bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,524
Folks,
Earlier this year we had a thread on the DIS Camping Board about tiggerdad and I camping at Gulf State Park on the Alabama Gulf Coast. http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-small-dis-camping-meet-occurred-tonight.3414791/ He fed me and my family and we had fun putting names with faces from the DIS Camping Board.
In the thread we discussed, based on the thread feedback, opening up a future visit to Gulf to include any DIS'ser that wanted to come and hang out down at the beach. My favorite time, given the demands of school, work, and family, have been the time of Memorial Day weekend through the following weekend. For many school systems in the South, school is out by Memorial Day and although summer on the Gulf can be hot, humid, and wet, the week of Memorial Day is the still "late spring" weather and the heat is not (yet) oppressive. With about 6 months notice, hopefully the work/family side can be planned far enough in advance.
Just to set expectations: Gulf State Park is in Gulf Shores, AL east of Mobile Bay (between Mobile and Pensacola). It does NOT have campsites ON THE BEACH. The Park has a 2 mile beach with a highway behind it and the campground is back behind the highway. Gulf Shores bills itself as a "Big Beach, Small Town". The Park has 2 miles of beach and a long fishing pier but obviously the beach fronts the town for miles in each direction. Orange Beach is the next town over with its walls of tall condo towers on the beach. It's a place to go and relax. Outlet shopping is 10 miles away, there is a small waterpark, zoo, and seafood restaurants galore, but it is not Panama City or Destin (with lots of nighttime entertainment). It is what it is.
Gulf State Park does NOT, as of today, have any WIFI. Various hurricanes have cleared out the once abundant trees and undergrowth so now it's pretty wide open (Google Maps satellite view is your friend). Cell phone coverage is good but the campground is far enough from civilization that the business case can't be built for fiber to serve the campground.
Gulf does have a pool for those not wanting to go to the beach. It's a pretty nice pool as campgrounds go. We waited years for it after it was announced and then the contractor went bankrupt and we waited years for a second contractor to be signed and finish the job.
Here is the Gulf website: http://www.alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Camping Note cost depends on location. There is a weekend upcharge like the Fort. All 500 sites have water, 50/30/20 power, and sewer hooks. There are cabins (small woodlands cabins) and cottages (on stilts very nice on a lake in the park) for those who don't have a trailer. You can currently RESERVE A SPECIFIC CAMPSITE when you call to make a campsite reservation. ("Hello, Disney.....is this thing on?")
This is my traditional time to come and tiggerdad made it last year as the thread above shows and we would love to have more DISsers show up. Memorial Day is Monday May 30 and the weekend prior is jammed full at the campground and in Gulf Shores (condos full, etc). Some of us have already booked in and we are on Sumac Road and Live Oak Road (refer to the map so select a site to reserve)http://www.alapark.com/sites/alapark.com/files/Campground-Map-1_3.jpg
I like to come in the day after Memorial Day (Tuesday May 31 in this case) after the holiday weekend crowds go home. But some are coming in before the Memorial Day weekend. I'm leaving out Sunday June 5. So we're talking somewhere in the range of May 27 (Friday) to June 5 (Sunday).
If you want to come, say so in this thread and if you have a question, there are several of us who can answer questions about Gulf and the area so PM us (me, tiggerdad, or southalabama5er). The three of us are booked. Come if you want to and can - we will have fun no matter what. It's a time to relax at the beach and engage in some fellowship.
Bama Ed
PS - EDIT: Participant List
Earlier this year we had a thread on the DIS Camping Board about tiggerdad and I camping at Gulf State Park on the Alabama Gulf Coast. http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-small-dis-camping-meet-occurred-tonight.3414791/ He fed me and my family and we had fun putting names with faces from the DIS Camping Board.
In the thread we discussed, based on the thread feedback, opening up a future visit to Gulf to include any DIS'ser that wanted to come and hang out down at the beach. My favorite time, given the demands of school, work, and family, have been the time of Memorial Day weekend through the following weekend. For many school systems in the South, school is out by Memorial Day and although summer on the Gulf can be hot, humid, and wet, the week of Memorial Day is the still "late spring" weather and the heat is not (yet) oppressive. With about 6 months notice, hopefully the work/family side can be planned far enough in advance.
Just to set expectations: Gulf State Park is in Gulf Shores, AL east of Mobile Bay (between Mobile and Pensacola). It does NOT have campsites ON THE BEACH. The Park has a 2 mile beach with a highway behind it and the campground is back behind the highway. Gulf Shores bills itself as a "Big Beach, Small Town". The Park has 2 miles of beach and a long fishing pier but obviously the beach fronts the town for miles in each direction. Orange Beach is the next town over with its walls of tall condo towers on the beach. It's a place to go and relax. Outlet shopping is 10 miles away, there is a small waterpark, zoo, and seafood restaurants galore, but it is not Panama City or Destin (with lots of nighttime entertainment). It is what it is.
Gulf State Park does NOT, as of today, have any WIFI. Various hurricanes have cleared out the once abundant trees and undergrowth so now it's pretty wide open (Google Maps satellite view is your friend). Cell phone coverage is good but the campground is far enough from civilization that the business case can't be built for fiber to serve the campground.
Gulf does have a pool for those not wanting to go to the beach. It's a pretty nice pool as campgrounds go. We waited years for it after it was announced and then the contractor went bankrupt and we waited years for a second contractor to be signed and finish the job.
Here is the Gulf website: http://www.alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Camping Note cost depends on location. There is a weekend upcharge like the Fort. All 500 sites have water, 50/30/20 power, and sewer hooks. There are cabins (small woodlands cabins) and cottages (on stilts very nice on a lake in the park) for those who don't have a trailer. You can currently RESERVE A SPECIFIC CAMPSITE when you call to make a campsite reservation. ("Hello, Disney.....is this thing on?")
This is my traditional time to come and tiggerdad made it last year as the thread above shows and we would love to have more DISsers show up. Memorial Day is Monday May 30 and the weekend prior is jammed full at the campground and in Gulf Shores (condos full, etc). Some of us have already booked in and we are on Sumac Road and Live Oak Road (refer to the map so select a site to reserve)http://www.alapark.com/sites/alapark.com/files/Campground-Map-1_3.jpg
I like to come in the day after Memorial Day (Tuesday May 31 in this case) after the holiday weekend crowds go home. But some are coming in before the Memorial Day weekend. I'm leaving out Sunday June 5. So we're talking somewhere in the range of May 27 (Friday) to June 5 (Sunday).
If you want to come, say so in this thread and if you have a question, there are several of us who can answer questions about Gulf and the area so PM us (me, tiggerdad, or southalabama5er). The three of us are booked. Come if you want to and can - we will have fun no matter what. It's a time to relax at the beach and engage in some fellowship.
Bama Ed
PS - EDIT: Participant List
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Maybe someday we will both retire and move south.
ToddyLu, it would be nice to meet you and DH if you can make it in any way. Flametamr, would sure love to shake your hand too.
