News Release

Gulf Islands National Seashore is Modifying Operations to Implement Latest Health Guidance – April 2 UPDATE

Gulf Islands National Seashore closures in Mississippi

NPS Graphic

News Release Date: April 3, 2020

Contact: Brent Everitt, 850-934-2600

Ocean Springs, Miss. – Gulf Islands National Seashore is coordinating with state and local governments to incorporate their guidance into operational decisions for the seashore is announcing additional modifications to operations effective Friday, April 3 at 5 p.m. Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, the following remain open in Mississippi at this time:

• Park waters surrounding the Mississippi islands

The following are closed in Mississippi:

• All National Park Service managed islands including Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, Horn, and Ship islands, as well as the NPS-owned portions of Cat Island

• The Davis Bayou Area

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Gulf Islands National Seashore is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels. 

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

The NPS encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Gulf Islands National Seashore including:  

• Many history and culture articles online.

• The park’s website features three webcams, including one at Davis Bayou.  

• The park’s social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations. All Gulf Islands National Seashore status updates will be posted online at https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/tempclosures.htm, www.Facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and www.Twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS. 

About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice and Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.

-NPS-