The Gulf State Park Pier will close on Nov. 12, so that renovations can begin to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sally in 2020.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural resources [ADCNR] announced in a statement released on Nov. 6, that the pier will remain closed throughout the renovation process.

According to the release, in September 2022, strong winds and a powerful storm surge were intensified by Hurricane Sally’s sluggish pace, causing significant damage to the pier and other structures at Gulf State Park. Prior to Sally’s formation and landfall, the pier had been scheduled to reopen after the completion of a $2.4 million renovation.

“We are excited to announce this project to restore Gulf State Park Pier,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the ADCNR. “The pier provides quality recreational fishing for thousands of anglers each year. Once the work is completed, anglers and other park visitors will have full access to one of the premier fishing and sightseeing destinations on the Gulf Coast.”

M.D. Thomas Construction, located in Orange Beach, has been awarded the contract to perform the repairs, which include rebilding a 200-foot section of the pier that collapsed during the storm.

“The pier partially reopened to fishing and sightseeing in 2021,” said Greg Lein, Director of ADCNR’s State Parks Division. “Since then, visitors have had access to half of the pier. We look forward to welcoming anglers and sightseers back to the full pier next summer.”

According to the release, the pier is expected to reopen in the summer of 2024.