Fort Pickens, Perdido Key, Gulf Island Seashore Opening This Weekend

May 14, 2020

Additional portions of the Gulf Islands National Seashore will open this weekend, including the Fort Pickens and Perdido Key areas.

Beginning on Saturday, May 16, Gulf Islands National Seashore will initiate Phase II access at:

  • The Fort Pickens Are

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    • Regular operating hours
    • Restrooms will be limited to Langdon Beach and the restrooms outside of the Discovery Center
    • Lifeguards will be on duty at Langdon Beach

  • The Perdido Key Area

    • Regular operating hours resume
    • Lifeguards will be on duty at Johnson Beach

  • Santa Rosa Area, including Highway 399

    • Opal Beach restrooms at clusters C & D will be open
    • Lifeguards will be on duty at Opal Beach

  • The Okaloosa Area

    • Restrooms will be open

  • The Naval Live Oaks Area

    • No restrooms

  • Pensacola Bay Cruises

    • Modified operations

Beginning on Saturday, May 23, additional services will resume including:

  • Free tram service at the Fort Pickens Area
  • Pensacola Bay Cruises will drop-off and pick-up passengers at the Fort Pickens Area

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

  • The Fort Barrancas Area
  • The Fort Pickens Campground, Discovery Center, and bookstore
  • The headquarters indoor exhibits at the Naval Live Oaks Area
  • Parking lots 33A & 36A along Highway 399 (closed for the season)
  • Parking lots 34A & 34E at the Opal Beach Complex

“Park staff, in coordination with public health officials continue to monitor health data from local and regional areas to determine when gating criteria is met,” said Superintendent Dan Brown. “As the areas evaluated continue to move through the required criteria the park is working hard to increase recreational access in a safe and responsible way.”

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services will be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

Comments

4 Responses to “Fort Pickens, Perdido Key, Gulf Island Seashore Opening This Weekend”

  1. Joe Horton on May 21st, 2020 11:46 am

    Is the campground slated to open in Phase III and if so when does Phase III take place?

    Thanks

  2. Rebecca on May 16th, 2020 6:07 pm

    For those without a Sun pass, they take a picture of your license plate and book you per use.

  3. Fransue McShane on May 14th, 2020 11:12 pm

    I am a Senior Citizen with free pass to see U. S. National Parks such as The National Seashore sponsored years ago by Bob Sikes. How can I get there to see it and perhaps Fort Pickens without having to pay extra to drive there, because the toll bridge no longer accepts cash for the one dollar toll? Now, I would have to buy a pass at a higher price and may only use it once, maybe twice, a year. I am not a young person who likes to go to the beach everyday. I am not a middle-aged person with a good job with a fantastic or at least an adequate salary or income. I am a Senior Citizen having a difficult time trying to make ends meet on a Social Security Income of not very much money. Did anyone think of this group of people who live in Escambia County who may like to take a road trip to see the Gulf Island National Seashore and/or Fort Pickens when requiring everyone to have a pass when crossing the bridge and before arriving to Pensacola Beach? I do have a credit and a debit card, but I bet I cannot use either of those instead of having to buy a pass.

  4. Helen Tischer on May 14th, 2020 8:44 pm

    When is the campground opening?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News