Relax and re-fuel with a "back-to-nature" beach experience.
On your mark, get set, let go.
A getaway to Alabama’s beaches is always an escape, but a visit to Gulf State Park takes you even farther from the hectic hustle and bustle of our modern lives by offering healthy doses of fresh ocean air and some vitamin “sea.” This swath of calm and quiet is a respite from the reveling crowds that often descend on the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores areas every summer. Occupying 6,150 acres (including more than three miles of beachfront) right between these two coastal communities, the Park is a special “less-touched” spot in Alabama’s little piece of paradise.
A new, greener Gulf State Park
Following the original property's destruction by Hurrican Ivan, the new building footprint was reduced by nearly one-third, and it was set farther back from the Gulf to allow for great dune restoration.
And it just recently added a new oasis: The Lodge at Gulf State Park. For decades, the beach’s state park included a lodge that served visitors well for nearly 30 years. But in 2004, the original lodge was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. Now, this accommodation option is back and better than ever.
The new property boasts 350 guest rooms and 20 suites (all with free wi-fi, 50-inch TVs and stellar views of either the glittering Gulf or shimmering Lake Shelby), plus a fitness center, infinity edge pool, several restaurants and cafes and an abundance of both indoor and outdoor meeting space for groups and events.
Its beachfront location and the preserved Park grounds it’s nestled among bring the beauty of the area to the forefront, and sustainability and the continued protection of the environment were the driving forces behind The Lodge’s design, an aspect that sets it apart from many other structures.
The building footprint was reduced by nearly one-third and set farther back from the Gulf to allow for greater dune restoration. This commitment to exist in harmony with its surroundings extends to the Lodge’s modern but organic aesthetic: Its size and shape combined with the colors and textures of its materials don’t detract from nature but blend into it. And its architecture blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. The result is both stunning and soothing, making it the perfect place to rest and recharge.
A view to see by shore.
Occupying 6,50 acres (including more than three miles of beach-front) right between these two coastal communities, the Park is a special "less-touched" spot in Alabama's little piece of paradise.
Play in the Park
While the Lodge is the new attraction, like all of our state parks, Gulf State Park features a wide range of outdoor activities that will easily pull you away from it. Play a match or two on the tennis courts; wander through miles of live oaks, marsh lands and wild muscadine vines via its 25 miles of educational hiking and biking trails; paddle board, boat and fish on the 900-acre Lake Shelby; cool off in a swimming pool; or learn all about the area’s ecosystem at the Nature Center, the Butterfly Garden and the new Interpretive Center. And of course, save time to relax and dig your toes deep into the sand on the Park’s pristine stretch of beach.
The Park also boasts another can’t-miss experience, one that’s fun for the whole family: The Gulf State Pier. This 1,540-foot-long pier is the largest in the Gulf of Mexico, and on any given day or night, you’ll find folks from all walks of life trying their luck with a rod and reel. Even if you’re not interested in fishing, it’s a treat to walk the pier on a warm evening and see what others are hauling in. You never know what ocean creatures you might see.
Keep it Wild
The seven trails covering 25 miles of the Hugh S. Branon Backcountry Trail System traverse the Park. Exploring them on foot or bike gives you a closer look at the plants and animals that occupy this special area. Several boast a simultaneously lovely and eerie landscape formed by the wrath of Hurricane Fredric in 1979, where hundreds of long-dead trees, gray and bare, provide resting spots for all types of birds. Don’t miss Alligator Marsh Trail. Observe alligators, frogs, turtles and other animals that call the canal and marsh grass home. And remember, to preserve this unspoiled area for future generations, “leave nothing but footprints; take nothing but memories.” And plenty of pictures!
Gone Green
A few more of The Lodge's standout "green" stats:
Water: Condensation from the HVAC system is collected and recycled to replace water in the pool. Additionally, rainwater is collected and directed to a restored wetland onsite rather than being diverted to storm sewers. The hotel also features a permeable parking lot using TrueGrid technology that allows rainwater to drain into the ground.
Plants & Animals: To help ensure no baby turtles are pulled away from their journey back to the sea by human activity, there are no site lights pointing to the beach, and all lighting is shielded away from turtle nesting areas. Approximately 75 percent of the site’s landscaping uses native species that can thrive without irrigation, chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Native species also enhance and restore the wild coastal landscape, creating habitat for birds, nesting sea turtles and the Alabama Beach Mouse.
Energy: Guest room air conditioning units were installed with sensors that cut off the unit if balcony doors or windows are left open or ajar, plus the hotel is equipped with energy efficient lighting with motion sensors to reduce waste. And AC and electric lighting is often not even needed; the buildings are positioned to take advantage of Gulf breezes for natural ventilation and to flood interiors with natural light. This design reduces energy usage by 32 percent relative to a typical facility of this same size.
Waste: The hotel team recycles all cooking oil and sorts trash into separate bins for composting, animal feed, recycling and more. The hotel also uses plant-based water bottles, Hay Straws® and straws made from reusable bamboo shoots, both of which are biodegradable and made from abundant resources.
Stay for a little while.
Gulf State Park has accommodations other than The Lodge. Charming cottages dot Lake Shelby’s shoreline far into the Park and far away from the noise nearer the beaches. Most of these cottages are fairly new, and all have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a den, a fully equipped kitchen, two screened porches and a deck overlooking the water. The cottages also have fishing piers. The Park’s 20 cabins include 16 on the lake, with the other four, called the “woods” cabins, set in the longleaf pine and palmetto forest that covers much of the Park. The cabins are smaller and older than the cottages but offer the same amenities. The “woods” cabins welcome guests with pets.
