News Release

Gulf Islands Reopens Fort Pickens Area Following Hurricane Ida

Date: September 20, 2021
Contact: Susan Teel

GULF BREEZE, Fla. – Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen the Fort Pickens Area for day use Sept. 20 at 11 a.m.

Fort Pickens Campground expected to open Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.

Johnson Beach Road beyond the main parking lot will remain closed for storm recovery operations. Opal Beach Clusters A, B, D, and E, pavilions B1 and D, along with Santa Rosa Area parking lots 32, 33, and 36 opened Sept. 17 for day use.

Immediately following the storm, park crews evaluated park roads and facilities finding significant amounts of sand and water on the Fort Pickens and Johnson Beach Roads. The National Park's Eastern Incident Management Team was mobilized in response to the effects of the storm and to assist the park in assessing damages, stabilizing facilities, and restoring visitor access.

Park staff will continue to monitor the repairs and provide updates as needed. For current closure information visit: www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/tempclosures.htm.      

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/GulfIslands, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.