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Gulf Shores HistoryGULF SHORES HISTORY
Gulf Shores was little known to the outside world until Hurricane Frederic in 1979. #HurricaneFredericbrought destruction but it also contributed to its rebirth as a tourist destination. The building of condos, beach homes, golf courses, and gated communities has led to the Alabama Gulf's flourishing vacation spot for families and snowbirds alike. The history of the coast is as diverse as its species. Native Americans frequented the area for the rich seafood, fish, and oyster surplus. The main tribes known to the coastal regions included the Creeks, Alibamas, and the Seminoles. Pirates took refuge within the bayous and back bays. The coastal region did not escape war but was centrally engrossed in each and famously remembered for the#BattleofMobileBay in 1864. There is many interesting and mysterious historical facts surrounding Coastal Alabama. Here are a few. A map shows Columbus’ sailors stopping for food and water while in route to Mexico. That map was published in 1507. Razorbacks, horses, and chicken were introduced to the area by Hernando De Soto. An Indian burial ground revealed 8 foot tall skeletons after being eroded by a strong storm. Florida Indians reportedly told Ponce de Leon that the Fountain of Youth lay west near the land of the giants. Archaeologists claim that some of the Indian mounds found are older than the Egyptian pyramids. The Indian chief of the Mabila Tribe, Tuscaloosa, was 7 foot tall himself. Pirates were once so prolific along the coast that England sent a fleet of ships to protect their commercial ships. These ships stayed in a cove near #FortMorgan named #NavyCove. Many say there is still treasure to be found. Following the Hurricane of 1906, sweet potatoes grew to the size of water buckets and cabbages grew to be 15 to 20 pounds because of the salts and minerals which fertilized the soil. Main dishes for Christmas included fresh oysters, oyster gumbo, fried oysters, and baked chicken with oyster dressing. Orange Beach once was home to citrus groves until 1920 when a salesman brought the blight infested seedlings which wiped them out. The Gulf State Park once belonged to one of the original land owners who traded his property for shelter and food. Shrimping became a huge industry beginning in 1918 and expanded even further in 1956 with deep-sea trawling. Gulf Shores was mostly wetlands and remote beachfront with reduced accessibility until the completion of the #GulfIntracoastalWaterway in 1937. The first hotel on the beach was built in the early 1940’s and the first post office opened in 1947. One of the first recorded population counts in 1956 revealed that Gulf Shores had a hefty 120 residents. It was during this same year that the residents petitioned to incorporate. The Alabama Supreme Court granted them the incorporation in 1958 and the City of Gulf Shores was born. John Golightly, a retired Birmingham Banker, was the first to settle #OnoIsland in 1963. Once called#GoatIsland and Puma Island, residents claimed hearing the pumas at night. During WWII, the Pensacola Navy used it as target practice. According to Mr. Golightly the island got its new name after a hurricane separated it from the mainland and Florida tried to claim it. Alabama said, “Oh no - this island belongs to us.” One of the first modern condos, which was a low density concrete building, was built shortly after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. This would usher in today’s landscape of beachfront high rises, beachfront communities, and tourist destinations. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have evolved through setbacks, natural disasters, land squabbles, and man made disasters. But from what we have seen, we can be reassured that #AlabamaCoastalarea will continue to grow and prosper. |
Gulf Shores Alabama Activities
Gulf Shores Alabama Activities
Gulf Shores Alabama Restaurants
Near by Activities
Near by Attractions
Pensacola Florida Activities
Recommended for
Fort Morgan Alabama Restaurants
Fort Morgan Alabama Activities
Orange Beach Alabama Restaurants
Orange Beach Alabama Activities
Perdido Key Florida Activities
Perdido Key Florida Restaurants
Boating
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Amenities
Bedroom Setup
• 1 Bunk Bed • 1 Queen Bed • 1 King Bed • 1 Twin Bed • 1 Sofa Bed Dining Room • Dining Table • Eat in Counter Barbecue - Grills • Community Charcoal Grill • Charcoal Grill Bathroom • Linens & Towels • Private Bathroom • Shower/Tub Combo Bedroom Extras • Walk-in Closet • Alarm Clock • Google Assist Speaker Cooling Comfort • Ceiling/ Light Fans with Wall Switch • Central Air Conditioning and Heat Entertainment • 49” Smart TV • Cable TV • DVD Library • DVD Player • Fishing -1 Mile Gulf State Park Pier • CD Player • Bluetooth Soundbar • Swimming • 26” Television with DVD and Roku in Master • TV/DVD in Guest Room plus small tv for gaming • Video Library • Netflix, Childrens station, Sports pkg, News, HBO, SHO, 260 channels Games • Board Games • Reading Library – Fish, Sea Shells, Dolphins, Southern Area, • Puzzles General • Linens Included- Towels, Sheets, Pillow, Beach Towels, Kitchen Towels • No Pets • No Smoking • Smoking outside only • Telephone • Vacuum • Baby Goods, High Chairs, Pack and Play • Online Booking • Shore Fishing • Within Barriers of Hangout Festival and Shrimpfest - Walk back and Forth Home Office • Wireless Internet Access - High Speed Internet Access Kitchen • Full Size Washer/Dryer • Blender • Breakfast Bar • Can Opener and Wine Opener • Coffee Maker -Keurig and Regular • Dishes • Dishwasher • Disposal • Fully Equipped Kitchen • Garbage Disposal • Ice Maker • Iron and Ironing Board • Microwave • Mixer • Oven • Pots and Pans, Pizza Stone • Refrigerator • Stove • Toaster • Utensils • Crock Pot • Fryer • If you need it its probably there Outside Living • BBQ Grill • Community Pool • Deck • Outside Shower • Patio Around Pool • Balconies - 2 On Front Gulf Side • Porch Furniture Upstairs • Pub Table and Chairs on Front off Living Room (Great to Have Coffee or Cocktails) • Private Parking • Restaurants Within Walking • Water Park & Wildlife Viewing • Gulf/Ocean View • Beach Chairs Provided, Beach Cart, Umbrella, Toys, Cooler, (Not Guaranteed per stay) • View (Water) Parking • Covered • Parking Available • Parking for 2 cars Boating • Marina near by • Pier near by • Parasailing Across the Street (In Season) |
Food, Dining & AttractionsSEAFOOD
Blalock Seafood & Specialty (Bought here before) Seafood Market 1911 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 968-5811 Open until 6:00 PM Billy's Seafood Inc (Bought here before) www.billys-seafood.com 16780 River Rd (251) 949-6288 Closes at 5:00 PM Aquila Seafood Inc Seafood Market 17309 River Rd (251) 949-6658 Closes at 5:00 PM LIQUOR STORES Seaside Liquor #2 316 E Beach Blvd (251) 968-5000 Open until 12:00 AM RJ's Liquor & Wine 817 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 500-1027 GAS STATION Kangaroo Express Convenience Store 2021 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 968-7781 Open 24 hours Clark Exxon Station 3690 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 968-3909 BAIT AND TACKLE Go Fishing Bait & Tackle 20800 E Beach Blvd (251) 968-7000 Frith's Bait & Supply 2508 E 2nd St (251) 968-6484 Outcast Charter Docks Bait Shop 28101 Perdido Beach Blvd (251) 981-6481 Closes at 5:30 PM DOLPHIN CRUISES Hudson Marina 4575 S Wilson Blvd, Orange Beach, AL (251) 981-4127 Blue Dolphin Cruises LLC 29603 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 981-2774 Dolphin Fun Dolphin Cruises & Tours 27075 Marina Rd, Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 971-1893 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM FISHING CHARTERS Distraction Charters Fishing Charter 27075 Marina Rd (251) 975-8111 Open until 7:30 PM Cool Breeze Charters 26619 Perdido Beach Blvd (251) 942-4389 Open until 7:00 PM Zeke's Landing Marina 26619 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 981-4044 RESTAURANTS Louisiana Lagniappe **** 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd #201, Orange Beach, AL 36561 (Marina) (251) 981-2258 5:00 – 9:30 PM thelouisianalagniappe.com Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe 601 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-2100 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM locu.com Sea N Suds 405 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-7894 sea-n-suds.com The Steamer & Baked Oyster Bar 124 W 1st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 251-948-4042 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM allmenus.com Original Oyster House 701 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-2445 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM originaloysterhouse.com LuLu's Gulf Shores 200 E 25th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 251-967-LULU(5858) 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM locu.com Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores 240 E 24th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-8881 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM tackyjacks.com The Hangout 101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-3030 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM thehangout.com Hooters 300 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-4668 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM allmenus.com Shrimp Basket AL-59, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-7687 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM shrimpbasket.com Papa Rocco's 101 W 6th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-7262 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM paparocco.com Bill’s By the Beach (Tv’s Food Network) 300 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-5227 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Reservations: opentable.com billsbythebeach.com Acme Oyster House 216 E 24th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 424-1783 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM acmeoyster.com LongHorn Steakhouse 3810 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 967-3480 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM allmenus.com BREAKFAST Hazel's Nook 120 E Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-7065 Island Pancake House 337 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-2711 http://www.bestwesternonthebeach.com/breakfast Waffle House 382 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-5901 Open 24 hours viewmenu.com LATE NIGHT Pink Pony Pub 137 E Gulf Pl, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-6371 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM pinkponypub.net The Cove Bar and Grill 131 Cove Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-5353 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM The Diner 2420 E 2nd St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 500-1581 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM http://thediner-gulfshoresalabama.com/ Rafters Restaurant & Sports Bar 3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy Ste 370 Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-3000 rafterssportsbar.com Flora-Bama Marina Watersports Lounge and Oyster Bar 17401 Perdido Key Drive Pensacola FL 32507 & 29603 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561 850-492-0611/ 251-980-5118/ (251) 980-5222 Open daily at 11am to 3 am! www.fishflorabama.com/ Ages 18-20 have to be in the building by 10pm to stay all night. They may not come in and out after that time, and are not allowed to drink. ACTIVITIES AND RENTALS Fort Morgan State Historic Site 110 State Highway 180 Gulf Shores, Alabama 3654 251-540-7127 9-4:40 Daily Pirate's Island Adventure Golf 3201 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 968-4653 http://www.piratesislandgolf.com/ Track Family Recreation Center 3200 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 968-8111 http://www.gulfshorestrack.com/ Waterville USA 906 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-2106 http://www.watervilleusa.com/ Ike's Beach Services 800 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-3757 http://www.ikesbeachservice.com/ Blonde John's Surf & Skate Surf Shop 200 Gulf Shores Pkwy (251) 948-2182 http://www.blondejohns.com/ CHURCHES Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-7062 http://olgal.org/mass-schedule/ Saturday 4:30 pm Vigil Mass Sunday 8:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm 7:00 pm DAILY MASSES: 8:00 am St Jude's By the Sea Lutheran Church 312 E 16th Ave Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-5833 http://www.stjudesbythesea.org/ SUNDAYS APRIL-DEC 9:00 AM JAN-EASTER 8:00 AND 10:30 AM First Baptist Church 2200 W 1st St Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-7369 http://www.fbcgulf.com/ Blended Worship | 8:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School starts at 9:30 First Presbyterian Church 309 E 21st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-7720 gulfshoresfirstpresbyterian.org/ Traditional Presbyterian style worship 10:45 ST ANDREWS BY THE SEA 17263 FORT MORGAN ROAD P.O. BOX 2385, GULF SHORES, AL 36547 251-968-3900 http://www.standrewbythesea.org/ 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM |