Henly, who made the Park facilities available for limited two-week intervals throughout the summer. In , Mr. As well as building more cabins, he oversaw the construction of an foot saltwater fishing pier, which was completed in In the s, the state became interested in developing resort-style facilities for Gulf State Park to promote economic development, increase tourism and create jobs. In , a site campground and a beach pavilion were completed.
The original lodge opened in and quickly became an iconic centerpiece of the community, hosting many meetings of local groups, high school proms, and Mardi Gras balls. Hugh Branyon — our trails network namesake — took over as Park superintendent in and he, too, spent well over 30 years managing the Park from Three years into his tenure, Hurricane Frederic struck on September 12, with mph winds.
The entire area was inundated with 3—5 feet of seawater and the pier and the old lodge were badly damaged. Regional Growth. The first hotel on the beach opened in the s and the first post office opened in Shrimping, which had been primarily providing bait for other fishing segments since the early s, grew with the appearance of deep-sea trawling for the commercial seafood market around At the same time, Orange Beach was becoming more modern.
While the first hotel in Orange Beach was built in on the site where the Coastal Arts Center is located , it was only accessible by water until the first paved road to Orange Beach was finished in Electricity followed in and phone service in Unfortunately, the original hotel had to be torn down in due to severe structural damage, but it served as the inspiration for the Coastal Arts Center.
Several historical elements, including the columns, wood flooring, doors and windows were salvaged and are featured in the new gallery. People start coming from far and wide In , a bus started making regular trips from Mobile to Gulf Shores, with stops along the way in Spanish Fort, Malbis, Loxley, Robertsdale, Summerdale and Foley.
This allowed people who lived in more distant parts of Baldwin County, as well as those from Mobile, to have easier access to Gulf State Park. It quickly became a popular recreation area. The first hotel opened in the early s. As tourism continued to grow, it still remained largely seasonal, with summer being the peak season.
In fact, most businesses would close up on Labor Day in September and not reopen until the following year. In an effort to increase tourism in the fall, the Alabama National Shrimp Festival was first held in Gulf Shores in and continues to be a popular annual event. Skip to Main Content.
Loading Close. Do Not Show Again Close. Sign In. The first post office opened in Active since around , shrimping had at first focused largely on providing bait to other fishing industries. But in , deep-sea trawling for shrimp for the commercial food market became common, and the industry expanded into the economic mainstay it is today. Seeking more local control, a group of Gulf Shores residents petitioned for incorporation in , and the city was granted a charter.
However, other locals who opposed incorporation because of concern for local tax increases challenged the incorporation. A local judge overturned the charter in , but the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in favor of incorporation in Gulf Shores has been devastated by several hurricanes, including Frederic in and Ivan in This is truly a story that is worth hearing as it tells of the generosity, team effort, and dedication that is commonly displayed throughout the city even today.
Artifacts supporting the lifestyles of these early residents can be seen throughout the museums in the area. In the early s' traveling Spaniards came to the area now known as Gulf Springs. These visitors constructed the original Fort Morgan. The fort was rebuilt in the s' and played an important role in the Civil War. Another nearby fort, Fort Gaines , was also used during this time. These prominent sites were the setting for raging battles that took place between the Union and Confederate soldiers.
These naval forces were fighting to gain use of the harbor entrance which still is in use today.
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