Thread: 10 years later...

Planning on a return trip to Gulf Shores after 10 years! Any changes in that time?

Originally Posted by BDL1969

Planning on a return trip to Gulf Shores after 10 years! Any changes in that time?

I can think of one. Fairly significant too.

Originally Posted by OldSpool

I can think of one. Fairly significant too.

OK, I'll bite OldSpool....what is it? LOL

I'm guessing he means the obvious...

Originally Posted by Pier#r

I'm guessing he means the obvious...

lol I was gonna say, couldn’t quite put my finger on it but it seems like it doesn’t take as long to get to the end of the pier as it used to.

This is a 'bad news' vs 'not quite so bad as it looks news' situation.

Hurricane damage was actually more extensive than the picture shows since the end of the stub pier still standing is unstable and inaccessible. Contracting for repairs will probably not happen before you arrive. There is some usable pier left but just a lot less -- for now.

Good news is that the pier itself had just finished a season of closure for repairs literally days before the storm so the surviving decking, fittings, and cleaning stations might exceed your memory. At the same time parking is no longer free but includes one pier-access ticket (fewer beach users blocking the most convenient parking).

Several local fishing access points have undergone improvement over the decade including the inlet and Ft Morgan pier http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...opening-18478/ . Use the search function.

Originally Posted by midwestexile

This is a 'bad news' vs 'not quite so bad as it looks news' situation.

Hurricane damage was actually more extensive than the picture shows since the end of the stub pier still standing is unstable and inaccessible. Contracting for repairs will probably not happen before you arrive. There is some usable pier left but just a lot less -- for now.

Good news is that the pier itself had just finished a season of closure for repairs literally days before the storm so the surviving decking, fittings, and cleaning stations might exceed your memory. At the same time parking is no longer free but includes one pier-access ticket (fewer beach users blocking the most convenient parking).

Several local fishing access points have undergone improvement over the decade including the inlet and Ft Morgan pier http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...opening-18478/ . Use the search function.

would add one important caveat, to get the one ‘free’ pier fishing with pier parking, you have to pay to park all day (not the shorter times).

Wow! I guess there have been a few changes! Mother Nature is still in charge. Guess we'll just make the best of the situation. Thanks guys!

Many more restaurants, much higher prices, much more traffic. Very little free parking access.

Originally Posted by oldfisherman

Many more restaurants, much higher prices, much more traffic. Very little free parking access.

Ugh! I had a feeling that would be the case. At least the weather wil be warmer than in Wisconsin...right? LOL