Fun Things Going On In Gulf Shores

We are so proud of Gulf Shores and hope it is your favorite place just like it is ours!  Gulf Shores is fortunate to have nabbed one of fifteen finalist slots in Budget Travel’s America’s Coolest Small Town Contest! We’d love to win, of course, and that means we’ll need people to vote so the whole country knows about our cool destination. Your role couldn’t be more simple – vote daily and include this link (https://bit.ly/VxUcfd) in your communications via social media channels, and help push us to #1. Contest ends Feb. 15.

Part of why Gulf Shores is our favorite place is because our environment is important to everyone who lives and works here.  One of our newest adventures in this area is An Artificial Reef!   As you may have seen or heard via The Weather Channel’s video clips and promotions, the sinking of the Lulu by our local Reef Wranglers is set to air Feb 12th at 8 pm. Lulu’s is planning a viewing party that evening – please call them if you would like more details.  I know we are planning to watch and can’t wait to see our new reef grow.

Other fun nature lover adventures this winter include Guided Nature Walks at the Bon Secour Refuge.  Come join us and learn about the plants, wildlife, ecology, and history found on the refuge.Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge will be offering free guided Nature Walk tours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week starting on January 15th 2013 and continuing until February 28th 2013. The tours are free to the public however a reservation is required. The tours are limited to 12 people per tour and will consist of a 1-2 hour walk. The tours will start at 9:00am on Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:00am on Thursday.We request at least 24 hours notice for cancellations. We encourage you to bring binoculars but they are not necessary to enjoy the tours. Restroom facilities are available at the refuge office and on the Pine Beach Trail.
Admission: Free to the Public

 Of course there are these and so many more adventures to have in Gulf Shores this time of year.  You just have to look for something that fits your interests.  Weather its painting , hiking or enjoying a parade there is something for you to enjoy in Gulf Shores.
See you soon!!!

Fort Morgan Ship Wreck

A must see while you are here was recently unearthed during Hurricane Isaac.  Hal Scheurich recently wrote the article below for Fox10tv.com.  Be sure to visit the ship while you are here.  It will be covered up again soon! 

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) – Only a shell of what she once was, the 150 foot sailing vessel thought to be the Rachael, is attracting attention again on Fort Morgan.  Word had spread that the storm surge from Hurricane Isaac had uncovered her once again and plenty of folks came with their cameras.

The Rachael was an early 20 th century schooner that ran aground.  Buried for decades, hurricanes expose what’s left of the vessel every few years.

“It’s just something that you really have to go see,” said Adriana Mutan as she walked around the burnt wreckage taking pictures.  “I mean, I’ve seen so many pictures…heard so many stories and now I’ve seen it.”

According to the Alabama Historical Commission, the three mast schooner met her fate in 1930 while carrying a load of timber.  Commission archeologists Amanda Hill said the belief is the vessel ran into a storm and had too few crew aboard to maintain control.  According to interviews with witnesses that were alive at the time of the wreck, the ship was looted of its cargo and set on fire.

The ship has been exposed several times over the decades from beach erosion during hurricanes.  The last time was during hurricane Ike several years ago.  There was always speculation as to its origin.  Many even thought it may have been a blockade runner during the Civil War.  Assistant Professor, Greg Cook of the University of West Florida helped put those rumors to bed after doing a study of the vessel in 2008.

He noted that many of the riggings were post Civil War and dated to the early 20 th century.  After some more digging, it’s believed that the Rachael was designed and built in Moss Point, MS in 1919.

Billy Berrey grew up in Gulf Shores and remembers seeing the ship as a child.  It’s now closer in than ever and he’s worried about the amount of attention it gets.

“I’ve always thought it would be kind of cool for them to excavate this thing and move it…preserve what they can and take it to the museum,” said Berrey.  “The last time it was uncovered, people were pulling things off of it.”

There is a problem.  The ship now rests on private property and the folks that own the homes are concerned about liability in the event someone gets hurt by the wreckage.  They would like to see, at very least, the ship covered up.

The Alabama Historical Commission looked into that after hurricane Ike but found that it would cost too much to do anything with it and since it’s on private property, the owners would have to foot the bill.  They did say they would assist if someone else funded the effort. 

For now, the ship will sit until Mother Nature decides to cover her back up once again.  Owners just ask that sightseers like Dusty Bones and his family respect their property while they visit.

“We really like history.  We like going to see things like the Battleship and stuff like that, so to see a piece of this is really interesting.”

Although much is now known about the ship than just a few years ago, there is still much mystery and intrigue.  Who was on board and where were they going?  Was it a hurricane or just a bad storm that caused her to run aground?  They’re all questions that keep visitors coming to the little stretch of beach with they’re cameras ready to capture a little piece of

147th Commeration of the Battle of Mobile Bay

The 147th Commemoration of the Battle of Mobile Bay will be held at Saturday, August 6 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the park at the end of Fort Morgan Road (AL Hwy. 180). Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6-18 and free for children under 6. (Active duty military and families also admitted free.)

To read more about the history of this event, see our feature article: No “Petty” Battle

The Commemoration: Lots of Reasons to Attend!

Michael Bailey, cultural resource coordinator at Fort Morgan, said events at the park are growing in significance leading up to the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay in 2014. So far this year the fort has marked other Civil War-era events such as the peaceful seizure of Fort Morgan from the federal government by Alabama troops in January.

Bailey said the schedule for Aug. 6 is as follows:

·        8:30 a.m. – Raising of colors (the Confederate Second National Flag, which flew in August 1864)

·        10:30 a.m. to noon – Drilling and firing artillery (32-pounder and 6-pounder)

·        9:30 to noon – Rifle firing by reactors

·        1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Second round of artillery firing

·        3:30 to 4 p.m. – Second round of rifle firing

·        4:30 p.m. – Lowering of flag

Throughout the day will be living history exhibits of soldiers and laundresses, along with two non-firing artillery pieces. Also, guides will give oral histories of the Battle of Mobile Bay.

The Mobile Bay Ferry will operate all day between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. A concession stand will sell hot dogs, snacks and drinks throughout the day.

For more information, call the Fort Morgan Museum at 540-7127.

To get there:

From Mobile  (or take ferry — https://www.mobilebayferry.com/— from Dauphin Island)

–  Take I-10 E toward Pensacola – go 16.5 mi

– Take exit #44/LOXLEY/BAY MINETTE onto N HICKORY ST(AL-59 S) toward Gulf – go 28.6 mi

–  Turn Right on HWY 180 – go 19.9 mi

–  Arrive at the center of FORT MORGAN, AL

From Pensacola

–  Take FL 292 W to Alabama line – go 19.8 mi

–  FL 292 W becomes AL 292 W – go 10.6 mi

–  Turn Right on Gulf Shore Parkway (AL-59) – go 1.1 mi

–  Turn Right on HWY 180 – go 19.9 mi

–  Arrive at the center of FORT MORGAN, AL

Thanks Coast360.com for the info on this fun event!