Although anglers and sightseers have been enjoying the facility for several weeks, the newly repaired and renovated Gulf State Park Pier was officially opened last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the completion of a multi-year, $13.6 million project.

As rainy skies from the outer bands of Hurricane Francine disappeared and sunshine prevailed, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Commissioner Chris Blankenship and numerous dignitaries made the rebirth of the iconic pier official.

Just as the pier was set to reopen in 2020, Hurricane Sally took out a section of the pier. MD Thomas Construction of Orange Beach, which had done the previous upgrades on the pier, repaired the damage from Sally and added multiple enhancements, celebrated at last week's ceremony.

The first iteration of the Gulf State Park Pier was an 825-foot-long structure built in 1968. After Hurricane Frederic destroyed that pier in 1979, it was rebuilt only to be decimated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The concrete pier, now 1,544 feet long, reopened in 2009. The pier was then upgraded five years ago with Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) funding. Blankenship is the lead trustee for the NRDA Alabama Trustee Implementation Group.

"The pier was in need of major upgrades after being built in 2008," Blankenship said. "We went through the whole process. Our contractor did a great job. They replaced all the decking with ipe (durable South American wood). They added turtle-friendly lighting. All of the down-lighting was changed to be environmentally friendly to wildlife. We added an observation deck with an elevator so people of all abilities could come out to the pier and enjoy not only the fishing but also the educational opportunities and the overlook. We had the ribbon cutting scheduled for September 16, 2020. A little storm named Sally was in the Gulf, so we decided to postpone the ribbon cutting and let that storm pass."

Blankenship was in Montgomery watching the Weather Channel after Hurricane Sally came ashore along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

"The folks from the Weather Channel had stayed at the (Gulf State Park) Lodge, which was built to Certified Fortified Standards, the first for a hospitality venue, so that it would withstand hurricanes," he said. "The Weather Channel was talking about how well the Lodge fared when so many other things were destroyed. Then they panned the camera toward the pier, and there was a gigantic 300-foot section that was gone, gone. It's taken a long time, working with FEMA (Federal Environmental Management Administration) and with the NRDA Trustees to get the approval to do the in-water work and rebuild the pier.

"So here we are in 2024 to actually cut the ribbon. I could not be more thankful to be here. This has been a long time coming."

Alabama State Senator Chris Elliott, who represents Baldwin County, said the multi-million-dollar project was money well spent.

"The reconstruction of this pier is so important to our area and our visitors as well," Elliott said. "The mission of State Parks is to make sure that regular folks have access to the natural beauty that we take for granted so often. Having this asset here where people can affordably come and fish for saltwater species is just such a cool thing. The pier in 2023, even with half of it closed, had more than 100,000 visitors. What an amazing investment to allow people to keep coming here."

Senator Elliott said Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft and the Alabama Gulf Coast community have done a "fantastic" job of branding the area as family friendly.

"If you come out here any day, you see grandparents fishing with their grandkids, and you see parents fishing with the grandmothers," Elliott said. "You see family and kids learning about the different species of saltwater fish, and at a very affordable rate. So, it's incredibly important to have this back open."
Alabama State Representative Frances Holk-Jones, whose district includes coastal Alabama, provided a pier history lesson.

"This is a place that holds a very deep meaning for so many of us in Alabama and across the country," Holk-Jones said. "The pier has long been a destination for fishermen, for families, for visitors and even lifetime residents like me to experience the natural beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast and our beaches. I'm proud to say today that we're starting a new chapter.

"We've come a long way from the old wooden pier, but one thing remains the same – our dedication at preserving the beautiful coastline and the experience that comes with this coastline."

Another lifelong Alabama Gulf Coast resident, Kennon said his history with the pier goes back to when he was a kid.

"This pier has given people so much joy," Kennon said. "I grew up on this pier. I remember every time I was on the pier there was a gentleman here named Mr. Hollis (Ledlow). He was probably one of the original Pier Rats (informal group of dedicated pier anglers). Me and my brother were running around here on the pier for three or four years. And I'll never forget, Mr. Hollis said, 'Hey Tony, I've got some extra alewives. You need some bait?' I had reached pier royalty at that point.

"The whole park is a gem. The Lodge is second to none. It's the natural habitat, Lake Shelby, the trails and great staff that takes pride in it and keeps it up."

Grant Brown, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Gulf Shores, said Gulf State Park is not only the jewel of the State Parks System, but it also serves as a bridge between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

"The collaboration among the City of Orange Beach, the State Park and the City of Gulf Shores is a testament on how we can pull up our shirt sleeves and work together," Brown said. "As I stand here and look at the coast, the City of Gulf Shores and the City of Orange Beach, the people who come to this beach may not be able to enjoy this unless they have this perspective to come out on this pier, fish in these waters and look back at what this gorgeous community has to offer."

The ribbon cutting also served as an opportunity for retiring State Parks Director Greg Lein to reflect on the importance of getting the pier reopened to provide a place where all Alabamians can fish and experience the state's saltwater ecosystem.

"I love hearing people talk about the importance of the access," Lein said. "Not everybody owns a boat. Not everybody can get out to these public waters on a boat. The pier means so much to the anglers.

"This pier is not just a place to fish. This is an educational pier. Our naturalists use this pier every day to talk about the importance of the natural environment and the critters that are out here. To me, this is such a special thing. I applaud the Commissioner's commitment to finding the money to fix this, not once but twice."

Lein recalled when the pier regulars were complaining about the number of sharks that were swimming around the pier, stealing the anglers' catches.

"What did we do?" he said. "We passed a regulation that allowed shark fishing. To me, that demonstrates we're not stuck in the mud. We're open-minded. We're committed to the mission, and we love serving the public. It's been an honor and a privilege."

One of the dedicated pier anglers Lein referred to is David Thornton, also known as the Pier Pounder, who shared what the pier means to him and all the people who enjoy it.

"I am glad to elaborate on all the thanks for all the folks who come out here to enjoy the unique qualities this facility offers the public year-round," Thornton said. "This doesn't mean just the local fishermen from Orange Beach, Gulf Shores or Foley, but to all those beyond, including my hometown of Mobile, people from all over Alabama and surrounding states. In fact, people from most states east of the Rocky Mountains and some from Canada have come to fish the Gulf State Park Pier repeatedly for more than six decades. It never looked better than it did today.

"The fishing community here is about as diverse a group as possible. They are not just from differing geographic locations, but all ages and just about every other demographic. But we share one thing in common – a love for this pier and the people on it. To misquote the famous baseball movie, 'If you rebuild it, they will come.' You did, and we have, and we thank you."

Gulf State Park Pier Manager Travis Miller said the enthusiasm for the pier's reopening has been off the charts since the soft opening almost a month ago.

"It has been amazing seeing all these people come back out here," Miller said. "When we first opened on August 19, the crowd was lined up at the gates waiting for us to open at 7 a.m. I got to go and talk to the people, and they were just smiling, ready to buy their yearly passes again. It was awesome. People were saying they had put vacations off, waiting for the pier to open. And the fishing that day was amazing."

Visit www.alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park/fishing-and-education-pier for information about the pier, including fishing and sightseeing passes and rod and reel rentals. The pier also has a fully stocked bait shop and the ByWater Beachside Beach Bar and Grill.

"This is a huge investment in Coastal Alabama because this area means so much to us and our visitors," Commissioner Blankenship said. "If you come to the Alabama beaches, part of your trip should include a walk out onto the Gulf State Park Pier with your family."