Gulf State Park is made up of about 6,500 acres. It consists of three beautiful fresh-water lakes, an eighteen-hole golf course, a large number of serviced campsites, a number of lakeside and woods cabins, and 2.5 miles of beautiful sugar-white beaches.
In the early 1930s, the US Government bought land and received land in donation by local landowners to create what would become Gulf State Park.
From 1933 until 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps occupied what is now the park. A CCC camp was constructed, consisting of a barracks, a sawmill, resident houses, and a maids’ quarters. Until the permanent structures were complete, the CCC “boys” lived in large tents.
During their tenure, they also built a concession stand and dance hall on the beach, cabins along Lake Shelby, residences, and a maids’ house. The maids’ house served as an overnight area where cabin visitors’ maids could sleep.
The maids cared for the children of cabin guests during the day, but they were not allowed to spend the nights in the cabins.
In 1939, the US Government deeded the land to the State of Alabama. Gulf State Park was officially dedicated in the summer of the same year. It was open for two-week intervals during the summer. The first manager was Mr. Henly.
During the time of G. Monroe McLeod, manager of the park between 1941 and 1976, a bond issue provided for the development and enhancements of all the state parks.
Gulf State Park was developed into a resort park. His immediate successor and current manager (2003), Hugh Branyon, continued the work to bring the park to its present level of popularity and prosperity.
See map of the park.
We would like to thank Kelly Reetz, Gulf State Park Naturalist, for providing information for this page.
(This page was updated in November 2012.)
