Sweet Home Alabama - Gulf State Park

The day before we are scheduled to leave Island Retreat, we get a call from the State Park looking for volunteers.  We accept and get a site in exchange for each of us working 2 days a week - plus free golf and beach access.

Gary works at the Golf Course in the Cart barn and I start out cleaning restrooms (what fun) until the Beach Pavillion Fee station opened.

Campsite at Gulf State Park

View of Beach Pavillion from Campground

My Office

Oprey Nest across the Street

Lake Shelby Picnic area

Owl Nest

Golf Course

Monkey Face Squirrel

View of Gulf Shores from Beach

Fishing Pier

Osprey Nest

Sweet Home Alabama - the locals

Sweet Home Alabama - The Little Zoo that could!

The Gulf Shores Zoo was swamped by storm surge and floodwaters by both 2004's Hurricane Ivan and 2005's Hurricane Katrina. All 270 of its animals had to be evacuated — to zoo director Patti Hall's Elberta home.

Lama

Baby Tigers

Crested Crane

Why Lemurs don't drive

Little known fact:  Wallabys are deathly afraid of bunnies