In the early 1930’s, the Federal Government bought land and it was combined with land was donated by the local landowners (700 acres by George C. Meyers alone) to create what would become Gulf State Park.
From 1933 until 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC) occupied what is now Gulf State Park. The CCC program was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" and was designed to team two wasted resources, the young men and the land, in an effort to save both. The CCC was used to build national and state parks all over the US and gave many single, young men jobs to help them and their families to make it through the depression. They made a $1.00 a day, 5 days a week. At the end of the month they were paid $25. Most of it was sent home to their families. A CCC camp was constructed and consisted of a barracks, a sawmill, resident houses for management to live in, and a maid’s quarters. Until the permanent structures were complete, the CCC “Boys” lived in large tents.
The crew that built the park. Photo courtesy of Mr. Jewel Jernigan, who was park of the CCC Crew.
During the time the CCC occupied the park, they built a beautiful casino (a concession stand and dance hall on the beach), a bunk house (near where the pier is now) for the life guards to live in during the summer time, cabins on Lake Shelby, residences, and a maid’s house. The maid’s house served as an overnight area where cabin visitor’s maids could sleep. These maids cared for the children of cabin guests during the day, but were not allowed to spend the night in the cabins. Each of Alabama’s State Parks had a maid’s quarters.
The CCC built the orginal cabins along the north shore of Lake Shelby. They numbered them 1-16, but skipped the #13, and built a duplex (where our cabin #1 is now). Cabin #1 was on the north side of the cabin road and was the last one that would rent every time. People would say, “I want anything but #1.” There nothing was in front of it, with plenty of space and access to the water, but people didn’t want that one.
This is one of the original, CCC built cabins on Lake Shelby. It may even be the one that left the "Relic" behind
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CCC Built Cabin #1. Aren't those heart pine walls beautiful?
Whoever was in charge of the placement of the cabins had to have been a gambler. Cabin #3 and #7 and #11, lucky dice numbers, were built sideways. They faced to the east. There are ramifications of that decision to this day because those three cabins are slightly smaller than the others. When Frederick hit, FEMA gave Gulf State Park money to build them back, however they had to be built with the same square footage as the old ones. Therefore, three of our current cabins are smaller than the rest.
Over the years, Gulf State Park has undergone several major natural disasters. On September 12, 1979, Hurricane Fredrick hit the Gulf Coast with winds of 135mph. The park was covered by more than 3-5 feet of salt water. The bottom floors of the resort hotel were blown out, leaving the basic structure intact. The pier parking lot and large sections of the pier were destroyed. Most of the original cabins (built by the CCC) were washed away, and approximately 900 trees were lost at the golf course.
CCC Member, possibly J.O. Evans
J.O. Evans and "Wade"
This cache is located at one of the few remaining "Relics" of that nearly forgotten time. It is located in a very scenic area of Gulf State Park, on the north side of Lake Shelby. I hope you have enjoyed this brief lesson on the history of Gulf State Park. The original cache was preloaded with some bubbles for the kids to trade for.
Last three CCC photos from J.O. Evans, a former Superintendent at DeSoto State Park. He was in the CCC at the Gulf and at DeSoto. Photos courtesy of Desoto State Park Superintendent Ken Thomas.
Please be sure to replace the cache exactly as I have it placed. If you do, it should be all but invisible. Thanks.
I hope you have enjoyed all the geocaches we have placed in Gulf State Park, along with the rest of your experience here Please consider giving us some feedback here. We would appreciate it if you would include something about your geocaching experience. We hope to show the bosses in Montgomery how many people geocache, in hopes that they will encourage other Parks to invest in it like we have, here at Gulf State Park. Thanks, Dothenumbers.