Gulf Islands National Seashore Reopens J. Earle Bowden Way and Fort Pickens Area

Gulf Islands National Seashore News Release 
 
Release Date:           March 31, 2022 
Contacts:       Susan Teel, susan_teel@nps.gov, 850-934-2618 
 
Gulf Islands National Seashore Reopens J. Earle Bowden Way and Fort Pickens Area  
 
GULF BREEZE, Fla. – Gulf Islands National Seashore reopened J. Earle Bowden Way/Highway 399 this morning at 7:00 a.m. The Fort Pickens Road and campground will also reopen today at noon. 
 
The Fort Pickens Road was closed at noon on March 29, and J. Earle Bowden Way/Highway 399 was closed the evening of March 30, due to anticipated weather and the associated sand and flood waters predicated to make sections of the road impassable by passenger vehicles. Park staff have assessed these areas and water is anticipated to recede sufficiently to reopen these areas today. 
 
“At Gulf Islands, our priority is to ensure the safest environment possible for park visitors and staff.” said Superintendent Darrell Echols. “Visitors should be cautious and travel slowly as there is still standing water and sand on Fort Pickens Road.  Some areas may be deep for certain vehicles.” 
 
For current closure information visit: www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/tempclosures.htm. 
 
      www.nps.gov

 
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,