Gulf Islands National Seashore will close the Florida Areas of the park to all visitors beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 25, in preparation for Tropical Storm Ian.
Closed areas include the Fort Pickens Area, Perdido Key Area (Johnson Beach), Opal Beach, and Okaloosa Area. The Mississippi Area, Naval Live Oaks Area, and Highway 399 will remain open at this time. Working closely with the NWS, the park will continue to monitor conditions and will provide updates as necessary.
Campers currently in the campground will need to evacuate by noon Monday, Sept. 26. All reservations for Fort Pickens Campground will be canceled until further notice.
“Due to potentially deteriorating conditions forecasted by the National Weather Service Office, high surf, and the likelihood for significant flooding on the park roadways, the park will close the Florida Areas until further notice,” said Superintendent Darrell Echols. “Our priority is to ensure the safest environment possible for park visitors and staff. The park will announce changes as appropriate, but current conditions do not allow the park to remain open.”
For more information, please follow the park’s social media accounts and website.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/GulfIslands, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
