1,100 ft. of Gulf State Park Pier will reopen Feb. 1

1,100 ft. of Gulf State Park Pier will reopen Feb. 1

By David Thornton
The long awaited reopening of the Gulf State Park Pier is slated for Feb. 1. Just about all the repairs and preparations have been made and folks should be pleased to enjoy the 1100 feet available. The ipe wood deck and new (slanted) railings have been replaced and the under pier lights have been replaced. The pier also sports a new state-of-the-art fish cleaning station (on the middle platform) that will grind up fish carcasses. This will eliminate the disposal of those carcasses overboard which attracts and holds the interest of nuisance pelicans and sharks. As Gulf State Park Naturalist Kelly Reetz put it “The Gulf State Park Pier is getting out of the chumming business.” Park officials have stated a maximum of 150 people will be allowed on the pier at a time due to Covid social distancing guidelines.