 to June 8.

 

[tiggerdad]

Michael I don't see my name listed on the first post. Site 80 May 31 to June 8.

Got you covered sir.

 

[bama_ed]

Also, @tiggerdad, in post #115, @Teamubr mentions that a friend of his and @tigger92662 named Jerry will be on site #1. That puts us up to 9 campsites by my Bammer math.

Would be nice to get to double digit sites but the sites are booking up as that's when school gets out (after Memorial Day) for a lot of local systems.

ED

PS - I will add that it is quite common for GSP guests to cobble together a stay among 2-3 campsites based on availability. So you may have to change/move during your time there (which certainly is an inconvenience) but at least you're there. That's the kind of thing you can put together, then drop/add pieces as you keep checking for better sites/dates to become available.

For example, looking at the 14-day max interval beginning 5/25 to 6/8, this shows #64 close to many of us open nights of 5/27-5/31 then you could also book (and move over to) #54 for 6/1-6/5.


My advice is book the max dates you can get (you do have to prepay) and then you have to call back to the GSP office to drop unwanted dates as we DISser's firm up our schedules of when we will actually check in and check out ( they will refund nights 2X for free). And if you want to keep checking (especially 30-60 days before arrival) people do true up and something may become available that's closer or better for you.

www.alapark.com
Choose Gulf State Park
Choose Park Reservations
Choose Campsites
Choose your date window (14 night max)
Map View and Calendar view are both helpful (this is Calendar view above).

Here is a campground map with site numbers:

https://www.alapark.com/sites/default/files/2024-06/Gulf Campground Map - 2024 Revised 1.pdf

We are in sites 1-3 on Live Oak and then down Sumac Road 60-80. @garneska is on Live Oak along Middle Lake and the sites on Bobcat Rd 83-103 are close by (I've stayed there in my fall visits many times). Hope this detail helps.

PPS - hey @Teamubr, you know that once you hit age 62yo, you get a 15% discount on campsites? Just wanted to put that on your radar screen. (I mean, if you didn't know that already.....) You book your site at the listed rate but when you check in, you show proof of age/ID (your AARP card is not valid by itself) and I assume they refund the difference back to your credit card (I'm too young still to know EXACTLY how it works).

 

[bama_ed]

BTW, I did discover how to garner the Senior's (>62yo) discount.

Today I made some reservations in the Alabama State Park system for a year from now (Nov 2025) and during the reservation process there is a field to select if you are eligible for a discount (Senior, state employee, Handicapped, or current Military/Veteran all 15% off). So you CAN get the discount as you book the reservation (will have to show valid proof/id when checking in).

Cool beans.

ED

 

[Stratman50th]

I need to check into that!

 

[bama_ed]

I need to check into that!

Don, I grabbed a screen grab of the discounts available while pretending to book a site:



First you have to select an available site for your dates then click on the shopping cart on the right of the screen to go through the checkout process. Once there, click the 'Discounts' green button on the left and then the center white box pops up. Then you can continue with the reservation process.

 

[tigger92662]

Michael, @bama_ed is correct. Jerry is on site 1 and the Smiths coming also are on site 15

 

[bama_ed]

the Smiths coming also are on site 15

That makes 10 sites.

At least, I think it does.

ED

 

[tiggerdad]

Also, @tiggerdad, in post #115, @Teamubr mentions that a friend of his and @tigger92662 named Jerry will be on site #1. That puts us up to 9 campsites by my Bammer math.

Would be nice to get to double digit sites but the sites are booking up as that's when school gets out (after Memorial Day) for a lot of local systems.

ED

PS - I will add that it is quite common for GSP guests to cobble together a stay among 2-3 campsites based on availability. So you may have to change/move during your time there (which certainly is an inconvenience) but at least you're there. That's the kind of thing you can put together, then drop/add pieces as you keep checking for better sites/dates to become available.

For example, looking at the 14-day max interval beginning 5/25 to 6/8, this shows #64 close to many of us open nights of 5/27-5/31 then you could also book (and move over to) #54 for 6/1-6/5.

View attachment 914167
My advice is book the max dates you can get (you do have to prepay) and then you have to call back to the GSP office to drop unwanted dates as we DISser's firm up our schedules of when we will actually check in and check out ( they will refund nights 2X for free). And if you want to keep checking (especially 30-60 days before arrival) people do true up and something may become available that's closer or better for you.

www.alapark.com
Choose Gulf State Park
Choose Park Reservations
Choose Campsites
Choose your date window (14 night max)
Map View and Calendar view are both helpful (this is Calendar view above).

Here is a campground map with site numbers:

https://www.alapark.com/sites/default/files/2024-06/Gulf Campground Map - 2024 Revised 1.pdf

We are in sites 1-3 on Live Oak and then down Sumac Road 60-80. @garneska is on Live Oak along Middle Lake and the sites on Bobcat Rd 83-103 are close by (I've stayed there in my fall visits many times). Hope this detail helps.

PPS - hey @Teamubr, you know that once you hit age 62yo, you get a 15% discount on campsites? Just wanted to put that on your radar screen. (I mean, if you didn't know that already.....) You book your site at the listed rate but when you check in, you show proof of age/ID (your AARP card is not valid by itself) and I assume they refund the difference back to your credit card (I'm too young still to know EXACTLY how it works).

Got Jerry added on as well.

Few questions:

1. Does Jerry know what they are getting into here?

2. Does Jerry understand that they may witness possible disturbing and/or odd adult behavior?

3. Has Jerry ever wrestled an alligator?

4. If the answer to #3 is "no" then is Jerry interested in learning?

5. Is Jerry any good at puzzles?

 

[tigger92662]

Yes to questions 1&2, no to 3&4 and maybe to 5. He's been there with us before and met Randy so he's aware of possible shenanigans

 

[tigger92662]

As has been discussed earlier, I believe we have enough easy-ups with sides to cover an entire site for bug protection.

Whilst inventorying the traveling toy box, our enclosed car trailer, I realized I have about 100 (ok maybe 7) short beach chairs.

We are planning beach days, but feel free to let me now if you plan to head to the beach and would like to borrow said chairs.

Lord only knows how many I may have before we get there

 

[Teamubr]

Whilst inventorying the traveling toy box, our enclosed car trailer, I realized I have about 100 (ok maybe 7) short beach chairs.

I also have a couple, but Donna doesn't like them, so I should have a spare or 2.

I'm also going to invest in a Shibumi shade for the beach. I've seen these a number of times when I go to FL or NC. They seem so easy and small compared to the one I have now with polls and the sand bags to hold it down, but it is a pain. I also have several of the beach umbrellas that screw into the sand. They are also a pain to transport and get set right.



j

 

[bama_ed]

That's a neat shape on that Shimbumi shade, Jim. It seems to me I've seen that profile before.

As long as the breeze is blowing on the shore (not a problem), you'll have plenty of shade. Cool idea.

ED

PS - do they offer an optional tie-down/rope for those back lower corners?

 

[Teamubr]

PS - do they offer an optional tie-down/rope for those back lower corners?

I thought the same thing when I first saw them. Tie it to a chair with a couple of control lines and fly it back to the car.

It just has the one shock pole that goes across the arch and folds back up to about 18 inch segments. There is a single rope that goes off the top of the arch forward to keep it in place. You can see it very faintly in the pic.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

I have been looking at those too. Getting older and lugging all this beach gear in the wagon is getting old.

 

[friendofeeyore]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I remember the year Grumpy Aggie & myself joined y'all @ Gulf Shores. I do miss the Fort. Have a great time this May. Pray all stays Healthy

 

[bama_ed]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I remember the year Grumpy Aggie & myself joined y'all @ Gulf Shores. I do miss the Fort. Have a great time this May. Pray all stays Healthy

Gloria, I recall that you and Arnold were in site #3 at Gulf State Park and DW and I were around the corner on site #4. We (well SHE) had to bail out for bad weather a few days into the trip that never actually got to Gulf Shores.

I've always wanted to ask you regarding something about Arnold. I read that he played at some point during his years at aTm on the college baseball team. As a season ticket holder for Alabama baseball, that raises the cockles on my backside. He could have held the team's season home run record - or he could have been a relief pitcher. I always wondered what his baseball pedigree was.

Do you know and can you tell me?

Bama Ed

PS - and were the two of you married while in college at aTm?

 

[tiggerdad]

Okay, so this week i officially put in my vacation request time for the Dismeet in May. i had to wait until the new year started to put in my yearly requests and that was first on the list, followed by Christmas week and Thanksgiving week.

 

[tiggerdad]

I have only now gotten up to speed on current posts on the rest of the Dis and see the passing of our friend @Stratman50th . Like when we lost PAhunter and Grumpyaggie this saddens me greatly. I had met him during our 2020 Dismeet and he was a great guy to talk to. I was looking forward to seeing him again this May. I do not intend to remove his name from the list on post 1.

We will miss you buddy

 

[tiggerdad]

Our arrival day as of now is May 29th and leaving on June 8th.